VERSITY

OF

Gotthold's Emblems.

I.

The Dial-Plate.

OTTHOLD, on the first morning of a new year, wishing to know the time of day, looked up to the dial of the church spire, where hands, moved by the mechanism within, indicated the hours upon a broad line of gilded numbers. Led into devout reflection, he observed to those around him: I highly approve of marking the hours with letters of gold; it may well admonish us of the value of time, which is indeed too precious to be purchased even with the chief of metals; and of this truth many and all of us need to be reminded. Chrysaurus, a man of rank and fortune, had lived an ungodly life; when his end drew near, he beheld a troop of dreadful demons standing around his bed, and waiting for his soul,