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Of the mutabilitie of the world.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Of the mutabilitie of the world.

By fortune as I lay in bed, my fortune was to fynde
Such fāsies, as my carefull thought had brought into my minde
And when eche one was gone to rest, full soft in bed to lye:
I would haue slept: but then the watch did folow still myne eye.
And sodeinly I saw a sea of wofull sorowes prest:


Whose wicked wayes of sharp repulse bred mine vnquiet rest.
I saw this world: and how it went, eche state in his degree:
And that from wealth ygraunted is, both lyfe, and libertee.
I saw, how enuy it did rayne, and beare the greatest price:
Yet greater poyson is not found within the Cockatrice.
I saw also, how that disdayn oft times to forge my wo,
Gaue me the cup of bitter swete, to pledge my mortall fo.
I saw also, how that desire to rest no place could finde
But styll constrainde in endlesse pain to folow natures kynde.
I saw also most straunge of all how nature did forsake
The blood, that in her womb was wrought: as doth ye lothed snake
I saw, how fansy would retayn no lenger then her lust:
And as the winde how she doth change: and is not for to trust.
I saw, how stedfastnesse did fly with winges of often change:
A fleyng birde, but seldom seen, her nature is so strange.
I saw, how pleasant times did passe, as flowers doe in the mede:
To day that ryseth red as rose: to morow falleth ded.
I saw, my tyme how it did runne, as sand out of the glasse.
Euen as eche hower appointed is from tyme, and tyde to passe.
I saw the yeares, that I had spent, and losse of all my gayn:
And how the sport of youthfull playes my foly dyd retayn.
I saw, how that the litle ant in somer still dothe runne
To seke her foode, wherby to liue in winter for to come.
I saw eke vertue, how she sat the threde of life to spinne.
Which sheweth the end of euery work, before it doth beginne.
And when all these I thus beheld with many mo pardy:
In me, me thought, eche one had wrought a parfite proparty.
And then I said vnto my self: a lesson this shalbe
For other: that shall after come, for to beware by me.
Thus, all the night I did deuise, which way I might constrayn.
To fourme a plot, that wit might work these branches in my brain.