<p>It is by some supposed, that our Owles,<lb/> By Day-time are, no perfect sighted Fowles ;<lb/> And, that, the more you doe augment the light,<lb/> The more you shall deprive them of their sight.<lb/> Nor Candles, Torches, nor the Sunne at noone,<lb/> Nor Spectacles, nor all of these in one<lb/> Can make an Owlet in the day-time see,<lb/> Though none, by night, hath better eyes than shee.<lb/> This Emblem, therefore, sets their blindnesse forth,<lb/> Who cannot see, when an apparant worth<lb/> Illustrates vertuous Men; yet, seeme to spie<lb/> Those faults, wherewith ill-willers them belie.<lb/> The blindnesse, also, well it may declare,<lb/> Of Heretikes, who Eagle-sighted are,<lb/> In Sophistries, and in the cloudie-night,<lb/> Of those darke Errors, which delude the sight ;<lb/> Yet, cannot see the Rayes of Truth divine,<lb/> Though, brighter than the Day light, shee doth shine.<lb/> It, likewise, very fitly typifies,<lb/> Those, in our dayes, who spie out mysteries,<lb/> Beyond the Moone ; yet, cannot gaine the view<lb/> Of that, which common Reason proveth true:<lb/> And, therefore, onely, crie it (madly) downe,<lb/> Because, by Reasons light, it may be knowne.<lb/> These, when 'twas offred, first, the light refused;<lb/> And, they have now the darknesse which they chused.<lb/> Till, therefore, God shall offer Grace againe,<lb/> Man strives to set up Lights, to these, in vaine:<lb/> For, what are Lights to those, who blinded bee?<lb/> Or, who so blinde, as they that will not see?<lb/> </p>

embstma_1903_emblem194

195

embstma_1903

emblem pictura

emblempictura

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GUL

EMBLEMS

ILL_BOOK

In spite of the bright sunlight, two torches, two candles and a pair of spectacles, the day-blind owl fails to see the mouse in front of him; in the background an owl tied to a post is attacked by other birds

embstma_1903.xml

embstma_1903_fac249

<p>COECUS NIL LUCE IUVATUR.</p>

GUL

EMBLEMS

ILL_BOOK

24A6

25F26(MOUSE)(+45)

25F3(+512)

25F34(+5245)

25F711

31A311

34E3

41B31(+1)

41B32(+1)

52AA552(+4)

57A72

47B1611(+12)

73A4241(+0)

86(COECUS NIL LUCE IUVATUR)

<p>Hee that is blind, will nothing see,<lb/> What light soe're about him bee.</p>

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embstma_1903_emblem195

Coecus nil luce iuvatur