La dance machabre or Death's duell. By W.C.

Death's Duell . Mors omnibus communis . We must all die . 1 OLympick Odes soft layes fond Louers breath , Domestick iarres , nor forrein broiles I bring : Nor crown'd Lyaeus with a frantique wreath , Twixt life and death the fatall warre I sing : Which whil●t I but recite , me thinkes from all At euery accent should a salt teare fall . 2 Assist yee heau'nly powers , no other Muse I inuocate , cast downe propitious Eyes , My humble genius with such fire infuse Our words may fall like Lightning from the Skyes Striking th' amazed mortals with such terrour They may not loue , but liue to see , their errour . 3 Stay , not too fast least thou impose an end To what we briefly haue discours'd vpon Before thou truly know what we intend , Too hasty feeding hurts digestion , Read note , if not to profit , What 's compriz'd Herein , is meerly but cpitomiz'd ▪ 4 We highly prize this noble friend , and that , This boone Companion , and that Parasite Whose smooth tongu'd language euer leuels at Those things which doe administer delight : But in conclusion , Death 's our truest friend , Tels vs what we must trust to in the end . 5 Tels vs , that we are mortall , that we know Our last nights habitation , not the next ; That humane pleasures like sweet Roses grow Amidst a thousand miseries perplext . Since ioy and griefe inseperably goe Nor can we reape our pleasures without woe . 6 The Twins of Fortune , at one instant borne Both Male and Female , birth-rites due to neither , Like Turtle-doues they re-salute each morne , Wander all day , and lodge at night together . All ages , all conditions , all estates Know this , discouer'd in their seuerall fates . 7 The strongest Fort besieg'd with powerfull foes Till victuals and munition waxeth scant May for a time subsist , but in the close Must of necessity submit to want : So youth and nature bare vp stiffe while , But in the end , Death giues them ●●…th the foile . 8 The life of man is tripertite , the first Of nature , which is lyable to death , The second , after which all good men thirst , Of same , commencing with our vtmost breath , The last eternall , consummates our bliffe , Whither for Death there no admittance is . 9 Blest Heau'ns defend me , the Worlds maior part Reflect not on whose arrant they are sent , The Stage scarce enterd , they forget their part , Turne dayes to nights , and nights to dayes ill spent : Such liberty vnto our selves we giue , Till Death , we know not truly how to liue . 10 The thiefe reflects not what it is to steale Before he sees the Gallowes , not the Maid ( Vntill her belly doe the fact reueale ) A th' stolne imbraces of her loues dismaid , The Prodigall reflecteth not vpon A plentifull estate , till he haue none . 11 Consider wisely what thou hast to doe In this vaine World with serious meditation , How short the time , what 's likely to ensue , And frustrate not the end of thy Creation Since here is nought whereon thou canst relie But to be borne , to labour , and to die : 12 What though thou do'st enioy a greater measure Of temporall felicitie then those That liue reclus'd , for eu'ry dram of pleasure Expect a world of happinesse to lose . There 's but one Heau'n , then thinke not to reioyce Both here and hence , thou must not haue it twice . 13 Vnthrifty youth time prodigally spends , That flyes away with vndilcouer'd hast , Mocking our hopes , still future ioyes pretends , Takes small content in recreations past . Imagination sets our thoughts on fire , And what we cannot haue we most desire . 14 So little Children wish would we were men Freed from the fetters of our pupill age ; Growne old , they couet to be young againe , Pretending in their wayes to be more sage And circumspect , what is not we thinke best , And others in their meaner fortunes blest . 15 The carefull Pilot wafting from the Shoare His ful-f●a●…ght Vessell , sitteth at the Sterne Iudiciously to guide what goes before , And from the hoary-headed Pole doth learne Which way to steere and furrow vp the Ocean With a secure , though vnsteady motion . 16 The World 's the Sea , and we the Vessels are , Consideration , Stearesman , and pale death The Sterne , in which we haue an equall share . Swift-footed time still towards vs beckeneth Dappled with age , which careles youth doth know , Yet all too late beleeues it to be so . 17 But so it is , what ere we doe pretend And fondly flatter our Imagination , Being as neere vnto our Iourneyes end ( For ought we know ) as aged declination ; Experience tels vs ; Whence we may presage , No certainty in youth , nor hope in age . 18 The one may liue , the other cannot long , A possibility on which we build Our certaine ruine , and receiue a wrong That 's irrecouerable , if we yeild Vnto such reasons nature will produce , In her desires euermore pro use . 19 He , whose pulse beats the strongest , hath no more Assurance of his life , then he that lies Vpon his death-bed , and perhaps , before His deare companion whom he mournes for , dyes . The neere ally'd , whose care the sicke attends Ouid. Sicken themselues , and die before their friends . 20 The Priest doth offer holy sacrifice Vpon the Alter for departing soules Liue to be present at his Obsequies And heare the Sextons Death-bell when it toules : So the Physitian while he Physicke giues T' another , dies himselfe , his Patient liues . 21 The forward heire , Who thinkes that life too long By which he liues , desirous to see His Father canoniz'd whilst he is young , And not goe limping to immortalitie , Leaues him oft-times , although decrepit , ill , To be the Ouer-seer of his Will. 22 For honour this , for office that man waites , A third gapes for a new bought Benefice , Meane while death with ineuitable baites Cancels their hopes , the Priest the Clarke suruiues , And many a time and oft when he is dead , Feeds on the Goose that graseth ore his head . 23 Poore wretched man , why dost thou captiuate Thy knowledge , and betray it to mischance , Striuing to hide thy miserable fate , Which thou maist call thine owne inheritance ; Naked thou wast deliuerd from the Wombe , And naked shalt returne vnto the Tombe ; 24 How soone thou know'st not , For thou art but here Tenant at will , although for terme of life , Nor will thy Land-lord giue a parting yeare , Nor be kept out by Lawes contentious strife , What euidence soeuer thou produce , Or long prescriptions fraudulent abuse . 25 Why then doe thy vaine thoughts reflect so much On Glow-wormes that haue neither warmth nor light , Earth has no reall happinesse , and such As carelesse of their soule , thinke no delight But what these bodies taste , time and their griefe Will furnish with repentance , not reliefe . 26 Who was thy Father ? filth and rottennesse , The Wormes thy brethren and thy sisters are , So holy Iob doth thy descent expresse , Thy life a vale of euer-feeding care , A Sommers bird , a fading flower of May , Tomorrow dead that flourisheth to day . 27 Th' vncertaine , certaine houre of our death , The table-booke of humane misery , Tels vs Mortalitie is but a breath Shut in or out by casuality Early , or late , by day , or night , abroad , At home , or wheresoe're we make aboad . 28 Thinke how a tyle-sheard passing on thy way By accident fals downe and strikes thee dead And that ere long thou mayst be wrapt in clay Who euen now enioy'st thy downy bed , He that to such fraile euidence doth trust Doth carue the water , and ingraues in dust . 29 What though thy house be sumptuous , and thy fare , Thy wife both vertuous , beautifull , and wise , Thy children hopefull and obedient are , Thy seruants most obsequious in their guise , Thy coffers full , thy Lordships round about thee . Yet thou must goe and they must stay without thee . 30 And these vpon thy death-bed shall appeare Like to so many glorious miseries , Or like an Office thou didst lately beare Transferr'd t' another man before thine eyes : For certaine t is what chiefly doth content thee , In that sad houre to leaue shall most torment thee . 31 Then the deboist disorders of thy youth Th' vniust detayning of anothers right Supported more by strong hand then by truth , As done but yesterday , before thy sight In hideous formes appeare , which being well Thou hadst no time to thinke on , there 's thy hell . 32 Much like a pamper'd Iade grow'n-belly-proud Flings vp his heeles , and his owne Master strikes , Contemnes his poore Companions who allow'd No more then what they dearely earne , Dislikes Their milde Condition , and through wantounesse Feeds on the best of their deare purchas'd gresse ; 33 Aspiring thoughts aboue our fortunes soare , And true content , Mans chiefest happinesse , By emulation is shut out of Doare , Valuing our wants by other mens excesse We glance at those in worth and wealth out goe vs , Regarding not how many walke below vs . 