William Shakespeare. 1564–1616

The Passionate Pilgrim, XII.

“Crabbed age and youth cannot live together”


CRABBED age and youth cannot live together:  
Youth is full of pleasure, age is full of care;  
Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather;  
Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare.  
Youth is full of sport, age’s breath is short;    5
  Youth is nimble, age is lame;  
Youth is hot and bold, age is weak and cold;  
  Youth is wild, and age is tame.  
Age, I do abhor thee, youth, I do adore thee;  
  O! my love, my love is young:   10
Age, I do defy thee: O! sweet shepherd, hie thee,  
  For methinks thou stay’st too long.