Funerall Elegies: Eleg. 20

VNconstant earth! why doe not mortalls cease
To build their hopes upon so short a lease?
Vncertaine lease, whose terme, but once begun,
Tells never when it ends, till it be done:
We dote upon thy smiles, not knowing why:
And whiles we but prepare to live, we dye:
We spring like flowers, for a daies delight,
At noone, we flourish, and we ade at night:
We toile for kingdomes, conquer Crownes, & then
We that were Gods but now, now lesse than men:
If wisdome, learning, knowlege cannot dwell
Secure from change, vaine bubble earth, farewell.