34 Disturbe not thine owne quiet with a thought Of what thou wast , or what thou mightst haue bin , Aduancement comes neglected and not sought , As Monkayes with the chaines they are tide in . Play with the common corrasiues of fate . Which as they had beginnings haue their date . 35 For iust Heau'n guilty of no ill at all , From the beginning hath contriu'd it so That in all ages some shall rise , some fall , The goods of fortune wander to and fro : From man to man , and as the Poet sings Kings come from beggars , beggars come from Kings . 36 T is strange to see how men from time to time Flatter themselues with presupposed ioyes Not growing in this sublunary Clime , And feed on hopes , enioy'd , appeare but toyes , So that in fine we spend out time in wishing ; Though we haue all , yet something still is missing , 37 Which shewes , th' immortall soule of man , confin'de Within this mortall Prison takes no rest , Nor true content in any thing can find Till it ascend , for euer to be blest Aboue the reach of any humane thought , Within our muddy apprehensions wrought . 38 All arts may hither come againe to Schoole , And find new matter to insist vpon : Grammarians here find out a generall rule That will admit of no exception , Then whisper in their eares , we all must die And tell them that their Maxime's a lie . 39 Here the Logician may with ease conclude A Syllogisme most methodicall Without distinction figure , forme , or moode , All humane Arguments sophisticall , Death will not dally , nor admit dispute Be thou ne're so ingenious and acute . 40 Th' Arithmetician that can rectifie By daily vse and rules infallible His fractions , adde , substract , or multiply , To number his owne minutes is not able . Though the Musitian daily in tune set His instrument , he cannot passe this fret . 41 Th' Astrologer that daily notice takes What Planets raigne , what Staries predominate , Whence he vncertaine demonstrations makes , And doth our future fortunes calculate , No further can transcend , but leaues vs here , Life leades the vantgard , Death brings vp the reare . 42 The graue Philosopher that can diuine And pry into th' obstrusest mysteries Hangs vs his Trophies here , and doth resigne His knowledge choakt with foule absurdities , Surceasing farther of his skill to boast , Concludeth here , that all his labour 's lost . 43 The industrious Herald that wracks Pedigrees Vpon the tenter-hookes , whereby to show Th' antiquity of Names and Families , Death interrupts , and can no further goe , He only hath the priuiledge to tell Vs , what men were , who liu'd , and who dy'd , well . 44 Here the Physician with his pils and potions Astonisht stands confounded in his Art . The Surgeon doth his Cataplasmes and Lotions Apply , no succour or reliefe impart . Whatsoeuer hath beginning here , must end , Or first or last , not can it selfe defend . 45 No priuiledge hath honour , Parentage , The wise , and foolish perish both together , Old men , and Infants , carelesse middle-age , Draw cuts by turnes indifferent to either , Rich men , and poore , magnanimous , and cowards , Play all Mum-chance , all 's but a game at hazards . 46 No friend at Court , no quillet in the Law , No golden bride , the life of eloquence , Can keepe his common Enemy in awe , No armed Guard to stand in thy defence , No Supersedeas from a higher Court Can pleasure thee , or doe the Plaintiffe hurt . 47 No widdowes teares , no wronged Orphans cryes , No protestations , vowes , nor promises , No Altars smoking with burnt sacrifice This Al-commanding power can appease . The fatall Sisters hauing spun their thred Make holy-day , and thou art left for dead . 48 Behold thy friends about thee , who inform'd By thy Physician that thou canst not liue , Study their ends , teares flow as if they mourn'd , Corrupting him with promises , to giue Largely that shall thy fatall Pen-man bee , Each for himselfe laborious , none for thee . 49 Nor thy poore soule now totally contain'd In some small corner of a panting heart , With death thy other members being maym'd Acting on this Worlds Theater that part , To which some sooner then their fellowes come , Calde Exit , such a one whose part is done . 50 Which sometimes lights on a relìgious King Or bloudy Tyrant , Politician , Foole , Rich Cormorant , or hungar-starued thing , Or on some Iulius Caesar borne to rule ; Though each a part his seuerall part doth play , In fine , they all goe off the Stage one way . 51 A great Commander hauing in the field , A hundred thousand men their force to try Such as the World their betters could not yeild , Viewing hìs Armie , wept ; demanded why ? To thinke ( said he ) within one hundred yeare Not one of these shall to the World appeare . 52 Doe but consider , be thou ne're so yong , How many deare Companions thou hast lost , By course of nature might haue liu'd as long , To enioy the wanton pleasures which thou do'st , Only that Death in curtesie hath lent Thee some vncertaine minutes to repent . 53 Repriu'd by Heau'ns most boundlesse clemencie , Who like a too indulgent Parent striues To reconcile vs with that vchemencie , By miracle doth oft preserue our liues ; Of which most fearefull presidents we haue , Yet no impression in our hearts ingraue . 54 You in whose hearts the seed of wickednesse , Whence budded forth mans misery is sow'n , Prizing your selues and your owne worthinesse At higher rates then may be call'd your owne , As if on Earth you would be Deifide , The wormes shall one day triumph ore your pride . 55 You Mam mon-mongers , horders vp of wealth , Slaues to your owne , rich only in conceit Whose hungry bellies vnto all your wealth Was ne're beholding for a good meales meate , Whose death giues life to others , likewise you Must pay the wormes what to yourselues were due . 56 Luxurious wanton delicacies Minion , Who pampers nature meerly , to destroy her , Yeelding thy selfe a Slaue vnto opinion , Thinking thou most , when thou dost least , enioy her : These are the Barber-Surgeons , whose long traines Shall one day scow'r thy infectious raines . 57 You the vnworthy burthens of the earth Pine and consume away , yet are not old Making of Christain Charity a dearth , Laugh only when you some sad sight behold ; The wormes shall sucke the rancor from your harts , With which you poyson your malitious darts . 48 You Gormandizers placing your delights In choisest morsels euermore to please Your cloy'd vnsatisfied appetites , Nurse vp your selues in idlenesse and ease : The silly wormes reioyce to see you eate On deare bought dainties to procure them meate . 49 You sencelesse hot-spurres on each slight occasion Banish discretion in your frantique fits Into all mischiefe making an inuasion , Wise in the iudgements of your after-wits Alas how little will those silly things Value your terrifying threatnings . 60 You mothes in nature , Caterpillers , men Only in name and forme , like fruitlesse plants , Who liue but ( as it were ) to say Amen To others labours which supply your wants Equally grosse in body and in spirit Which one day these poore vermin must inher it . 61 What shall I say of the worlds wealthy Minions Their vncouch'd thoughts and all admired glory Rais'd aboue all meus or their owne opinions , Rotten in dust , forgotten is their story , Vnlesse perhaps what here so glittering shin'de Went out in snuffe , and left ill sent behinde . 62 Whither are those bewitching beauties fled Subduing them , that all the world beside Could neuer vanquish , Are they not all dead ? Nipt in the blossome of intising pride , Or else grow'n old , like fruit vntimely gotten Their out-side wither'd , and their in-side rotten . 63 Produce but one victorious Potentate Commanding all , liu'd vncontroul'd of any That hath not paid his fealty to fate , On whom the fates depended of so many ; The Sunne that shines most glorious hath its set , So deaths th' Omega of our Alphabet . 64 The graue Philosophers comming to view The sumptuous Shrine of Alexander made Of massie gold , did thus begin to rue Mans miserie , and to each other said , He that of gold possest so great a measure Is now of gold become the loathsome treasure . 65 To whosc aspiring thoughts , yet all in vaine , The spatious World presented was , Loe now Foure foot of Earth doth quietly restraine , To whom so many ftubborne necks did bow . He that so many but last night could free From death , now cannot helpe himselfe , you see . 66 Fear'd yesterday of all and honored , The Earth he did oppresse now presseth him , Contemn'd , neglected , and vnreuerenced , None feares his frownes , nor seeks his grace to win , Greater then any but last night , now lies Nor lou'd of Friends , nor fear'd of Enemies . 67 O greatnesse in whose all-commanding pow're Mercie and Iustice are established , Conn well this Lesson , thinke vpon that houre In which you must your selues be summoned , Death fear'd no colours , For it all commands Both crowned heads , and Scepter-bearing hands . 