Time will make Love pass away

Verses by Hester Lynch Thrale

Take Care then you Young Beginners of the World, & remember that every thing in it, must have an End. but If old Assertions won’t prevail, Be pleas’d to hear a Modern Tale.

Love and Time set out together
On a sprightly Morn of May;
Mild the Morning, bright the Weather
Phœbus shed a soft’ning Ray.

Love complain’d that Time was tardy,
Time ne’er stopt to answer nay;
Time look’d cautious, Love felt hardy,
Scarce the Stream could force their Stay.

To the Girls across the River
Cupid call’d—“ “Come Lasses! play;
Take Time’s Forelock, catch my Quiver,
Lose not Pleasures by Delay.” ”

Creeping Time can ne’er get over,
Cried the Tittring Girls so gay:
Cupid seiz’d his Fellow-Rover,
Love makes Time glide swift away.

But exertion leads to Languor,
Winter comes, and comes Decay;
Love was first to feel their Anger
“ “Time runs thro’ the roughest Day.” ”

Sharp the Cold, the Weather stormy,
Cross their Course a Torrent lay;
Love cry’d, “ “Wait a Moment for me,
Dear Time wait a moment,—pray.” ”

“ “Never talk to me of waiting
You so Young and I so Gray;
Yet since now there’s no Retreating,
Time shall make Love pass away.” ”

Sick and faint, he over-bore him,
—Now recover as you may:
Love will ne’er make Time wait for him,
Time will make Love pass away.

Written by Hester Lynch Thrale.
Thraliana entry dated 11 May 1806. Hester Thrale's spelling, grammar and capitalisation, some of which may not conform to today's standards, are reproduced faithfully throughout.