A Dialogue betw●●● Life and Death. Very requisite for the Contemplation of all Transitory Pilgrims, and pious min●ed Ch●isti●●●. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●●●●on by W. W. & are to be sold by Edwar● 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ●auls Churchyard. To the Worshipful, truly affecte● and no less meritorious, Mr James Bis … Senior Esquire: the Author wisheth Grace, Mercy, and Peace. SIR, THe manifold courtesies received at you● hands, deserveth a far more gratification than my ability, either the one way 〈◊〉 the other is able to give you: yet to b● oblivious of all, were treb●e ingratitude And therefore to shun so absurd an error, I hav● in my dutiful affection, (laying aside Commic●… Thaleia) presented to your Worship's view, Deat● Conquering, that must be Conquered. Although th● subject is not correspondent to festival times, yet to 〈◊〉 thought upon at all times: and so in conclusion 〈◊〉 time omited. But to make my Wings bigger than 〈◊〉 Nest, were ridiculous. And therefore in the best 〈◊〉 affection, I rest. Your obliged, Richard Wates. DIALOGUE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATA. The Speakers for life are Wisdom, Beauty, Wealth, Youth, and Age. iconic representation of Death as a skeleton holding an arrow in one hand and an hourglass in the other Death begins, and proclaims his authority from whom he is sent. FRom th' Imperial Throne of your Creator With this my large Commission I am sent, My name is Death, which most so much abhor, And would through (frailty this my sting prevent But my Embassage no one may withstand, Being sealed in Eden by th' Almighty's hand. This sandy glass, which in my hand I bear, Doth measure out the time of mortal man: Which being run, with this my darting spear, I bring him to the grave, both pale and wan: Nor King nor Keysar, nor the servile slave, That can be privileged from the grave. No golden bribes, though lean I am in show, Shall cause me at fond worldlings once connive, Nor pleading Orator (whose wisdom flow Like to bright Pallas (shall his date survive: where's brave Hector, Pompey Alexander; Why gone by me that am the world's commander. there's not a day doth pass, but I do bring A full filled catalogue of the deads' name, Unto your dreadful Lord and heavenly King, Some to their consolations, some their shame: Where, in a book of brass, the total sum, Are all recorded, till the judgement come. The utmost Region of the earth I tread, To find the Christian Pagan, fair and foul: Millions of millions living I leave dead Some with a blessed, some a cursed soul; I cannot give omittance for an hour Having my charge from the eternal power. Death's thy Advantage. depiction of Death with his arrow confronting Youth Death speaks to Youth. THou that art youthful and art newly come, To speak the prologue of a greater sum: Yet err thy speech be ended, death doth spy, The period of thy sand; and thou must die. Youth pleads for itself. But I am young, and in the prime of days, Then, were it not ingratitude in thee To nip the garland of my new grown Bays, Before it come to full maturity? I am but threescore years and ten, nay more I may survive, ere nature gives me o'er. Had we not example late in father Parr, That lived a hundred forty, and twelve year's; Although times glass to few do run so fare, Yet men of foure-scores gate there oft appears; Then were it not mere cruelty in death, For to bereave my youthful days of breath. Ah! let me live, that I the world may know, And reap the joys my aged Sire hath sown; Let death to some sick pined person go, Whose heavy yoke doth make his heart to groan; Upon my youth feed not thy malice fell, Till I have drunk at Aristotle's well. Death answers youth. ALas poor youth! hast thou not often s●ene The silly Lamkin to the market come Before his dam; true, 'tis thy days are green, And now but entering to a greater sum: But as the days, & hours, and months, and years Come on upon thee, so come on thy cares. Nor to abridge thy youthful days of life Is malice shown; but now to cut thee down, Is the road way to set thee free from strife, And add unto thy soul a lasting Crown: I shall acquit thee from a world of sins, Which longer days (in losing) greatly wins. And ah! wert thou but capable to know, The intricate designs of mortal man; Now he is in the gulf of grief and woe, Dogged at the heels with sad despair, and than Perhaps raised high on proud ambition's wing, Whilst he forgets his God & heavenly king. Nor may I dally with thy tender days, I must dispatch my errand being sent, Then fear not silly youth, I bring the joys, And free thee from all earthly discontent. See, see, thy glass is run, take here this sheet, And lay thee down at Death's triumphant feet. O happy Change. depiction of Death, holding a shroud and standing over Youth EVen such is man, that lives by breath, Each moment changing unto death. Arise, this is no place of rest. depiction of Death with its arrow standing over Wisdom Death speaks to Wisdom. THou that hast wisdom, and apprehend As much as to poor mortal man doth tend; And rightly canst discern earth, sea, and sky; Yet man for all this wisdom's born to die. Wisdom pleads for itself. CAnnot my