Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TWO ROBBERS by FRANCIS WILLIAM BOURDILLON

First Line: WHEN DEATH FROM SOME FAIR FACE
Last Line: BUT HONOR CRAFTY TIME.
Subject(s): DEATH; DEAD, THE;

WHEN Death from some fair face
Is stealing life away,
All weep, save she, the grace
That earth shall lose to-day.

When Time from some fair face
Steals beauty year by year,
For her slow-fading grace
Who sheds, save she, a tear?

And death not often dares
To wake the world's distress;
While Time, the cunning, mars
Surely all loveliness.

Yet though by breath and breath
Fades all thy fairest prime,
Men shrink from cruel Death,
But honor crafty Time.



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