“For next to Death is Sleepe to be compared; Therefore his house is unto his annext: Here Sleepe, ther Richesse, and hel-gate them both betwext.”

She bathed with roses red, And violets blew. And all the sweetest flowers That in the forest grew.

But times do change and move continually.

All that in this world is great or gay, Doth, as a vapor, vanish and decay.

For if good were not praised more than ill, None would choose goodness of his own free will.

Her angel’s face, As the great eye of heaven shined bright, And made a sunshine in the shady place.

Like as the culver on the bared bough Sits mourning for the absence of her mate.

Discord oft in music makes the sweeter lay.

The noblest mind the best contentment has.

Through knowledge we behold the world’s creation, How in his cradle first he fostered was; And judge of Nature’s cunning operation, How things she formed of a formless mass.

What more felicity can fall to creature, than to enjoy delight with liberty?

Foul jealousy! that turnest love divine to joyless dread, and makest the loving heart with hateful thoughts to languish and to pine.

Sweet breathing Zephyrus did softly play, A gentle spirit, that lightly did delay Hot Titan’s beams, which then did glister fair.

The Patron of true Holinesse, Foule Errour doth defeate: Hypocrisie him to entrappe, Doth to his home entreate.

And painful pleasure turns to pleasing pain.

Men, when their actions succeed not as they would, are always ready to impute the blame thereof to heaven, so as to excuse their own follies.

Make haste therefore, sweet love, whilst it is prime, For none can call again the passed time.

It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable it is, nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.

Never be hurried in anything. Do all things calmly and in a spirit of repose. Do not lose your inward peace even if everything seems to be going wrong. What is anything in life compared to peace of soul?

The facts of life are that a child who has seen war cannot be compared with a child who doesn’t know what war is except from television.

When you compare yourself to others you deny that your own magic exists.

Dear Lord, forgive me for all of the times I’ve compared myself to others. I know that You have hand-picked all of my qualities. Help me to see these things as beautiful reminders of Your great love in creating me as Your daughter. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

No ornament of a house can compare with books; they are constant company in a room, even when you are not reading them.

This made me reflect, how vain an attempt it is for a man to endeavor to do himself honor among those who are out of all degree of equality or comparison with him.

Virginity, albeit some highly prize it, Compared with marriage, had you tried them both, Differs as much as wine and water doth.