Now or Never: Or, the MAID's Counsellor

Consult, dear Nymph, your faithful Glass, The Chrystal Streams, the bord'ring Grass, Then think how Youth and Beauty pass.

MARIA once so fair and young, No more's the burthen of our Song, Since cruel TIME has done her Wrong.

His Scythe has Mown her Rosy Cheek, Cut down the Lillies of her Neck, And crop'd the Flowers which Maids bedeck.

Her Eyes that pierc'd the yielding Soul, The Toast to ev'ry Shepherd's Bowl, Shall now no more our Hearts controul.

Her Voice so sweet, she use to rear, As brought the list'ning Birds to hear, No longer Charms th' attentive Ear.

Her Lips like Comb for Honey prest, Like Balls of Snow, her melting Breast, By envious Age she's all undrest.

Every Rose with drooping Leaves, An Emblem of the Virgin gives, Whose foolish Pride herself deceives.

Then Damsels mark the fading Flow'r, Presume no longer in your Pow'r, Blossom's vanish every Hour.

Let then the Youth no longer mourn, Nor, by destructive Passion, burn, For Charms once gone can ne'er return.