| William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Georgian Verse. 1909. | | | | To Mrs. Thrale | | By Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) |
| | On her completing her Thirty-fifth Year |
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OFT in danger, yet alive, | |
| We are come to thirty-five; | |
| Long may better years arrive, | |
| Better years than thirty-five. | |
| Could philosophers contrive | 5 |
| Life to stop at thirty-five, | |
| Time his hours should never drive | |
| O’er the bounds of thirty-five. | |
| High to soar, and deep to dive, | |
| Nature gives at thirty-five. | 10 |
| Ladies, stock and tend your hive, | |
| Trifle not at thirty-five; | |
| For, howe’er we boast and strive, | |
| Life declines from thirty-five; | |
| He that ever hopes to thrive | 15 |
| Must begin at thirty-five; | |
| And all who wisely wish to wive | |
| Must look on Thrale at thirty-five. | | | |
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