Five Termes, there be, which five I doe apply <br />To all, that was, and is, and shall be done. <br />The first, and last, is that ETERNITIE, <br />Which, neither shall have End, nor, was begunne. <br />BEGINNING, is the next; which, is a space <br />(Or moment rather) scarce imaginarie, <br />Made, when the first Materiall, formed was; <br />And, then, forbidden, longer time time tarry. <br />TIME entred, when, BEGINNING had an Ending, <br />And, is a Progresse, all the workes of Nature, <br />Within the circuit of it, comprehending, <br />Ev'n till the period, of the Outward-creature. <br />END, is the fourth, of those five Termes I meane; <br />(As briefe, as was Beginning) and, ordayned, <br />To set the last of moments, to that Scaene, <br />Which, on this Worlds wide Stage, is entertayned. <br />The fifth, we EVERLASTING, fitly, call; <br />For, though, it once begunne, yet shall it never <br />Admit, of any future-end, at all; <br />But, be extended onward, still, for ever. <br /> The knowledge of these Termes, and of what action, <br />To each of them belongs, would set an end, <br />To many Controversies, and Distractions, <br />Which doe so many trouble, and offend. <br />TIME'S nature, by the Fading-flowre, appeares; <br />Which, is a Type, of Transitory things: <br />The Circled-snake, ETERNITIE declares; <br />Within whose Round, each fading Creature, springs. <br /> Some Riddles more, to utter, I intended, <br /> But, lo; a sudden stop, my words have ended.<br /><br />George Wither<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/time-is-a-fading-flowre-that-s-found/
