Qua Nocent Docent

O! mihi praeteritos referat si Jupiter annos!

1. 1Oh! might my ill-past hours return again!
2. 2No more, as then, should sloth around me throw
3. 3Her soul-enslaving, leaden chain!
4. 4No more the precious time would I employ
5. 5In giddy revels, or in thoughtless joy,
6. 6A present joy producing future woe.

1. 7But o'er the midnight Lamp I'd love to pore,
2. 8I'd seek with care fair Learning's depths to sound,
3. 9And gather scientific Lore:
4. 10Or to mature the embryo thoughts inclin'd,
5. 11That half-conceiv'd lay struggling in my mind,
6. 12The cloisters' solitary gloom I'd round.

1. 13'Tis vain to wish, for Time has ta'en his flight--
2. 14For follies past be ceas'd the fruitless tears:
3. 15Let follies past to future care incite.
4. 16Averse maturer judgements to obey
5. 17Youth owns, with pleasure owns, the Passions' sway,
6. 18But sage Experience only comes with years.