MS. Fair/ax 40. 277 



Doth health & Pleasure spur our sences on 



Soon sickness Comes and all delights are gone 



Such is the State of vs vncertaine men 



To know in calmes to guide our Vessels then 



Is not enough, but t'is when Tempests rise 



To steare a Course both Patient, Stout, & Wise 



Did our misfortunes soe deuide our share 



As some shee would Aflict & others Spare 



We might Complaine of her inconstant fitts 



Bullets as soon th' Captaine as soulder hitts 



The Feauer to the Great a deafe eare hath 



[p. 587] As to the meanest both subuerts by death 

 Soe may the Justice of Impartial fate 

 For Comfort serue vs in our greatest Strait 

 Why doe we enuy then aspiringe Men 

 W**! Stormes the Vallyes are less troubled then 

 The lofty Hills & humble shrubbs belowe 

 Less danger's in then Oakes that highest growe^ 

 See we not how the straitest Popler tree 

 And spredinge Elme as they vngratfull be 

 For nurishment) to barreness incline 

 Whilst prostrate on the ground the Crocked vine 

 Abundance yeilds or haue we nott scene 

 From highest plenty men in wants haue beene 

 How many Kings falne from ther Regall seate 

 Haue Crack't their Crownes ther Royal Septers breake 



[p. 588] Our Wittnesses by cloudes we all may bringe 

 To shew that splendid honours a vaine thinge 

 Should they be ta'ne from vs resolue thus much 

 Ther loss should not be great ther fading's such 

 Should we aflict ourselues when loss appear's 

 Our Teares would sooner want then Cause for toares 

 All you w'l' heauenly Marks of God indued 

 Arme to the Fi<:ht shew Virtue Fortitude 

 As Rocks 'gainst w^i^ the raging billowes rore 

 Keepe firme ther station on the threatned shore 

 Soe let our Soules be firme & Constant still 

 Against the threats this World doth make of 111 

 Or as a Diamon mongst the dust doth dart 

 The beauty more in itt's resplendent sparke 



' Cf. Horace, Cann. II 10. 



