Poem by Thomas Urquhart

Epigrams. The Second Booke. ¹ 15. To a certain lady of a most exquisit feature, and comely presentation: but who gloried too much in the deceitfull excellencie of these fading, and perishable qualities

THough you be very handsome, doe but stay
A litle while, and you will see a change;
For beautie flieth with the tyme away,
Wherwith it comes: nor must you think it strange,
Page  26 That hardly being skin deepe in the most faire,
And but a separable accident
Of bodys, which, but living shadowes are;
(And therfore frayle) it is not permanent;
Be then not proud of that, which at the best,
Decrepit age will spoyle: or sicknesse wast.

1. Epigrams. The First Booke. ¹ 41. Concerning those, who marry for beauty, and wealth without regard of vertue
2. Epigrams. The Second Booke. ¹ 13. What the subject of your conference ought to be with men of judgment, and account
3. Epigrams. The First Booke. ¹ 42. The speech of a noble spirit to his adversary, whom af∣ter he had defeated, he acknowledgeth to be nothing in∣feriour to himselfe in worth, wit, or valour, thereby insinuating that a wise man cannot properly bee subdued: though he be orthrown in body, and worldly commodities
4. Epigrams. The Second Booke. ¹ 19. What is not vertuously acquired, if acquired by vs, is not properly ours
5. Epigrams. The Third Booke. ¹ 17. VVhy we must all dye

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