<p>An Emblem's meaning, here, I thought to conster;<lb/> And, this doth rather fashion out a Monster,<lb/> Then forme an Hieroglyphicke : but, I had<lb/> These Figures (as you see them) ready made<lb/> By others; and, I meane to morallize<lb/> Their Fancies; not to mend what they devise.<lb/> Yet, peradventure, with some vulgar praise,<lb/> This Picture (though I like it not) displayes<lb/> The Morall, which the Motto doth imply;<lb/> And, thus, it may be sayd to signifie.<lb/> He, that hath many Faculties, or Friends,<lb/> To keepe him safe (or to acquire his ends)<lb/> And, fits them so; and, keepes them so together,<lb/> That, still, as readily, they ayd each other,<lb/> As if so many Hands, they had been made;<lb/> And, in One-body, usefull being had:<lb/> That man, by their Assistance, may, at length,<lb/> Attaine to an unconquerable strength ;<lb/> And, crowne his honest Hopes, with whatsoever<lb/> He seekes for, by a warranted Endeavour.<lb/> Or, else, it might be sayd; that, when we may<lb/> Make our Affections, and, our Sense, obay<lb/> The will of Reason, (and, so well agree,<lb/> That, we may finde them, still, at peace to be)<lb/> They'l guard us, like so many Armed-hands ;<lb/> And, safely keepe us, whatsoere withstands.<lb/> If others thinke this Figure, here, inferres<lb/> A better sense; let those Interpreters<lb/> Vnriddle it; and, preach it where they please:<lb/> Their Meanings may be good, and so are these.<lb/> </p>

embstma_1903_emblem144

145

embstma_1903

emblem pictura

emblempictura

to suggest that Wither did not make the connection with the Geryon imagery.

Wither's text: "I had these Figures (as you see them) ready made by others; and, I meane to morallize their fancies; not to mend what they devise ... If others thinke this Figure, here, inferres a better sense; let those Interpreters unriddle it; and, preach it where they please"

embstma_1903_emblem146

GUL

EMBLEMS

ILL_BOOK

A king (Geryon) with six arms; his right hands hold a sword, a hammer and an axe, a sword and a sceptre, his left hands hold a morning star and arrows; in the background a lame man carried by a blind man, about to cross a brook

embstma_1903.xml

embstma_1903_fac181

<p>CONCORDIA INSUPERABILIS.</p>

GUL

EMBLEMS

ILL_BOOK

25H114

25H213

25I2

31A41112

31A442(+44)

31A2711

31A2733

31A415

31A4153

33A610

46C1271

44B191

45C12(HAMMER)

45C12(MORNING STAR)

45C13(DAGGER)(+0)

45C13(SWORD)

45C15(ARROW)

46C1111

54E11

54E31(+4)

86(CONCORDIA INSUPERABILIS)

95A(GERYON)71

<p>Where many-Forces joyned are,<lb/> Vnconquerable-pow'r, is there</p>

embstma_1903_pic181.jpg

embstma_1903_emblem145

Concordia insuperabilis