Time & Brevity
Emblem III.1: If well thou dost, and well intend
From A Collection of Emblemes (1635), Book III
If well thou dost, and well intend,
Thou shalt be crowned, in the end.
WHen, many, for the chiefest Garland runne,
That height of Glory, can befall but one;
Yet, Wreaths there are, for ev'ry man prepar'd,
According as he meriteth reward:
And, though the Worke deserveth little meed,
Grace, prints a worth, on ev'ry willing-deed,
Which formes it currant; and, doth gratious make
Man's weake endeavours, for GOD's promise sake.
All seeke the selfe-same prize; but, doe not seeke,
With mendes, and, with endeavours, all alike.
Most, with the Wreath; but, few those things will doe,
That may be helpfull to attaine thereto:
And, some (that will be doing) more delight
In doing their owne will, then doing right.
One, thinkes by airie titles, to atchieve
The Palme he seekes; Another, doth believe
Tis gain'd, by giving to his Appetite,
The fulnesse of his Bodies vaine delight:
To reach their aime, some others nourish hopes,
By scrambling up unto the dunghill-tops;
Of temp'rall Riches: and, of all the wayes,
Most thinke this course deserves the greatest praise.
But, this our Emblem's Motto, doth implie,
That, nothing Man possesseth outwardly
Can purchase him the Crowne, that should be sought,
Like rightly-doing, what is rightly-taught.
And, that, God never passed any doome.
To barre their blesse, who righteous would become:
For, ev'n to Cain he said (of sinne detected)
If well thou dost, thou shalt be well respected.
Cite this poem
MLA
Wither, George. “Emblem III.1: If well thou dost, and well intend.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wither/287/.
Chicago
Wither, George. “Emblem III.1: If well thou dost, and well intend.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wither/287/.
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