But when our glimm’ring lamp of life’s expir’d,
One long perpetual night we then must sleep.”
Horace, in several places, says how we ought (according to him) to employ to the best advantage the little time we have to live; but especially in one of his odes, which in English would run thus.
I.
“All things hereto invite. Come, come, away,
Let’s seize the present hours, nor vainly care
For future time, but wisely, only fear
To lose of life one short uncertain day,
Or moment, which in death must soon decay,
No human force can her strict laws withstand: