Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By Sir William Davenant (16061668)Life and Death
FRAIL Life! in which, through mists of human breath | |
We grope for truth, and make our progress slow, | |
Because by passion blinded; till, by death | |
Our passions ending, we begin to know. | |
O reverend Death! whose looks can soon advise | 5 |
E’en scornful youth, whilst priests their doctrine waste; | |
Yet mocks us too; for he does make us wise, | |
When by his coming our affairs are past. | |
O harmless Death! whom still the valiant brave, | |
The wise expect, the sorrowful invite, | 10 |
And all the good embrace, who know the grave | |
A short dark passage to eternal light. | |