A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne: Quickened With Metrical Illustrations, both Morall and Divine, Etc

How Fond are they, who spend their pretious Time In still pursuing their deceiving Pleasures? And they, that unto ayery Titles clime Or tyre themselves in hoording up of Treasures? For, these are Death's, who, when with wearinesse They have acquired most, sweepes all away; And leaves them, for their Labors, to possesse Nought but a raw-bon'd Carcasse lapt in clay. Of twenty hundred thousands, who, this houre Vaunt much, of those Possessions they have got; Of their new purchac'd Honours, or, the Power, By which, they seeme to have advanc't their Lott: Of this greatMultitude, there shall not Three Remaine, for any Future-age to know; But perish quite, and quite forgotten bee, As Beasts, devoured twice ten yeares agoe. Thou, therefore, who desir'st for aye to live, And to possesse thy Labors maugre Death, To needfull Artsand honest Actions, give Thy Spanne of Time, and thy short blast of Breath. In holy Studies, exercise thy Mind; In workes of Charity, thy Hands imploy; That Knowledge, and thatTreasure, seeke to find, Which may enrich thy Heart with perfect Ioy. So, though obscured thou appeare, awhile, Despised, poore, or borne to Fortunes low, Thy Vertue shall acquire a nobler stile, Then greatest Kings are able to bestow: And, gaine thee those Possessions, which, nor They, Nor Time, nor Death, have power to take away.