Page:Handful of Pleasant Delights.djvu/80

Rh The dismall day hath had his wil,

And iustice seekes my life to spill:

Reuengement craues by rigorous law,

Whereof I little stood in awe:

The dolefull doom to end my life,

Bedect with care and worldlie strife:

And frowning iudge hath giuen his doome.

O gentle death thou art welcome:

The losse of life, I do not feare,

Then welcome death, the end of care.

O prisoners poore, in dungeon deep,

Which passe the night in slumbring sleep:

Wel may you rue your youthful race.

And now lament your cursed cace.

Content your selfe with your estate,

Impute no shame to fickle fate:

With wrong attempts, increase no wealth,

Regard the state of prosperous health:

And think on me, when I am dead:

Whom such delights haue lewdly led.

My friend and parents, where euer you be

Full little do you thinke on me:

My mother milde, and dame so deer:

Thy louing childe, is fettred heer:

Would God I had, I wish too late,

Been bred and borne of meaner estate:

Or else, would God my rechlesse eare,

Had been obedient for to heare,

Your sage aduice and counsel true:

But in the Lord parents adue.

You valiant hearts of youthfull train,

Which heard my heauie heart complain:

A good example take by me,

Which runne the race where euer you be:

trust not too much to bilbow blade,

nor yet to fortunes fickle trade.