68 Who lends mine eyes a Fountaine of fresh teares , To re-deplore mans miserable birth , The lamentable spending of his yeares , His sad returne vnto our Mother Earth , Whence ; what he is , and whither he must goe , And how men liue as if they did not know . 69 'T would soile my paper worse then doth the inke With which I write , exactly to expresse What eu'ry wise iudicious man may thinke Of his owne base and selfe vnworthinesse From the first act of generation , farre Morelothsome in corruption then beasts are . 70 Which heauens all fore-seeing power would haue Contriued so to curbe and keepe in awe Our haughtie proud rebellious flesh , to saue Th' immortall soule , which otherwise no law Could subiugate , since as we are , O wonder , Nor lawes of God , nor man , can keepe vs vnder . 71 Trees , herbes , flow'rs , plauts , produce sweet nourishments Both toour taste delightfull and the smell . Man , nitts , lice , spittle , stinking Excrements ; Nay , more then that the very beasts excell Mans temperature , refusing oft to doe Those things which we inforce our selues vnto . 72 If such the first fruits which our spring-tide yeelds In th' height , heat , vigor , Sun-shine of our dayes When youth proclaimes its glory in the fields Crowning our Temples with victorious bayes , What lothsome poysonous , and vnfauorie iuice Will bruised Autumnc from the presse produce . 73 When crutched age wrapt in her carefull Chaire Crow'n white with yeares not innocencie , blames Disordered youth , whose liu'ry it doth weare , Regardlesse truth to heedlesse youth proclaimes Belch't forth in tedious and distastfull stories In th' deare bought purchase of her knowledge glories . 74 Becomne the certaine Almanacke of times Vncertaine motion future qualities Whose parched sinewes quauering doth chime All in to their owne funerall Obsequies : And being dead with base corruption swels , Senting farre worse then any dunghill smels . 75 When thy best season'd thoughts seeme to afford Thee most content : forgetfull what is past , Or yet to come , aske them but in a word What it shall be , they ' I think vpon at last ? Without all question they will answere thee We shall repeut our present vanitic . 76 Or when thy tongue the hearts interpreter Strikes vp a false Alarum , rauishing Thy sences like a wanton Orator With scurrilous impollisht warbling , Thinke but on death and it will soone confute Thy strongest arguments and strike thee mute . 77 Or when thine eyes immodestly shall gaze On fading beauties curiositie Which either age , or accident may raze , And make more vgly then deformitie ; Thinke how that beautie vnderneath doth weare Deaths pale-fac'd Liucery , which all mortals feare . 78 And she that takes her false intelligence From the deceitfull Index of a glasse Glad to be cozen'd in her owne defence Bid her reflect what euen now she was Before that nature was abus'd by art , Helps not when death shall come to play his part . 79 'T is not a borrowed looke or wanton glance Of an alluring eye that can diuert Th' ineuitable fury of his Lance Nor all thy Courtly conges though thou wert Equallin beautie , breeding , and the rest Of womanish additions with the best . 80 And thou fond Louer looke into the graue Of thy dead Mistris , and her lost condition , Behold the Saintly beauty lately gaue Such motiues of respect and adoration To thy inflamed thoughts , which did deuise To deifie't , thy selfe the sacrifice . 81 Calling her eyes the worlds all glorious lights The splendor of whose Goddesse-like complexion Gaue light sufficient to the darkest night Vowing thy selfe a Slaue to her affection , Praiting the loucly tresses of her haires Inchanted threds of gold , delightfull snares . 82 Which held thee captiue , in which bondage thou Inioy'dst most freedome , as thy selfe wast wont With fearefull protestations to vow , Casting each night a most exact account Of her new purchast fauours , now intomb'd Lies putrifide , to loath fomnesse consum'd . 83 Behold her hands vnto thy hands adioyn'd Whose wanton fingers pretily did weaue Themselues with mutuall amitie conioyn'd Within thy fingers , whose moist palmes did leaue In thine the witnesse of vnbridled lust , Are now consum'd to nothing , or to dust . 84 Doc but imagine that she were expos'd Set out withall the ornaments of Art For thee to sport thy selfe withall , inclos'd Within thine armes to act a louers part , Which so delightfull was but euen now Sealing each wanton promise with a vow . 85 No sighes would from fond Ielousie arise Within thy breast , for feare of her displeasure No obseruations how she cast her eyes On thy corriuall , or in what a measure She intertain'd his loue , but couldst betide , Him to repose in quiet by her side . 86 No wanton Poems in her praise are penn'd , No fauours worne , no drinking of her health , No challenges her honour to defend , Nor yet nocturnall visits made by stealth , No scruants brib'd , fond parents to deceiue , But free accesse without demanding leaue . 87 Where the Earths Common wealths men , each poore worme Into her priuate Bed-chamber repaires And rudely rifles her religious vrne , Makes no distinction twixt those precious wares So highly priz'd but euen now , and those Which nature doth of courser stuffe compose . 88 Or when thy lips , hands , feet shall dare to touch Forbidden fruit , or tread vnhallowed patl●●… Or pallet is delighted ouermuch , Or limbes , with curious dishes , wanton bathes , Which for the present so thy fancie please , In thy dull graue thou shalt find none of these . 89 Thinke when thy squemish smell not satisfi'd With such as nature freely doth produce Takes it in snuffe , if that it be not cloy'd With forc'd perfumes , vnnaturall stil'd iuice Whose stinking carcasse dead a day or two , One hardly can approch within the view . 90 No maruell then though artificiall care To natures imperfections we giue , Since to our selues our selues more lothsome are Then any other creature that doth liue Which if we want with speed we buried are Left our corruption should infect the aire . 91 Why are we then so curiously cloth'd With borrowed beauties , perriwiggs , perfumes , Deceitfull dressings , that shall soone be loath'd , Eu'n of our selues , disrob'd of others plumes , Put by the vaile which modestly doth hide Immodestnature , and behold thy pride . 92 That body which was lately entertain'd With all varietie of daintie meate , Soft pillowes , beds of Downe , so richly chain'd , Wrapt warme from cold , laid open in the heate , On which the winds were scarce allow'd to blow , Of all the world neglected , lies fullow . 93 Within the limits of a winding sheet Confin'd , both breathlesse , and disrob'd of all Those flattring ornaments from head to feet If one lament , ten glory in thy fall , Who by thy long life haue beene much perplext , Although perhaps their owne turne shall be next . 94 But yet to die were nothing , if we could Our fowle misdeeds and sinfull acts intreate To stay behind vs , then no doubt we should Speed well enough , but O alas they threate Our euerlasting ruine , and will cry To heau'n for veng'ance , when we come to die . 95 Then drunkennesse will seeme a mortall sinne Which passeth now but for good fellowship ; And Lechery be solemnly brought in As matter of damnation , which doth slip When we are well , but for a trick of youth : Till death we neuer truly know the truth . 96 Detraction then , that white-fac'd Deuill , sent From hell , attired in a Saint-like weed Pretending good , more cunningly to vent Her malice , and for eu'ry graine of seed Whole measures sowes of Cockell , will ( I feare ) Like leprosie vpon thy soule appeare . 97 Which passeth now for table-talke , and serues Them for discourse , else knew not what to say To picke a thanke , and happily deserues An inuitation the next holi-day From those that listen after nouelties And seldome but take vp with forged lies . 98 So easie of beliefe we are in things Tend to another mans disparagement , But he that any well-deseruing brings In question , if he gaine tacit assent , T is all that he must looke for , as afraid By others worths , our wants should be betraid . 99 The violating of a Fathers will , Or trust repos'd in one friend by another , Dam'd vsury now held a veniall ill , Hypocrisie that doth all mischiefe smother , As black as hell will in thy sight appeare , And with remorse thy very heart-strings teare . 100 Each triuiall transgression then will seeme A capitall offence , nor shall we be Backward to craue their pardon we esteeme Our chiefest enemies , in all things free Both to knowledge and remunerate All iniuries , our tender conscience grate . 101 O could our liuing actions correspond But with our dying thoughts , how seldome then Should we transgresse , or violate the bond Which God and nature hath impos'd on men But O our resolutions then too strong When we are well seldome continue long . 