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THE ALARM, by                    
First Line: Twas fairly done, mortalitie
Last Line: Not by surprize, my life I'd loose.
Subject(s): Fear; Mortality; War


TWAS fairly done, Mortalitie,
To give a warning peece before the fight.
And heer my Thanks I render thee
For that Alarm thou gavest me last night.
And yet thou cunning art, who by
Weaknes thy strength on me dost try.

2

By this light skirmish I am taught
What to expect when thou dost charge me home.
So kindely that distemper wrought
Upon my heart, that she hath reaped from
My bodies sicknes, such a crop
Of health, as cheers her into hope.

3

Into fair hope that I shall dare
To meet thy main battalia, & quit
The vain & most ignoble fear
Of Deaths assault; whom I desire to set
Upon me in the open feild,
That so I may with honor yeild.

4

For yeild I must, & will; nor need
Death any subtile ambush lay for me:
I have no plot to run, & lead
That fate a dance which cannot shunned be.
Yet by Surrender, might I choose,
Not by Surprize, my Life I'd loose.





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