Crabbed Age and Youth

Crabbéd Age and Youth

Cannot live together:

Youth is full of pleasance,

Age is full of care;

Youth like summer morn,

Age like winter weather;

Youth like summer brave,

Age like winter bare.

Youth is full of sport,

Age's breath is short;

Youth is nimble, Age is lame;

Youth is hot and bold,

Age is weak and cold;

Youth is wild, and Age is tame.

Age, I do abhor thee;

Youth, I do adore thee;

O, my Love, my Love is young!

Age, I do defy thee:

O, sweet shepherd, hie thee!

For methinks thou stay'st too long.

—William Shakespeare (?)