Here, we an _Aged-man_ described have, That hath _one foot_, already, in the _Grave_: And, if you marke it (though the _Sunne_ decline, And horned _Cynthia_ doth begin to shine) With _open-booke_, and, with attentive eyes, Himselfe, to compasse _Knowledge_, he applyes: And, though that _Evening_, end his last of dayes, _Yet, I will study, more to learne_, he sayes. From this, we gather, that, while time doth last, The time of _learning_, never will be past; And, that, each houre, till we our _life_ lay downe, Still, something, touching _life_, is to be knowne. When he was old, wise _Cato_ learned Greeke: But, we have _aged-folkes_, that are to seeke Of that, which they have much more cause to learne; Yet, no such minde in them, wee shall discerne. For, that, which they should studie in their _prime_, Is, oft, deferred, till their _latter-time_: And, then, _old-age_, unfit for _learning_, makes them, Or, else, that common _dulnesse_ overtakes them, Which makes ashamed, that it should be thought, They need, like _little-children_, to be taught. And, so, out of this world, they doe returne As wise, as in that weeke, when they were borne. _God, grant me grace, to spend my life-time so, That I my duety still may seeke to =know=; And, that, I never, may so farre proceed, To thinke, that I, more =Knowledge=, doe not need: But, in =Experience=, may continue growing, Till I am fill’d with fruits of pious-knowing._ _=Good-fortune=, will by those abide, In whom, =True-vertue= doth reside._ [Illustration: VIRTVTI FORTVNA COMES. ILLVSTR. XXVI. _Book. 2_]