University of Virginia Library

II A 6

[Who justly may rejoyce in ought under the skye?]

Who justly may rejoyce in ought under the skye?
As life, or lands: as frends, or frutes: which only live to dye.
Or who dothe not well know all worldly works are vaine?
And geveth nought but to the lendes, to take the same againe.
For though it lift some up: as wee long upward all:
Such is the sort of slipper welth: all things do rise to fall.
Thuncertentie is such: experience teacheth so:
That what things men do covet most, them sonest they forgo.
Lo Devorox where he lieth: whose life men heeld so deare
That now his death is sorowed so, that pitie it is to heare.
His birth of auncient blood: his parents of great fame:
And yet in vertue farre before the formost of the same.
His king, and countrye bothe he served to so great gaine:
That with the Brutes record doth rest, and ever shall remaine.
No man in warre so mete, an enterprise to take:
No man in peace that pleasurd more of enmies frends to make.
A Cato for his counsell: his head was surely such.
Ne Theseus frenship was so great, but Devorox was as much.
A graffe of so small grothe so much good frute to bring:
Is seldome heard, or never sene: it is so rare a thing.
A man sent us from God, his life did well declare:
And now sent for by god again, to teach us what we are.
Death, and the grave, that shall accompany all that live,
Hath brought him heven, though somewhat sone, which life could never geve
God graunt well all, that shall professe as he profest:
To live so well, to dye no worse: and send his soule good rest.