Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] A New Edition with Illustrations by A. S. Boyd |
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Hughie's Belief in Present Duty. |
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 | Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] |  |
152
Hughie's Belief in Present Duty.
“Vina liques, et spatio brevi
Spem longam reseces.”
—Car. i. 11.
Spem longam reseces.”
—Car. i. 11.
It wasna meant that mortal men
Should read the deevil's books to ken
(What they can never comprehen')
The secret o' their hinner en'.
Should read the deevil's books to ken
(What they can never comprehen')
The secret o' their hinner en'.
The nobler gate o't were to spen'
The scriptural threescore years an' ten,
Or less or mair, as Heaven may sen',
In present duty to the en'.
The scriptural threescore years an' ten,
Or less or mair, as Heaven may sen',
In present duty to the en'.
For, let us sum up what we ken;
The present—weel, that's oors to spen';
The past—that canna come agen;
The future—that's for Heaven to len'.
The present—weel, that's oors to spen';
The past—that canna come agen;
The future—that's for Heaven to len'.
153
Than this, we'll get nae farrer ben;
An' sae, like reasonable men,
Let's keep oor hopes within oor ken;
An' noo—produce the tappit hen!
An' sae, like reasonable men,
Let's keep oor hopes within oor ken;
An' noo—produce the tappit hen!
| Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] | |