EnglandsHelicon B4v

[B4v]

ΒΆ A Palinode. +

A S withereth the Primrose by the riuer, As fadeth Sommers-sunne from gliding fountaines; As vanisheth the light blowne bubble euer, As melteth snow vpon the mossie Mountaines. (5) So melts, so vanisheth, so fades, so withers, The Rose, the shine, the bubble and the snow, Of praise, pompe, glorie, ioy (which short life gathers,) Faire praise, vaine pompe, sweet glory, brittle ioy. The withered Primrose by the mourning riuer, (10) The faded Sommers-sunne from weeping fountaines: The light-blowne bubble, vanished for euer, The molten snow vpon the naked mountaines, Are Emblems that the treasures we vp-lay, Soone wither, vanish, fade, and melt away.
(15) For as the snowe, whose lawne did ouer-spread Th’ ambitious hills, which Giant-like did threat To pierce the heauen with theyr aspiring head, Naked and bare doth leaue their craggie seate. When as the bubble, which did emptie flie (20) The daliance of the vndiscerned winde: On whose calme rowling waues it did relie, Hath shipwrack made, where it did daliance finde: And when the Sun-shine which dissolu’d the snow, Cullourd the bubble with a pleasant varie, (25) And made the rathe and timely Primrose grow, Swarth clowdes with-drawne (which longer time doe tarie)Oh what is praise, pompe, glory, ioy, but so As shine by fountaines, bubbles, flowers or snow?

FINIS. E. B.