Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NECESSARY OBSERVATIONS: 27TH PRECEPT, by THOMAS RANDOLPH



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NECESSARY OBSERVATIONS: 27TH PRECEPT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Take thou no care how to defer thy death
Last Line: I say he only was, he did not live.
Subject(s): Health; Human Behavior; Conduct Of Life; Human Nature


Take thou no care how to defer thy death,
And give more respite to this mortal breath.
Wouldst thou live long? the only means are these --
'Bove Galen's diet, or Hippocrates:
Strive to live well, tread in the upright ways,
And rather count thy actions than thy days;
Then thou hast liv'd enough amongst us here.
For every day well-spent I count a year.
Live well, and then how soon soe'er thou die,
Thou art of age to claim eternity.
But he that outlives Nestor, and appears
T' have passed the date of grey methusalem's years:
If he his life to sloth and sin doth give,
I say he only was, he did not live.





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