Wherein the brevitie of man's life is described, how soone his
pompe vanisheth away, and he brought to his latest home.
THE statelie pine, whose braunches spread so faire,
By winde or weather wasted is at length;
The sturdie oake, that clymeth in the ayre,
In time dooth lose his beautie and his strength;
The fayrest flower, that florisht as to-daie,
To-morrow seemeth like the withered haie.
So fare it with the present state of man,
Whose showe of healthe dooth argue manie
But as his life is likened to a span,
So suddaine sicknes pulles him from his peeres;
And where he seemde for longer time to-daie,
To-morrow lies he as a lumpe of clay.
The infant yong, the milk-white aged head,
The gallant youth that braueth with the best,
We see with earth are quickly ouerspreade,
And both alike brought to their latest rest :
As soone to market commeth to be solde
The tender lambe's skin as the weather's olde.
Death is not partiall, as the prouerb saies;
The prince and peasant both with him are one: The sweetest face that's painted now-a-daies,
And highest head set forth with pearl and stone, When he hath brought them to the earthly graue, Beare no more reckoning then the poorest slaue. The wealthy chuffe, that makes his gold his god,
And scrapes and scratches all the mucke he may, And with the world doth play at euen and od,
When death thinks good to take him hence away, Hath no more ritches in his winding-sheete Then the poore soule that sterued in the streete.
Vnhappie man! that runneth on thy race,
Not minding where thy crazed bones must rest: But woe to thee that doost forget the place, Purchast for thee to liue amongst the blest! Spend then thy life in such a good regard, That Christe's blessing may be thy reward.
From "The Complaint of Jonas," which forms a section of "The Mirror of Mutabilitie."
You therefore that remain on earth,
Let this your minde suffise;
Feare still for to displease the Lord-
Be not to worldly wise.
Fix stil your minde on heauenly things,
That neuer wil decay-
The rest are but as shadows heer,
And soone wil passe away.
What vantage is it for a man
To haue of riches store,
And for to want the fear of God,
Which stil should be before?
The more a man doth fixe his minde
Vpon that filthy drosse,
The more endamaged is his soule
Vnto the vtter losse.
For welth doth pamper him so much,
That God is clene forgot,
And then at last vnto his pain
Vpon him falls the lot;
So that all good and vertuous men
From company refuse him,
And where before he was esteem'd,
Now they disdain to vse him.
Turne vnto God, and God to you
Wil turn his cheerful face;
Flye slauish sloth, and then be sure
That God will you imbrace.
For idlenes is enemye
To goodnes, as men say;
Therefore doo shun the enemye,
And on the vertue stay.
Let all that haue you preter-past
Examples be to you,
How you may learn in all assayes
Vile sin for to eschew.
And thus if you direct your wayes,
You walk the path so right,
That heauen is your inheritance
In foyle of Sathan's spight.
THE FAREWELL.
GOE, soule, the bodie's guest,
Vpon a thanklesse arrant:
Feare not to touch the best;
Thy truth shall be thy warrant:
Goe, since I needs must dye,
And giue them all the lye.
Say to the court, it glowes
And shines like painted wood;
Say to the church, it shewes
What's good, but does no good:
If court and church reply,
Then giue them both the lye.
Tell potentates, they liue
Acting, but oh! their actions
Not loued vnless they giue;
Nor strong but by affection:
If potentates reply,
Giue potentates the lye.
Tell men of high condition,
That manage the estate,
Their purpose is ambition,
Their practice onely hate;
And if they once reply,
Then giue them all the lye.
Tell those that braue it most,
They beg for more by spending,
Who in their greatest cost
Like nothing but commending:
And if they make reply,
Then giue them all the lye.
Tell Zeale it wants deuotion;
Tell Loue it is but lust;
Tell Time it meets but motion;
Tell Flesh it is but dust:
And wish them not reply,
For thou must giue the lye.
Tell Age it daily wasteth;
Tell Honour how it alters;
Tell Beauty how she blasteth;
Tell Fauour how it falters:
And as they shall reply,
Giue euery one the lye.
Tell Wit how much it wrangles
In fickle points of nicenesse :
Tell Wisdome she entangles
Herself in ouerwiseness:
And when they doe reply,
Straight giue them both the lye.
Tell Physicke of her boldnesse;
Tell Skill it is preuention;
Tell Charity of coldnesse;
Tell Law it is contention :
And as they doe reply,
Then giue them still the lye.
Tell Fortune of her blindnesse ;
Tell Nature of decay;
Tell Friendship of vnkindnesse;
Tell Justice of delay:
And if they will reply,
Then giue them all the lye.
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