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

Vpon consideration of the state of this life he wisheth death.

THe lenger life, the more offence: The more offence the greater paine, The greater paine, the lesse defence: The lesse defence, the lesser gaine The losse of gaine long yll doth try••: Wherfore come death, and let me dye. The shorter life, lesse count I fynde, The lesse account, the soner made: The count soone made, the merier mind: The merier minde doth thought euade, Short life in truth this thing doth trie. Wherefore come death, and let me dye. Come gentle death, the ebbe of care, The ebbe of care the flood of lyfe. The flood of life, the ioifull fare, The ioyfull fa••e, the end of strife, The ende of strife, that thing wishe I: wherefore come death, and let me dye.