Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
V. Cautions and ComplaintsThe Age of Wisdom
William Makepeace Thackeray (18111863)H
That never has known the barber’s shear,
All your wish is woman to win;
This is the way that boys begin,—
Wait till you come to forty year.
Billing and cooing is all your cheer,—
Sighing, and singing of midnight strains,
Under Bonnybell’s window-panes,—
Wait till you come to forty year.
Grizzling hair the brain doth clear;
Then you know a boy is an ass,
Then you know the worth of a lass,—
Once you have come to forty year.
All good fellows whose beards are gray,—
Did not the fairest of the fair
Common grow and wearisome ere
Ever a month was past away?
The brightest eyes that ever have shone,
May pray and whisper and we not list,
Or look away and never be missed,—
Ere yet ever a month is gone.
How I loved her twenty years syne!
Marian ’s married; but I sit here,
Alone and merry at forty year,
Dipping my nose in the Gascon wine.