That _England_ lost, that Learning lov'd, that euery mouth commended, That fame did prayse, that Prince did rayse, that Countrey do defended, Here lyes the man: lyke to the Swan, who knowing shee shall die, Doeth tune her voice vnto the Spheares, and scornes Mortalitie. Two worthie Earls his vncles were; a Lady was his Mother; A Knight his father; and himselfe a noble Countesse Brother. Belov'd, bewaild; aliue, now dead; of all, with Teares for euer; Here lyes Sir _Philip Sidneis_ Corps, whom cruell Death did seuer, He liv'd for her, hee dyde for her; for whom he dyde, he liued: O graunt (O God) that wee of her, may neuer be depriued. An Epitaph vpon the Death of his Aunt, Mistresse Elizabeth Skrymsher. [Illustration] Loe here beholde the certaine Ende, of euery liuing wight: No Creature is secure from Death, for Death will haue his Right. He spareth none: both rich and poore, both young and olde must die; So fraile is flesh, so short is Life, so sure Mortalitie. When first the Bodye liues to Life, the soule first dies to sinne: And they that loose this earthly Life, a heauenly Life shall winne, If they liue well: as well she liv'd, that lyeth Vnder heere; Whose Vertuous Life to all the Worlde, most plainly did appeere. Good to the poore, friend to the rich, and foe to no Degree: A President of modest Life, and peerelesse Chastitie. Who louing more, Who more belov'd of euerie honest mynde? Who more to Hospitalitie, and Clemencie inclinde Then she? that being buried here, lyes wrapt in Earth below; From whence we came, to whom wee must, and bee as shee is now, A Clodd of Clay: though her pure soule in endlesse Blisse doeth rest; Ioying all Ioy, the Place of Peace, prepared for the blest: Where holy Angells sit and sing, before the King of Kings; Not mynding worldly Vanities, but onely heavenly Things. Vnto which Ioy, Vnto which Blisse, Vnto which Place of Pleasure, God graunt that wee may come at last, t' inioy that heauenly Treasure. Which to obtaine, to liue as shee hath done let us endeuor; That wee may liue with Christ himselfe, (above) that liues for euer. [Illustration] A Comparison of the Life of Man. [Illustration] Mans life is vvell compared to a feast, Furnisht with choice of all Varietie: To it comes Tyme; and as a bidden guest Hee sets him downe, in Pompe and Maiestie; The three-folde Age of Man, the Waiters bee, Then with an earthen voyder (made of clay) Comes Death, and takes the table clean away. FINIS. [Illustration] [Illustration] ASTROPHEL. A Pastoral Elegy upon the death of the most noble and valorous Knight, Sir PHILIP SIDNEY. _Dedicated to the most beautiful and virtuous Lady the Countess of ESSEX._ [By EDMUND SPENSER, the Countess of PEMBROKE, and others.]