Dear friend, by favoring fortune richly led, Your life a long experience of peace, Dread not the day when these delights will cease And you will rest among the silent dead. By this glad confidence be comforted, That life's excelling joy is life's release, That fortune grows as earthly goods decrease, And from the bowl of death true life is fed. By this one loss all gains are stoutly made, By this adventure certainty is found: Did ever merchant make a better trade? Did ever voyager find richer ground? At death's dark door nor doubting nor dismayed, Superbly win all profits at a bound! |