Noble spectators, pray learn this1 by me,
That nothing without Honor, Time, can2 perfect be.
Honor doth dress the mind with virtuous weeds,
And is the parent to all noble deeds.
Time doth the body dress with youth and age, 5
And is great Nature’s chambermaid and page.
If in Time’s cabinet3 great spoils you find,
The fault is ignorance, stupid and4 blind,
Which careless is, and tumbles5 all about,
Misplacing all, taking the6 wrong things out. 10
But Time’s a housewife good, and takes much pain
To order all as Nature did ordain.
On several heaps she several ages7 lays,
And what she takes from Life, to Death she pays.
But if disordered Life doth run in debt, 15
Then Death his sergeants doth diseases set,
Which causes Time8 to give a double pay,
’Cause Life is9 spent so much before rent day.
Category: CLASP III-IV
A Masquer Dressed by Honor and Time
10
His hair did white like silver ribbons show;11
Knots of experience were tied into.12
His head was covered13 all with wisdom’s hat;
Good management the hatband was round14 that.
His garments loose yet manly did appear;15 5
Though time had crumpled them, no spots were there.16
His cloak made of a free and noble mind,
Within17 with generosity was lined.
And gloves of bounty, which his hands did cover,18
Were stitched19 with love, with free hearts trimmed all over.20 10
A sword of valor hung close by his side,
To cut off all base fears and haughty pride.
His boots were honesty, to walk upon,21
And spurs of good desires tied them on.22
Thus he was dressed by Honor and by Time;23 15
The one did give him wit, the other made him fine.24
Vanity’s Epilogue to the Thoughts
Noblest, you see how finely I am dressed,
Yet all is counterfeit that’s here expressed.
Vanity cheats25 you all, and doth take pride
For to allure you from fair Virtue’s side.
A Masquer Dressed by Vanity
26
The27 perfumed powder in’s long curls of hair
Were like28 lime-twigs to catch a maid that’s fair.
His glist’ring suit, which every seam Pride laced,29
Was30 made a bawd for to corrupt the chaste.
A cut-work band, which vanity had wrought, 5
The31 price by which his mistress’s32 love was bought;33
Silk stockings, garters, roses, all of gold,
Were34 bribes by which his mistress’s love did35 hold.
His36 several colored ribbons he did wear,37
Were pages, which to her did letters bear.38 10
Feathers, like sails, did39 wave with every wind,
Yet by these40 sails he finds his mistress kind.
His flatt’ring41 tongue persuades42 a simple maid
That43 all is truth, when all is44 false he said.
To the Temple
The Bridegroom
50
The bridegroom was all51 dressed by Honors fine,
And was attended by the Muses nine.
Virtue strewed flow’rs52 of dispositions sweet,
In honest ways to walk on gentle feet.
A crown of loyalty was on53 his head; 5
Both54 Fortitude, and Justice did him lead.55
Over his56 crown a laurel Fame did57 set,
Which Fortune often strived away to get.
And many bells of several censures rung,
And all the streets were58 with inquiry hung, 10
And59 in a chariot of good deeds did ride,
And many thankful hearts run by his side.
The Bride
60
A crown of jewels on her head was61 put,
And every jewel like a planet cut;
The diamond, carbuncle, and sapphire,62
Ruby,63 topaz, and emerald was there.64
Her65 face was like the sun, which66 shinèd bright, 5
And all those jewels from her face took light.
A chain of gold was linked by destiny,67
And68 in each link69 a good effect did lie,70
And as the zodiac round the world doth bind,
So did this71 chain about her body wind. 10
Silver cloth for her72 gown the Fates did spin,
And73 every thread was twisted hard therein.
Her hair in curls hung loose, by Cupid blown,74
Between which75 curls her shoulders white were shown,76
Youth strewed green rushes to the temple gate, 15
In Beauty’s chariot she rid in great77 state.
With78 great applause her charioteer drove on,
Eyes of delight, as lackies, run along.79
Then80 to the altar this fair bride was led
By blushing Modesty, in crimson red, 20
And Innocency,81 dressed in lily white;
Hymen did bear the torch, which82 burned bright.
Her train was carried by the83 Graces three,
As lovely Hope, Good84 Faith, and Charity.
The Chorus
85
Thus Love, and War, and Age, and Youth did meet
In scenes of poetry, and numbers sweet.
War took out Love, and Age did take out Youth,
And all did dance upon the stage of truth.
A Woman Dressed by Age
A milk-white hair-lace wound up all her hairs,
And a deaf coif did cover both her ears.
A sober look86 about her face she ties,
And a dim sight doth cover half her eyes.
About her neck a kercher of coarse skin, 5
Which time had crumpled and worn creases in.
Her gown was turned to melancholy black,
Which loose did hang upon her sides and back.
Her stockings cramps had knit, red worsted gout,
And pains, as garters, tied her legs about. 10
A pair of palsy gloves her hands did cover,87
With weakness stitched, and numbness trimmed all over.88
Her shoes were corns, and hard skin sewed together;
Hard skin was89 soles, and corns the upper leather.
A mantle of diseases laps her round, 15
And thus she’s dressed, till Death lays her in90 ground.
A Lady Dressed by Youth
91
Her hair had curls of pleasure92 and delight,
Through which93 her skin did cast a glimm’ring94 light.
As lace, her bashful eyelids downwards hung;
A modest count’nance o’er95 her face was flung.96
Blushes, as coral beads, she strung, to wear 5
About her neck, and pendants for each ear.
Her gown was by proportion cut and made,
With veins embroidered, with complexion laid.
Light words with ribbons of chaste thoughts she97 ties,
And loose behavior, which through errors flies. 10
Rich jewels of bright honor she did wear,
By noble actions placed98 everywhere.
Thus dressed, to Fame’s great court straightways she went,
There danced a ball99 with Youth, Love, Mirth, Content.