Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/374

 236 THE POEMS or ANNE �Does blindly man, into that World advance; �And when the date of certain years expires, �As he had never been, he back retires: �That active fire, which annimat's the heart, �And thence, all life, and motion does impart. �By some contending Element oppresst, �Extinguish' t fails, and quitts the darken'd brest, �The Vapour, in our nostrills, stealls away, �And all that now remains is common clay. 30 �Time, preys upon our memory, and name, �And deep oblivion, swallows up our fame; �Like a swift cloud, we passe unheeded by, �No track is left, no mark where itt did fly, �Nor shall itt e're return, to shade the sky. �Since past, and future, we att distance see, �And present time, can only usefull bee, �Voluptuous, and in pleasures lett us live, �And freely spend, what moments we receive. �Still, lett us gay, and warm affections hold, 40 �And when in Age, forgett thatt we are old. �Roses, about our youthful tresses tye, �Hoses, shall when they fall, their place supply. �The chearfull spring, shall round our temples twine, �And our full bowls, flow with Autumnal Wine. �The pollish'd skin, with ointments shall be gay, �Circling perfumes, shall usher on the way, �And soft harmonious airs, about us play. �Diffusing as we passe, luxuriant Bliss, �This, is our Portion, and our Lott, is this, 50 �Justice, shall lay aside her uselesse scales, And force, shall justice be, when force prevailes; No Law shall govern, no dull Rule take place, The Widdow, nor the hoary head find grace; Oppression, shall the righteous man devour, ��� �