 | Saint Peters complaint (1595) |  |
Life is but losse.
By force I liue in will I wish to dye,
In plaint I passe the length of lingring dayes,
Free would my soule from mortall body flye,
And tread the tracke, of deaths desired wayes;
Life is but losse, where death is deemed gaine,
And loathed pleasures breede displeasing paine.
In plaint I passe the length of lingring dayes,
Free would my soule from mortall body flye,
And tread the tracke, of deaths desired wayes;
Life is but losse, where death is deemed gaine,
And loathed pleasures breede displeasing paine.
VVho would not dye to kill all murdering greeues,
Or who would liue in neuer dying feares?
VVho would not wish his treasure safe from theeues,
And quit his hart from pangues, his eyes from teares?
Death parteth but two, euer fighting foes,
VVhose ciuill strife, doth worke our endlesse woes.
Or who would liue in neuer dying feares?
VVho would not wish his treasure safe from theeues,
And quit his hart from pangues, his eyes from teares?
Death parteth but two, euer fighting foes,
VVhose ciuill strife, doth worke our endlesse woes.
56
Life is a wandring course to doubtfull rest,
As oft a cursed ryse to damning leape;
As happie race to winne a heauenly crest,
None being sure, what finall fruites to reape.
And who can like, in such a life to dwell,
VVhose wayes are straite to heau'n, but wyde to hell.
As oft a cursed ryse to damning leape;
As happie race to winne a heauenly crest,
None being sure, what finall fruites to reape.
And who can like, in such a life to dwell,
VVhose wayes are straite to heau'n, but wyde to hell.
Come cruell death why lingrest thou so long,
VVhat doth withhold thy dint from fatall stroke?
Now prest I am alas thou doest me wrong,
To let me liue more anger to prouoke:
Thy right is had, when thou hast stopt my breath,
VVhy should'st thou stay, to worke my double death?
VVhat doth withhold thy dint from fatall stroke?
Now prest I am alas thou doest me wrong,
To let me liue more anger to prouoke:
Thy right is had, when thou hast stopt my breath,
VVhy should'st thou stay, to worke my double death?
If Saules attempt in falling on his blade,
As lawfull were, as ethe to put in vre:
If Sampsons leaue, a common law were made,
Of Abels lot if all that would were sure.
Then cruell death thou should'st the tyrant play,
VVith none but such as wished for delay.
As lawfull were, as ethe to put in vre:
If Sampsons leaue, a common law were made,
Of Abels lot if all that would were sure.
Then cruell death thou should'st the tyrant play,
VVith none but such as wished for delay.
Where life is lou'd, thou ready art to kill,
And to abridge with sodaine pangues their ioy,
VVhere life is loath'd thou wilt not worke their will,
But dost adiourne their death to their annoy,
To some thou art a fierce vnbidden guest,
But those that craue thy helpe thou helpest least.
And to abridge with sodaine pangues their ioy,
VVhere life is loath'd thou wilt not worke their will,
But dost adiourne their death to their annoy,
To some thou art a fierce vnbidden guest,
But those that craue thy helpe thou helpest least.
Auant ô viper, I thy spight defie,
There is a God that ouer-rules thy force,
VVho can thy weapons to his will apply,
And shorten or prolong our brittle course:
I on his mercie, not thy might relye,
To him I liue, for him I hope to dye.
There is a God that ouer-rules thy force,
VVho can thy weapons to his will apply,
And shorten or prolong our brittle course:
I on his mercie, not thy might relye,
To him I liue, for him I hope to dye.
| Saint Peters complaint (1595) | |