Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/402

 Today, is lesser than the next that followeth, till the full. And then contrarywyse eche day her lyght away dooth pull. What? Seest thou not how that the yeere as representing playne The age of man, departes itself in quarters fowre? First bayne And tender in the spring it is, even like a sucking babe. Then greene, and voyd of strength, and lush, and foggye, is the blade, And cheeres the husbandman with hope. Then all things florish gay. The earth with flowres of sundry hew then seemeth for to play, And vertue small or none to herbes there dooth as yit belong. The yeere from springtyde passing foorth to sommer, wexeth strong, Becommeth lyke a lusty youth. For in our lyfe through out There is no tyme more plentifull, more lusty, hote and stout. Then followeth Harvest when the heate of youth growes sumwhat cold, Rype, meeld, disposed meane betwixt a yoongman and an old, And sumwhat sprent with grayish heare. Then ugly winter last Like age steales on with trembling steppes, all bald, or overcast With shirle thinne heare as whyght as snowe. Our bodies also ay Doo alter still from tyme to tyme, and never stand at stay. Wee shall not bee the same wee were today or yisterday. The day hath beene wee were but seede and only hope of men, And in our moothers womb wee had our dwelling place as then: Dame Nature put to conning hand and suffred not that wee Within our moothers streyned womb should ay distressed bee, But brought us out to aire, and from our prison set us free. The chyld newborne lyes voyd of strength. Within a season tho He wexing fowerfooted lernes like savage beastes to go. Then sumwhat foltring, and as yit not firme of foote, he standes By getting sumwhat for to helpe his sinewes in his handes. From that tyme growing strong and swift, he passeth foorth the space Of youth: and also wearing out his middle age apace, Through drooping ages steepye path he ronneth out his race. This age dooth undermyne the strength of former yeares, and throwes It downe. Which thing old Milo by example playnely showes. For when he sawe those armes of his (which heeretofore had beene As strong as ever Hercules in woorking deadly teene Of biggest beastes) hang flapping downe, and nought but empty skin, He wept. And Helen when shee saw her aged wrincles in