Life and Existence

And, live we how we can, yet die we must.

A little fire is quickly trodden out, Which, being suffer’d, rivers cannot quench.

For many men that stumble at the threshold Are well foretold that danger lurks within.

What fates impose, that men must needs abide; It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts.

Hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

To fortune’s yoke, but let thy dauntless mind Still ride in triumph over all mischance.

Thou [Death] setter up and plucker down of kings. 3

He dies, and makes no sign.

Now ’tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted; Suffer them now and they’ll o’ergrow the garden.

God defend the right!

Sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud; And after summer evermore succeeds Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.

Sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud; And after summer evermore succeeds Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.

Now, God be prais’d, that to believing souls Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!

Could I come near your beauty with my nails I’d set my ten commandments in your face.

For what is wedlock forced, but a hell, An age of discord and continual strife? Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss, And is a pattern of celestial peace.

Delays have dangerous ends.

Just death, kind umpire of men’s miseries.

I’ll note you in my book of memory.

Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to night!

Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight, And burned is Apollo’s laurel bough, That sometime grew within this learned man.

O soul, be changed into little waterdrops, And fall into the ocean—ne’er to be found. My God! my God! look not so fierce on me!

O lente, lente currite noctis equi: 7 [Slowly, slowly run, O horses of the night:] The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike, The Devil will come, and Faustus must be damned. O, I’ll leap up to my God! Who pulls me down? See, see where Christ’s blood streams in the firmament! One drop would save my soul—half a drop: ah, my Christ!

O lente, lente currite noctis equi: 7 [Slowly, slowly run, O horses of the night:] The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike, The Devil will come, and Faustus must be damned. O, I’ll leap up to my God! Who pulls me down? See, see where Christ’s blood streams in the firmament! One drop would save my soul—half a drop: ah, my Christ!