Emblem III.27: I was erected for a Bound

I was erected for a Bound,
And I resolve to stand my ground.

THe Bounder-Stones, held sacred, heretofore,
Some did so superstitiously adore,
As, that they did not onely rev'rence doe them,
But, have ascrib'd a kinde of God-head, to them:
For, Terminus had many a Sacrifize,
As well as other senslesse Deities.
I am not so prophane, as to desire
Such Ethnick zeale should set our hearts on fire:
But, wish I could, Men better did regard
Those Bounders, which Antiquity hath rear'd;
And, that, they would not, with so much delight,
There, make incroachments, where they have no righ
That, ev'ry man might keep his owne Possessions,
Our Fathers, us'd in reverent Processions
(With zealous prayers, and with praisefull cheere)
To walke their Parish limits, once a yeare:
And, well knowne Markes (which sacrilegious Hands
Now cut or breake) so bord'red out their Lands,
That, ev'ry one distinctly knew his owne;
And, many brawles, now rise, were then unknowne.
But, since neglected, sacred Bounders were,
Most men Incroachers, and Intruders are:
They grieve each other, and their Dues they steale,
From rince, from Parent, and from Common-weale.
Nay, more; these bold Vsurpers are so rude;
That, they, on Christ's Inheritance intrude.
But, that will be aveng'd; and (on his right)
Though such incroach, he will not lose it quite:
For, hee's that Bounder, and that Corner-stone,
Who all confines, and is confin'd, of none.