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 moralises on the Value of Life. |
 | Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] |  |
184
Hughie moralises on the Value of Life.
“Eheu fugaces, Postume, Postume,
Labuntur anni!”
—Car. ii. 14.
Labuntur anni!”
—Car. ii. 14.
Alas! alas! my fellow feres,
We may no more deny
The pressure of the speeding years;
Oor days are driving by.
We may no more deny
The pressure of the speeding years;
Oor days are driving by.
Already on the downward track
The posting furies fare;
For virtuous life they will not slack,
For purpose will not spare.
The posting furies fare;
For virtuous life they will not slack,
For purpose will not spare.
This is the ill beneath the sun
That vexes ageing men—
Oor lease of life is half-gate run
Before of lease we ken.
That vexes ageing men—
Oor lease of life is half-gate run
Before of lease we ken.
185
We waste or ware oor strength of youth
On idols of the ee,
Infidel of the wholesome truth
Of our mortalitie.
On idols of the ee,
Infidel of the wholesome truth
Of our mortalitie.
Ye callants, what avails the strife
That twyns ye o' your prime?
The dearest gift of life is life,
The dearest enemy time.
That twyns ye o' your prime?
The dearest gift of life is life,
The dearest enemy time.
O ne'er can rank or wealth enhance
The gift that ne'er was awn,
The lovely gift, the glorious chance,
Ance offer'd, sune withdrawn!
The gift that ne'er was awn,
The lovely gift, the glorious chance,
Ance offer'd, sune withdrawn!
To them that on the shaded slope
Are faring down, like me,
With ever daily dwining hope,
How fair it tak's the ee!
Are faring down, like me,
With ever daily dwining hope,
How fair it tak's the ee!
What had been oors from hour of birth
We learn to value then;
Sweet grow the common joys of earth,
And dear the face of men.
We learn to value then;
Sweet grow the common joys of earth,
And dear the face of men.
| Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] | |