Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

YOUTH IS SWEET AND WELL by LORENZO DE' MEDICI

Last Line: But doth speed away
Subject(s): YOUTH; TRANSCIENCE;
YOUTH is sweet and well
But doth speed away!
Let who will be gay,
To-morrow, none can tell.
Bacchus and his Fair,
Contented with their fate,
Chase both time and care,
Loving soon and late;
High and low estate
With the nymphs at play;
Let who will be gay,
To-morrow, none can tell.
Laughing satyrs all
Set a hundred snares,
Lovelorn dryads fall
In them unawares:
105 Glad with wine, in pairs
They dance the hours away:
Let who will be gay,
To-morrow, none can tell.
Not unwillingly
Were these nymphs deceived:
From Love do but flee
Graceless hearts aggrieved:
Deceivers and deceived
Together wend their way.
Let who will be gay,
To-morrow, none can tell.
Fat Silenus nears
On an ass astride:
Full of wine and years,
Come and see him ride:
He lolls from side to side
But gleefully alway:
Let who will be gay,
To-morrow, none can tell.
Midas following,
Turneth all to gold:
What can treasure bring
To a heart that'''s cold?
And what joy unfold
For who thirsteth, pray?
Let who will be gay,
To-morrow, none can tell.
Ears be very bold,
Count not on to-morrow:
Let both young and old,
Lads and lassies, borrow
Joy and banish sorrow.
Doleful thoughts and grey:
107 Let who will be gay,
To-morrow, none can tell.
Lads and lassies all,
Love and Bacchus Hail!
Dance and song befall!
Pain and sadness fail!
Tender hearts prevail,
Happen then what may!
Let who will be gay,
To-morrow, none can tell.
Youth is sweet and well
But doth speed away



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