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At death's arrival they shall smile,
who not in life o'er gay,
Serious, and frequent thought send out
to meet him on his way:
who not in life o'er gay,
Serious, and frequent thought send out
to meet him on his way:
My gay coævals! (such there are)
if happiness is dear;
Approaching death's alarming day
discreetly let us fear:
if happiness is dear;
Approaching death's alarming day
discreetly let us fear:
The fear of death is truly wise,
till wisdom can rise higher;
And, arm'd with pious fortitude,
death, dreaded once, desire:
till wisdom can rise higher;
And, arm'd with pious fortitude,
death, dreaded once, desire:
Grand climacteric vanities
the vainest will despise;
Shock'd, when beneath the snow of age,
man immaturely dies:
the vainest will despise;
Shock'd, when beneath the snow of age,
man immaturely dies:
But am not I myself the man?
no need abroad to roam
In quest of faults to be chastis'd;
what cause to blush at home?
no need abroad to roam
In quest of faults to be chastis'd;
what cause to blush at home?
In life's decline, when men relapse
into the sports of youth,
The second child out-fools the first,
and tempts the lash of truth:
into the sports of youth,
The second child out-fools the first,
and tempts the lash of truth:
Shall
