Oft, in a moment, snaps life’s strongest thread,
Each, in her turn, some tragic story tells,
With, now and then, a wretched farce between;
And fills his chronicle with human woes.
Time’s daughters, true as those of men, deceive us;
Not one, but puts some cheat on all mankind: 120
While in their father’s bosom, not yet ours,
They flatter our fond hopes, and promise much
Of amiable; but hold him not o’er-wise, 123
Who dares to trust them; and laugh round the year