The Fly
Occasioned by a Fly Drinking out of the Author’s 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;
Life is short and wears away!
Both alike, both mine and thine,
Hasten quick to their decline!
Thine’s a summer; mine no more,
Though repeated to threescore!
Threescore summers, when they ’re gone,
Will appear as short as one!