’Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours;
And ask them, what report they bore to heaven;
And how they might have borne more welcome news.
Their answers form what men experience call;
If Wisdom’s friend, her best; if not, worst foe. 380
“Oh, reconcile them!” kind Experience cries;
“There’s nothing here, but what as nothing weighs;
The more our joy, the more we know it vain;
And by success are tutor’d to despair.”
Nor is it only thus, but must be so.