Nocturnall Lucubrations or, Meditations Divine and Morall. Whereunto are added Epigrams and Epitaphs: written by Rob: Chamberlain |
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On the vanity of Man.
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 | Nocturnall Lucubrations |  |
On the vanity of Man.
To his dearely affected friend, Mr George Leach of Broadclist in Devon.
Like to the Swan on sweet Meanders brink,
Like flowers that flourish in the morne, and shrink
Down with their heads, when sable night appears;
Such is our frailty in this vale of teares.
The gilded gallant, and the tortur'd slave
Cut down by death, come tumbling to the grave.
Not Europes riches, nor an Ajax bold,
Nor men, nor Angels, nor our bags of gold,
Nor he that was the spacious worlds Cōmander,
Cæsar, Pompey, nor an Alexander,
The raging fury of thy Sword asswage.
O then thou Star Commander, dreadfull King,
Whose Fiat makes the trembling world to ring,
Teach us, ô teach us so to know our dayes,
Thereby to rectifie our crooked waies;
That when with Angels, and Archangels thou
Shalt come to judge the world, and make it bow,
We then may render up a good account,
And live with thee upon that starrie mount.
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