Like as the damask rose you see; Or like the blossom on the tree; Or like the dainty flower of May; Or like the morning to the day; Or like the Sun; or like the shade; Or like the gourd which Jonas had; Even such is man, whose thread is spun, Drawn out, and cut, and so is done. The rose withers; the blossom blasteth; The flower fades; the morning hasteth; The sun sets; the shadow flies; The gourd consumes; and man he dies. [III.] Like to the Grass that's newly sprung; Or like a tale that's new begun; Or like the bird that's here to-day; Or like the pearled dew of May; Or like an hour; or like a span; Or like the singing of a swan; Even such is man, who lives by breath, Is here, now there, in life, and death. The grass withers; the tale is ended; The bird is flown; the dew's ascended; The hour is short; the span not long; The swan's near death; man's life is done. [IV.] Like to the bubble in the brook; Or, in a glass, much like a look; Or like a shuttle in weaver's hand; Or like the writing on the sand; Or like a thought; or like a dream; Or like the gliding of the stream; Even such is man, who lives by breath, Is here, now there, in life, and death. The bubble's cut; the look's forgot; The shuttle's flung; the writing's blot; The thought is past; the dream is gone; The water glides; man's life is done. [V.] Like to an arrow from the bow; Or like swift course of watery flow; Or like the time twixt flood and ebb; Or like the spider's tender web; Or like a race; or like a goal; Or like the dealing of a dole; Even such is man whose brittle state Is always subject unto fate. The arrow's shot; the flood soon spent; The time no time; the web soon rent; The race soon run; the goal soon won; The dole soon dealt; man's life first done. [VI.] Like to the lightning from the sky; Or like a post that quick doth hie; Or like a quaver in short song; Or like a journey three days long; Or like the snow when summer's come; Or like the pear; or like the plum; Even such is man, who heaps up sorrow, Lives but this day, and dies to-morrow, The lightning's past; the post must go; The song is short; the journey's so; The pear doth rot; the plum doth fall; The snow dissolves; and so must all. QUARLES. Like to the damask Rose you see, &c. [VII.] Like to the blaze of fond delight; Or like a morning clear and bright; Or like a post; or like a shower; Or like the pride of Babel's Tower; Or like the hour that guides the time; Or like to beauty in her prime; Even such is man, whose glory lends His life a blaze or two, and ends. Delights vanish; the morn o'er casteth; The frost breaks; the shower hasteth; The Tower falls; the hour spends; The beauty fades; and man's life ends. BROWNE. [VIII.]