Time is a taper waning fast!

Use it, man, well whilst it doth last:

Lest burning downwards it consume away,

Before thou hast commenced the labour of the day.

Time is a pardon of a goodly soil!

Plenty shall crown thine honest toil:

But if uncultivated, rankest weeds

Shall choke the efforts of the rising seeds.

Time is a leasehold of uncertain date!

Granted to thee by everlasting fate.

Neglect not thou, ere thy short term expire,

To save thy soul from ever-burning fire.