Tweene these extremes, thus doe I rome the race,
Of my poore life, this certainely I know:
Tweene would and want, vnwarely that doe passe,
More swift then shot, out of the Archers vow:
As Spider drawes her line all day,
I watch the net, and others haue the pray.
And as by proofe, the greedy Dogge doth gnaw,
The bared bone, all onely for the tast:
So to and fro, this lothsome life I draw,
UUith fancies forst, and fed with vayne repast:
Narsissus brought, vnto the water drinke,
So aye thirst I, the more that I doe drinke.
Loe thus I dye, and yet I seeme not sicke,
UUith smart vnseene my selfe, my selfe I weare:
UUith prone desire, and power that is not quicke,
UUith hope a loft, now drenched in disprayre:
Trayned in trust, for no reward assignde,
The more I hast, the more I come behinde.
UUith hurt to heale, in frozen Ise to frie,
UUith losse to laugh, this is a wonderous case:
Fast fetred here, is forst away to flie,
As hunted Hare, that Hound hath in the chase:
UUith winges and spurres, for all the hast I make,
As like to lose, as for to draw the stake.
The dayes be long, that hang vpon desart,
The life is irke of ioyes that be delayed:
The time is short, for to requite the smart,
That doth proceede, of promise long vnpayed:
That to the last, of this my fainting breath,
I wish exchaunge of life, for happy death.
FINIS.