Thirty
Eight
.
Addressed
to
Mrs.
H—y.
IN
early
youth's
unclouded
scene
,
The
brilliant
morning
of
eighteen
,
With
health
and
springtly
joy
elate
,
We
gaz'd
on
Life's
enchanting
spring
,
Nor
thought
how
quickly
Time
would
bring
The
mournful
period
—
Thirty
eight
.
Then
the
starch
maid
,
or
matron
sage
,
Already
of
that
sober
age
,
We
view'd
with
mingled
scorn
and
hate
;
In
whose
sharp
words
,
or
sharper
face
,
With
thoughtless
mirth
we
lov'd
to
trace
The
sad
effects
of
—
Thirty
eight
.
Til
sadd'ning
,
sick'ning
at
the
view
,
We
learn'd
to
dread
what
Time
might
do
;
And
then
preferr'd
a
prayer
to
Fate
,
To
end
our
days
ere
that
arriv'd
;
When
(
pow'r
and
pleasure
long
surviv'd
)
We
met
neglect
and
—
Thirty
eight
.
But
Time
,
in
spite
of
wishes
,
flies
,
And
Fate
our
simple
prayer
denies
,
And
bids
us
Death's
own
hour
await
:
The
auburn
locks
are
mix'd
with
grey
,
The
transient
roses
fade
away
,
But
Reason
comes
at
—
Thirty
eight
.
Her
voice
the
anguish
contradicts
That
dying
Vanity
inflicts
;
Her
hand
new
pleasures
can
create
,
For
us
she
opens
to
the
view
Prospects
less
bright
—
but
far
more
true
,
And
bids
us
smile
at
—
Thirty
eight
.
No
more
shall
Scandal's
breath
destroy
The
social
converse
we
enjoy
With
bard
or
critic
tête
a
tête
;
O'er
Youth's
bright
blooms
her
blights
shall
pour
,
But
spare
th'
improving
friendly
hour
That
Science
gives
to
—
Thirty
eight
.
Stripp'd
of
their
gaudy
hues
by
Truth
,
We
view
the
glitt'ring
toys
of
Youth
,
And
blush
to
think
how
poor
the
bait
,
For
which
to
public
scenes
we
ran
,
And
scorn'd
of
sober
Sense
the
plan
Which
gives
content
at
—
Thirty
eight
.
Tho'
Time's
inexorable
sway
Has
torn
the
myrtle
bands
away
,
For
other
wreaths
'tis
not
too
late
,
The
am'ranth's
purple
glow
survives
,
And
still
Minerva's
olive
lives
On
the
calm
brow
of
—
Thirty
eight
.
With
eye
more
steady
we
engage
To
contemplate
approaching
age
,
And
life
more
justly
estimate
;
With
firmer
souls
,
and
stronger
pow'rs
,
With
Reason
,
Faith
and
Friendship
ours
,
We'll
not
regret
the
stealing
hours
That
lead
from
Thirty
—
e'en
to
Forty
eight
.