An Epitaph of the Ladie Br.

STaie (gentle Friend) that passest by
and learne this lore of mée,
That mortall things doe liue to die,
and die againe to bée.
For daylie proufe hath daylie taught
and yet doth teache it plaine,
That all our substance comes to naught,
and worldly welth is vaine.
No rawnsome may redéeme thy fleshe
from lothsome lumpes of soyle,
The Wormes will soone thy Beautie freshe
with greedie gripe dispoyle.
I that was earst of gentle bloud
that neuer sufferd staine,
Haue nothing but a winding shrowds
in stead of all my gaine.
I twise was bound by solemne oth
vnto a louing Make:
Yet twas my luck to burie both,
and eke a thirde to take.
The ioy that fourtie yeares had growne
by those two husbands dayes,
In two yeares space was ouerthrowne
and altred sundrie wayes.
As luck would not allow my choice,
so Death mislikte the same:
Those two agréed with common voyce
my bondage too vnframe.
The Lady (Br) quoth Fortune tho
hir worship shall not loose:
Then shée (quoth Death) shall haue no mo,
nor other husbande choose.
Thus did they both contend at once
who mought the friendlist bée:
Thus Death and Fortune for the nones
did make my body frée.

Pray gentle Friend therefore for me,
to Mightie Ioue on hie:
For as I am so thou shalt bée
since thou dost liue to die.
Trust neuer Fortunes fickle fate,
but Vertue still retaine:
Thou mayst in time exchaunge estate,
yet Vertue will remaine.