Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke (1554–1628)

THE EARTH, with thunder torn, with fire blasted,

With waters drowned, with windy palsy shaken,

Cannot for this with heaven be distasted,

Since thunder, rain, and winds from earth are taken.

Man, torn with love, with inward furies blasted,

Drowned with despair, with fleshly lustings shaken,

Cannot for this with heaven be distasted:

Love, fury, lustings out of man are taken.

Then man, endure thyself, those clouds will vanish.

Life is a top which whipping Sorrow driveth,

Wisdom must bear what our flesh cannot banish,

The humble lead, the stubborn bootless striveth:

Or, man, forsake thyself, to heaven turn thee,

Her flames enlighten nature, never burn thee.