I pray thee cease thy counsel,
Which falls into mine ears as profitless
As water in a sieve.

Much Ado About Nothing, Act v. Sc. 1.

SHAKESPEARE.

O Life! how pleasant in thy morning,
Young Fancy's rays the hills adorning!
Cold-pausing Caution's lesson scorning,
We frisk away,

Like schoolboys at th' expected warning,
To joy and play.

Epistle to James Smith.

R. BURNS.

Know when to speake; for many times it brings
Danger to give the best advice to kings.

Hesperides' Caution in Councell.

AGE.

R. HERRICK.

I'm growing fonder of my staff;
I'm growing dimmer in the eyes;
I'm growing fainter in my laugh;
I'm growing deeper in my sighs;
I'm growing careless of my dress;
I'm growing frugal of my gold;
I'm growing wise; I 'm growing,-yes,-
I'm growing old.

I'm Growing Old.

J. G. SAXE.

And his big manly voice,

Turning again toward childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound.

As You Like It, Act ii. Sc. 7.

SHAKESPEARE.

Time has laid his hand

Upon my heart, gently, not smiting it,

But as a harper lays his open palm

Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations.

The Golden Legend, IV.

H. W. LONGFELLOW.

Years steal

Fire from the mind, as vigor from the limb;

And life's enchanted cup but sparkles near the brim. Childe Harold, Canto III.

LORD BYRON.

For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees
The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time
Steals ere we can effect them.

All's Well that Ends Well, Act v. Sc. 3.

SHAKESPEARE.

Strange! that a harp of thousand strings
Should keep in tune so long.

Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Bk. II.

DR. I. WATTS.

JOHN GODFREY SAXE.

After a photograph from life.