Thomas Urquhart

Epigrams. The First Booke. ¹ 34. That wee ought not to be excessively grieved at the losse of any thing, that is in the power of Fortune

ALL those externall ornaments of health,
Strength, honour, children, beauty, friends, & wealth
Are for a while concredited to men,
To decke the Theater, whereon the scene
Of their fraile life is to be acted: some
Of which must (without further) be brought home
To day, and some to morrow; th'use of them
Being onely theirs, till new occasions claime
A restitution of them all againe,
As time thinkes fit, to whom they appertaine;
Though such like things therefore be taken from us,
Wee should not suffer griefe to overcome us:
But rather render thankes, they have beene lent us
So long a space, and never discontent us.