When thou beholdest on this _Burying-stone_, The melancholly _Night-bird_, sitting on The fleshlesse ruines of a _rotten-Skull_, (Whose Face, perhaps, hath been more beautifull, Then thine is now) take up a serious thought; And, doe as thou art by the _Motto_ taught. _Remember Death_: and, minde, I thee beseech, How soone, these _Fowles_ may at thy window screech; Or, call thee (as the common people deeme) To dwell in _Graves_, and _Sepulchers_, by them, Where nothing else, but _Bats_, and _Owles_, appeare; Or, _Goblins_, form’d by _Fancies_, and, by _Feare_. If thou shalt be advis’d, to meditate Thy latter end, before it be too late, (And, whil’st thy _friends_, _thy strength_, and _wits_ may bee In likely case, to help and comfort thee) There may be courses taken, to divert Those _Frights_, which, else, would terrifie thy heart, When _Death_ drawes neare; and helpe thee plucke away That _Sting_, of his, which would thy Soule dismay. But, if thou madly ramble onward, still, Till thou art sinking downe that _darkesome-hill_, Which borders on the _Grave_ (and dost beginne To see the Shades of _Terrour_, and of _Sinne_ To fly acrosse thy _Conscience_) 'twill be hard To learne this _Lesson_; or, to be prepar’d For that sad parting; which, will forced bee, Betweene this much beloved _World_, and _thee_. Consider this, therefore, while _Time_ thou hast, And, put not off this _Bus’nesse_, till the last. _Doe not the golden =Meane=, exceed, In =Word=, in =Passion=, nor in =Deed=._ [Illustration: ERVA MODVM. ILLVSTR. XXXV. _Book. 3_]