Though this bee but the picture of that _Glasse_, By which thou measur’st how thine _houres_ doe passe, Yet, sleight it not; for, much 'twill profit thee, To ponder what the _Morals_ of it bee. And, 'tis an _Emblem_, whence the _Wise_ may learne, That, which their persons, neerely doth concerne. The brittle _Glasse_, serves fitly to expresse The _Bodie’s_ frailtie, and much crasinesse. Foure _Pillars_, which the glassie worke empale, Instruct thee, that the _Vertues_ Cardinall, To guard the _Manhood_, should bee still employ’d, Lest else the feeble fabrick bee destroy’d. The _Sand_, still running forth, without delay, Doth shew, that _Life-time_, passeth fast away, And, makes no stop: yea, and the _Motto_ too, (Lest thou forgetfull prove) informes thee so. By viewing this, Occasion, therefore, take, Of thy fast-flying _Houres_, more use to make; And, heedfull bee, to shunne their common crime, Who take much care to trifle out the time; As if it merited their utmost paine, To lose the gemme, which most they seeke to gaine. _Time-past_ is lost already: _Time-to-come_, Belongs, as yet, thou knowst not unto whom. The _present-houres_ are thine, and, onely those, Of which thou hast _Commission_ to dispose; And, they from thee, doe flye away so fast, That, they are scarcely knowne, till they are past. _Lord, give mee grace, to minde, and use =Time= so, That, I may doe thy =worke=, before I goe._ _Repent, or God will breake the thread, By which, thy =doome= hangs o’re thy head._ [Illustration: ABRUMPAM. ILLVSTR. V. _Book. 4_]