LIFE. I MADE a posie, while the day ran by: And wither'd in my hand. heart; My hand was next to them, and then my Yet sugaring the suspicion. Farewell, dear flowers, sweetly your time ye spent, Fit, while ye lived, for smell or ornament, And after death for cures. I follow straight without complaints or grief, SUBMISSION. BUT that thou art my wisdom, Lord, Were it not better to bestow Some place and power on me? Then should thy praises with me grow, But when I thus dispute and grieve, I do resume my sight; And pilfering what I once did give, How know I, if thou shouldst me raise, Wherefore unto my gift I stand; I will no more advise : Only do thou lend me a hand, JUSTICE. I CANNOT skill of these thy ways: Lord, thou didst make me, yet thou woundest me: Lord, thou dost wound me, yet thou dost relieve me: Lord, thou relievest, yet I die by thee : Lord, thou dost kill me, yet thou dost reprieve me. But when I mark my life and praise, CHARMS AND KNOTS. WHO read a Chapter when they rise, A poor man's rod, when thou dost ride, Who shuts his hand, hath lost his gold: Who goes to bed, and doth not pray, Who by aspersions throw a stone Who looks on ground with humble eyes, When the hair is sweet through pride or lust, The powder doth forget the dust. Take one from ten, and what remains? In shallow waters heaven doth show: AFFLICTION. My God, I read this day, That planted Paradise was not so firm And strengthen it in every age, When waves do rise, and tempests rage. At first we lived in pleasure; Thine own delights thou didst to us impart : There is but joy and grief; If either will convert us, we are thine: Affliction then is ours; We are the trees, whom shaking fastens more, While blustering winds destroy the wanton bowers, And ruffle all their curious knots and store. My God, so temper joy and woe, That thy bright beams may tame thy bow. G 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; Those clouts are little winding-sheets, Which do consign and send them unto death. When boys go first to bed, They step into their voluntary graves; 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 enclosure maketh love Unto the coffin, that attends his death. When age grows low and weak, Marking his grave, and thawing every year, Till all do melt, and drown his breath |