There's many a sluggard, and many a fool,

Some lessons of wisdom might learn.

They wear not their time out in sleeping or play,

But gather up corn in a sunshiny day, And for winter they lay up their

stores:

They manage their work in such regular forms,

One would think they foresaw all the frosts and the storms,

And so brought their food within doors.

But I have less sense than a poor creeping ant,

If I take not due care for the things I shall want,

Nor provide against dangers in time :

When death or old age shall stare in my face,

What a wretch shall I be in the end of my days,

If I trifle away all my prime!

Now, now, while my strength and my youth are in bloom,

Let me think what will serve me when sickness shall come,

And

pray that my

sins be forgiv'n;

Let me read in good books, and believe

and obey

That when Death turns me out of this cottage of clay,

I may dwell in a palace in heav'n.

SONG V.

The Rose.

How fair is the Rose! what a beautiful flow'r!

The glory of April and May!

But the leaves are beginning to fade in an hour,

And they wither and die in a day.

Yet the Rose has one powerful virtue to boast,

Above all the flow'rs of the field;

When its leaves are all dead, and fine colours are lost,

Still how sweet a perfume it will yield.

So frail is the youth and the beauty of

men,

Tho' they bloom and look gay like the Rose;

But all our fond care to preserve them is vain,

Time kills th m as fast as he goes.

Then I'll not be proud of my youth or my beauty,

Since both of them wither and fade; But gain a good name by well-doing my duty,

This will scent like a Rose when I'm dead.

SONG VI.

Good Resolution.

THO' I'm now in younger days,
Nor can tell what shall befall me,
I'll prepare for every place

Where my growing age shall call me.
Should I e'er be rich or great,
Others shall partake my goodness;
I'll supply the poor with meat,
Never showing scorn nor rudeness.
Where I see the blind or lame,

Deaf or dumb, I'll kindly treat them; I deserve to feel the same

If I mock, or hurt, or cheat them.

If I meet with railing tongues,
Why should I return them railing?
Since I best revenge my wrongs
By my patience never failing.

When I hear them telling lies,

Talking foolish, cursing, swearing,

3

First I'll try to make them wise,
Or I'll soon go out of hearing.
What tho' I be low and mean,

I'll engage the rich to love me; While I'm modest, neat, and clean, And submit when they reprove me..

If I should be poor and sick,

I shall meet, I hope, with pity; Since I love to help the weak,

Tho' they 're neither fair nor witty.

I'll not willingly offend,

Nor be easily offended;

What's amiss I'll strive to mend, And endure what can't be mended.

May I be so watchful still

O'er my húmours and my passion,

As to speak and do no ill,

Tho' it should be all the fashion.

Wicked fashions lead to hell,

Ne'er may I be found complying; But in life behave so well,

Not to be afraid of dying.