View this glass, advisedly, and weigh the same effectually.   skull and crossbones 
A looking glass for each estate, Wherm to weave the fickle fate.  
As I am so must thou be  
Dici beatus ante obitum nenio. Post funera virtus vivit.  
As thou art so was I  
Thou wast but dust, and thereto return thou must.  
No Blemish than, Upon thy face? But by the same: thou mayest disgrace.  

Death unto careless youth  
YE Careless youths look well on me  
for as I am so shall you be:  
I am the wight at length that musse  
lay all your honour in the dust.  
I am the wight that must at length,  
confound both might, and manly strength  
'tis I that states of high degree,  
do cause to fali, and follow me:  
Yea kings, and Queens, and others more,  
both Lords and Ladies high and low.  
The priest, the prelate, clerk and all,  
of force must yield when I do call.  
The youthful bloods as well as these,  
must unto death come pay there fees.  
No wealth no strength, no policy,  
can make resistance unto me.  
Wherefore let this be still your song:  
Dead shall I be or it be long.  
But when, or how, god he doth know,  
where forelets well our time bestow.   

Death to the gallant dainty Dames.  
YOu gallant dames, behold me here,  
for as I am, you m●ste appear:  
Though you be gay you ar● but dust,  
Though you be loath, yet hence you must  
Your looks so coy, your fined talk,  
your frizzled hair away mu● walk:  
Your beauty, fair must turn to dust,  
and loving mates where on you trust.  
I care not for your ●okes so high,  
your dainty mouths to death shall fly:  
alluring gestures where with all,  
you many thousands brought to thrall,  
And all things else must you depart,  
when death doth sting, with cruel dart.  
Your rings, your chains, your rich array,  
yea life and a●l I take away,  
Let this therefore, be eke your song,  
Dead shall I be, or it be long,  
But when, or how, god he doth know:  
your time see than you well bestow.   

Death to Crookedage  
COme hoary hears, and dance with me,  
your state in sequence may you see:  
Though long this world you have at will,  
yet death at last will have his fill:  
For gold and wealth, death doth not care,  
old crooked age, death will not spare.  
When they have scrachd all that they can,  
needs must they leave it to an other man.  
No tears nor treaty, wealth nor friend,  
from painful death, may man defend  
Let this therefore, be eke your song,  
dead shall I be or it be long:  
But when or how god he doth know,  
wherefore lets well our time be slow.   

The Author to the reader  
LEt every man if he be wise,  
(respecting not this worldly fame)  
With judgement deep, and grave advice,  
mark well this glass, for in the same,  
A perfect picture (as I ween)  
of man's frail nature may be seen.  
And sith its sure, that all shall die,  
●u when, or how, god only knows,  
Chrise happy then, is ●e save I  
That godly here, his time bestows:  
But w● to him and woe again,  
whose death doth turn to endlese pain.  
Repent repent, and eke amend,  
what is an ille:  
That with the sheep? our saviour Christ?  
may c●l● us his?  
To reign with him, in heavens bliss,  
for ever and a day:  
That god would grant this, to us all,  
let every Christian pra●e Amen.   
Tho. johnson.  
FINIS.   

Imprinted at london by Abel jeffs. and are to be sold by William Barley dwelling in gracious street near leaden haul. (1595.)