102 Much like a fellon that s condemn'd to dye , For misdemeanour sues for a repriue An humble knee and pitty mouing eye , With heau'd vp hands ( each to excell doth striue ) Plead for their Lord , with whom they stand or fall , Who being inlarg'd proues often worst of all . 103 What Casar is it when he comes to lie Vpon his death-bed , ready for the graue But he could wish that he had liu'd to die A holy Hermit in some hollow Caue , And spent those houres in pious meditations Were cast away in fruitlesse recreations . 104 What ioyes vs most and giueth bese content Wealth , honour , beautie , valour , soueraigntie , When death approcheth , doth vs most tormen And trench vpon our present miserie : By how much we enioy whil'st that we liue , The greater is th' account we haue to giue . 105 It is not all thy gold can purchase then A minutes respite to repent , nor all The drugs Phisitions minister to men , Who doe themselues the helps of nature call Can spin out time ( so preualent is death ) To giue thee leaue to breath another breath . 106 The mightie Monarch of the world , whose power No humane force can limit , here erects His ne plus vltra : Looke he ne're so sower , Grim Death feares not his frowes not force respects , Inexorable strikes him to the heart , Kils him stone dead before he feeles in smart . 107 Th' ambitious Statesman with his working braine , Th' officious Courtier , with forc'd complement , The Grand Madam with all her buxome traine Th' ingenious Sycophant , the male-content To plot , collogue , sport , gibe , repine , desist At death sad summons with a head I wist . 108 When all thy limmes are wrackt with dying paine , With cold dead sweat all couerde ouer , thinke What thornie thoughts will then distract thy braine , How many Cups of Sorrow thou wilt drinke , And sad repentance , when thou shalt behold , Thy sinnes as in a Catalogue inrold . 109 What then will pleasure and commodities Of this vaine world auaile thee , Princes fauours , Victorious conquests ? 'gainst thine enemies , In office great , and by thy owne endeuours Thy Children , Kinsfolkes in abundance left , When thou poore soule shalt be of all bereft . 110 Imagine thou wast euen now to die ( For so thou art for ought that thou canst tell ) And then examine whether nothing lie Heauy vpon thy guiltie conscience well From all impartialitie be free , Then thinke each bell that toles , toles out for thee . 111 Vse but the selfe-same diligence thou wouldst In case thy body were infirme and ill For thy soules health ( as reason good thou shouldst ) Or for thy friends , how many are there will Ride day and night nay venter their owne liues To saue a friends when for the soule none striues ? 112 Doth but a finger ake , much more the head Or stomacke be distemperd straight we runne To a Phisition and recouered What diligence those meates and drinkes to shunne Procuring such infirmitie we vse But proferd Phisick for our soules refuse . 113 Neglect th' anointed of our Lord , nay spit The venome of our malice in the face Of Church authoritie and slander it To make our owne disorders no disgrace , And ioy to spie a fault where there is none In one of them , to mitigate our owne . 114 We thinke all cost too little we bestow Vpon our selues , the greatest enemy We haue , to hasten our owne ouerthrow But poore halfe staruen mendicants deny A slenderalmes , or if some few we giue , Thinke it sufficient how so ere we liue . 115 A certaine good religious Prince being aske , By one of his ( a carelesse Courtier ) why From his delights , he so himselfe had taste And did not spend his dayes in Iollitie As others did ? to whom he little said , But by example thus his answers made . 116 First placing him vpon a rotten chaire Hung vp in cords , and vnderneath a fire , Ouer his head a naked sword , a haire , Supporting it , then said learne to aspire , And shew a cheerefull countenance , and be Merry thy selfe as thou inuitest me . 117 Who thus replyde , my Lord can I reioyce , Seeing the fatall period of my life Present with such varietie and choice Of casualties , on euery side me rife , A rotten seat , a fire vnderneath , A naked sword , all threatning present death . 118 Such is my case answer'd the Prince to him , My bodie weake , and doth each moment waste , Hell vnderneath the recompence of sinne , The sword of Iustice ouer me is plac't , These are the motiues why I doe retire , Death , iudgement , heauen and hels eternall fire . 119 O foolish man that neuer wilt impose An end vnto thy follies , yet canst say Vnto thy selfe in priuate only those Shall smile in death who neuer ran that way ; Then wrong not so thy iudgement as to doe What thine owne conscience pleads thee guilty to . 120 But some the better to aduance their folly , Discourse of death , and they reply , you le put Me straight into a fit of Melancholy , Flinging away in anger , or else shut Their eares , and wish you alter your discourse , Or basely iest you out on 't , which is worse . 121 Others not only grumble when they heare Of death , but if you chance to bring their age In question ( though perhaps they be not neere Gray haires ) will enter strait into a rage Challenge your breeding , nothing else disgest But their owne commendations , merit least . 122 These are the carelesse crew of Libertines Spending their dayes in sensualitie , Hauing no other end in their designes , Of whom thus holy Iob doth prophesie . Amidst their pleasures and delights they dwell , And in a moment are thrust downe to hell . 123 O fearefull sentence , able to awake A sinne sicke soule though nere so fast asleepe , Cause the religious Anchoret to quake , And euery minute his pale visage steepe With brinish teares , sinne only life and death Are separated with a little breath . 124 Authore incognito . THreescore and ten the life and age of man In holy Dauids eye was but a span . And halfe that time is lost and spent in sleepe , So only thirty fiue for vse we keepe . Our dayes of youth must be abated all , Childhood and youth wise Salomon doth call But vanitie , for vanitie he sayes , Is what befals vs in our childish dayes . Our dayes of age we take no pleasure in , And those of sorrow wish had neuer bin . So age deducted , youth and sleepe and sorrow , Only one span is all the life we borrow . 125 What can the World aduance vs , though we should Be numberd amongst those cald fortunate , We are but cast within the finer mould , And made more brickell , greatnesse of estate Doth but augment our cares , preferment winne Of popular applause , which nurtures sinne . 126 And puffes thee vp like to a windie bladder Tost in the ayrie Element of fame , So by degrees thou climst the fatall Ladder Making thy fall the greater and thy shame . O feele thy pulse , the horologue of time Which doth each minute more or lesse very fine . 127 Industrious nature hath not beene so free In her indowments thou shouldst be so proud , Allotting euery liuing thing but thee , Wherewith they may defend themselues , and shrowd Their nakednesse ; man only left to reason , Which once infringde he 's guilty of high treason . 128 When hellish thoughts thy easie yeelding will Transport , for profit or for pleasures sake , Without reflection be it good or ill , Iust , or vniust , that thou dost vndertake , Reflect vpon the comfort thou shalt haue Of th' one , or th' other , in thy ioylesse graue . 129 Thinke but how many houres thou hast spent In furbushing a painted peece of clay When few or none were to deuotion lent . And what small comfort it will be that day : Thy guiltie soule her fatall doome to heare , Before the Iudge of Iudges shall appeare . 130 But that which doth deceiue vs chiefly is Vaine hope of a long life , deferring still From time to time ( nor thinke we doe amisse ) Consideration of our death , vntill Old age but he that is not apt to day , Tomorrow will be lesse , more apt to stray . 131 Besides no humane diligence can steere A course so euen through the rugged Seas Of this tempessuous Ocean , be we neere So vigilant , but whilst we studie these , Now those disasters ( boding death ) to shun , Vnto our graues with greater speed we run . 132 For feare of some contagious pestilence , We flie from this place , and relinquish that , No harbor yeilds a secure residence , That is not subiect to be leueld at By millions of mischances , though we flie From th' articke , to th' antarticke , we must die . 133 Some scarce on this , on that more freely feed , For each man 's held to be his owne Physition , And all is but to die with greater heed , Things oft repeated makes the deep'st impression . So death 's to him most terrible of all Taketh most paines t'anticipate his fall . 134 The painfull ploughman laboureth to eat , And doth esteeme his Physick best of all , Then eats to labour till he drop with sweat , Without obseruing any principall Of Gallen , or Hipocrates , whom hee Values no more then his old axeltres . 