Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845.
A Dittie, Which Sheweth by Example of Diuers Worthy Personages Past in Ancient TimeXIX. Anthony Munday
A
For I of force must leaue thee:
I see my state is most unsure,
And thou hast long deceiude me.
Time bids me minde my latter end,
And that I am but clay;
And euerie hour I doo offend
In manie a wicked waie.
Then farewell sinne,
I will beginne
To sorrow for my wicked life at the last,
And feare to sinne any more;
For when I remember all that is past,
My hart doth bleede therefore.
Who uaunted of his stature,
His strength hath failde and he is gone;
Time forst him yeeld to nature:
And all the courage he possesst
Amidst his flowring dayes,
When death did call him home to rest,
Did uade from him straitwaies.
Then why should I
On strength rely,
Perceiuing that the stoutest hart dooth obey,
When death dooth shew his power?
And so must I needes (as all flesh) passe away;
For strength is but a flower.
Whose wisedome was most excellent,
Among the rest is dead and gone,
For all his prudent gouernment.
And what is he that liueth now
In wisedome most profound?
But death compelleth him to bow,
And brings him to the ground.
If strength then faile,
And wit doth quaile,
Vnwise were I once for to think that I might
Escape the stroke of death;
And know that there is on the earth no one right,
But must resign his breath.
Beautie did nought auaile him:
The welthy glutton eke is gone,
His riches could not vaile him.
And he that had his barnes so thwakt,
And bade his soul take rest,
In one night from his wealth was rapt,
And so was dispossest.
Thus see you plain,
It is in vaine
To make anie certaine account of this life,
Or in yourselues to trust:
Therefore make you ready to part from this strife,
For to the earth you must.