SEN. Expect great joy when thou shalt lay down the mind of a child, and deserve the style of a wise man; for at those years childhood is past, but oftentimes childishness remaineth; and, what is worse, thou hast the authority of a man, but the voice of a child. EPIG. 11. To the declining man. Why stand'st thou discontented? Is not he DEUTERONOMY Xxxiii. 25. As thy days, so shall thy strength be The post Of swift-foot time The kalends of our middle stage: The number'd steps that we have gone, do show Is lost : And what we boast too much, we have least cause to boast, Ah me! There is no rest: Our time is always fleeing, What rein can curb our headstrong hours? They post away they pass we know not how: Our Now is gone, before we can say now: Time past and future's none of ours: That hath as yet no being; And this hath ceas'd To be; What is, is only ours: how short a time have we ! And And now Expects harmonious strains, Some fruits, shall never wear Apollo's sacred bow. Excess And surfeit uses To wait upon these days; And drown those muses And calm the peaceful soul, when storms of care oppress. Strong light, Boast not those beams And blaze awhile and then away: Betwixt th' extremes A glory soil'd* with shame, and fool'd with false delight. Soil'd; i. e. sullied. $ 3 Hast |