<p>An Owle (the Hieroglyphicke us'd for Night)<lb/> Twixt Mercury and Pallas, here takes place,<lb/> Vpon a crown'd Caduceus fixt upright;<lb/> And, each a Cornucopia doth imbrace.<lb/> Through which darke Emblem, I this Light perceive;<lb/> That, such as would the Wit and Wealth acquire,<lb/> Which may the Crowne of approbation have,<lb/> Must wake by Night, to compasse their desire.<lb/> For, this Mercurian-Wand, doth Wit expresse;<lb/> The Cornu-copia, Wealthinesse implies;<lb/> Both gained by a studious Watchfulnesse;<lb/> Which, here, the Bird of Athens signifies.<lb/> Nor, by this Emblem, are we taught alone,<lb/> That, (when great Vndertakings are intended)<lb/> We Sloth, and lumpish Drowsinesse must shunne;<lb/> But, Rashnesse, also, here is reprehended.<lb/> Take Counsell of thy Pillow, (saith our Sawe)<lb/> And, ere in waighty Matters thou proceede,<lb/> Consider well upon them; lest they draw<lb/> Some Afterclaps, which may thy Mischiefe breede.<lb/> I, for my seriou'st Muses, chuse the Night;<lb/> (More friend to Meditation, then the Day)<lb/> That neither Noyse, nor Objects of the Sight,<lb/> Nor bus'nesses, withdraw my Thoughts away,<lb/> By Night, we best may ruminate upon<lb/> Our Purposes; Then, best, we may enquire<lb/> What Actions wee amisse, or well, have done;<lb/> And, then, may best into our Selves retire:<lb/> For, of the World-without, when most we see,<lb/> Then, blindest to the World-within, are wee.<lb/> </p>

embstma_1903_emblem008

9

embstma_1903

emblem pictura

emblempictura

Wither's explanation also connects this emblem to the Festina Lente theme

embstma_1903_emblem010

GUL

EMBLEMS

ILL_BOOK

Mercury and Minerva, both holding a cornucopia, standing next to a lance with wings, a snake coiled around it, a crown and an owl

embstma_1903.xml

embstma_1903_fac009

<p>IN NOCTE CONSILIUM.</p>

GUL

EMBLEMS

ILL_BOOK

23R140(+0)

25F3(+342)

25F34(+1)

25F42(+5253)

25F42(+57321)

25H113

25I2

44B191

52A23(+3)

52E3(+4)

54A46(+4)

92B11221

92B5

92B58(CADUCEUS)

92B58(PETASUS)

92C2

92C28(OWL)

92C281

86(IN NOCTE CONSILIUM)

86(LA NUIT A CONSEIL)

<p>Before thou bring thy Workes to Light,<lb/> Consider on them, in the Night.</p>

embstma_1903_pic009.jpg

embstma_1903_emblem009

In nocte consilium