We hang to-morrow, then? That doom is fit For most of us, I think. Yet, harkee, friend, I have a ballad here which I have writ Of us and our high ending. Pray you, send The scrawl to Cayeux, bidding him commend François to grace. Old Colin loves me well, For no good reason, save it so befell We two were young together. ... When I am hung, Colin will weep--and then will laugh, and tell How many pranks we played when we were young. Dear lads of yesterday! . .. We had not wit To live always so we might not offend, Yet- -how we laughed! I marvel now at it, Because that merry company will spend No more mad nights together. Some are penned In abbeys, some in dungeons, others fell In battle. . .. Time assesses death's gabelle,- Salt must be taxed, eh?--well, we ranked among The salt of earth. once. who are old and tell How many pranks we played when we were young Afraid to die, you ask?-Why, not a whit. Ah, no! whole-heartedly I mean to wend Out of a world I have found exquisite By every testing. For I apprehend Life was not made all lovely to the end That life ensnare us. nor the miracle Of youth devised but as a trap to swell Old Legion's legions; and must give full tongue To praise no less than prayer, when bidden tell How many pranks we played when we were young. Nay, cheerily we of the Cockle-shell, And all whose youth was nor to stay nor quell, Will dare foregather when earth's knell is rung, And Calvary's young conqueror bids us tell How many pranks we plaved when we were young. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COMPOSED AT NEIDPATH CASTLE, 1803 by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH LONDON WIND by LAWRENCE ALMA-TADEMA TAKE YOUR CHOICE: AS LONGFELLOW WROTE IT by BERTON BRALEY DEVOTIONAL VERSES by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) A DAY-DREAM by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT |