University of Virginia Library

A Young Man. 50.

The Spring of Time, when Nature mindes to vent,
Her Pride, and best of Beauties, excellent:
And to the Worlde show and exhibite will,
Her Arte Divine, in-Imitable Skill.
Hee is the Loue, and the Delight of th'Eye,
And well considred, singular to see.
His Flesh and Sprite, are at a Iust and Iarring,
And hee is all in Making, or in Marring.
His Wit and Will, stands at intestene Stryfe,
If This, or That, shall Lord and leade his Life.
His Vertues bee in Waxing, or in Waining,
And all his Good, in losing, or in Gaining.
His Thrift is as hee guydes him, and begins,
If Tentlesse, sure hee tynes, if Wisel', hee wins.
His Credit is (what ever bee his Calling,)
And Honour in the Mounting, or the Falling.
His Life is in th'Increasing, or Decay,
And hee walks in the VVyde, or Narrow VVay.
Hee is a Bloome, that's blasted in the Bud,
Or growes to bee a Fruite that's faire and good.
Hee's like a Bird, that dies ere Nature brings
Her to make vse, and venture to her Wings.
Or like a Colt, that is Fensce-fed, and Ydle,
And None can breake, without a Stryping Brydle.
Or Falcon-like, must bee well Mann'd, and Fram'd,
Els hee can nev'r, or hardly, bee reclam'd.
Hee is Dames Natures Darling, and her Io,
And cheefest Charge of Reason is also.
His Exercise is Studie, in his Youth,
Or it is Action, in his elder Grouth.
His Studies are vnto his Pleasures most,
Or vpon Knowledge is bestow'd his Cost,
The Disposition marked of his Mynde,
Declares him Iade-lyke, or of Iennet kynde.
His Carr'age is a Trying Table, or Touch.
That proues him Gentle, or degenred much.
For Youth is lyke to Lumpes of Lead, or Waxe,
That at the Workers Will th'Impression takes.
Which being hardned, and becomming cold,
Th'Indented Dints and forme it hath, doth hold.
The Qualit of his Birth, frames him perforce,
In his Vpbringing better, bee or worse.
And while Experience fine, and Reason fit,
His Vnderstanding, hee's no Man as yet,
No, rather bot a Chylde; and I may say,
With Flatterie to bee deprav'd, a Prey:
And doth consist and stand in such a Cace,
As eyther hee, is in the Way of Grace,
To proue a Sainct; or walking in his Evill,
And Path of Sinne, shall doubtlesse grow a Devill.