| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
| |
| William Oldys. 1687–1761 |
| |
| 438. On a Fly drinking out of his Cup |
| |
| BUSY, curious, thirsty fly! | |
| Drink with me and drink as I: | |
| Freely welcome to my cup, | |
| Couldst thou sip and sip it up: | |
| Make the most of life you may, | 5 |
| Life is short and wears away. | |
| |
| Both alike are mine and thine | |
| Hastening quick to their decline: | |
| Thine 's a summer, mine 's no more, | |
| Though repeated to threescore. | 10 |
| Threescore summers, when they're gone, | |
| Will appear as short as one! | |
|
|
