A banqvet of daintie conceits Furnished with verie delicate and choyse inuentions, to delight their mindes, who take pleasure in Musique, and there-withall to sing sweete Ditties, either to the Lute, Bandora, Virginalles, or anie other Instrument. Published at the desire of both Honorable and Worshipfull personages, who haue had copies of diuers of the Ditties heerein contained. Written by A. M. [i.e. Anthony Munday] |
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 | A banqvet of daintie conceits |  |
A Dittie, wherein may be seene by many and sundry examples, that no man ought to giue ouer-much credite to this fraile and transitorie life: but as all other things soone vade and decay, so the life of man hath no greater assuraunce.
When
I sometime begin to thinke vpon
the frailtie of this present life:
Howe soone the pompe of man is gone,
how soone his ioyes are chaunged to greefe.
Good Lord (think I) what mind hath man,
to trust to such a state:
Which frailtie at the first began,
and knowes no certaine date?
Now in ioy, then annoy,
Thus our time we doo destroy,
not minding that we be:
Like the grasse, which soone dooth passe,
Or as our Image in a glasse,
euen so good freends are we.
the frailtie of this present life:
Howe soone the pompe of man is gone,
how soone his ioyes are chaunged to greefe.
Good Lord (think I) what mind hath man,
to trust to such a state:
Which frailtie at the first began,
and knowes no certaine date?
Now in ioy, then annoy,
Thus our time we doo destroy,
not minding that we be:
Like the grasse, which soone dooth passe,
Or as our Image in a glasse,
euen so good freends are we.
Behold how Summer yeerely bloometh foorth,
the goodlie blossomes of the Tree:
Which wastfull Winter counteth little woorth,
and therefore will not suffer them to bee.
And Natures mantell which she spread,
so greene vpon the ground:
Upon a suddaine wexeth dead,
that whilome grew full sound.
Thus are we, if we see,
To things according as they be,
for our example left:
That as they, passe away,
So hath man as little stay,
when course hath him bereft.
the goodlie blossomes of the Tree:
Which wastfull Winter counteth little woorth,
and therefore will not suffer them to bee.
And Natures mantell which she spread,
so greene vpon the ground:
Upon a suddaine wexeth dead,
that whilome grew full sound.
Thus are we, if we see,
To things according as they be,
for our example left:
That as they, passe away,
So hath man as little stay,
when course hath him bereft.
Think on the Ship, that cutteth through ye seas,
and on her suddaine state with all:
Nowe doo the Sailers ride on at their ease,
not fearing what mischaunce may fall.
But in a moment then behold,
when swelling flawes doo rise:
The Ship is split, their harts wexe cold,
and eche for mercie cries.
Thus ere while, they did smile,
When time their fancies did beguile,
now, swallowed in the deepe:
Euen so we, in health now be,
Anon, a lumpe of clay (to see,)
thus death on vs dooth creepe.
and on her suddaine state with all:
Nowe doo the Sailers ride on at their ease,
not fearing what mischaunce may fall.
But in a moment then behold,
when swelling flawes doo rise:
The Ship is split, their harts wexe cold,
and eche for mercie cries.
Thus ere while, they did smile,
When time their fancies did beguile,
now, swallowed in the deepe:
Euen so we, in health now be,
Anon, a lumpe of clay (to see,)
thus death on vs dooth creepe.
When thou doost lay thee downe to take thy rest
and sleepest soundly void of care:
An Image of thy death is there exprest,
which steales on thee before thou canst beware.
What thing so ere thou takest in hand,
doo thus thy selfe prouide:
That death dooth at thine elbow stand,
and waites no time or tide.
Yong or old, be not too bold,
For life cannot be bought or sold,
For freendshippe or for fee:
The Lordly minde, the homely hind
All flesh must yeeld vnto their kind,
Death spareth no degree.
and sleepest soundly void of care:
An Image of thy death is there exprest,
which steales on thee before thou canst beware.
doo thus thy selfe prouide:
That death dooth at thine elbow stand,
and waites no time or tide.
Yong or old, be not too bold,
For life cannot be bought or sold,
For freendshippe or for fee:
The Lordly minde, the homely hind
All flesh must yeeld vnto their kind,
Death spareth no degree.
Then happy is that man (in sooth) say I,
that can his time so well dyrect:
As at eache howre, he is prepard to dye,
and fleshly hope dooth cleane reiect.
For he that dooth regard the place,
whence all our comfort springs:
Accounts this earthlie honor base,
he mindeth heauenly things.
For there is ioy, without annoy,
Let vs then so our times imploy,
that there may be our rest:
Thus wish I all, both great & small,
To such repentance they may fall,
to liue among the blest.
that can his time so well dyrect:
As at eache howre, he is prepard to dye,
and fleshly hope dooth cleane reiect.
For he that dooth regard the place,
whence all our comfort springs:
Accounts this earthlie honor base,
he mindeth heauenly things.
For there is ioy, without annoy,
Let vs then so our times imploy,
that there may be our rest:
Thus wish I all, both great & small,
To such repentance they may fall,
to liue among the blest.
FJNIS.
| A banqvet of daintie conceits | |