View this glasse, aduisedlye, and waygh the same effectuallye.
A Lokinge glasse for eche estate, Wherm to weue the fickle fate.
As I am so muste thou be
Dici beatus ante obitū nenio. Post funera virtus viuit.
As thou arte so was I
Thou wast but dust, and therto returne thou muste.
No Blemish than, Vpon thy face? But by the same: thou maiest disgrace.
Deathe vnto carelesse youthe
YE Carelesse youthes looke well on me
for as I am so shal you bee:
I am the wight at length that musse
lay all your honor in the duste.
I am the wight that must at lengthe,
confounde both might, and manlye strenghe
Tis I that states of hyghe degree,
do cause to fali, and follow me:
Yea kinges, and Queenes, and others more,
both Lords and Ladyes hye and lowe.
The prieste, the prelate, clarke and all,
of force must yéeld when I do call.
The youthfull blouds as well as theise,
must vnto deathe come paye there fees.
No welth no strengthe, no pollecye,
can make resistance vnto mee.
Wherefore let this be still your songe:
Dead shall I be or it be longe.
But when, or howe, god he doth knowe,
where forelets well our time bestowe.
Deathe to the gallante daintye Dames.
YOu gallante dames, beholde me heere,
for as I am, you m [...]ste appeare:
Thoughe you be gay you ar [...] but duste,
Though you be lothe, yet hence you must
Your lookes so coye, your fined talke,
your frisled haire awaye mu [...] walke:
Your bewtye, faire must turne to duste,
and louinge mates where on you truste.
I care not for your [...]okes so hye,
your daintye mouthes to deathe shall flye:
Alluringe gestures where with all,
you manye thowsandes brought to thrall,
And all thinges els muste you departe,
when death dothe stinge, with cruel darte.
Your ringes, your chaines, your riche araye,
yea life and a [...]l I take awaye,
Let this therfore, be eke your songe,
Dead shall I be, or it be longe,
But when, or howe, god he dothe knowe:
your tyme see then you well bestowe.
Deathe to Crookedage
COme hoarye heares, and daunce with me,
your state in sequence may you see:
Though long this worlde you haue at will,
yet deathe at laste will haue his fill:
For golde and welthe, deathe dothe not care,
old crooked age, deathe will not spare.
When they haue scrachd all that they can,
needs must they leaue it to an other man.
No tears nor treatye, wealthe nor frende,
from painfull deathe, maye man defende
Let this therfore, be eke your songe,
dead shall I be or it bee longe:
But when or how god he dothe knowe,
wherfor lets well our time be slowe.
The Author to the reader
LEt euerye man if he be wise,
(respectinge not this worldlye fame)
With iudgment depe, and graue aduice,
marke well this glasse, for in the same,
A perfecte picture (as I weene)
of mannes fraile nature maye be seene.
And sithe its sure, that all shall dye,
[...]u when, or howe, god only knowes,
Chrise happye then, is [...]e saue I
That godlye here, his time bestowes:
But w [...] to him and wo againe,
whose death dothe turne to endlese paine.
Repente repente, and eke amende,
what is an ille:
That withe the shepe? our sauiour Christe?
maye c [...]l [...] vs his?
To raigne withe him, in heauens blisse,
for euer and a daye:
That god woulde graunte this, to vs all,
let euery Christian pra [...]e Amen.
Tho. Iohnson.
FINIS.
Imprinted at london by Abel Ieffs. and are to be soulde by William Barley dwelling in gracious strete neare leaden haule. (1595.)