Lyric Poems Made in Imitation of the Italians. Of which, many are Translations From other Languages ... By Philip Ayres |
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Simonides Εις των θνητων βιον.
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 | Lyric Poems |  |
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Simonides Εις των θνητων βιον.
On Man's LIFE.
No Humane thing in Constancy will stay;
The Learned Chian us'd of old to say,
Our Life was frailer than the Fading Leaves;
Which Man forgets, and scarce its Flight perceives:
The Learned Chian us'd of old to say,
Our Life was frailer than the Fading Leaves;
Which Man forgets, and scarce its Flight perceives:
He harbours Idle Fancies in his Brain,
Many which he from Childhood did retain:
And whilst his Vigour lasts, he's still inclin'd
To fill with Trifles his unsetled Mind;
Many which he from Childhood did retain:
And whilst his Vigour lasts, he's still inclin'd
To fill with Trifles his unsetled Mind;
On Age or Death ne'er thinks, nor takes he care
Health to preserve, or Active Limbs to spare.
We to more serious Things our Minds should give;
Youth hasts, and we have little time to live.
Health to preserve, or Active Limbs to spare.
We to more serious Things our Minds should give;
Youth hasts, and we have little time to live.
To weigh this well, is a Material Part,
This Thought's of VVorth, record it in thy Heart.
This Thought's of VVorth, record it in thy Heart.
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