<p>What meanes this Countrey-peasant, skipping here<lb/> Through prickling Thistles w t h such gamesom cheere?<lb/> And, plucking off their tops, as though for Posies,<lb/> He gather'd Violets, or toothlesse Roses?<lb/> What meaneth it, but onely to expresse<lb/> How great a joy, well-grounded Patientnesse<lb/> Retaines in Suff'rings? and, what sport she makes,<lb/> When she her Iourney through Affliction takes?<lb/> I, oft have sayd (and, have as oft, beene thought<lb/> To speake a Paradox, that savours nought<lb/> Of likely truth) that, some Afflictions bring<lb/> A Honey bag, which cureth ev'ry Sting<lb/> (That wounds the Flesh ) by giving to the Mind,<lb/> A pleasing taste of Sweetnesses refin'd.<lb/> Nor can it other be, except in those,<lb/> Whose Better part, quite stupifyed growes,<lb/> By being Cauterized in the Fires<lb/> Of childish Feares, or temporall Desires.<lb/> For, as the Valiant (when the Coward swounds)<lb/> With gladnesse lets the Surgion search his Wounds;<lb/> And, though they smart, yet cheerefully indures<lb/> The Plaisters, and, the Probe, in hope of Cures:<lb/> So, Men, assured that Afflictions paine<lb/> Comes not for vengeance to them, nor in vaine;<lb/> But, to prepare, and fit them for the place,<lb/> To which, they willingly direct their pace;<lb/> In Troubles, are so farre from being sad,<lb/> That, of their Suffring, they are truely glad.<lb/> What ever others thinke, I thus beleeve;<lb/> And, therefore, joy, when they suppose I grieve.<lb/> </p>

embstma_1903_emblem173

174

embstma_1903

emblem pictura

emblempictura

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GUL

EMBLEMS

ILL_BOOK

A man grabbing a thistle; in the background saint Christopher wading through the water with the Christ-child on his shoulder

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<p>GAUDET PATIENTIA DURIS.</p>

GUL

EMBLEMS

ILL_BOOK

11H(CHRISTOPHER)51

11QQ712

25G4(THISTLE)

25H214

31A2511(+931)

31A2515(+933)

31A461(+0)

54A44

54FF11

56EE1(+4)

86(GAUDET PATIENTIA DURIS)

<p>Hee that enjoyes a patient Minde,<lb/> Can Pleasures in Afflictions finde.</p>

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Gaudet patientia duris