Tottel sig. Oiiir

[sig. Oiiir]

These hellish houndes, with paines of quenchlesse fire, Can not so sore the silly soules torment, As her vntruth my hart hath all to rent.

Of the mutabilitie of
the worlde. +

B I fortune as I lay in bed, my fortune was to finde Such fansies, as my careful thought had brought into my minde And when eche one was gone to rest ful soft in bed to lye: I would haue slept, but than the watche did folow stil mine eye, (5) And sodenly I saw a sea of woful sorowes prest: whose wicked wayes of sharpe repulse bred mine vnquiet rest, I saw this worlde and how it went, eche state in his degree, And that from wealth I graunted is, both life and libertie. I saw how enuy it did raine, and beare the greatest price, (10) Yet greater poyson is not founde within the Cockatrice. +I saw also, how that disdaine oft times to forge my wo, Gaue me the cup of bitter swette to pledge my mortall foo, I saw also, how that desire, to rest no place coulde finde But still constrainde in endlesse payne to folow natures kinde(15) I saw, also most straunge of all, how nature did forsake The blood, that in her wombe, was wrought, as doth the lothed snake. I sawe, how fansie would retayne no lenger then her lust, And as the winde how she doth chaunge, and is not for to trust. I saw, how, stedfastnes did flie with winges of often change, (20) A flying bird, but seldome seen, her nature is so strange, +I sawe, how pleasant times did passe, as flowres do in the medeTo daye that riseth red as rose, to morowe falleth ded. I saw, my time how it did runne, as sand out of the glasse. Euen as eche hower appointed is, from time and tide to passe, (25) I saw, the yeres that I had spent, and losse of all my game And h
ow the sport of youthfull playes my foly did retaine,
I saw, how that the little Ant in somer stil doth runne To seke her foode, wherby to liue in winter for to come, +I saw, eke vertue, how she sat the threde of life to spinne, (30) which sheweth the ende of euery worke, before it doth beginne, And when all these I thus behelde with many mo pardy, In me, me thought, eche one had wrought a perfie propertie.And then I sayde vnto my selfe, a lesson this shalbe For other, that shall afteh come, for to beware by me