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SHUN delays, they breed remorse; | |
Take thy time while time is lent thee; | |
Creeping snails have weakest force, | |
Fly their fault lest thou repent thee. | |
Good is best when soonest wrought, | 5 |
Lingerd labours come to nought. | |
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Hoist up sail while gale doth last, | |
Tide and wind stay no mans pleasure; | |
Seek not time when time is past, | |
Sober speed is wisdoms leisure. | 10 |
After-wits are dearly bought, | |
Let thy forewit guide thy thought. | |
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Time wears all his locks before, | |
Take thy hold on his forehead; | |
When he flies he turns no more, | 15 |
And behind his scalp s naked. | |
Works adjournd have many stays, | |
Long demurs breed new delays. | |
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Seek thy salve while sore is green, | |
Festerd wounds ask deeper lancing; | 20 |
After-cures are seldom seen, | |
Often sought, scarce ever chancing. | |
Time and place give best advice, | |
Out of season, out of price. | |
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Crush the serpent in the head, | 25 |
Break ill eggs ere they be hatchd; | |
Kill bad chickens in the tread, | |
Fledged, they hardly can be catchd. | |
In the rising stifle ill, | |
Lest it grow against thy will. | 30 |
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Drops do pierce the stubborn flint, | |
Not by force but often falling; | |
Custom kills with feeble dint, | |
More by use than strength and vailing. | |
Single sands have little weight, | 35 |
Many make a drawing freight. | |
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Tender twigs are bent with ease, | |
Aged trees do break with bending; | |
Young desires make little prease, 1 | |
Growth doth make them past amending | 40 |
Happy man, that soon doth knock | |
Babels babes against the rock! | |