Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845.

A Simile

CII. Anthony Fletcher

AS candles light do giue

Vntill they be consumed,

Doing good so should men liue

Vntill their daies be ended.

You are, saith Christ, a light

This darksome world to guide;

Although you purchase spight,

Still let your light be tride.

Before men let it shine,

To glorifie my name:

The profite shall be thine,

Or else thou art to blame.

Man’s vnsauorie earth

To season thou art sault;

And though it cost thy breath,

In thee let be no fault.

The truth be bold to speake,

Not fearing any face;

The Lord thy part will take,

And strength thee with his grace.

But if for fear of gaine

The truth thoult hide or couer,

That brings thy soule to paine;

Thy lot can be no other.

My candle hath no light,

My buisnes yet vndone;

So suddenly comth night,

Before we looke for noone.

I meane, death is at doore;

So let him be in mind,

Least such may be his houre

Vnready thee to finde.

Thy readines let be

In Christ a stedfast faith;

God’s feare, walking rightly,

Still trampling vertue’s path.

Then needst thou not to feare

Death, come he late or early:

In truth to God draw neare,

And he will love thee dearly.

Thy soule shall go to heauen;

Though bodie go to graue,

Yet shall it rise againe,

The self-same soule to haue.

And both shall go to dwell

In heauen with the Lord;

The ioyes no tongue can tell

By Christ for thee prepar’d.

Which ioies I wish to thee,

Good reader, with my hart;

Not doubting but that I

At length shall take thy part.

Amen, amen, amen;

O Lord, so let it be!

We shall be blessed then,

O blessed Christ, through thee.