The Arbor of Amitie wherin is comprised pleasant Pohems and pretie Poesies, set foorth by Thomas Howell |
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The vanitie of Beautie.
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 | The Arbor of Amitie |  |
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The vanitie of Beautie.
Forme is most frayle, a fading flattring showe,As brickle glasse, it vadth as grasse doth growe.
The more it comes vnto the crease of yeres,
The more it faylth, and lesse the front apperes.
The flagrant flowres, and goodly rubie Rose,
The Uiolets trim, and Lylies white that grose,
Doe not alwayes retaine their sap and sent,
And florishe gay, with smell most redolent.
So though thou spring of beautie passing all,
And bearst the flowre and fame as principall.
Whose peereles view hath blasde thy forme in sight
Which thou to see in glasse takste great delight.
Yet time on face so faire shall forrowes plowe,
And writhed wrincles peere on blemisht browe.
That thou shalt loath to see thy ragged hewe
And hate thy forme in liuely glasse to vewe.
And that which thou hast most delighted on,
Thou shalt it hate and wishe to die anon.
This is most true, by right experience,
The fayrste that euer were are sone gone hence.
Lo Ladie faire, of forme there is no trust,
It soone doth slip, and thou shalt reele to dust.
O greedie eyes bewitcht with things so fraile,
That causeth retchlesse youth in loue to quaile.
Whose witlesse heads on fansies fonde debate,
Such is the slender threed of mortall fate.
| The Arbor of Amitie | |