Nothing hath got so far, But man hath caught and kept it, as his prey. Herbs gladly cure our flesh, because that they For us the winds do blow; The earth doth rest, heav'n move, and fountains flow. As our delight, or as our treasure: The stars have us to bed; Night draws the curtain, which the sun withdraws : All things unto our flesh are kind Each thing is full of duty: Waters united are our navigation; Distinguished, our habitation; Below, our drink; above, our meat: Both are our cleanliness. Hath one such beauty? Then how are all things neat! More servants wait on man, Than he'll take notice of: in every path He treads down that which doth befriend him, Oh mighty love! Man is one world, and hath Since then, my God, thou hast So brave a palace built; O dwell in it, That it may dwell with thee at last! 'Till then afford us so much wit, That, as the world serves us, we may serve thee, And both thy servants be. UNKINDNESS. LORD, make me tender to offend : In friendship, first I think, if that agree, Unto my friend's intent and end.— I would not use a friend as I use thee. If any touch my friend, or his good name, It is my honour and my love to free His blasted fame From the least spot or thought of blame. I could not use a friend as I use thee. My friend may spit upon my curious floor : And thou within them, starve at door.— When that my friend pretendeth to a place, But when thy grace Sues for my heart, I thee displace; Nor would I use a friend as I use thee. S Yet, can a friend, what thou hast done, fulfil ? Only to purchase my good will ;- LIFE. I MADE a posy, while the day ran by: But time did beckon to the flowers, and they My hand was next to them, I took, without more thinking, in good part Yet sugaring the suspicion. Farewell, dear flowers; sweetly your time ye spent, Fit, while ye liv'd, for smell or ornament; And after death for cures. I follow straight, without complaints or grief; MORTIFICATION. How soon doth man decay ! When clothes are taken from a chest of sweets To swaddle infants, whose young breath Scarce knows the way: They are like little winding-sheets, Which do consign and send them unto death. When boys go first to bed, Sleep binds them fast; only their breath Successive nights, like rolling waves, Convey them quickly, who are bound for death. When youth is frank and free, And calls for music, while his veins do swell, All day exchanging mirth and breath In company; That music summons to the knell, Which shall befriend him at the house of death. When man grows staid and wise, Getting a house and home, where he may move Within the circle of his breath, Schooling his eyes; That dumb inclosure maketh love Unto the coffin, that attends his death. When age grows low and weak, Marking his grave, and thawing ev'ry year, When he would speak; A chair or litter shows the bier, Which shall convey him to the house of death. Man, ere he is aware, Hath put together a solemnity, And dress'd his hearse, while he hath breath As yet to spare. Yet, Lord, instruct us so to die, That all these dyings may be life in death. MISERY. LORD, let the angels praise thy name. Man is a foolish thing-a foolish thing; Folly and sin play all his game. His house still burns; and yet he still doth sing, "Man is but glass, He knows it, fill the glass." How canst thou brook his foolishness? Not he; he knows where he can better be, Than to serve thee in fear. What strange pollutions doth he wed, And make his own, as if none knew but he! No man shall beat into his head, That thou within his curtains drawn canst see: They are of cloth, Where never yet came moth. |