University of Virginia Library



A Songe.

Why doth the worlde studye vaynglory to attayne
The prosperytye wherof is shorte and transitory
Whose mighty power, doth fall downe agayne,
Lyke earthen pottes, that breaketh sodaynly.
Beleue rather wordes that be wrytten in Ice
Then the wretched world with his subtylytie:
Disceytfull in Giftes, men onelie to entyce,
Destytute of all sure credence and fydelytie.
Gyue credyt more to men of true Iudgementes
Then to the worldly renowne and ioyes:
Replenysshed with dreames and vayne intentes,
Aboundynge in wicked and noughtye toyes.
Where is now Salomon, in wisdome so excellent?
Where is now Sampson, in battell so stronge?
Where is now Absolon in Beautie resplendent?
Where is now good Ionathas hyd so longe?
Where is now Cesar in victorye tryumphynge?
Where is now Diues, in disshes so dayntie?
Where is now Tully in Eloquence excedynge?
Where is now Aristotle, learned so depely?
What Emperours, kyngs, and Dukes in times past?
What Earles and Lordes, and Captaynes of warre?
What Popes and Bysshoppes, all at the last,
In the twynckynge of an eye are fled so farre?
Howe shorte a Feaste is this worldly ioyenge?
Euen as a shadowe it passeth awaye,
Depryuynge a man of Gyftes euerlastynge
Leadynge to darkedes and not to daye.


O meate of wormes, O heape of duste,
O lyke to dewe clyme not to hye:
To lyue to morowe, thou canst not truste,
Therfore now betyme helpe the nedye
The flesshely Beautie, wherat thou doest wondre,
In holy Scripture is lykened to Haye:
And as a Leafe in a stormye weather,
So is mannes lyfe blowen cleane a waye,
Calle nothynge thyne that maye be lost,
The worlde doth gyue and take agayne:
But set thy mynde on the holy Ghoste,
Despyse the worlde that is so vayne.
Finis.