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Motto: Superest quod supra est.
ADVE, deceiptfull worlde, thy pleasures I detest; | |
| Nowe others with thy showes delude; my hope in heauen doth rest. | |
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Inlarged as followeth.
Even as a flower, or like vnto the grasse, | |
| Which now dothe stande, and straight with sithe dothe fall; 1 | |
| So is our state: now here, now hence we passe: 2 | 5 |
| For Time attendes with shredding sithe for all, | |
| And Deathe at lengthe both oulde and yonge doth strike, 3 | |
| And into dust dothe turne vs all alike. | |
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| Yet, if wee marke how swifte our race dothe ronne, | |
| And waighe the cause, why wee created bee; | 10 |
| Then shall wee know, when that this life is donne, | |
| Wee shall bee sure our countrie right to see. | |
| For here wee are but straungers, that must flitte: 4 | |
| The nearer home, the nearer to the pitte. | |
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| O happie they, that pondering this arighte, | 15 |
| Before that here their pilgrimage bee past, | |
| Resigne this worlde, and marche with all their mighte | |
| Within that pathe that leades where ioyes shall last; 5 | |
| And whilst they maye, there treasure vp their store, 6 | |
| Where, without rust, it lastes for euermore. | 20 |
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| This worlde must chaunge: that worlde shall still indure: 7 | |
| Here pleasures fade; there shall they endlesse bee: 8 | |
| Here man doth sinne; and there hee shal bee pure: | |
| Here deathe hee tastes; and there shall neuer die: 9 | |
| Here hath hee griefe; and there shall ioyes possesse, 10 | 25 |
| As none hath seene, nor anie harte can gesse. 11 | |
