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Divine Fancies

Digested into Epigrammes, Meditations, and Observations. By Fra: Quarles
  
  
  

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6. On the life and death of Man.

The World's a Theater; The Earth, a Stage
Plac'd in the midst; wheron both Prince & Page,
Both rich and poore; foole, wiseman; base, and high;
All act their Parts in Lifes short Tragedy:
Our Life's a Tragedy: Those secret Roomes
Wherein we tyre us, are our Mothers Wombes;
The Musicke ush'ring in the Play, is Mirth
To see a Manchild brought upon the Earth:
That fainting gaspe of Breath which first we vent
Is a Dumb-Shew, presents the Argument:
Our new-born Cries that new-born Griefes bewray,
Is the sad Prologue of th'ensuing Play:

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False hopes, true feares, vaine ioyes, and fierce distracts
Are like the Musicke that divides the Acts:
Time holds the Glasse, and when the Hower's run,
Death strikes the Epilogue; and the Play is done.