Counsel to Girls
Robert Herrick ( 1591-1674)
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day,
Tomorrow will be dying.
The glorious Lamp of Heaven, the Sun,
The higher he's a-getting
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst,
Times, still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time;
And while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.
勸女於歸
采采薔薇﹐及彼未萎﹔日月其邁﹐韶華如飛。
今夕此花﹐灼灼其姿﹔翌日何如﹐將作枯枝。
朝暾炘炘﹐燦若天燈﹔其光熠熠﹐載耀載昇。
彌高其行﹐彌短其程﹔日中必昃﹐言曛言暝。
年當破瓜﹐妙齡之佳﹔精血方盛﹐及春歲華。
一旦虛度﹐將自怨嗟﹔韶華如舊﹐爰征以遐。
勸汝莫羞﹐及花仍稠﹔采之拮之﹐覓一良儔。
韶光易逝﹐歲月難留﹔良辰一誤﹐永無好逑。
