| |
| THIS day, Time winds th’ exhausted chain; | |
| To run the twelvemonth’s length again: | |
| I see, the old bald-pated fellow, | |
| With ardent eyes, complexion sallow, | |
| Adjust the unimpair’d machine, | 5 |
| To wheel the equal, dull routine. | |
| |
| The absent lover, minor heir, | |
| In vain assail him with their prayer; | |
| Deaf as my friend, he sees them press, | |
| Nor makes the hour one moment less, | 10 |
| Will you (the Major’s with the hounds, | |
| The happy tenants share his rounds; | |
| Coila’s fair Rachel’s care to-day, | |
| And blooming Keith’s engaged with Gray) | |
| From housewife cares a minute borrow, | 15 |
| (That grandchild’s cap will do to-morrow,) | |
| And join with me a-moralizing; | |
| This day’s propitious to be wise in. | |
| |
| First, what did yesternight deliver? | |
| “Another year has gone for ever.” | 20 |
| And what is this day’s strong suggestion? | |
| “The passing moment’s all we rest on!” | |
| Rest on—for what? what do we here? | |
| Or why regard the passing year? | |
| Will Time, amus’d with proverb’d lore, | 25 |
| Add to our date one minute more? | |
| A few days may—a few years must— | |
| Repose us in the silent dust. | |
| Then, is it wise to damp our bliss? | |
| Yes—all such reasonings are amiss! | 30 |
| The voice of Nature loudly cries, | |
| And many a message from the skies, | |
| That something in us never dies: | |
| That on his frail, uncertain state, | |
| Hang matters of eternal weight: | 35 |
| That future life in worlds unknown | |
| Must take its hue from this alone; | |
| Whether as heavenly glory bright, | |
| Or dark as Misery’s woeful night. | |
| |
| Since then, my honour’d first of friends, | 40 |
| On this poor being all depends, | |
| Let us th’ important now employ, | |
| And live as those who never die. | |
| Tho’ you, with days and honours crown’d, | |
| Witness that filial circle round, | 45 |
| (A sight life’s sorrows to repulse, | |
| A sight pale Envy to convulse), | |
| Others now claim your chief regard; | |
| Yourself, you wait your bright reward. | |
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