135 But cryes rise early , goe to bed betimes , Feed hard , and hardly , labour for disgestion , And hath no leasure to be bad , all crimes Includes in warre , dearth , famine and oppression , Thinketh who scapes them , and obserues the rest , May write a hundred ere he die at least . 136 But what auailes such dull securitie Wherein he liues , or rather dreames away Irreuocable time , when as wee see Him dead and buried ere his grasse be hay , Before the graine which his owne hands had sowne Be fully ripe , and is by others mowne . 137 When thy bewitching bed inuites sweet rest , After the toylesome trauels of the day , 'T is but an embleme of thy graue , exprest In finer colours , and more rich aray , By the soft pillow swelling on each side , Thy drowsie head , a greene turfe specifide . 138 The silken vailes which seeme to banish light Doe represent thy herse , their rings the bels , Which drawne stand for thy passing peale that night , The Couerlite which round about thee swels , Thy rising graue resembles which ore growne With grasse , searce by thy dearest friends is knowne . 139 And if perchance a bed-fellow thou haue According to thy hearts desire chosen , What is it , but two bodies in one graue , Repleate with heate : the other cold and frozen : So farre we are mistaken whilst the Sunnes Beames scorch ; but marke not how the shadowe runnes . 140 For one of these remou'd perhaps within A moneth or two another doth possesse The place scarce cold ( as no such thing had bin Forgot ) enioying all that happinesse Thou for a time call'dst thine ; but now interr'd Into thy place another is preferr'd . 141 Besides the certaine period of mans life By course of nature incident to all , How many fearefull , accidents more rise Then all diseases set together , call Vs hence at vnawares , whilst that we be In th' hight of glorie and prosperitie . 142 Obserue the common currents of the time , Enquire what newes ( which nature doth desire ) And thou shalt heare of some one in the prime Of youth and nature murder'd , or by fire , Or water , ended , his vntimely race The worlds no mausion but a baiting place . 143 Great Iulius Caesar in the Capitall When he had conquer'd all the world was slaine , Who came more like a God vnto his fall ( So did proud Rome her Victor intertaine ) Then a poore mortall , to breath forth his life By the fell passage of a fatall knife . 144 So did braue Frances Henry third , and fourth , ( Nor let vs name the last without a teare ) In whose true noble breast was lodg'd all worth That from a Prince might challenge loue , or feare , Whose towring thoughts to such things did aspire , He may be said a man compos'd of fire . 145 But why should we the limits of our owne Vnhappy Iland violate , to find Examples , as if we had none at whom , Our second Edward , Richard , call to minde : Nor let vs leaue a Buckingham forgotten ; Whose marrow boyling bones are hardly rotten . 146 To you foundmen these lines I dedicate Who feare to die , whose moderne pastimes sway Your giddie thoughts , t' vnfold the booke of fate And view what we were once and what to day , And what we shall be , how things ebbe and flow Through obuious paths vnfit for vs to know . 147 Beleeue and loue , admire and adore , More knowledge by an humble resignation We purchase then by often turning ore , Th' inscrutable designes of our Creation . What by experience we may daily learne Sufficient is mans frailtie to discerne .

Ouidij Lib. 15. Most exquisitely Englished by Master GEORGE SANDYS . 148 DOth not the Image of our age appeare , In the successiue quarters of the yeare . The spring-tide tender , sucking infancie Resembling , then the iucefull blade sprouts high , Though tender weake , hope to the Ploughman yeelds , All things then flourish ; flowers the gaudie fields With colours paint , no vertue yet in leaues , Then following Summer greater strength receiues A lusty youth , no age more strength acquires , More fruitfull or more burning in desires . Mature Autumne heate of youth alaid . The sober meane , twixt youth and age more staid , And temperate in Sommers waine repaires His reuerent Temples , sprinkled with gray haires . Then comes old Winter void of all delight With trembling steps , his head , or bald , or white , So change our bodies without rest or stay , What we were yesterday , not what to day Shall be tomorrow , once alone of men , The seed and hope the wombe our mansion , then Kind nature shew'd her cunning , not content That our vext bodies should be longer pent In Mothers stretched entralls , forthwith beare Them from the prison to the open aire . We strengthlesse lye when first of light possest , Straight creepe vpon all foure much like a beast ; Then staggering with weake nerues stand by degrees , And by some stay support our feeble knees . Now lusty , swiftly runne , youth quickly spent , And those our middle times incontinent We sinke in setting age , this last deuoures The former , and demolisheth their powers . Old Milo wept when he his Armes beheld Which late the strongest beast in strength exceld , Bigge as Alcides brawnes , in flagidie hide , Now hanging by slacke sinewes , Helen cride When she beheld her wrinckles in a glasse , And askt her selfe why she twice rauisht was . 149 Thus did the heathen rightly contemplate ( Without the abstruse misteries of faith ) Vpon the mutabilitie and state Of mans mortalitie ; wherein he hath Discreetly taught vs Christians what to doe , Reflecting what must certainly ensue . 150 Which if we did so many would not runne Such headlong courses to their owne perdition But striue with earnest diligence to shunne Those things which passe for mirth and recreation , And not conceiue that time lost or mispent Not dedicated to some meriment . 151 For know that man to Gods owne Image fram'd , Indu'd with reason , and supernall grace , Was but here plac'd by his Creator ( uam'd Lord o're all other creatures ) for a space , To serue as 't were his prentiship , that hee ( His precepts kept ) of Heauen might make him free . 152 And not to liue and die like beasts , whose soules Transcend no farther then their bodies goe , Gouern'd by sence , whom nothing else controls But mans prerogatiue , and their owne woe . For were it so ( which for to think 's a sinne ) Better for man't were neuer to haue bin . 153 Since not to know what knowne must be forgotten ( For what we neuer had cannot be lost ) A great deale better is besides paines taken To liue , with worldly crosses is so saus'd , That were our pleasures measured with our paine , Few would the one , the other to regaine . 154 Only the hope of heauen in vs hath So great a stroke , by miracle confirm'd , The radicall foundation of our faith , By stedfast hope and charitie discern'd , That to a man who weighes all things aright To die's to liue , to liue 's but small delight . 155 Yet too too many whom bewitching wealth , Soule-killing honour , momentany pleasures , Inuest , with an addition of good health , Would hardly earths exchange for heauenly treasures , Such is the dull stupiditie of those Whose faith no farther then their knowledge goes . 156 Still loath to die , though Charons boat hath staid Full quarter ebbe ; gray haires , greene thoughts retaine , With no infirmity of age dismaid , Though scarce the figure of a man remaine , Both Dotards , toothelesse , grisselesse , and bald , Nasty , crook-backt , in euery member gald . 157 These are so coltish that they die their haire , Weare Periwigs , shaue themselues twice aday , Ingraft new teeth within their heads which were Writhen from some Hogs chaps ; disport and play , With a youg Pigs nye , as if nature sent A fresh supply of what before was spent . 158 But as in weaknesse , so in wickednesse , Doe your old doting women beare the bell Though nere so much appaild with age , expresse Their good will struing euer to excell Your fondest Wanton , in whose mouthes still rise The Prouerbe for their warrantie . Lifes Life . 159 Dawbing their slaggie cheekes , anoint their nerues , Stand poring in a glasse , expose their dugges , Prouoke stale nature with restoritiues ; Write loue letters , dance galliards , with their drugges , And tempting gold , insight some smooth fac'st boy , In that which is loues remedie to ioy . 160 Tell these of death , that one foots in the graue , Vnto the market ( straight they will be bold To answere ) come ( so many shifts they haue ) The young sheep-skin as soone as doth the old . Thus nuzeld in their sensualitie Towards death and hell they post on merrily . 161 The husbandman t' exchange a barten soile May with much ease and pleasure be perswaded , In hope of better , where his daily toile With equall profit may be richly laded , But where small profit and lesse pleasures taken . That s without great repugnancie forsaken . 162 For he whose loe rooft fortune doth afford Him only necessary maintenance , And can his mind to such small meanes accord , Liues truly happy , and with confidence Meets death halfe way , in hope soone to possesse A Kingdome of eternall happinesse . 