Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Collection of songs

A C0LLECT10H
Speed the dancing hours away,
Mind not what the grave ones fay :
Gaily let the minutes fly,
In wit and freedom, love and joy :
So_ fhall love, fhall life be mine ;
Bring me women, bring me wine.
BI D me when forty winters more
Have furrow'd deep my pallid brow ;
When from my head the fcanty ftore,
Lankly the wither'd trefles flow ;
When the warm blood that bold and ftrong
Now rolls impetuous on and free,
Languid and flow fcarce fteals along,
Then bid me court fobriety.
Nature, who form'd the various fcene,
Of froft and mow, of rage and fire j
Unerring guide, could only mean,
That age fhould reafon, youth defire :
Shall then that rebel man prefume,
Inverting Nature's laws, to feize
The joys of age, in youth's high bloom,
And join impoflibilities ?
No, let me wafte the ppefent day,
In wanton joys and wild excefs ;
In mirth, and fport, and laughter gay,
And fmiles, and rofy chearfulnefs.
Woman, the foul of all delights !
And wine, the aid of love, be near - f
All charms me that to love excites,
And ev'ry ihe that's kind is fair.