The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour collated with the ms. volume of his poems, and containing several pieces hitherto unpublished; with illustrative notes, and an account of the life of the author. By James Paterson |
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HORACE, BOOK I., ODE XI., IMITATED. |
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 | The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour |  |
5
HORACE, BOOK I., ODE XI., IMITATED.
To Miss Erskine.
Inquire not, Erskine fair, what end
The gods for thee or me intend;
How vain the search, that but bestows
The knowledge of our future woes?
Far happier they, who ne'er repine
To draw the lots their fates assign;
Then be advis'd, and try not thou
What spells and cunning men can do.
The gods for thee or me intend;
How vain the search, that but bestows
The knowledge of our future woes?
Far happier they, who ne'er repine
To draw the lots their fates assign;
Then be advis'd, and try not thou
What spells and cunning men can do.
In mirth thy present years employ,
And consecrate thy charms to joy;
Whether the fates to thy old score
Propitious add a winter more;
Or this shall lay thee cold in earth,
Now raging o'er Edina's firth.
Let youth, while yet it blooms, excite
To mirth and wit and gay delight.
And consecrate thy charms to joy;
Whether the fates to thy old score
Propitious add a winter more;
Or this shall lay thee cold in earth,
Now raging o'er Edina's firth.
Let youth, while yet it blooms, excite
To mirth and wit and gay delight.
Nor thou refuse the voice that calls
To visits and to sprightly balls.
For time rides ever on the post,
Ev'n while we speak the moment's lost.
Then call each joy in to this day,
And spend them now while now you may;
Have every pleasure at command,
Fools let them lie in fortune's hand.
To visits and to sprightly balls.
For time rides ever on the post,
Ev'n while we speak the moment's lost.
Then call each joy in to this day,
And spend them now while now you may;
Have every pleasure at command,
Fools let them lie in fortune's hand.
| The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour | |