Well he designd & well deserves our praise
Whose pencill first a drafft of time coud trace
He knew how fast the flowing moments glide
& to the figure airy wings applyd
He knew how all things have their proper date
& drew a scyth to do the work of fate
His right hand this his left hand held a glass
thro which by sand an emblem of our dayes
Life ever ever ebbing seemd to pass
Methinkes the picture thus instructs my mind
Our hours are fleeting & the last assignd
Soon will it Come too soon alas for most
& all the time we use not well is lost
This all allow but many disagree
In settling what the use of time shoud be
The disagreement I with ease espyd
& to an old experiencd friend applyd
Who thus when he had heard my question cryd
Believe my son your fathers friend in this
Whom sixty teaches how to give advice
When mankind with a serious thought I read
I found the most by various follys led
these think their own because they are so best
& much of life to gratify ym wast
for still the reigning folly is the end
to which the actions of the man will tend
When reason at the Helm no longer steers
She onely means to help it on prepares
thus goes their present time their past has gon
& at this rate their future will go on
The man for Conversation onely fitt
Will evry night be drunk to speak his witt
if thus his minutes indolently glide
he knows no cause to lay the course aside
the Miser allwayes is of this belief
that to heap riches is the use of life
tis a sure maxim few or none gett ore
that who loves mony much will love it more
In short such instances as these youle find
As numerous as the passions in our mind
If so the way by which we safest tread
Is to quitt passions & lett reason lead
lett her the offices of man define
& then your hours to what she says resign
She'le teach you what devotions sacred flame
Your country what & what your friends may claim
Nor is she in prescribing too severe
Since pleasure wisely mingled eases care
To buisness diligently now attend
Anon in innocent delights unbend
this course our nature has by tiring shewd
nor does our reason speak against her good
But why shoud man intirely life employ
On idle humours & forbidden Joy
Why shoud the beau but onely mind his dress
the whore her wantonness the rake excess
& Courtiers nothing but what gains a place
The noble Titus when a setting sun
Had seen by him no virtuous action don
(Be still his name preservd) was heard to say
With sighs Alasmy friends Ive lost a day
We thank you Heathen Christians thank you now
Your words have taught us what we ought to do
twas wisdom this and well becoming grief
Who ever feels it knows the use of life
He CeasdContentment shone upon my face
for knowledge ever has a charm to please
My tongue my satisfaction then exprest
& Ime convincd he told me for the best
but for the picture by whose sight my thought
Was sett a work & then to knowledge brought
that I may nere forgett the truths he taught
With in my closett will I hang the piece
& underneath it write such lines as these
Fly swiftly Time bear off our numberd dayes
Yet if man will you cannot win ye race
He who lives well outlives your scanty space
By virtuous actions is a fame bestowd
& fames the least reward of doing good.
