| William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Georgian Verse. 1909. | | | | Time | | By Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) |
| | | ‘WHY 1 sit’st thou by that ruined hall, | |
| Thou aged carle so stern and gray? | |
| Dost thou its former pride recall, | |
| Or ponder how it paused away?’ | |
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| ‘Know’st thou not me?’ the Deep Voice cried: | 5 |
| ‘So long enjoyed, so oft misused— | |
| Alternate, in thy fickle pride, | |
| Desired, neglected, and accused! | |
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| ‘Before my breath, like blazing flax, | |
| Man and his marvels pass away! | 10 |
| And changing empires wane and wax, | |
| Are founded, flourish, and decay. | |
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| ‘Redeem mine hours—the space is brief— | |
| While in my glass the sand-grains shiver, | |
| And measureless thy joy or grief, | 15 |
| When Time and thou shalt part forever!’ | |
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