Classic Poem

Whoso thou art that passest by this place,
And run'st at random on the slipper way,
Recline thy list'ning ear to me a space,
Do stay thy ship and hearken what I say:
Cast anchor here until my tale be done,
So may'st thou chance the like mishap to shun.

Learn this of me, that men do live to die
And Death decays the worthiest wights of all;
No worldly wealth or kingdoms can supply
Or guard their princes from their fatal fall:
One way we come unto this life we see,
And to be rid thereof a thousand be.

My gallant youth and frolic years behight
Me longer age, and silver hairs to have;
I thought my day would never come to night,
My prime provok'd me to forget my grave:
I thought by water to have scap'd the death
That now amid the seas do lose my breath.

Now, now, the churlish channel me do chock,
Now surging seas conspire to breed my cark,
Now fighting floods enforce me to the rock,
Charybdis' whelps and Scylla's dogs do bark,
Now hope of life is past, now, now, I see
That W. can no more a livesman be.

Yet do I well affy for my dessart,
(When cruel death hath done the worst it may),
Of well-renowned fame to have a part
To save my name from ruin and decay:
And that is all that thou or I may gain,
And so adieu, I thank thee for thy pain.