3
The yeere I compare, as I find for a truth,
the Spring vnto childhood, the Sommer to youth,
The Haruest to manhood, the Winter to age:
all quickly forgot as a play on a stage.[E134]
4
Time past is forgotten, er men be aware,
time present is thought on with woonderfull care,
Time comming is feared, and therefore we saue,
yet oft er it come, we be gone to the graue.
[26.]
¶ A description of life and riches.
Chap. 24.
1
Who liuing but daily discerne it he may,
how life as a shadow doth vanish away;
And nothing to count on so suer to trust
as suer of death and to turne into dust.[E135]
2
The lands and the riches that here we possesse
be none of our owne, if a God we professe,
But lent vs of him, as his talent of gold,
which being demanded, who can it withhold?
Atrop, or death.
3
God maketh no writing that iustly doth say
how long we shall haue it, a yeere or a day;
But leaue it we must (how soeuer we leeue)
when Atrop[E136] shall pluck vs from hence by the sleeue.