WILLIAM OLDYS

On a Ffy 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, Life is short and wears away.

Both alike are mine and thine Hastening quick to their decline: Thine J s a summer, mine 's no more, Though repeated to threescore. Threescore summers, when they're gone, Will appear as short as one !

��JOHN GAY

��O RUDDIER than the cherry! O sweeter than the berry ! O nymph more bright Than moonshine night, Like kidllngs blithe and merry ! Ripe as the melting cluster! No lily has such lustre ; Yet hard to tame As raging flame, And fierce as storms that bluster !

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