De Morte

Man's life's a tragedy; his mother's womb
From which he enters is the tiring room;
This spacious earth the Theatre; and the Stage
That country which he lives in: Passions, rage,
Folly, and Vice are Actors; the first cry
The Prologue to the ensuing Tragedy.
The former act consisteth of dumb shows;
The second he to more perfection grows;
I'th' third he is a man and doth begin
To nurture vice, and act the deeds of sin;
I'th' fourth declines; i'th' fifth diseases clog
And trouble him; then death's his Epilogue.

By Sir Walter Ralegh