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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


DITTY IN IMITATION OF THE SPANISH: ENTRE TANTO QUE L'AVRIL by EDWARD HERBERT

First Line: NOW THAT THE APRIL OF YOUR YOUTH ADORNS
Last Line: AND THAT WHICH IS NOT YOUTH'S, IS AGE'S PREY.
Subject(s): YOUTH;

Now that the April of your youth adorns
The garden of your face,
Now that for you each knowing lover mourns,
And all seek to your grace.
Do not repay affection with scorns.

What though you may a matchless beauty vaunt,
And that all hearts can move,
By such a power, as seemeth to enchant?
Yet, without help of love,
Beauty no pleasure to itself can grant.

Then think each minute that you lose, a day;
The longest youth is short,
The shortest age is long; Time flies away,
And makes us but his sport,
And that which is not Youth's, is Age's prey.



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