large Apologies acquit My body from thy rage and cruel stroke? Cannot my pregnant and ingenious wit Study a new found way to slip thy yoke? Cannot the muses and deep Arts divine Prevent the cruel blow Death doth assign? Nor yet the knowledge of my mother's breast, (Oxford and Cambridge) not one way devise For to escape thee; or should I request With tears of purple blood from weeping eyes? Or with orations framed from Art most high, Enough to pierce the ten fold Orbs and sky. Death answers Wisdom. HAd Jove begot thee in Minerva's arms, And hadst more learning than e'er mortal yet, Or wert thou drenched whereas the Muse's swarms, With holy raptures; yea, and round beset With Angels for thee: yet know that I am Inexorable to them, or man. where's Solomon, that wise beloved King? Prophets, and Prediviners, where are they? Did not this impartial hand soon bring Their bodies to be lodged in beds of clay? And so must thine: for lo, thy glass is run, No wisdom can preserve thee, Death being come. What not die, thou piece of proud earth. depiction of Death attacking Beauty with its arrow Death speaks to Beauty. THou that hast beauty, Princely hearts to move, Enough to make cold death in fiery love; Yet know fair dame, the beauty of thine eye Must be eclipsed, being borne to die. Wealth pleadeth for its self. CAnnot my bags of gold with Death prevail? Though I bring million to escape thy stroke So to be privileged from the gaile, And not be subject to thy painful yoke; I'll give thee all my revenues beside, So I in Golgatha may not be spied. Take Crown and Sceptre on the same condition jewels and accoutrements take them all, So that my name from out thy strict commission Be wholly cancelled that I never fall: Thy looks are terrible, hideous, and thin, That makes me tremble at my former sin. Death answers to wealth. WEre all the Mines that in the earth doth lie, Digged and converted to useful coin; jewels and treasure that your Marchants buy In land ajacent, or beyond the line: Yet all were far too little to suffice, For why? man's life cannot be bought with price. Dives was rich, Pirrus a Crown did wear, Croesus had millians yet one touch of mine, Did cause them tremble with inward fear, When wealth, and Life at once they must resign Go, change the bags of gold for one poor sheet And lay thee down at Death's triumphant feet. Only a grave remaineth for thee. depiction of Death with its arrow confronting Old Age Death speaks to old age. THou that a hundred winters hast overgo, Living to see thy daughter's daughters son; (And many imperfections make thee cry;) Yet 'tis infallible, all flesh must die. Age pleads for itself. Full fourscore years of age I am at least, And yet the frailty of my flesh desire Those fourscore years may farther be increased; But then considering how my senses tyre, I wish for Death, for why? I feel Full many griefs, even from my crown to heel. " Bald is my head where once my hair took place " Dotage possesseth the better part of sense; " Furrows and wrinkles grow within my face, " My dried gums stand for my teeth defence, " The portholes of mine ears are stopped up quite " A cloudy dimness hath o'revaild my sight. " My feet and ankles weak and feeble are " That hardly can my upper part support: " My legs & thighs and arms that brawny were: " Now lank, and thin, and lean appeareth fort, " My inward parts doth feelingly consume, " Through Tissiek, Cough, continual coldness Rheum. " My form grows crooked, stooping to the ground, " Stinking my breath, my joints they tremble all, " A tasty Coler in me doth abound? " Yea my whold Microcosm gins to fall; " And yet me thinks (through fear) that I could crave " One year or two forbearance from the grave. Death answers old Age. WOnder of wonders, that thy frame of clay, Thy stinking carcase, and a trunk decayed Should have desire to one poor future day; O! rather wish my stroke be not delayed; Thy strength ●t is impaired through grief and p●ine, As borne a child, become a child again. Thy glass is run, and nature gives thee o'er, Earth must to earth, until the trump shall sound, See thy Sands period not one minute more Thou must survive; there is thy deadly wound. Youth, Wisdom Beauty, Strngth, Wealth, nor old Age. That can the fury of stern Death assuage. Hast thou forgot who suffered on the Cross, That all believers should to heaven ascend? And at thy downfall shall loud voices sing, Death where's thy Conquest; Hell where is thy sting. When thou shalt swallowed be to th' abis. Of black Gehema, and the gulf of woe; Then shall the voice of comfort, joy, and bliss Be to the blessed: Come, and with me go Into my Father's Kingdom, and rceive What neither Death nor Time shall from you reave. Death's Acelamation. WHo can assist me with a stood of tears! I may gush out whole rivers from mine eyes! And sighs by millions, at the voice I hears! That I must be excluded heavenly joys! All mortals living, whilst you yet have breath Live well, to die, and die, to live through Death. Death's Memorandum to the middle aged. WHen I look in the glass, and note my hairs. I see some grey, and other some impairs: But looking farther on records I find My date almost summed up, for man assigned: Which rightly noting, than I strait gins To number if I could my world of sins. But find them numberless: it's not time then To shake off drowsiness, and catch my pen? 