Homo Microcosmus

HEARE what's the reason why a man we call
A little world? and what the wiser ment
By this new name? two lights Coelestiall
Are in his head, as in the Element:
Eke as the wearied Sunne at night is spent,
So seemeth but the life of man a day,
At morne he's borne, at night he flits away.

Of heate and cold as is the Aire composed,
So likewise man we see breath's whot and cold,
His bodie's earthy: in his lunges inclosed,
Remaines the Aire: his braine doth moisture hold,
His heart and liver, doe the heate infold:
Of Earth, Fire, Water, Man thus framed is,
Of Elements the threefold Qualities.

And as we fitly INFANCIE compare
Vnto the SPRING, so YOVTH we liken may
To lazie SVMMER, whot devoid of care:
His middle Age to AVTVMNE, his decay
To WINTER, snowie white, and frostie gray,
For then his vigor failes, his heate is cold,
And like the saplesse Oake he dieth old.