4.
Surely who so euer is ioyned to al the liuing, there is hope: for it is better to a liuing dog, then to a dead Lyon.
Hence doth proceede (no doubt) the prouerbe old,
That liuing dogge, dead Lyon doth excell,
With princely beast of noble courage bold,
Then, euery barking curre dare ••ausly mell,
That liuing, durst not come within his smell.
The reason is right easie to be told,
Because he liuing could himselfe relieue:
Life doth in time new hopes and haps vnfold,
But death no hope or earthly hap doth giue;
Time worketh wonders (if our time we take)
Occasion (at our death) doth vs forsake.