The Passionate Pilgrim, 12. Craig, W.J., ed. 1914. The Oxford Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare: Poems. 1914.

The Passionate Pilgrim, XII.

“Crabbed age and youth cannot live together”

CRABBED age and youth cannot live together:
Youth is full of pleasure, age is full of care;
Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather;
Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare.
Youth is full of sport, age’s breath is short;	5
Youth is nimble, age is lame;
Youth is hot and bold, age is weak and cold;
Youth is wild, and age is tame.
Age, I do abhor thee, youth, I do adore thee;
O! my love, my love is young:	10
Age, I do defy thee: O! sweet shepherd, hie thee,
For methinks thou stay’st too long.