And carping Sorrow pines and dies— Life Beyond the years. II Life, believe, is not a dream Beyond the years the prayer for rest So dark as sages say; Shall beat no more within the breast; Oft a little morning rain Foretells a pleasant day. The darkness clears, Sometimes there are clouds of gloom, And Morn perched on the mountain’s crest But these are transient all; If the shower will make the roses bloom, Her form uprears— O why lament its fall? The day that is to come is best, Rapidly, merrily, Life’s sunny hours flit by, Beyond the years. Gratefully, cheerily III Enjoy them as they fly! What though Death at times steps in, Beyond the years the soul shall find And calls our Best away? That endless peace for which it pined, What though sorrow seems to win, O’er hope, a heavy sway? For light appears, Yet Hope again elastic springs, And to the eyes that still were blind Unconquered, though she fell; Still buoyant are her golden wings, With blood and tears, Still strong to bear us well. Their sight shall come all unconfined Manfully, fearlessly, The day of trial bear, Beyond the years. For gloriously, victoriously, Can courage quell despair! “All the world’s a stage” (from As You Like It, spoken by Jaques) All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; I They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Beyond the years the answer lies, Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms; And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel Beyond where brood the grieving skies And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, And Night drops tears. Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Where Faith rod-chastened smiles to rise Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation And doff its fears, Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
Life Life, believe, is not a dream So dark as sages say; Oft a little morning rain Foretells a pleasant day. Sometimes there are clouds of gloom, But these are transient all; If the shower will make the roses bloom, O why lament its fall? Rapidly, merrily, Life’s sunny hours flit by, Gratefully, cheerily Enjoy them as they fly! What though Death at times steps in, And calls our Best away? What though sorrow seems to win, O’er hope, a heavy sway? Yet Hope again elastic springs, Unconquered, though she fell; Still buoyant are her golden wings, Still strong to bear us well. Manfully, fearlessly, The day of trial bear, For gloriously, victoriously, Can courage quell despair! I Beyond the years the answer lies, Beyond where brood the grieving skies And Night drops tears. Where Faith rod-chastened smiles to rise And doff its fears, And carping Sorrow pines and dies— Beyond the years. II Beyond the years the prayer for rest Shall beat no more within the breast; The darkness clears, And Morn perched on the mountain’s crest Her form uprears— The day that is to come is best, Beyond the years. III Beyond the years the soul shall find That endless peace for which it pined, For light appears, And to the eyes that still were blind With blood and tears, Their sight shall come all unconfined Beyond the years. “All the world’s a stage” (from As You Like It, spoken by Jaques) All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms; And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,