University of Virginia Library

To a Lady viewing her self in her Glasse.

LADY;

VVhen Sicknesse, Death's pale Herald does display
His Ensignes in your face, and does array
Your drooping Beautie with an ashie hue,
You straight take counsell of your Glasse, to view
How much those roses, that their blushes shed
O're either cheek, are shrunk, or withered:
When any spot that lustre does imbase,
Which does improve the beauty of your face,
You have recourse unto your Glasse, to see
What part dares shelter that enormitie;
VVhen you with any fashion would comply,
You to your Mirrour straight imploy your eye,
To be inform'd, what correspondence there
Your shadow does with your faire substance beare:
If in your painting there some errour be,
Or in your dresse an incongruitie,
You from your glasse a certaine patterne take,
By which your selfe you ev'n a shadow make.
Since then in all things you your selfe apply
Still to this Christall Index, to discry
Each blemish in your dresse, and each defect
That clouds your beautie, and by that correct
All trespasses, you may instructed be,
By this, to know too your Mortalitie;
Since that fraile Tenement you so perfume
With clouds of Mirrhe, and Gassia, and consume
So much to piece it up, it may repell
Th' assaults of Age, and be defensible
'Gainst Times rude Onsets, will soon fade away,
And languish to a ruinous decay;
And by its transitorinesse declare,
That you your selfe, your shadowes Embleme are.