163 Only the poore Religious man enioyes What we with so much diligence pursue ; Who all things deemes as necessary toyes That vnder heauen can come within his view . So that in fine the matter well debated We cannot say he dies , but is translated . 164 No tempting titles , nor bewitching wealth , No costly cates , food only to preserue Decrepid nature , and maintaine good health , The better to enable him to serue His Lord and maker he desires ; whose storè , Doth totally consist in being poore . 165 He that s to grapple with his enemie , Slips of his looser garments , and betakes Him to his trowses . Superfluitie Of temporall additions likewise makes Vs more vnapt and weaker to withstand Hellish temptations euer more at hand . 166 The greatest Monarch when he comes to die , And that poore puffe of breath he breathes exhal'd , Tell me what is he more then thou or I A stinking carcassie , wither'd and appal'd , Only wrapt vp within a finer sheet , More helpes of art apply'd to keepe it sweet . 167 It makes a greater blunder in the world , More ioyfull mourning Liueries are worne , Some few deneires amongst the vulgar hurl'd , A score or two of torches more are borne Before his herse , more hymnes , and dirges sung , More ceremonie vs'd ; more bels are rung . 168 And in the Chuch a richer tombe shall haue , Where none but Kings and Queenes haue been interr'd Of his owne Line ; yet all is but a graue Before the rest on 's neighbours graues preferr'd , Most for the golden superficies deem'd , So superficiall men are most esteem'd . 169 A mercenarie Epitaph his Shrine Shall grace , more for the Poets praise then his ; Which shall not be engrau'd on yours or mine , But what aduantage hath he by all this ? He 's the vnworthy burthen of a wombe , That nothing leaues behinde him but a Tombe . 170 'T is true Kings haue their Chronicles , wherein For one good deed ten bad ones are recorded , If they haue any priuiledge therein Let no man grutch it should be them affoorded , May my good actions with my bad ones die , Rather then flourish with my infamy . 171 But great ones greater priuiledges craue , Wherefore I know not , and growne confident Doe any thing , for which they can but haue Any , though , neere so slightly president . We heed not mens religions but their liues , Example more then precept edifies . 172 Though we looke nere so sterne , be nere so stout , Though nere so valiant , full of actiue slight , Though nere so wittie , cautelous and yong , The glory of a Nation and delight , Nature to such securitie doth giue Ten thousand wayes to die , but one to liue . 173 The poore thatcht cottage can as soone repell Deaths furious implacabilitie , As can the Louuer , or th' Escuriell , And with a great deale more facilitie . Saint Angelo , Diogenes tub , with like Successe and resolution doth it strike . 174 Plutarch vpon Scipio . Deuicto Hannibale , capta Carthagine , & aucto Imperio , hoc cineres Marmore tectus habet , Cui non Europe , non obstitit Africa quondam , Respice res hominum quam breuts vrna premit . 175 Plutarch vpon Scipio . Fierce Hannibal orecome Carthage surpriz'd , His Empire much augmented's here compriz'd , Whom Africa , nor Europe could withstand , Behold man brought vnto a narrow strand . 176 Waue-mounting vessels with a full-stretch● saile , Though rigg'd and tackeld nere so well , at last When Scilla , nor Caribdis can preuaile , With wormes of their owne generation waste . Though all externall accidents we scape , Nature it selfe will perpetrate the rape . 177 When Dauid felt his bosome swell with pride , ( A man according vnto Gods owne heart ) Thus he began himselfe , himselfe to chide , Dost thou not know poore creature what thou art , Naked thou camst into the world with paine , From whence thou naked shall returne againe . 178 Philip a King of Macedon , we reade With this inscription daily was saluted Leauing his lodgings , that he might take heed , The better what with his great weaknesse shuted . Remember man that thou art mortall still To subiugate a Refractorie will . 179 Great Chrales sed fifteene beggers euery day , With his owne hands , an antidote for pride , Which spectacle would Princes duly lay Before their eyes so many would not guide The Sterne of State so Imperiously , but know The debt is equall that we mortals owe. 180 Henry the Second King of France was slaine With one poore spill flew from a broken speare In th' hight of triumphs , caus'd to entertaine His Daughters Nuptiall , when he least did feare Deaths fierce assault who finds as many doores To enter in ▪ as we haue nerues and pores . 181 Tarquin was merry when a small fish bone Stucke in his throat and choakt him , so we reade Of Fabius with one small haire alone , Swallow'd in milke was instantly found dead . Set these sad spectacles before thine eye , And let thy foule misdeeds before thee die . 182 Time past thou canst not properly call thine ▪ Of that to come thou hast least certaintie ▪ Not sure to liue one minute , so in fine Amidst of all thy iouiallitie , One only point of nimble footed time , Is all thou hast to bragge on , or call thine ▪ 183 How many goe vnto their quiet rest , In perfect health of bodie and of minde ; Resolu'd to be the next day at some feast , Or merriment , expecting there to find All things that may administer delight , Who disappointed are by death that night . 184 The ioyfull Bridegroome to the Church repaires , With his faire Mistris , brighter then the Sunne , And for no cost that may delight her spares , Proud of the prize with difficulty wonne , Who liue not both ( although together wed ) To taste the pleasures they imagined . 185 The greedie griping Purchaser oft times Giues earnest for the soyle he neere enioyes , And he that plants the Vineyard , prunes the Vines , All his endeuours totally imployes To see it flourish neither tastes the wine , Nor eates the grapes , for which he spent his time . 186 The Clyents fees the Lawyer pleads ; the cause Rests with the Iudge in his most priuate brest For good or bad successe ▪ as he doth pause Vpon the matter death doth him arrest , Tels him the verdict vnder hand and seale Against himselfe is past , without repeale . 187 Nugamur mortemque procul , procul esse putamus , At medijs latet haec abdita visceribus , Scilicet ex illa qua primum nascimur hora , Prorepunt iuncto vitaque morsque pede . Partem aliquam furtim , qua se metitur & ipsa , De vitae filo quelibet hora rapit . Paulatim morimur momento extinguimur vno , Vt lampas olco deficiente perit . 188 We trifle as if death were nothing nie , When it doth lurking in our bowels lie , For hand in hand from our first houres birth Death walkes withlife , to qualifie our mirth , Stealing each minute though perceiu'd by none , Part of lifes clue , to lengthen out her owne . So by degrees we in a moment die , As when a Lampe for want of oyle growes drie . 189 The Deuill casts such mists before our eyes That what is neerest we thinke farthest of , Beliefe soone enters where desire lies ; Which makes vs looke on Funerals and laffe . Although we see our fellowes daily die Promise vnto our selues eternitie . 190 Obiecting what caus'd this , what that mans death . Who else had liued many a faire yeare , Reflecting not we draw the selfe-same breath , And lyable to those mishaps they weare , Nor that the yong sheepe commeth from the fold As soone vnto the slaughter , as the old . 191 A thiefe condemn'd to die although he goe Vnto the place where he must suffer death Farther then doth his fellowes , or more slow , Knowes he must die , and his protracted breath But multiplies his miseries , well knowing Though he goe nere so slowly yet he 's going . 192 And when thou waking liest in thy bed , How often dost thou heare the passing bell For some departing soule not fully dead , Perchance some friend thou louedst deerely well With whom not long before thou oft hadst bin Copartner in some execrable sin . 193 When discontents our vexed soules oppresse , We value it a happinesse no more To breath this loathsome ayre ; forgot , no lesse Forward in folly then we were before Only those freely may reioyce in death Who with content , drew discontented breath . 194 How many brought ( to vse the common phrase ) During this momentary Pilgrimage Euen to deaths doore , returning in a maze Make holy vowes to heauen , and engage Their soules for true performance , which within One moneths forgot as no such thing had bin . 195 Sea-faringmen , with timerous passengers , Who saile within an inch of death each houre When Neptune rores th' frighted soules deters , How Saint like will they out petitions power , But calme the waues becomming smooth and euen Drinke drunke , and sweare , as they 'd pull God from heauen . ) 196 How penitent , how humble and submisse , A sicknesse shaken sinner thou shalt see , That one would sweare he nere would doe amisse Againe for all the world , recouer'd hee Sooner forgets it then a childe the rod , And violates his plighted troth to God . 