ON DEATH. Though fortune have set thee on high, To die, dame nature did man frame: Death is a thing most perfect sure : We ought not nature's works to blame; She made no thing still to endure. That law she made when we were born, That hence we should return again : To render right we must not scorn: Death is due debt: it is no pain. Death hath in all the earth a right; The wise, the just, the strong, the high, The chaste, the meek, the free of heart, The rich, the poor-who can deny?— Have yielded all unto his dart. Seeing no man then can death escape, If thou have led thy life aright, Each wight, therefore, while he lives here, VERSES FOUND IN SIR WALTER RALEIGH'S BIBLE. E'en such is time; which takes in trust Shuts up the story And from which grave, and earth, and dust, The Lord shall raise me up, I trust. THE SOUL'S ERRAND. Go, soul, the body's guest, Upon a thankless errand! Fear not to touch the best, The truth shall be thy warrant; Go, since I needs must die, And give the world the lie. Go tell the court it glows, And shines like rotten wood, Go, tell the church it shows What's good, and doth no good: If church and court reply, Then give them both the lie. Tell potentates, they live Acting by others actions, Not lov'd unless they give, If potentates reply, Tell men of high condition That rule affairs of state, Their purpose is ambition, Their practice only hate. And if they once reply, Then give them all the lie. Tell them that brave it most, They beg for more by spending, Who in their greatest cost, Seek nothing but commending. And if they make reply, So give them still the lie. Tell zeal it lacks devotion, Tell age it daily wasteth, Tell wit how much it wrangles Tell wisdom she entangles S Tell physic of her boldness, So give them all still the lie. Tell fortune of her blindness, And if they will reply, Then give them all the lie. Tell hearts they have no soundness, But vary by esteeming, Tell schools they want profoundness, And stand too much on seeming. If arts and schools reply, Give arts and schools the lie. |