The Age & Life of MAN.
Here you may see the frailty that's in Men, Till they have run the years threescore and ten.
Tune of Jane shore
1. When man is born he in a Cradle hides
7. At one time seven a Hoby horse bestrides;
14. At two times seven a book to read withal;
21. At three times seven a Bandy and a Ball;
28. At four times seven a wife he seeks and finds
35. At five times 7 the Horn of strength he winds:
42. At six times seven, Time standeth by him still,
49. At seven times seven, his Bag begins to fill:
56. At eight times seven his house with riches shines,
63. At nine times seven, he to the Earth inclines:
70. At ten times seven his Glass & time is run,
Into the earth man falls, his story's done.
AS I was wandring all alone
A project then I thought upon:
The which in my senses ran,
that I should right the Age of man:
Man he is Clay, and came from Earth
and sinners live till day of death
From one sin to another run,
and never leaves till he's undone.
Then fear your God make no delay
For Time and Tide for none will stay.
The first of seven years in a Cradle,
to stand or go he is not able,
Whiles other creatures making scorn
tramples him down when he is born:
So weak he is he cannot go
and poor is born we all do know.
Into this world stark naked he came,
and so shall go out of the same.
Then fear your
&c.
At two times seven his friends to rule
provide for kéeping him at School:
That what to him in youth is told
may do him good when he is old:
But he so given is to play
he truants most his time a way:
When Age comes on, he'l then repent,
that he his time had so mispent.
At thrée times seven he is very idle
that all his friends cannot him bridle.
Then fear your God, make no delay,
His thoughts run wandring too & fro,
perswade him well, you are his foe:
In other Countreys he will rome
and have no mind to stay at home:
That all his friends are grieved still
while he persues his headstrong will.
Then,
&c.
The Second Part To the same Tune.
At four times seven a wife he gets,
using & mustring up his wits
How he should thrive he takes great pains,
alass for little or no gains.
He then to bend his senses, rowse
things most convenient for his house:
Which in time wasts & fades away,
even so must man that is but Clay.
Then fear,
&c.
At five times seven a charge comes on,
Which in the world few think upon:
He labours hard with right good will,
striving like stones against a hill:
Or like a fload that swiftly goes
At one time ebbs, another flows:
Even so is man that's rich to day
to morrow God takes all away.
Then fear,
&c.
At six times seven then he should leave
and for his former folly grieve:
His heart is vert with sobs & sighs
for all his former vain delights
Good Husbandry he then home takes
bad husbandry he then forsakes:
And sober lives, and those defie
such as do
[...]te good husbandry
Then fear,
&c.
At seven times seven a covetous mind
is all to which he is inclind
Covetous he is in himself
to purchase up all worldly wealth.
Gathering up that which is but dross
which may prove once to be a cross.
Except his talent he improve
towards the poor by acts of love.
Then fear your God, make no delay,
For time and tide for none will stay.
At eight times seven his cunning skill
striving with all his worldly will:
In barganing & selling then
making his Children mighty men.
Leaving behind him that which he
for it shall never thanked be
As he did gather and lay it by,
the Prodigal doth make it fly.
Then fear,
&c.
At nine times seven he waxes old,
his limbs benum'd, & veins are cold:
His children glad with much content,
their father have so good judgment:
So knowing is in every cause
his wit doth make young men to pause:
Yet all this world he now must leave
and now prepare himself for grave.
Then fear,
&c.
At ten times seven his Glass is run,
and he poor soul can no way shun:
No, he must leave children & wife,
to give the world can't save his life.
Happy is he that liveth here,
and kéeps his Conscience pure & cléer,
Although in dust his body lye
his soul shall mount up to the Sky.
Then fear,
&c.
Thus have I shown from Stage to Stage,
the frail condition of mans age,
From seven to seven we pass, till when
we reach the years threescore & ten:
Let us all joyn with one accord,
and with due reverence fear the Lord.
Then may we all rejoyce and sing
Hallelujah to our heavenly King.