A Century of Emblems Part 15

AFFECTATION AND RUDENESS.

Affected manners irritate we know, But rudeness hurts us like a clumsy blow.

ALMSGIVING.

Deny yourself how much let no one see; G.o.d loves a secret costly charity.

ARCHITECT.

O Architect! beware how you begin: Who founds in error elevates a sin.

ART.

When Genius took fair Nature to his heart, She bore a daughter, and her name is Art.

ART.

Five powers combine for Art's successful course: Truth, beauty, pa.s.sion, unity, and force.

BEAUTY.

A stream to feed love, joy, and wonder given; It blesses Earth, but springs and ends in Heaven.

BOOKS.

Books I prefer, for when not to my mind, I shut them up; not so with human kind.

CANDOUR.

You speak out what you think, I hear you boast; To think out what you speak would profit most.

CANDOUR.

You always speak your mind; then cautious be; No mind from prejudice is always free.

CERTAIN PREACHERS.

He preaches like those thorn trees which men say Pierce to the quick, and hold you half the day.

CHRISTIAN LOVE.

A loving nature is a lovely prize, But Christian love all nature beautifies.

COMMUNISM.

Equalise all men! let a year go round, And where will your equality be found?

COMPARISON OF POETS.

Comparison of poets nought avails: Eagles with pards, gazelles with nightingales!

CONTROVERSIALIST'S USE OF THE BIBLE.

An armourer's store they make the Book; O scandal!

Where each may find a blade to suit his handle.

COWARDICE.

Alone, the coward is his shadow's slave: Spectators make the vain enact the brave.

CRITICISM.

Truth, taste, and learning, twine the living three, And thou, O critic, shalt my Hermes be.

DELUSION.

For seven years only will this world be seen, Says one; but hires a mansion for fourteen.

DETRACTION.

Like a bad habit oft this vice prevails, Some nibble characters as some their nails.

DIFFERENCE IN JUDGING OTHERS.

The bad condemn with savagery and sneer, The good arraign in sorrow and in fear.

DREAMS.

Sleep hath drugged Reason; Fancy Memory weds; Lo, the wild offspring with a hundred heads.