Vicissitudo rerum, An Elegiacall Poeme :: :: University of Virginia Library

Vicissitudo rerum, An Elegiacall Poeme

of the interchangeable courses and varietie of things in this world. The first Part [by John Norden]

Norden, John (1548-1625?)

[section]

To the Right honorable Sir VVilliam Howard knight, the Lord Howard of Effingham, Sonne and heyre apparent to the Right Honorable Earle of Nottingham, Lord high Admirall of England.

The Preface.

[Some sing the Regall actes of worthy Kings]

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The Preface.

Syth Time applaudes to see Varieties,
And nought more alters, then Times chāging dayes:
It fits the Time, to sing sad Eligies
Of Things exchanges, florish, and decayes.

And how Things past, rest now, as things forgot,
And Things that are, exchange and come to end.
How Time begins to solue the fatall Knot,
VVhereon the World, and worldly things depend.

Yea, Things aloft of th' mouing Firmament,
Are seene to alter by Times swaying hest,
The Heauens Spheres, Bodies circumferent
Are not as earst, but in their course opprest.

The Elements and elementall things
Do change, and by silent degrees decay.
The Sea and Land, Riuers and water-Springs
Stay not at one, but oft exchange their way.

And Man himselfe stands as a wauing Twig
Bent to and fro, or broken with the wind:
In no state constant, be he base or big.
Ech thing comes diuers, in his proper kind.

As by this first part these are partly seene.
The second showes the alterations
That in the world by course of Time haue beene
In Men, in Cities, Kings, and Nations.