Caelica 7: The world, that all contains
The world, that all contains, is ever moving;
The stars within their spheres forever turned;
Nature, the queen of change, to change is loving;
And form to matter new is still adjourned.
Fortune, our fancy-God, to vary liketh;
Place is not bound to things within it placed;
The present time upon time passëd striketh;
With Phoebus’ wandering course the earth is graced.
The air still moves, and by its moving cleareth;
The fire up ascends, and planets feedeth;
The water passeth on, and all lets weareth;
The earth stands still, yet change of changes breedeth.
Her plants, which summer ripes, in winter fade;
Each creature in unconstant mother lieth;
Man made of earth, and for whom earth is made,
Still dying lives, and living ever dieth.
Only like fate sweet Myra never varies,
Yet in her eyes the doom of all change carries.
Caelica 83: You that seek what life is in death
You that seek what life is in death,
Now find it air that once was breath.
New names unknown, old names gone:
Till time end bodies, but souls none.
Reader! then make time, while you be,
But steps to your eternity.