FULL thirty frosts since thou wert young Have chilled the withered grove, Thou wretch! and hast thou lived so long, Nor yet forgot to love! Ye Sages! spite of your pretences To wisdom, you must own Your folly frequently commences When you acknowledge none. Not that I deem it weak to love, Or folly to admire; But ah! the pangs we lovers prove Far other years require. Unheeded on the youthful brow The beams of Phoebus play; But unsupported Age stoops low Beneath the sultry ray. For once, then, if untutored youth, Youth unapproved by years, May chance to deviate into truth, When your experience errs; For once attempt not to despise What I esteem a rule: Who early loves, though young, is wise,-- Who old, though grey, a fool. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AGAMEMNON: THE BEACONS by AESCHYLUS ODE TO REMORSE by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE MASQUERADE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN A HYMN IN PRAISE OF NEPTUNE by THOMAS CAMPION THE SCOTS' APOSTASY by JOHN CLEVELAND EPITAPH ON MISS GEE, WHO DIED OCTOBER 25, 1736 by NATHANIEL COTTON |