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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  438. On a Fly drinking out of his Cup

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

William Oldys. 1687–1761

438. On a Fly drinking out of his Cup

BUSY, curious, thirsty fly! 
Drink with me and drink as I: 
Freely welcome to my cup, 
Couldst thou sip and sip it up: 
Make the most of life you may,         5
Life is short and wears away. 
 
Both alike are mine and thine 
Hastening quick to their decline: 
Thine ‘s a summer, mine ‘s no more, 
Though repeated to threescore.  10
Threescore summers, when they’re gone, 
Will appear as short as one!