A Collection of Emblemes Ancient and Moderne: Quickened VVith Metricall Illvstrations, both Morall and Divine: And disposed into Lotteries, That Instruction, and Good Counsell, may bee furthered by an Honest and Pleasant Recreation. By George Wither |
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 | A Collection of Emblemes |  |
235
Illvstr. XXVII.
[This vulgar Figure of a winged glasse]
Live, ever mindfull of thy dying;
For, Time is alwayes from thee flying.
For, Time is alwayes from thee flying.
This vulgar Figure of a winged glasse,
Doth signifie, how swiftly Time doth passe.
By that leane Scull, which to this houre-glasse clings,
We are informed what effect it brings;
And, by the Words about it, wee are taught
To keepe our latter ending still in thought.
The common houre-glasse, of the Life of Man,
Exceedeth not the largenesse of a span.
The Sand-like Minutes, flye away so fast,
That, yeares are out, e're wee thinke months are past:
Yea, many times, our nat'rall-day is gone,
Before wee look'd for twelve a clocke at Noone;
And, where wee sought for Beautie, at the Full,
Wee finde the Flesh quite rotted from the Skull.
Doth signifie, how swiftly Time doth passe.
By that leane Scull, which to this houre-glasse clings,
We are informed what effect it brings;
And, by the Words about it, wee are taught
To keepe our latter ending still in thought.
The common houre-glasse, of the Life of Man,
Exceedeth not the largenesse of a span.
The Sand-like Minutes, flye away so fast,
That, yeares are out, e're wee thinke months are past:
Yea, many times, our nat'rall-day is gone,
Before wee look'd for twelve a clocke at Noone;
And, where wee sought for Beautie, at the Full,
Wee finde the Flesh quite rotted from the Skull.
Let these Expressions of Times passage, bee
Remembrancers for ever, Lord, to mee;
That, I may still bee guiltlesse of their crime,
Who fruitlesly consume their precious Time:
And, minde my Death; not with a slavish feare,
But, with a thankfull use, of life-time, here:
Not grieving, that my dayes away doe post;
But, caring rather, that they bee not lost,
And, lab'ring with Discretion, how I may
Redeeme the Time, that's vainely slipt away.
So, when that moment comes, which others dread,
I, undismay'd, shall climbe my dying-bed;
With joyfull Hopes, my Flesh to dust commend;
In Spirit, with a stedfast Faith ascend;
And, whilst I living am, to sinne so dye,
That dying, I may live eternally.
Remembrancers for ever, Lord, to mee;
That, I may still bee guiltlesse of their crime,
Who fruitlesly consume their precious Time:
And, minde my Death; not with a slavish feare,
But, with a thankfull use, of life-time, here:
Not grieving, that my dayes away doe post;
But, caring rather, that they bee not lost,
And, lab'ring with Discretion, how I may
Redeeme the Time, that's vainely slipt away.
So, when that moment comes, which others dread,
I, undismay'd, shall climbe my dying-bed;
With joyfull Hopes, my Flesh to dust commend;
In Spirit, with a stedfast Faith ascend;
And, whilst I living am, to sinne so dye,
That dying, I may live eternally.
| A Collection of Emblemes | |