XXVIII. Allas a Sea
1
Alas a sea, the world no other is,
our selues are shippes stil tossed to & fro,
& loe, each man, his loue to ye or this,
is like a storm, that driues the ship to go,
that thus our life in doubt of shipwrack slāds:
our wills the rocks, our want of skyll the sands,
2
Our passions be the Pirates still that spoyle,
and ouerboard cast's out our reasons fraight:
the Marriners that day and night doe toyle,
be our conceits that doe on pleasure vvaight:
pleasure Master doth tirannize the ship,
and giueth vertue secretly the nip.
3
The Compasse is a minde to compas all,
both pleasure, profit, place and fame for naught:
the vvinds that blovv, men ouer vveening call,
the Merchandise is vvit full deerely bought:
triall the Anker, cast vpon experience,
for labor, lyfe, and all a doe the recompence.
FINIS.