197 Thrice happy soules who only liue to breath The little time of innocencie forth , Whose harmelesse thoughts did euer saile beneath The knowledge of the base worlds little worth ! He that is borne to day , and dies to morrow , Looseth some houres of ioy , but moneths of sorrow . 198 Had Pryam dy'd before the walls of Troy Dismantled weare , or Paris , Helene scene , He had gone to his Sepulchre with ioy , Old Hecuba beene buried a Queene ; Anchises need not to haue sought a shore T'interre his bodie , had he dy'd before . 199 Doe not we daily heauen importune ( Though indirectly through a vaine delusion And greedie appetite ) for wealth , which soone Becomes the Author of our owne confusion . The humble Cottage pouertie doth guard , Nor stands in need of either watch or ward . 200 Who would not be a second Cicero , Or sweet tongu'd Ouid , or Demosthenes , Whose too much worth wrought their owne ouer-throw ? ) Sick men desire what 's worst for their disease , Then death there 's nothing we can lesse endure , Yet wish those things which our own deaths procure . 201 Preheminencie is but enuies pray , Be it in wealth , wit , beautie , eloquence , To want , pride , lust , ambition making way , 'Gainst which there is no bulwarke of defence , Nature nere fram'd an excellence so great , Death could not studie some way to defeat . 202 T is strange to see what stratagems men vse To propagate decaying Families . When nature doth her common helpes refuse By rebaptizing their lost progenies , Their names entayling ( for a time good stands ) Vpon their female issue with their lands . 203 And sometimes when the lawfull linage that For many ages hath continu'd falls , In-steps some bastards peremptory brat And his propostrous progeny installs . Death no distinction makes , in whose hands lies The certaine ruine of all Families . 204 Nor priuate men and Families destroyes , But Kings and Kingdomes throwes vnto the ground , Hugh Babels bulke , Hierusalem and Troyes Admired strength , whose memories are found Alone in bookes , so thou proud Rome shalt fall , Who call'st thy selfe the Supreme head of all . 205 Nothing retaines its pristine state , but still Some change or mutabilitie is found , New Cities built , the old decay'd , nor will The setleds Kingdome on this massie round Subsist , but shall to others be transfer'd By course of time their memories inter'd . 206 The World 's the rode , and we the passengers , Are billeted at seuerall Innes , the Crowne Some entertaines , and for Embassadors The Angell is reseru'd , others goe downe Vnto the Miter , or the Cardinals hat , Some to the Plough , some vnto this , some that . 207 Our iournies end is either heauen or hell , To which we all must first or last attaine , Heauen prepar'd for those liue and die well , And hell the wicked destin'd to restraine , Not for a certaine or prefixed time , In this most blest , or that accursed clime . 208 And doth not this wise Worldlings you concerne ! Who make religion but a stalking-horse , And can at euery alteration Perne , Nor eate , nor drinke , nor sleepe a pin the worse . Whom some vntimely death like to a frost In Summer nips , so all your glories lost . 209 What wouldst thou giue when gifts will not preuaile , What wouldst thou do when neither strength nor time Of doings left , when death shall thee assaile , And blast thy forward hopes euen in their prime , Examine the defects of other men , And doe those things which they would haue done then . ) 210 You that broach Schisines , and damned Heresies , Sell your owne soules for sensualitie , To magnifie your dunghill progenies , Teach others for your owne ends libertie . Reflect vpon the doctrine you will teach Vpon your death-beds , and the selfesame preach . 211 Wrong not the all beleeuing Laitie Strooke with a two houres preach into a qualme , Thinke all deuotion , zeale , and pietie , Consisteth in the singing of a Psalme , And turning ore the Bible , which I feare More in their hands , then in their hearts they weare . 212 So blind men iudge of colours , babies chuse The gaudie out-side of a bitter sweet , But good and wholsome sustenance refuse ; More for their health and weake disgestion meere , So did Vlysses cunningly obtaine Achilles armes , his armes could not sustaine . 213 Be Pastors , and not prators , feed your sheepe With wholesome harmeles doctrine , feed not on them , Nor let them wade alone into the deepe , If for them you le not pray , prey not vpon them , It is the chiefest ornament of Art To teach both th' actiue and the passiue part . 214 Gull not the World with an vnblest beliefe , As great Ones doe , if they are not bely'd , To thinke an outward Sanctitie the chiefe Perfection . Gold before its purifi'd Retaines much drosse nor will for currant goe Although it seeme most perfect to the show . 215 Behold fond worldlings one but euen now In prime of nature and contentious wealth , Strook with some sudden chance no man knowes how , At vnawares ; death euer comes by stealth , Vpon his lamentable death-bed lying With all the postures of a man that s dying . 217 Deepe sighes and grones , his colour pale and waune ; No moysture left to coole his parched tongue , The bloud dri'd vp which in his blew vaines ranne , His feeble limbes with nerues and arctures strong Vnable to support each other now , And in their seuerall offices to bow . 216 His eyes growne hollow , and his sinewes drie , Haire from his head , nailes from his fingers fret No part escapes , tor mented he doth lie , The panges of death , distils prodigious sweat , Life to the heart for succour straight retyring Who first receiu'd her , lastly leaues it dying . 217 Meane while th' amazed multitude he wils By his example to be vigilent , And carefull in their wayes , whose cares he fils With wholsome counsell , how they should preuent This mischiefe , that occasion , he imparts In zeale , which neuer penitrates their hearts . 218 Through obuious paths his wandring thoughts amazed Sets them on shore amidst his worldly blisses , On whose vaine obiects he so fondly gazed , And now too late ten thousand times he wishes , His shatter'd vessell ready to be split , With more discretion he had gouern'd it . 219 Then you the witnesse of his youthfull folly , Base Adulators , and Associates He blames , were wont to purge his melancholy ( For so you call deuotion ) at such rates As now his guiltie soule forc'd to be gone At so short warning grieues to thinke vpon . 220 Doubtfull what the euent will be , confides In him alone on whom we all relie , Whose mercies more then all his workes besides , Who neuer doth a penitent denie That humbly begs , though it be nere so late For his transgressions nere so desperate . 221 The soule departed what remaines behind , A loathsome carcasse , by the diligence Of louing neighbours decently inshrin'd , Which other wayes would yeild no small offence ; Hard-hearted creatures that can daily doe Such things , which no impression leaue in you . 222 Conuaid with expedition to the tombe Dust vnto dust the greedy pillagers And Common-wealths men of our mothers wombe Impatient blame their slothfull Haruengers Who giue vs vp amidst our funerall rites , To quench the furie of their appetites . 223 Crawling into the seuerall passages Of our dead bodies , sometimes throw the head , At their owne freedome worke their Voyages , Throw heart , loines , liuer , Epicure like fed , On which they feast , in which each one resides , Pitching his tents , as since their progresse guides . 224 Our Microcosme pillag'd , ransackt , sackt , Raysing the siege leaue only in the roome The stragling ruines of so foule a fact , To time , which they themselues could not consume , Which oft by othersare digg'd vp to find The hidden mysteries are left behind . 225 Some deuote person purchaseth thy skull , On which in 's Closet he doth meditate , Sayes here were lips , eyes , all these hollowes full Of wanton flesh , and sparkling bloud of late , Now only serues me for a looking glasse To see that I am now what this once was . 226 Thus shalt thou be tormented in thy graue , Flowted and geered , thy flesh consum'd , thy bones Scatter'd abroad , on which poore mortals haue No more regard then of so many stones Whose stony hearts such obiects neuer stirre Nor from the least of wickednesse deterre . 227 Some sauage beasts deuoure , as we doe them , To fowles and fishes others are expos'd , Who by degrees returne to vs againe First in a thousand seuerall shapes inclos'd , For whatsoeuer is compos'd of earth's The same , throughout innumerous formes & births . 228 Suppose thou haue the happinesse to die In thine owne Country , at thy proper home , And in thy fathers Sepulcher to lie , Preseru'd for his owne Family alone . He that shall come to seeke thee there shall find Naught but a ruin'd careasse , left behind . 