The Fly

William Oldys (1696–1761)

Occasioned by a Fly Drinking out of the Author’s Cup

BUSY, curious, thirsty fly,

Drink with me, and drink as I!

Freely welcome to my cup,

Couldst thou sip and sip it up:

Make the most of life you may;

Life is short and wears away!

Both alike, both mine and thine,

Hasten quick to their decline!

Thine’s a summer; mine no more,

Though repeated to threescore!

Threescore summers, when they ’re gone,

Will appear as short as one!