A Parable

Wee' are like a Man chast by a raged Bull,
who in his flight into a Well doh fall;
And, in the fall (by chance) he lighteth full
vpon a Tree, that there growes in the Wall:
And, resting there, there sets his Soules delight:
but looking better on the place, withall,
He spies two Mice, one blacke, the other White,
Who still the Roote of this his rest doe gnaw,
And more and more asunder it doe saw.

Then, vnderneath he lookes, and there espies
a gaping Dragon threatning to deuoure him:
And at his feete foure striuing Serpents rise;
yet, looking vp, he spies (what doth allure him;
And makes him deeme, he is from dangers free)
a little Honie (which he euer tryes)
Cleaues to a branch of that vntrusty Tree:
For which, these dangers he neglects; and still
That Hony sicks, yet ne'er can licke his fill.