<p>My hopefull Friends at thrice five yeares and three,<lb/> Without a Guide (into the World alone)<lb/> To seeke my Fortune, did adventure mee;<lb/> And, many hazards, I alighted on.<lb/> First, Englands greatest Rendevouz I sought,<lb/> Where Vice and Vertve at the highest sit;<lb/> And, thither, both a Minde and Bodie brought,<lb/> For neither of their Services unfit.<lb/> Both, woo'd my Youth: And, both perswaded so,<lb/> That (like the Young man in our Emblem here)<lb/> I stood, and cry'd, Ah! which way shall I goe?<lb/> To me so pleasing both their Offers were.<lb/> Vice, Pleasures best Contentments promist mee,<lb/> And what the wanton Flesh desires to have:<lb/> Quoth Vertve, I will Wisdome give to thee,<lb/> And those brave things, which noblest Mindes doe crave.<lb/> Serve me said Vice, and thou shalt soone acquire<lb/> All those Atchievements which my Service brings:<lb/> Serve me said Vertve, and Ile raise thee higher,<lb/> Then Vices can, and teach thee better things.<lb/> Whil'st thus they strove to gaine me, I espyde<lb/> Grim Death attending Vice; and, that her Face<lb/> Was but a painted Vizard, which did hide<lb/> The foul'st Deformity that ever was.<lb/> Lord, grant me grace for evermore to view<lb/> Her Vglinesse: And, that I viewing it,<lb/> Her Falsehoods and allurements may eschew;<lb/> And on faire Vertve my Affection set;<lb/> Her Beauties contemplate, her Love embrace,<lb/> And by her safe Direction, runne my Race.<lb/> </p>

embstma_1903_emblem021

22

embstma_1903

emblem pictura

emblempictura

embstma_1903_emblem023

GUL

EMBLEMS

ILL_BOOK

Hercules am Scheidewege: Hercules as a young man, standing between a man with an open book and a caduceus (Virtue) and a female devil with a mask and a whip (Vice)

embstma_1903.xml

embstma_1903_fac022

<p>QUO ME VERTAM NESCIO.</p>

GUL

EMBLEMS

ILL_BOOK

11K15

11N1:5(+11)

11N36:5(+11)

25F(+332)

25F(+343)

25F3(+342)

25G41

25H114

31A2351

31A2511(+931)

31A2515(+931)

31AA2351

31D12(+89)

31D16

31F11

41A6711

41D283

48CC7323

49MM32

57A6(+123)

86(HERCULES)

86(POTERON)

92B58(CADUCEUS)

94L72

86(QUO ME VERTAM NESCIO)

<p>When Vice and Vertue Youth shall wooe,<lb/> Tis hard to say, which may 'twill goe.</p>

embstma_1903_pic022.jpg

embstma_1903_emblem022

Quo me vertam nescio