'Tis time for me, and all the world beside, Oil in our Lamps with speed that we provide, Lest that the Bridegroom come, we not prepared, And so through Satan's Wiles become ensnared; Yet think, that in uncertainties 'tis sure, All flesh must die, but when, none knows the hour. Man's Meditation. TO Meditate of Death, and of our end, Cannot but make us tremble to offend: Because as Death leaves us, and fast binds us, Judgement as infallible will find us. Another. Physicians know (or else should know at least) How man's health is impaired and how increased: And oft men's life prolongs through skill and Art, But yet no Physic can withstand Death's Dart. Sigh that the life of wretched mortal man Is but in length much like a span; What curious care than should we have in this? To spend one hairs breadth of that span amiss. A Hymn of Praises, to the most blessed and glorious Trinity. 1. SIng to the Lord all honour laud, and praise, that did us raise From earth whereon we tread and being dead, These corpse of earth, shall in the earth be led. 2. Until the trump shall summon us to joys, or sad annoys: Then now's the fittest time for to refine This drossy earth, and make it all divine. 3. Sing to the Lord all honour, praise, and laud, and him appland; Seith we through Adam's fall were wretched all; And yet through Christ his mercies did recall. 4. And now through faith, to good works joined we shall live with thee, Where Saints and Angels dwell, if we repel Stans allurement, and the snares of hell. 5. Sing to our Saviour Christ laud, praise & honour, under whose banner Let us continual fight, as firm and right, Till World, the Flesh, and Devil be vanquished quite. 6. And to the Holy Chost like praises sing, that doth us bring, Preserving sanctity, Love and Amity, Thoughts pure, and chaste; abhorring vanity. 7. To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as right, by day and night, Let us give praises due, and still pursue The path that leads to bliss; bid sin a diew. 8. Let us lay hold upon the present time, Death comes in fine: This life ended, all flesh must Catch time, it passeth by, and use it just. Allegorical Poem. BEhold the towering tree, that whilom stood In strength & beauty bravely midst the wood; Whose far stretched l●mbs was shelter for the beasts, And likewise for the birds to build their nest. Is now hewn down, because he brought foth Such fruits as tend to goodness and to worth: So cast into the fire, and there to be Burned, and consumed for an ill-fruited tree. Divers Exhortations to cause all men to remember their ends: taken out of the holy Scripture. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread, till thou return unto the ground: for out of it waste thou taken: for dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return Gen. 2.19. depiction of a man digging with a shovel (illustrating the biblical passage) Death's first speech to Nature. OLd Adam was condemned, and all his race, To eat their bread in the sweat of their face And Scripture saith, that from the dust he came And back to dust he must return again: So this hard doom on Adam's sons doth lie First they must labour here, then after die. Nature's reply. 'tis true, this doom to Adam's Sons is given, To labour here on earth, and rest in heaven. We must needs die, and are as water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again, neither doth God respect any person, 2 Sam. 9.14. depiction of a heavenly hand pouring water upon the earth (illustrating the biblical passage) Death's second speech to Nature. AS water that is poured on the ground, Sinks deeply in, and can no more be found (For water spilt) who can again recover, Such is thy life, thou shalt not have another. Nature's reply. Death to thy lie, Nature makes this reply, That being changed, I shall live after I die. Nature shall rise from Mortality, And live in heaven Eternally. We are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were our Fathers: our days on earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding. 1 Cron. 29.15. depiction of a sojourner (illustrating the biblical passage) Death's fourth speech to Nature. O Mortal man expect to meet with dangers And with hard usage, for ye are all strangers, And sojourners, such as your fathers were, While ye like walking shadows do appear; Walking while that the sun of life doth stay, Which setting, ye like shadows fleet a way. Nature's reply. If man a shadow be, Christ is his sun, Whom he doth follow to his Kingdom. My days are swifter than a Weavers Shitlle, Job 7.6. depiction of a weaver's shuttle, an hourglass, and a mirror (illustrating the biblical passage) Death's fourth speech to Nature. TO show men's d●yes are fading and most fickle, Thy days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle. Then be not with hope of long life deceved, But know thy web of life is quickly weaded, For if thy ho●res like weaver's shuttle run, Thy life like to a web, will soon be done. Nature's reply. I care not for when this life's web is done, 〈◊〉 robes of Immortality put on. As