ADIEW, my former pleasure, | |
| For I of force must leaue thee: | |
| I see my state is most unsure, | |
| And thou hast long deceiude me. | |
| Time bids me minde my latter end, | 5 |
| And that I am but clay; | |
| And euerie hour I doo offend | |
| In manie a wicked waie. | |
| Then farewell sinne, | |
| I will beginne | 10 |
| To sorrow for my wicked life at the last, | |
| And feare to sinne any more; | |
| For when I remember all that is past, | |
| My hart doth bleede therefore. | |
| |
| I see that ualiant Sampson, | 15 |
| Who uaunted of his stature, | |
| His strength hath failde and he is gone; | |
| Time forst him yeeld to nature: | |
| And all the courage he possesst | |
| Amidst his flowring dayes, | 20 |
| When death did call him home to rest, | |
| Did uade from him straitwaies. | |
| Then why should I | |
| On strength rely, | |
| Perceiuing that the stoutest hart dooth obey, | 25 |
| When death dooth shew his power? | |
| And so must I needes (as all flesh) passe away; | |
| For strength is but a flower. | |
| |
| I see that wise king Salomon, | |
| Whose wisedome was most excellent, | 30 |
| Among the rest is dead and gone, | |
| For all his prudent gouernment. | |
| And what is he that liueth now | |
| In wisedome most profound? | |
| But death compelleth him to bow, | 35 |
| And brings him to the ground. | |
| If strength then faile, | |
| And wit doth quaile, | |
| Vnwise were I once for to think that I might | |
| Escape the stroke of death; | 40 |
| And know that there is on the earth no one right, | |
| But must resign his breath. | |
| |
| I see that faire young Absalon, | |
| Beautie did nought auaile him: | |
| The welthy glutton eke is gone, | 45 |
| His riches could not vaile him. | |
| And he that had his barnes so thwakt, | |
| And bade his soul take rest, | |
| In one night from his wealth was rapt, | |
| And so was dispossest. | 50 |
| Thus see you plain, | |
| It is in vaine | |
| To make anie certaine account of this life, | |
| Or in yourselues to trust: | |
| Therefore make you ready to part from this strife, | 55 |
| For to the earth you must. | |
| |