229 The poore remainder of thy wanton flesh , Which scarce the figure of a man retaines , No humane application can refresh , Nor sparkling bloud runs in thy parched vaines , Nor vnchast thoughts the wanton heate returne , Wherewith inflam'd thy sinfull youth did burne . 230 Base is the entertainment thou dost giue Thy liuing friends resort to visit thee , In stead of sweet perfrmes ( when thou didst liue And fluent words of course , then deeds more free ) Distilling forth infectious vapours , such No man thy carcasse can endure to touch . 231 By how much more with choice fare thou wert fed , Whilest thou wast liuing here on earth , thou art So much the more distastfull being dead , If secondarie meanes no helpe impart , For the corruption of the best things , thinke , Make but the greater and the dearer stinke . 232 The most deformedst miserable wretch , The earth inhabits , breath 's the selfe-same aire , The selfe-same bloud our swelling arctures stretch , Runs in his vaines though nere so well we fare , Though not inflam'd with so much actiue heate , Nor doe his pulses with that vigor beate . 233 Here nature ends her storie , fame the rest Lodg'd in the liuing memories of men Preserues , and he that hath deserued best Scarce scapes the frumpe of some malitious pen ; Which though it cannot to the world deface him , Will wracke its vtmost power to disgrace him . 234 The graue Diuine shall flourish in the Schooles , Th' Historian be gratefull vnto all , The wanton Poet only amongst fooles , All bodies both Ecclesiasticall And Politique , their chiefe supporters striue T' immortalize , their same preseru'd aliue . 235 Of which the soule participates alone Without the body , not yet glorifide , According to the measure which the one Or th' others labours benefit confide , Likewise the soule of him shall tortur'd be Leaues workes behind him of impietie . 236 Kings haue their Chronicles , and so shall those Liu'd famous in their times , the vulgar die Whose obscure liues nor challenge verse nor prose , Some seeke to raise their fame from infamy , So Hero stratus kindl'd with desire Of fame , Dianas Temple set on fire , 237 How impiously prouident men are To purchase a selfe perpetuitie , Which way it comes they doe not greatly care , So they be famous , though in infamie , I know not by what fate or fury led Ambitious to be talkt of when th' are dead . 238 Steepe thy dull soule in that Celestiall dew The heauens distill'd vpon the drooping earth For her lost Landlords , through those Stigmats hew Thy way to heauen , by a second birth ; Aduance the Ensigne of our Sauiour Iesus On which he dy'd , from death and hell to ease vs . 239 Then mayst thou smiling looke death in the face Ten thousand times and neuer be afraid , 'T is want of faith fore-stalleth offer'd grace , And is the cause so many are dismay'd . Striuing to haue ( so stupid is poore man ) As much heere of their-heauen as they can . 240 Which men would neuer doe did they beleeue What they professe the ploughman would not toyle Were he not sure of something to releeue His wife and children ( when he tills his soyle ) The next yeare after , nor the footman run But for his hire when the iournies done . 241 If men were confident of heauen and hell , Other then in a superficiall way , They would not loyter as they doe , nor sell Saluation for the pleasure of a day . He were a mad-man would refuse a Crowne For taking vp , when it is laid him downe . 242 What were the troubles , discontents and griefe , We suffer in this transitorie life Compar'd with heauen , had we but beliefe , 'T would breake the necke of all contentious strife , Those frozen Characters the world infest Of thine , and mine , would be in small request . 243 Church-men would not be couetous , and more Ambitious then any other men , Their Symonie would soone be giuen ore , To which the Clarke would gladly say Amen , Whereby it doth appeare in fine , that all Their faith at most is but Apochryphall . 244 The griping Miser would not forfets take Of other mens estates at halfe the worth , Bugger his Gold , nor it his Idoll make , The fruits which infidelitie bring forth . Who would not change , might he continue here , With God Almightic for his Hemisphere . 245 Court Fauourites would not then temporize For their owne ends , imbrace all shapes , all formes , All postures , all religions , sacrifice Themselues vnto the Deuill to raise flormes Amongst the monster multitude , who send Them with remorslesse curses to their end . 246 The want on Lady would not make her bed , The common hospitall of brutish lust , Her wombe the sepulcher of vnborne dead , Nor lawfull heires from their possessions thrust By that adulterate issue she bestowes Vpon her husband vnsuspected goes . 247 The Citie Mushrum would not sweare and lie Himselfe into a liuing , which he leaues Vnto ill prospering posteritie , Who fathers wealth and mothers wit receiues , By which created either Lords or Ladies , Beget a brood of hopefull halfe hatcht babies . 248 The Machiuillian would not vexe his braiue To put in practice his Atheisticall And damn'd positions , did he but retaine A faith two steps aboue historicall , Who holds Religion ( till he come to die ) Merely the subiect of State policie . 249 The Lawyer would not plead his Clients cause . As Mules beare burthens fed still as they goe , Or else stand like an Asse , with hummes and haughes ▪ Tell him he starues it , that he is too slow In prosecution , when in deed the want Is only that he thinkes his fees too scant ; 250 The daintie damsell would not doe those things Her mother would haue blusht t' haue thought vpon And call it breeding ; that shee Deuill brings All out of order in our Nation , So impudent our female sex's are growne That by their garb they scarce from men are known ▪ 251 And thou damm'd Atheist bruter then are brutes Who daily laud and prayse ( each in his kind ) Their Lord , which all thy arguments confutes The hell-hatch issue of a deuillish mind , Looke vp to heauen , thou need'st no other story To speake him God , and manifest his glory . 252 The infant waters gushing from the rockes Imprisoning cauerns murmur as they steere Their head-long course , one to another flockes , And as they draw vnto their end more neere More stubborne grow , and more vnruly then Before , which is most incident to men . 253 One soothes another vp in wickednesse , And presidents for precepts are maintain'd Many oflenders makes th' offence seeme lesse , And custome is not easily restrain'd , ‛ ill habits frame excuses , they ingraft A second nature , hardly to be left . 254 Maintaine not then thy silly brother asse Too high in flesh , for if thou doe hee le kicke And being suffer'd to get heart a grasse Cast downe his master when the spurre doth pricke , And reason good that he should so requite him , Endeuoureth to make his owne Dogge bite him . 255 If he begin vnmannerly to bray , Grow belly proud , or wanton in his pace , Feed him with branne , mixe stubble with his hay , Drinke from the fountaine , sometimes thou maist lace , This tender hide , disturbe him of his sleepe Such things th' vnruly in subiection keepe . 256 If wealth abound , be liberall and free , No man can serue two masters , heauen and earth , If pouerty doe pinch , let patience be The antidote , with a religious mirth , Let no disaster daunt thee , but relie , On stedfast Faith , sweet Hope , blest Charitie . 257 Pieus Mirandula whose learning fam'd Him through the World for depth of speculation Seem'd as it were thereof to be asham'd , Little aduancing to his soules saluation Wishing he had the power ( to vs seemes strange ) With some deuout old woman to exchange . 258 Seeke in the first place what 's first to be sought Nor let thy wandring thoughts at rouers runne , He sayles securest that is eas'ly fraught The work 's halfe ended that is well begunne Euen in goodnesse studie by all meanes Much more in other things t' auoid extreames . 259 He knowes enough that knowes how to liue well For as men liue most commonly they die And vntill death no mortall power can tell What shall befall him , such varietie Of fortunes we are subiect vnto all Let him that stands securest feare to fall . 260 Staine not the beautie of thy noble soule With th' vgly foule deformitie of sinue More horrid then the place from whence it stole , But if through frailtie it should enter in , Permit it not a minute there to dwell . We cannot say he liues that liues not well . 261 Nor can we say he 's dead , although he die According to the common acceptation , Whose innocencie doth like incense flie Vp to the Throne of mercie for saluation Steering a course so solid , smooth and eauen , The finall obiect of his labour's heauen . 262 Mors dominos seruis , & sceptra ligonibus aequat , Dissimiles simili conditione trahens . The Lord , the Slaue , the Pesant , and the King Vnlike in life , in death the selfe-same thing . FINIS .