The elements are let loose to fight, And, while I live, try out their right. Oh, help, my God! let not their plot And also thee, Who art my life. Dissolve the knot, Then shall these powers, which work for grief, And, day by day, Labor thy praise and my relief; With care and courage building me, Till I reach heaven-and, much more, thee. Man. My God, I heard this day, That none doth build a stately habitation, But he that means to dwell therein. What house more stately hath there been, Or can be, than is Man? to whose creation All things are in decay. And more. For Man is every thing He is a tree, yet bears no fruit; A beast, yet is, or should be, more. Parrots may thank us, if they are not mute; Man is all symmetry, Full of proportions, one limb to another, Each part may call the farthest brother: And both, with moons and tides. Nothing hath got so far, But Man hath caught and kept it, as his prey. Herbs gladly cure our flesh, because that they For us the winds do blow, The earth doth rest, heaven move, and fountains flow. As our delight, or as our treasure. The stars have us to bed; Night draws the curtain; which the sun withdraws. Music and light attend our head. All things unto our flesh are kind, In their descent and being; to our mind, Each thing is full of duty: Waters united are our navigation; Distinguished, our habitation; Below, our drink; above, our meat: Both are our cleanliness. Hath one such beauty? Then how are all things neat! More servants wait on Man, Than he'll take notice of. In every path He treads down that, which doth befriend him When sickness makes him pale and wan. Oh, mighty love! Man is one world, and hath Another to attend him. Since then, my God, thou hast So brave a palace built, oh, dwell in it, That, as the world serves us, we may serve thee; Antiphon. Cho. PRAISED be the God of Love, Angels. And here above: Cho. Who hath dealt his mercies so, Men. And to his foe; Cho. That both grace and glory tend Men. And us in th' end. Cho. The great shepherd of the fold Ang. Us did make, Men. For us was sold. Cho. He our foes in pieces brake. Men. And him we take. Cho. Wherefore since that he is such, Men. And we do crouch. Cho. Lord, thy praises should be more. Ang. And we no store. Cho. Praised be the God alone, Who hath made, of two folds, one. Unkindness. LORD, make me coy, and tender to offend. Unto my friend's intent and end. I would not use a friend, as I use thee. If any touch my friend, or his good name, His blasted fame From the least spot, or thought, of blame. I could not use a friend, as I use thee. My friend may spit upon my curious floor. And thou within them, starve at door. I cannot use a friend, as I use thee. When that my friend pretendeth to a place, I quit my interest, and leave it free. But when thy grace Sues for my heart, I thee displace; Nor would I use a friend, as I use thee. Yet, can a friend, what thou hast done, fulfil? Only to purchase my good-will ;— Yet use I not my foes, as I use thee! Life. I MADE a posy, while the day ran by; But Time did beckon to the flowers, and they And withered in my hand. My hand was next to them, and then my heart. Yet sugaring the suspicion. Farewell, dear flowers! sweetly your time ye spent ; Fit, while ye lived, for smell or ornament; And, after death, for cures. I follow straight, without complaints or grief; |