Time’s but a courser, and his fleet career

May end before he reach another round;

Or, should he chance to run another year,

He lays a thousand dead at every bound!

Why longer trust to future years in store?

Why hang our hopes upon a spider’s thread?

Begin the work of life, and, sleep no more,

A flower late planted ne’er may raise its head;

Or choked by weeds neglected in the soil,

May never, never bloom, nor shed a cheerful smile.