 | Argalvs and Parthenia |  |
But what can long endure? Lamps wanting oyle,
Must out at last, although they blaze a while;
Trees wanting Sap, must wither; strength and beauty
Can claime no priuiledge to quit that duty
They owe to Time and Change; but like a Vine
(The vnsound supporters failing) must decline:
Poore Argalus growes faint, and must giue o're
To strike; his feeble arme can strike no more;
And natures palefac'd Bayly now destraines
His blood, for that small debt that yet remaines
Vnpaid; His arme that cannot vse the poynt,
Now leanes vpon the pomell; euery ioynt
Disclaimes their idle sinews; and his eye
Begins to double euery obiect by;
Nothing appeares the same it was; the ground,
And all thereon does seeme to daunce the round.
His legs grow faint; and thinking to sit downe,
He mist his Chaire, and fell into a swoune.
Must out at last, although they blaze a while;
Trees wanting Sap, must wither; strength and beauty
Can claime no priuiledge to quit that duty
They owe to Time and Change; but like a Vine
(The vnsound supporters failing) must decline:
Poore Argalus growes faint, and must giue o're
To strike; his feeble arme can strike no more;
And natures palefac'd Bayly now destraines
His blood, for that small debt that yet remaines
Vnpaid; His arme that cannot vse the poynt,
Now leanes vpon the pomell; euery ioynt
Disclaimes their idle sinews; and his eye
149
Nothing appeares the same it was; the ground,
And all thereon does seeme to daunce the round.
His legs grow faint; and thinking to sit downe,
He mist his Chaire, and fell into a swoune.
| Argalvs and Parthenia | |