| All things within this fading world hath end, | |
| Adversity doth still our joys attend; | |
| No ties so strong, no friends so dear and sweet, | |
| But with death's parting blow are sure to meet. | |
| The sentence past is most irrevocable, | 5 |
| A common thing, yet oh, inevitable. | |
| How soon, my Dear, death may my steps attend, | |
| How soon't may be thy lot to lose thy friend, | |
| We both are ignorant, yet love bids me | |
| These farewell lines to recommend to thee, | 10 |
| That when the knot's untied that made us one, | |
| I may seem thine, who in effect am none. | |
| And if I see not half my days that's due, | |
| What nature would, God grant to yours and you; | |
| The many faults that well you know I have | 15 |
| Let be interred in my oblivious grave; | |
| If any worth or virtue were in me, | |
| Let that live freshly in thy memory | |
| And when thou feel'st no grief, as I no harmes, | |
| Yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms, | 20 |
| And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains | |
| Look to my little babes, my dear remains. | |
| And if thou love thyself, or loved'st me, | |
| These O protect from stepdame's injury. | |
| And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse, | 25 |
| With some sad sighs honor my absent hearse; | |
| And kiss this paper for thy dear love's sake, | |
| Who with salt tears this last farewell did take. | |
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