In short time these two parted, the one to his pleasure / the other to his labour. Anon Haruest grewe on, and reft from the Grashopper his woonted moysture. Then weakely skips he to the medows brinks: where till fell winter he abode. But stormes continually powring, hee went for succour to the Ant his olde acquaintance, to whome he had scarce discouered his estate, but the little worme made this replie.
Pack hence (quoth he) thou idle lazie worme, My house doth harbour no vnthriftie mates: Thou scornedst to toile, and now thou feelst the storme, And starust for foode while I am fed with cates. Vse no intreats, I will relentlesse rest, For toyling labour hates an idle guest.
The Grashopper, foodlesse, helpelesse, and strengthlesse, got into the next brooke, and in the yeelding sand digde himselfe a pit: by which likewise he ingraued this Epitaph.
When Springs greene prime arrayd me with delight, And euery power with youthfull vigor fild, Gaue strength to worke what euer fancie wild: I neuer feard the force of winters spight.
When first I saw the sunne the day begin, And drie the mornings teares from hearbs and grasse; I little thought his chearefull light would passe, Till vgly night with darknes enterd in. And then day lost I mournd, spring past I waild, But neither teares for this or that auaild.
Then too too late I praisd the Emmets paine, / That sought in spring a harbour gainst the heate: And in the haruest gathered winters meate, Perceiuing famine, frosts, and stormie raine.
My wretched end may warne Greene springing youth, To vse delights as toyes that will deceiue, And scorne the world before the world them leaue: For all worlds trust, is ruine without ruth. Then blest are they that like the toyling Ant, Prouide in time gainst winters wofull want.
With this the grashopper yeelding to the weathers extremit[ie], died comfortlesse without remedie. Like him myselfe: like me, shall al that trust to friends or times inconstancie. Now faint of my last infirmitie, beseeching them that shal burie my bodie, to publish this last farewell, written with my wretched hand.
_A letter written to his wife, found with this booke after his death._
The remembrance of many wrongs offered thee, and thy vnreprooued virtues, adde greater sorrow to my miserable state then I can vtter or thou conceiue. Neither is it lessened by consideration of thy absence (though shame would let me hardly beholde thy face) but exceedingly aggrauated, for that I cannot (as I ought) to thy owne selfe reconcile my selfe, that thou mightest witnesse my inward woe at this instant, that haue made thee a wofull wife for so long a time. But equal heauen hath denied that comfort, giuing at my last neede / like succour as I haue sought all my life: being in this extremitie as voide of helpe as thou hast beene of hope. Reason would, that after so long waste, I should not send thee a childe to bring thee greater charge; but consider he is the fruit of thy wombe, in whose face regard not the fathers faults so much as thy owne perfections. He is yet Greene, and may grow straight, if he be carefully tended: otherwise apt enough (I feare me) to follow his fathers folly. That I haue offended thee highly I knowe; that thou canst forget my iniuries I hardly beleeue: yet perswade I my selfe if thou saw my wretched state thou couldest not but lament it: nay, certainely I knowe thou wouldest. Al my wrongs muster themselues about me, euery euill at once plagues me. For my contempt of God, I am contemned of men: for my swearing and forswearing, no man will beleeue me: for my gluttony, I suffer hunger: for my drunkennesse, thirst: for my adulterie, vlcerous sores. Thus God hath cast me downe, that I might be humbled: and punished me for example of others sinne: and although he suffers me in this world to perish without succour, yet trust I in the world to come to finde mercie, by the merits of my Sauiour, to whome I commend this, and commit my soule.