University of Virginia Library

The lyfe is long

Comparison of lyfe and death.

The lyfe is long, that lothsumly doth last:
The dolefull dayes draw slowly to theyr date:
The present panges, and paynfull plages forepast
Yelde griefe aye grene to stablish this estate.
So that I fele, in this great storme, and strife,
The death is swete that endeth such a life.
Yet by the stroke of this strange ouerthrow,
At which conflict in thraldom I was thrust:
The Lord be praysed: I am well taught to know,
From whence man came, and eke whereto he must:
And by the way vpon how feble force
His term doth stand, till death doth end his course.
The pleasant yeres that seme, so swifte that runne:
The mery dayes to end, so fast that flete:
The ioyfull nightes, of which day daweth so soone:
The happy howers, which mo do misse, then mete,
Doe all consume: as snow against the sunne:
And death wakes

[_]

makes

end of all, that life begunne.

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Q3r

Since death shall dure, tyll all the world be wast.
What meaneth man to drede death then so sore?
As man might make, that life should alway last.
Without regard, the lord hath led before
The daunce of death, which all must runne on row:
Though how, or when, the lord alone doth know.
If man would minde, what burdens life doth bring:
What greuous crimes to god he doth commit:
What plages, what panges, what perilles therby spring:
With no sure hower in all his dayes to sit:
He would sure think, as with great cause I do:
The day of death were better of the two.
Death is a port, wherby we passe to ioy,
Life is a lake, that drowneth all in pain.
Death is so dere, it ceaseth all annoy.
Life is so leude, that all it yeldes is vayn.
And as by life to bondage man is braught:
Euen so likewise by death was fredome wraught.
Wherfore with Paul let all men wish, and pray
To be dissolude of this foule fleshy masse:
Or at the least be armed against the day:
That they be found good souldiers, prest to passe
From life to death: from death to life agayn
To such a life, as euer shall remain.