Thomas Vaux

"I loathe that I did love, In youth that I thought sweet; As time requires, for my behove, Methinks they are not meet. * * * For age with stealing steps Hath clawed me with his clutch, And lusty life away she leaps, As there had been none such."

"The harbinger of death, To me I see him ride; The cough, the cold, the gasping breath Doth bid me to provideA pickaxe and a spade, And eke a shrouding sheet, A house of clay for to be made For such a guest most meet."

"When all is done and said, in the end thus shall you find, He most of all doth bathe in bliss that hath a quiet mind."

"Our wealth leaves us at death, our kinsmen at the grave; But virtue of the mind unto the heavens with us we have."

"Is this a life? Nay, death you may it call, That feels each pain and knows no joy at all."

"Thou that didst grant the wise king his request, Thou that in whale thy prophet didst preserve, Thou that forgav'st the wounding of thy breast, Thou that didst save the thief in state to starve, Thou only good and giver of all grace, Forgive the guilts that grew in youth's green race."