Classic Poem

Si th on this moment of fraile Life depends
th' eternall weale or woe of humane Breede .
And that no meanes can long deferre their ends .
let Teares still feede me ( Lord ) till Wormes I feede.

For, Teares for Sin , doth Sin , through grace , destroy
(so kill their Cause ) whereon who feeds shall liue
Where they that sow in teares , shall reape in toy
then let my Teares me (dead in Sinne ) reuiue

They were thy foode (├┤ Christ ) that couldst not sin;
and yet, for others sinne , still weptst; then I
That liue a life that's quite o'erwhelm'd therein.
had need to weepe till (drown'd in teares ) I dye.

Happy that Soule that on a Sea of Teares
sailes (in Faiths Ship, by Hopes securest Cape )
Vnto the Part of Peace , and with her beares
Good workes that make the Worker wracke escape

This World's but Sorrowes Sea, whereon mankinde
is tost with Stormes of Troubles , that arise
By Enuy, Malice , or Fates wayward winde ,
whiles Life to Death , more swift then Swallow flies.

If in the way , a Calme the Course prolongs,
it holds vs but to griefe , resembling Ioy:
While Pleasure , with her charming Syren-Songs .
o'erwhelme vs (in the end ) in deep'st annoy

Twixt Silla and Charibdis ( Ioy and Griefes )
fraile life still floates: and wrackes in Eyther oft:
(Which equally to Death betrayeth Life )
but low estate lesse sinckes then that aloft

Why should we then prize worldly things so much
which haue no good , but as they vs respect;
And lightly weigh those Treasures without which
we haue no Goodnesse , but are meere Defect?
Honor and Pow'r, Health Beauty, Strength , and Wit
are but as Smoake, that comes from troubled fire:
The more it growes , the lesse continues it;
and, comes to nought whan it doth high'st aspire!

To be in Princes grace (which all desires)
procures but Pride , which blindes our Iudgements sight,
While like a siled Doue , we (Lord) aspire
till sou'raigne heate , at height , doth sinke vs quite

Then tis in vaine, to trust in Princes grace ,
which pleasure or their profit may procure;
And when these faile, they streight auert their Face;
but Lord, thy Grace is euer free as sure

Then let me wholy on thy Grace depend:
yet so, as still I worke it to enerease;
So, it with me shall worke too, to the end ;
and, at the end , with me, shall rest in Peace:
To which (deare Lord) vouchsafe thy Grace may goe
With my toil'd Soule , that cannot rest but so.