Classic Poem

The : hye god most gracyous, his goodenesse alone,
thou hast made vpon the earth, beast, bird and tree,
Angells in heauen, & ministers to thy throne,
the sun & the moone, the Element & skye.
att Last thou made [man] of noblest degree,
after thine owne likenesse, such was thy grace.
Lawde wee him therffore, for happy wee bee;
But heere wee beeno sure to liue but a space

Where is Adam our ffirst p ro genitor,
of bewtye & of cuning, & neuer had no peere?
& Eue his companyon, tha t most oryent ffigure?
he K ing , & shee Q ueene , ouer all this world in ffere;
yet through their great ffalls soone changed we all our cheer[e,]
tha t all their posterytye shold ffollow their trace;
death hath them deuoured, this matter is clere;
but heere wee beene sure to liue but a space.

Where is K ing David the doughtye, tha t Golyas ou er -came?
or duke Iosua the gentle, of him what shold I tell?
or Samson tha ruled the Lyon like a lambe?
or Hercules tha t quelled the porter of hell?
where is duke Iosua tha t euer bare the bell?
their pompe & their glory is nowe very basse.
lett this be a mirrour alwayes in our sight,
tha t heere we beene sure to liue but a space.

Where is Alexander the mightye, tha t conquered this world wide,
& gouerne att one day as himselfe did luste?
or Nabuchondozer, tha t prince proud of price?
or Augustus, w i th his power to them was full Iust?
where is Haniball the hardy, threw all in the duste,
and brought all roome into a sorry stay?
All these be dead and gone, and after them wee must,
and wee must all ffollow as fast as wee may.

Where is Hector of Troy, tha t one of the 9 worthies was?
& worthy sure he was soe for to bee;
or Rowland & Oliuer, as itt came to passe,
in number they were doughtye men all 3,
but yett w i th death they cold not agree
in this world to haue no Longer space.
death, all their glory from them he did ring,
& wee must all follow them in a short space.

Where is Godfrey of Bullen, tha t Troian soe stout?
or Mithydrates, where is hee?
or Iulyus Machabeus tha t went not about?
or Guy of warwicke, as doughtye as hee?
where is Huon of Burdeaux, where is hee?
these cold not refuse death w i th his mace;
therfor marke my sayings all you tha t heere bee,
for heere wee beene sure to liue but a space.

Where is Iason the doughtye tha t woone the fleece of gold,
or Acctollen tha t was called the scorge of god,
or Phebus, the wisest man vpon the mould?
or Acchilles tha t was called the Troians rodd?
where is K ing Herod the herlott, was worsse then madd,
for w i th his owne Kinsmen himselfe he did deface?
Loe! heere you may see, ffor all this noble blood,
tha t here we beene sure to liue but a space.

where is the Emperour tha t the bold clarke was called?
the Sarasins doe remember him, & shall doe for euer;
or Iulyus Caesar, w i th head balde,
tha t brought Roome & the Romans to a sorry stay?
where is Nero the cruell, tha t ruled soe many a day?
these cold not refuse death with his mace;
therfore marke my saying, all you tha t heere bee,
for wee beene sure to liue but a space.

Where is Pironius, the proud enemy to Roome?
or dulcina the terror, or Cicill the Kinge?
or S i r Volen, was called the hardy Troian?
or Troylus of Troy tha t loued well to springe?
where is Tamberlaine tha t ou er came the Turke [in fight],
tha t all the world did bring in dread & in doubt of his deuilish face?
lett this be a mirrour allwayes in our sight,
tha t heere wee beene sure to liue but a space.

Where is K ing Arthur the venturer, w i th his K nigh ts bold?
or S i r Tristeram, tha t treasure of curtesye?
or S i r Gawaine the good, w i th his helmett made of gold?
or S i r Lancelott dulake, a K nigh t of Chiualrye?
where is K ing Charlemaine of ffrance, from them wold neuer fflee?
yett these cold not refuse death w i th his mace
heere you may see, ffor all the hye degree,
tha t here [we] beene sure to liue but a litle space.

Where is K ing Rich ard , was called Cwer de Lyon?
or Saladine the good Sarazen, where is hee?
or Edward the 3 d tha t wan Gasconie & Gaines?
or K ing Henery the 5, a prince of Chiualrye?
where is duke Charles of Burgundye, from them did neu er flee?
yett these cold not refuse death w i th his mace;
wherfor marke my saying, all you that here bee,
tha t here wee beene sure to liue but a space.

ffor if wisdome or manhood by any meanes cold
haue saued a mans liffe to endure for euer,
then K ing Henery the 8 soe noble and soe bold,
out of this wyde world he wold haue passed neuer.
but death, where he comes, all things doth disseuer;
where-euer he aproches, he will take place.
good Lo rd ! bring vs to thy blisse, there to remaine for eu er ;
ffor heere we be sure to liue but a space.