Though Fortune have set thee on high, [From the same Collection ] To die, dame Nature did man frame: To render right we must not scorn: Death hath in all the earth a right; The wise, the just,. the strong, the high, The chaste, the meek, the free of heart, The rich, the poor—who can deny ?— Have yielded all unto his dart. Seeing no man then can Death escape, We ought not fear his carrion shape; Each wight, therefore, while he lives here, In midst of wealth, in midst of cheer, This thought makes man to God a friend; [Signed T. Marshall, ed. 1577.] Man's flitting life finds surest stay [From the same Collection.] THE sturdy rock, for all his strength, The stately stag that seems so stout, Is caught at length in fowler's net: Yea, man himself, unto whose will All things are bounden to obey, Doth fade at length, and fall away. But Virtue sits, triumphing still, Upon the throne of glorious Fame: The state of Virtue never slides. Dr. Percy says, this poem is "subscribed M. T. "perhaps invertedly for T. Marshall." Mr. Ritson (Bibl. Poet.) ascribes it" rather to M. Thorn, “whose surname is elsewhere printed at length." M. he adds, seems to be frequently used for Master. [From the same Collection.] WHY should I longer long to live A friend I had, to me most dear, And, of long time, faithful and just; There was no one my heart so near, Nor one in whom I had more trust; Whom now of late, without cause why, Fortune hath made my enemy. The grass, methinks, should grow in sky; The water-stream should pass awry ; The winds should leave their strength of blast; The sun and moon, by one assent, The fish in air should fly with fin; The fowls in flood should bring forth fry; All things methinks should first begin 'To take their course unnaturally;— |