University of Virginia Library

Lyke as the rage of raine

The vncertaine state of a louer.

Lyke as the rage of raine,
Filles riuers with excesse,
And as the drought againe,
Dothe draw them lesse and lesse.

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Z3v

So I bothe fall and clyme,
With no and yea sometime.
As they swell hye and hye,
So dothe encrease my state,
As they fall drye and drye
So doth my wealth abate,
As yea is mixt with no,
So mirthe is mixt with wo.
As nothing can endure,
That liues and lackes reliefe,
So nothing can stande sure,
Where chaunge dothe raigne as chiefe.
Wherfore I must intende,
To bowe when others bende.
And when they laugh to smile,
And when they wepe to waile,
And when they craft, begile,
And when they fight, assayle,
And thinke there is no chaunge,
Can make them seme to straunge.
Oh most vnhappy slaue,
What man may leade this course,
To lacke he would faynest haue,
Or els to do much worse.
These be rewardes for such,
As liue and loue to much.