THE WRETCHED 1 seas of worldly pleasures vayne, | |
| The mischiefes and the harmes that come thereby, | |
| The flattering showes that trouble most the brayne, | |
| The noysome lusts and fancies there that lie, | |
| That causers are of euerlasting payne, | 5 |
| I will declare, and which way we should runne, | |
| What course to keep, what dangers we should shun. | |
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| Within these seas, when first we enter in, | |
| When first to wind our sayles committed be, | |
| When pleasantly on calmed streames we swimme, | 10 |
| A mightie rocke we straight at hand may see, | |
| All massie gold, all deckt and garnisht trimme: | |
| The compasse great with corners out doth lye, | |
| The height whereof doth reach the starrie skye: | |
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| A stately rocke beset with diamonds fayre, | 15 |
| And powldred round about with rubies red, | |
| Where emeralds greene do glister in the ayre, | |
| With mantle blue of saphyres ouerspred; | |
| Where wants no stone that Nature can repayre: | |
| Another heauen for the time it seemes, | 20 |
| And oft for heauen foolish man it deemes. | |
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| With swelling sandes it lyes encompast round, | |
| And many a ragged reach it sendeth out, | |
| Whereby a thousand thousands haue bin drown’d; | |
| Yet neuer cease they for to sayle about, | 25 |
| In gazing still vpon this gorgeous ground, | |
| Till on the sands with hasty course they slide, | |
| And lose themselues vpon this piere of pride. | |
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| No danger greater shalt thou lightly find, | |
| That more mishap or mischiefe more doth make, | 30 |
| Then this, that plucks away eche mortall minde, | |
| And causeth him contrary course to take; | |
| Who, forward bent with foolish pride-puft winde, | |
| Forsakes the way, till keele on sands he knocke, | |
| And dasheth all asunder on this rocke. | 35 |
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| A wretched rocke, that, mounting to the skye, | |
| Contenting not himselfe with earthly spoyle, | |
| Once ouerthrew the angels sitting hye, | |
| And cast them headlong from their happy soyle | |
| To darkest place, where wayling now they lye: | 40 |
| The chiefe estates and princes here below | |
| Haue right good cause this dangerous place to know. * * * * * * | |
| Fly thou this rocke, and take good heede thereto: | |
| For whoso keepes this dreadfull dangerous way, | |
| Will runne the race that him will quite vndoe, | 45 |
| And misse the marke, by sayling thus astray, | |
| That should him bring this happie hauen to. | |
| No greater harme can hap to mortall kinde, | |
| Then for to runne upon this danger blind. | |
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| For whoso once vpon the same doth fall, | 50 |
| Forgetteth God, forgets his owne estate; | |
| Of good or vertue makes no count at all, | |
| So he may liue aloft without a mate; | |
| And, for t’ attayne a little glory small, | |
| He nought esteemes of mighty Loue his wrath, | 55 |
| Though nought haue greater perill then pride hath. | |
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| But to auoyde this rocke and hazzard great, | |
| Strike thou thy sayles, and beare thy count’nance low; | |
| Shun sumptuous shew, regard not lordly seate, | |
| Nor to be knowne: seeke rather God to know, | 60 |
| Who, being Lord and Prince of glory great, | |
| In poore attire, and simple shew beside, | |
| Came down from hie, to teach vs to shun pride. | |
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| Remember still how that the lofty mindes, | |
| That in this world doe seeke to glister so, | 65 |
| Blowne on this rocke by fond vaine-glorious winds, | |
| Fall headlong downe to euerlasting woe, | |
| Where no release of torments they shall finde; | |
| But as they wont in colours bright to goe, | |
| So bright in flames of fire shall overthrow. | 70 |
