The Age and Life of MAN.
Here you mao see the frailty that in men,
Till they have run the years threescore and ten.
Tune of, Jane Shore.
1 When man is born he in a Cradle hides
7 At one time seven a Hoby-horse bestrides;
14. At two times seven a book to read withal;
21. At three times seven a Bandy and a Ball;
28. At four times seven a wife he seeks and finds
35. At five times 7 the Horn of strength he winds:
42. At six times seven, Time standeth by him still,
49. At seven times seven, his Bag begins to fill:
56. At eight times seven his house with riches shines,
63. At nine times seven, he to the Earth inclines:
70. At ten times seven his Glass & time is run,
Into the earth man falls, his story's done.
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AS I was wandring all alone
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A project then I thought upon:
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The which in my senses ran
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that I should right the age of man,
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Man he is Clay, and came from earth
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and sinners live till day of death
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From one sin to another run
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and never leaves till he's undone.
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Then fear your God make no delay,
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For time and Tide for none will stay.
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The first of seven years in a Cradle,
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to stand or go he is not able,
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Whiles other Creatures making scorn
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tramples him down when he is born:
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So weak he is he cannot go
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and poor is born we all do know
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Into this world stark naked he came,
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and so shall go out of the same.
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Then fear your etc.
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At two times seven his friends to rule
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provide for keeping him at School,
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That what to him in youth is told
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may do him good when he is old i
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But he so given is to play
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he truants most his tune away:
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When age comes on, he'l then repent.
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that he his time had so mispent.
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At three times seven he is very idle
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that all his friends cannot him bridle.
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Then fear your God, make no delay.
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For Time and Tide for none will stay.
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His thoughts run wandring too and fro,
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perswade him well you are his foe:
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In other Countries he will Rome
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and have no mind to stay at home:
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That all his friends are grieved still
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while he pursues his headstrong will.
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Then etc.
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The Second part to the Same Tune.
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At four times seven a wife he gets,
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using and mustering up his wits
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How he should thrive he takes great pains,
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alass for little or no gains,
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He then to bend his senses rowse
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things most convenient for his house:
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Which in time wasts & fades away,
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even so must man that is but Clay.
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Then fear etc.
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At five times seven a charge comes on,
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which in the world few think upon:
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He labours hard with right good will,
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striving like stones against a hill:
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Or like a flood that swiftly goes
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at one time ebbs, another flows:
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Even so is man that's rich to day
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to-morrow God takes all away.
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Then fear etc.
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At six times seven then he should leave
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and for his former folly grieve:
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His heart is vext with sobs and sighs
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for all his former vain delights
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Good Husbandry he then home takes
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bad husbandry he then forsakes:
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And sober lives, and those defie
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such as do hate good husbandry
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Then fear etc.
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At seven times seven a covetous mind
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is all to which he is inclind
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Covetous he is in himself
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to purchase up all worldly wealth.
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Gathering up that which is but dross
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which may prove once to be a cross
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Except his talent he improve
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towards the poor by acts of love.
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Then fear your God, make no delay,
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For time and tide for none will stay.
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At eight times seven his cunning skill
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striving with all his worldly will:
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In bargaining and selling then
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making his children mighty men.
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Leaving behind him that which he
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for it shall never t[hank]ed be
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As he did gather and lay it by,
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the Prodig[a]l did make it fly.
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Then fear etc.
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At nine times seven he waxes old,
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his limbs benum'd, and veins are cold:
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His children glad with much content,
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their father have so good judgment:
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So knowing is in every cause
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his wit doth make young men to pause:
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Yet all this world he now must leave
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and now prepare himself for grave.
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Then fear etc.
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At ten times seven his glass is run
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and he poor soul can no way shun:
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No, he must leave children and wife,
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to give the world can't save his life,
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Happy is he that liveth here,
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and keeps his Conscience pure and cleer,
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Although in dust his body lye
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his soul shall mount up to the Sky.
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Then fear etc.
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Thus have I shown from Stage to Stage,
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the frail condition of mans age,
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From seven till seven we pass till when
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we reach the years threescore and ten:
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Let us all joyn with one accord,
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and with due reverence fear the Lord.
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Then may we all rejoyce and sing.
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Hallelujah to our heavenly King.
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