John Milton(1608–1674)
How Soon Hath Time
H o w soon hath T i m e , the subtle thief of youth,
Stoln on his wing my three and twentieth year!
My hasting days fly on with full career,
But my late spring no b u d or b l o s s o m shew'th.showeth
Perhaps my semblance 0 might deceive the truth,appearance
That I to manhood am arrived so near,
And inward ripeness doth m u c h less appear,
T h a t s o m e more timely-happy spirits endu'th.endoweth
Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow,inner "ripeness"
It shall be still in strictest measure even 0equal; adequate
To that same lot, however mean or high,
Toward which T i m e leads me, and the will of Heaven;
All is, if I have grace to use it so,
As ever in my great Taskmaster's eye.7
1645