 | Songes and Sonettes |  |
The aged louer renounceth loue.
I lothe
that I did loue,
In youth that I thought swete:
As time requires for my behoue
Me thinkes they are not mete,
In youth that I thought swete:
As time requires for my behoue
Me thinkes they are not mete,
My lustes they do me leaue,
My fansies all be fledde:
And tract of time begins to weaue,
Gray heares vpon my hedde.
My fansies all be fledde:
And tract of time begins to weaue,
Gray heares vpon my hedde.
For age with stelyng steppes,
Hath clawed me with his cowche:
And lusty life away she leapes,
As there had bene none such.
Hath clawed me with his cowche:
And lusty life away she leapes,
As there had bene none such.
My muse dothe not delight
Me as she did before:
My hand and pen are not in plight,
As they haue bene of yore.
Me as she did before:
My hand and pen are not in plight,
As they haue bene of yore.
For reason me denies,
This youthly fole rime:
And day by day to me she cryes,
Leaue of these toyes in time.
This youthly fole rime:
And day by day to me she cryes,
Leaue of these toyes in time.
The wrincles in my brow,
The furrowes in my face:
Say limpyng age will hedge him now,
Where youth must geue him place.
The furrowes in my face:
Where youth must geue him place.
The harbinger of death,
To me I see him ride:
The cough, the colde, the gaspyng breath,
Dothe bid me to prouide.
To me I see him ride:
The cough, the colde, the gaspyng breath,
Dothe bid me to prouide.
A pikeax and a spade,
And eke a shrowdyng shete,
A house of claye for to be made,
For such a gest most mete.
And eke a shrowdyng shete,
A house of claye for to be made,
For such a gest most mete.
Me thinkes I heare the clarke,
That knols the careful knell:
And bids me leaue my wofull warke,
Er nature me compell.
That knols the careful knell:
And bids me leaue my wofull warke,
Er nature me compell.
My kepers knit the knot,
That youth did laugh to scorne:
Of me that clene shalbe forgot,
As I had not ben borne.
That youth did laugh to scorne:
Of me that clene shalbe forgot,
As I had not ben borne.
Thus must I youth geue vp,
Whose badge I long did weare:
To them I yelde the wanton cup
That better may it beare.
Whose badge I long did weare:
To them I yelde the wanton cup
That better may it beare.
Loe here the bared scull,
By whose balde signe I know:
That stoupyng age away shall pull,
Which youthfull yeres did sowe.
By whose balde signe I know:
That stoupyng age away shall pull,
Which youthfull yeres did sowe.
For beauty with her bande
These croked cares hath wrought:
And shipped me into the lande,
From whence I first was brought.
These croked cares hath wrought:
And shipped me into the lande,
From whence I first was brought.
And ye that bide behinde,
Haue ye none other trust:
As ye of claye were cast by kinde,
So shall ye waste to dust.
Haue ye none other trust:
As ye of claye were cast by kinde,
So shall ye waste to dust.
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