the Cloud is consumed, and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the Grave, shall come up no more, Job 7.9. depiction of a cloud and a bow and arrow (illustrating the biblical passage) Death fifth speech to Nature. BEhold as Clouds do in a gloomy day, Disperse consume, and vanish clean away, Such is man's life; yet Clouds again do ris●, But Man gone to the grave, unseen there lies. Nature's reply. Man like sown seed lies in the ground unseen, But both at last do rise again and spring. And the voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The gasse withereth, the flower fadeth, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. Esay 40.67. depiction of flowers of the field (illustrating the biblical passage Death's sixth speech to Nature. WHat is man's life, when every thing may be, An emblem to him of Mortality He is but like the grass or the field flower, That flourisheth and fadeth in an hour. Nature's reply. The wicked man indeed is like to grass, His life doth whither away and soon pass. But those that virtuously spend here their hours, Their names smell sweet on earth, like withered flowers. My days are swifter than a Post, they fly away and I see no good. job 9.25. depiction of a post on horseback (illustrating the biblical passage) Death seventh speech to Nature. Man's life is but breathes bubble at the most And all his days are swifter than a Post They fly away before they are understood, And man in all his life doth see no good. Nature's reply. He that doth in few years to heaven climb, Ends a long journey in a little time. Behold thou hast made my days as an hand breadth, and mine age is nothing unto thee, Psal. 39.5. depiction of a hand (illustrating the biblical passage) Death's eight speech to Nature. BEhold thy days are like unto a span, Which stretched out, do yield the greater pain The hand doth ache extended at full length, So age stretched out yields pain and want of strength. Nature's reply. If I be old in grace, as well as years, Then ages winter youthful spring appears. For here we have no continuing City, but we seek one to come, Heb. 13.14. depiction of two sojourners passing a city (illustrating the biblical passage) Death's ninth speech to Nature. THough here with lands, wives, houses ye do fit ye, Yet ye below have no continuing City: But in your earthly pilgrimage go on, In seeking out a City that's to come. Nature's reply. Our new Jerusalem in heaven stands, Which is a City that's not built with hands. What is our Life? it is even as a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4.14. depiction of a cup with liquid evaporating from it (illustrating the biblical passage) Death's tenth speech to Nature. WHat is man's life? it is a burning Taper, Or it is like unto a rising vapour: Both for a little time appear and stay, But afterward they vanish both away. Nature's reply. That life which seems a vapour, proves Divine, And like a bright star shall in Heaven shine. We are passed away as a swift ship under sail, that hasteth to the prey. Job 9.2. depiction of a ship (illustrating the biblical passage) Death's eleventh speech to Nature. AS a swift ship doth on the Ocean glide And cut the foaming Ocean unespy'de, Such is man's life that quickly flies away, Like to an Eagle hasting to his prey. Nature's reply. Man's life is like a ship bound for heaven lies, Or like an Eagle unto heaven flies. For he remembered they were but flesh, and wind tha● passeth away, and cometh not again, Psal. 78 39 depiction of the wind (illustrating the biblical passage Death's twelfth speech to Nature. LAstly, remember man is flesh and wind, Flesh to the earth for worms meat is resigned The wind doth pass away, man's life's the same, That passes like wind, and comes not again. Nature's reply. Although my flesh must die, I am not sorry: For after death I shall enjoy heaven's glory. Life and Death. LIke to the Damask Risen you see, Or like the blossom of the tree: Or like the dainty flowers in May, Or like the morning of the day, Or like the Sun or like the shade, Or like the Gourd that Ionas had: Even such is man whose thread is spun, Drawn out and cut, and so is done. The Rose withers, the blossom blasteth, The flowers fade, the morning hasteth The Sun sets, the shadow flies, The Gourd consumes, and man he dies. Like to the grass that's newly sprung, Or like the tale that's new begun, Or like a bird that's here to day, Or like the pearly Dew in may: Or like a thought, or like a dream, Or like the gliding of a stream. Even such is man who lives by breath, Each moment subject unto death. The grass withers, the Tale is ended, The birds flown, the dew's ascended, The thought's past, the dream is gone, T●● waters gild, Man's life is done. Like to a Bubble in a Brook, Or in a glass much like a look. depiction of a weaver's shuttle, an hourglass, and a mirror Or like a Shuttle from a Weavers hand, Or like a Writing in the sand; Or like an hure, or like a span, Or the singing of a Swan. Even such is man Whose life is gone, Whilst nimblest tongue is telling one. The Bubble's out, the looks forgot, The Shttle's fling, the writings out: The hour's not long, the span's but short, The Swan's near death; man's in like sort.