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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO JOHN BRADSHAW, ESQ., by CHARLES COTTON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Could you and I our lives renew Last Line: Or the worst sort of men. | |||
I COULD you and I our lives renew, And be both young agen, Retaining what we ever knew Of manners, times and men, II We could not frame so loose to live, But must be useful then, E'er we could possibly arrive To the same age agen. III But Youth's devour'd in vanities Before we are aware, And so grown old before grown wise, We good for nothing are: IV Or, if by that time knowing grown, By reading books and men, For others' service, or our own, 'Tis with the latest then. V Happy's that man, in this estate, Whose conscience tells him still, That though for good he comes too late, He ne'er did any ill. VI The satisfaction flowing thence, All dolours would assuage, And be sufficient recompense For all the ills of Age: VII But very few (my Friend) I fear, Whom this ill age has bred, At need have such a comforter To make their dying bed. VIII 'Tis then high time we should prepare In a new world to live, Since here we breathe but panting air, Alas! by short reprieve. IX Life then begins to be a pain, Infirmity prevails, Which, when it but begins to reign, The bravest courage quails; X But could we, as I said, procure To live our lives agen, We should be of the better sure Or the worst sort of men. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LAURA SLEEPING; ODE by CHARLES COTTON RESOLUTION OF A POETICAL QUESTION CONCERNING FOUR RURAL SISTERS: 2 by CHARLES COTTON THE RETIREMENT; TO MR. IZAAK WALTON by CHARLES COTTON A JOURNEY INTO THE PARK; TO SIR ASTON COCKAIN by CHARLES COTTON A PARAPHRASE by CHARLES COTTON A VALEDICTION by CHARLES COTTON A VOYAGE TO IRELAND IN BURLESQUE by CHARLES COTTON |
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