Songs 16

¹In life’s gay morn, when sprightly youth

with vital ardour glows,

And shines in all the fairest charms

which beauty can disclose;

²Deep on thy soul, before its pow’rs

are yet by vice enslav’d,

Be thy Creator’s glorious name

and character engrav’d.

³For soon the shades of grief shall cloud

the sunshine of thy days;

And cares, and toils, in endless round,

encompass all thy ways.

⁴Soon shall thy heart the woes of age

in mournful groans deplore,

And sadly muse on former joys,

that now return no more.