Page:The Five Nations.djvu/69

 THE OLD MEN

This is our lot if we live so long and labour unto the end—

That we outlive the impatient years and the much too patient friend;

And because we know we have breath in our mouth and think we have thought in our head,

We shall assume that we are alive, whereas we are really dead.

We shall not acknowledge that old stars fade or alien planets arise

(That the sere bush buds or the desert blooms or the ancient well-head dries),

Or any new compass wherewith new men adventure 'neath new skies.

We shall lift up the ropes that constrained our youth to bind on our children's hands; 49