The World That All Contains

THE world, that all contains, is ever moving; The stars within their spheres forever turn'd; Nature, the queen of change, to change is loving, And form to matter new is still adjourn'd. Fortune, our fancy-god, to vary liketh; Place is not bound to things within it plac'd; The present time upon time pass'd striketh; With Phoebus' wand'ring course the earth is grac'd. The air still moves, and by its moving cleareth; The fire up ascends and planets feedeth; The water passeth on and all lets eareth; The earth stands still, yet change of changes breedeth. Her plants, which summer ripes, in winter fade; Each creature in unconstant mother lieth; Man made of earth, and for whom earth is made, Still dying lives and living ever dieth; Only, like fate, sweet Myra never varies, Yet in her eyes the doom of all change carries.