Our infancy is consumed in eating and sleeping; in all which time, what differ we from beasts, but by a possibility of reason, and a necessity of sin ! O misery of mankind, in whom no sooner the image of God appeareth in the act of his reason, but the devil blurs it in the corruption of his will! EPIG. 9. To the decrepit man. Thus was the seventh part of thy few days Јов T JOB XX. 11. His bones are full of the sin of his youth. 1. HE swift-wing'd post of Time hath now begun The dawning of our age Is lost and spent without a sun ; The light of reason did not yet appear Within th' horizon of this hemisphere. 2. The infant will had yet no other guide And what is gain'd from thence, 3. Youth's now disclosing buds peep out, and shew And from her grass-green bed, Her virgin primrose early blows; Whilst waking Philomel prepares to sing 4. His stage is pleasant, and the way seems short, The days appear but hours, Being spent in time-beguiling sport. Her griefs do neither press, nor doubts perplex; His 5. His downy cheeks grow proud, and now disdains He glories to command The proud-neck'd steed with prouder reins: The strong-breath'd horn must now salute his ear With the glad downfall of the falling deer. 6. His quick-nos'd army, with their deep-mouth'd sounds, To chase the tim'rous hare, 7. The thought he takes, is how to take no thought And late repentance is The last dear pen'worth that he bought : 8. Proud blossom, use thy time: Time's headstrong horse Will post away. Trust not the foll'wing day, For ev'ry day brings forth a worse: Take time at best: believe't, thy days will fall *Bale; i. e. misery. S. AM |