The Poetical Works of (Richard Monckton Milnes) Lord Houghton | ||
5
CARPE DIEM.
Youth, that pursuest with such eager pace
Thy even way,
Thou pantest on to win a mournful race:
Then stay! oh, stay!
Thy even way,
Thou pantest on to win a mournful race:
Then stay! oh, stay!
Pause and luxuriate in thy sunny plain;
Loiter,—enjoy:
Once past, Thou never wilt come back again,
A second Boy.
Loiter,—enjoy:
Once past, Thou never wilt come back again,
A second Boy.
The hills of Manhood wear a noble face,
When seen from far;
The mist of light from which they take their grace
Hides what they are.
When seen from far;
The mist of light from which they take their grace
Hides what they are.
The dark and weary path those cliffs between
Thou canst not know,
And how it leads to regions never-green,
Dead fields of snow.
Thou canst not know,
And how it leads to regions never-green,
Dead fields of snow.
Pause, while thou mayst, nor deem that fate thy gain,
Which, all too fast,
Will drive thee forth from this delicious plain,
A Man at last.
Which, all too fast,
Will drive thee forth from this delicious plain,
A Man at last.
1833.
The Poetical Works of (Richard Monckton Milnes) Lord Houghton | ||