Songes and sonettes, written by the right honorable Lorde Henry Haward late Earle of Surrey, and other

whether libertie by losse of life, or life in prison and thraldom be to be preferred.

LYke as the birde within the cage enclosed, The dore vnsparred, her foe the Hawke without, Twixt death and prison piteously oppressed. whether for to ••hose standeth in dout, Lo, so do I, which seke to bring about, Which should be best by determinacion, By losse of life libertie, or life by prison. O mischiefe by mischiefe to be redressed. ••here pain is best there lieth but litle pl••••sur••.

By short death better to be deliuered, Than bide in painfull life, thraldome, and doler, Small is the pleasure where much pain we suffer. Rather therfore to chuse me thinketh wisdome, By losse of lif•• libertie, then life by prison. And yet me thinkes although I liue and suffer•• I do but waite a time and fortunes chance: Oft many thinges do happen in one hou••r. That which opprest me now may me ad••ance. In time is trust which by deathes greuance Is wholy lost. Then were it not reason, By death to chuse libertie, and not life by prison. But death wer deliuerāce wher life lēgths pain•• Of these two ylles let see now chuse the best: This bird to deliuer that here doth plain, what say ye louers? which shall be the best? In cage ••hraldome, or by the Hawke opprest. And which to chuse make plain conclusion, By losse of life libertie, or life by prison.