IN LAUDEM OPERIS. 
The gods vpon a time in council sitting, 
(To rule the world) what creature was most fitting, 
At length from god to god this sentence ran, 
To forme a creature like themselues (cald man). 
Being made, the world was giuen him (built so rarely), 
No workemen can come neere it; hung so fairely, 
That the gods viewing it, were ouer-ioyed, 
Yet greeu’d that it should one day be destroyed. 
Gardens had man to walke in, set with trees 
That still were bearing; but (neglecting these), 
He long’d for fruites ynlawfull, fell to riots, 
Wasted his goodly body by ill dyets, 
Spent (what was left him) like a prodigall heyre, 
And had of earth, of hell, or heauen no care 
Halfe heauen was hid, and did in darkness mourn, 
Whilst hell kept fires continual, that should burne 
His very soule, if still it went awry, 
And giue it torments that should neuer die, 
Yet loe! How blest is man ! the deities, 
Built vp this Schoole of Health, to make him wise. 
