Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

XXIV. THE MIRROUR FOR MAGISTRATES. 29339 Whose wretched state when we had well beheldeWith tender ruth on him and on his feres,In thoughtful cares, furth then our pace we helde.And by and by, an other ^Of Greedy care, stilshape apperesbrushing vp the breres,His knuckles knobd, his fleshe deepe dented in.With tawed handes, and hard ytanned skyn.;-^y40 The morrowe graye no sooner hath begunneTo spreade his light euen peping in our iyes,When he is vp and to his worke yrunneBut let the nightes blacke mistye mantels rise,And with fowle darke neuer so much disguyseThe fayre bright day, yet ceasseth he no whyle.But hath his candels to prolong his toyle.41 By him lay JJeauy slepe, the cosin of death,Flat on the ground, and stil as any stone,A very corps, save yelding forth a breath.Small kepe tooke he whom Fortune frowned on.Or whom she lifted vp into the troneOf high renowne ; but as a lining death,So dead alyve, of lyef he drewe the breath.42 The bodyes rest, the quyete of the hart.The travayles ease, the still nightes feer was he.And of our Hfe in earth the better parte,Reuer of sight, and yet in whom we seeThinges oft that tide, and ofte that neuer bee.Without respect esteming equallyKyng Cresus pompe, and Irus pouertie.^ Printed ' ohter,'