Written by Hester Lynch Thrale. Thraliana entry dated 11 May 1806.

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.