WHAT is't to us who guides the state Who's out of favour or who's great? Who are the ministers or spies? Who votes for places, or who buys? The world will still be rul'd by knaves, And fools contending to be slaves; Small things, my friend, serve to support Life, troublesome at best, and short. Our youth runs back, occasion flies, Grey hairs come on, and pleasure dies; Who would the present blessing lose For empire which he cannot use? Kind providence has us supply'd With what to others is deny'd; Virtue, which teaches to condemn And scorn ill actions and ill men. Beneath this lime-tree's fragrant shade, On beds of flowers supinely laid, Let's, then, all other cares remove, And drink and sing to those we love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 1 by GAIUS VALERIUS CATULLUS THE DREARY CHANGE by WALTER SCOTT TO A GARDEN IN APRIL by WALTER CONRAD ARENSBERG CRADLE SONG OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE by T. T. BARKER YOUNGSTER AND OLDSTER by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, BOTH IN BIRTH AND VIRTUE, EARL OF CUMBERLAND by THOMAS CAMPION |