CHIDIOCK TICHBORNE

311 [My prime of youth is but a froste of cares]

My prime of youth is but a froste of cares:

My feaste of joy, is but a dishe of payne:

My cropp of corne, is but a field of tares:

And all my good is but vaine hope of gaine:

5     The daye is gone, and yet I sawe no sonn:

And nowe I live, and nowe my life is donn

The springe is paste, and yet it hath not sprong

The frute is deade, and yet the leaves are greene

My youth is gone, and yet I am but yonge

10  I sawe the woorld, and yet I was not seene

My threed is cutt, and yet it was not sponn

And nowe I lyve, and nowe my life is donn.

I saught my death, and founde it in my wombe

I lookte for life, and sawe it was a shade.

15  I trode the earth and knewe it was my Tombe

And nowe I die, and nowe I am but made

The glasse is full, and nowe the glass is rune

And nowe I live, and nowe my life is donn