XXIII.—THE WORK OF TO-DAY.

XXIII.—THE WORK OF TO-DAY.CHARLES MACKAY.

CHARLES MACKAY.

1. If Fortune with a smiling face,Strew roses on our way,When shall we stoop to pick them up?To-day, my friend,to-day.But should she frown with face of care.And talk of coming sorrow,When shall we grieve if grieve[203]we must?To-morrow, friend,to-morrow.2. If those who’ve wronged us, own their fault,And kindly pity pray,When shall we listen, and forgive?To-day, my friend,to-day.But, if stern[204]Justice urge[205]rebuke,[206]And warmth from Memory borrow,When shall we chide,[207]if chide we dare?To-morrow, friend,to-morrow.3. If those to whom we owe a debt,Are harmed unless we pay,When shall we struggle to be just?To-day, my friend,to-day.But, if our debtor[208]fail our hope,And plead his ruin thorough,[209]When shall we weigh his breach[210]of faith?To-morrow, friend,to-morrow.4. For virtuous[211]acts, and harmless joys,The minutes will not stay;We’ve always time to welcome them,To-day, my friend,to-day.But care, resentment,[212]angry words,And unavailing sorrow,Come far too soon, if they appearTo-morrow, friend,to-morrow.

1. If Fortune with a smiling face,

Strew roses on our way,

When shall we stoop to pick them up?

To-day, my friend,to-day.

But should she frown with face of care.

And talk of coming sorrow,

When shall we grieve if grieve[203]we must?

To-morrow, friend,to-morrow.

2. If those who’ve wronged us, own their fault,And kindly pity pray,When shall we listen, and forgive?To-day, my friend,to-day.But, if stern[204]Justice urge[205]rebuke,[206]And warmth from Memory borrow,When shall we chide,[207]if chide we dare?To-morrow, friend,to-morrow.

2. If those who’ve wronged us, own their fault,

And kindly pity pray,

When shall we listen, and forgive?

To-day, my friend,to-day.

But, if stern[204]Justice urge[205]rebuke,[206]

And warmth from Memory borrow,

When shall we chide,[207]if chide we dare?

To-morrow, friend,to-morrow.

3. If those to whom we owe a debt,Are harmed unless we pay,When shall we struggle to be just?To-day, my friend,to-day.But, if our debtor[208]fail our hope,And plead his ruin thorough,[209]When shall we weigh his breach[210]of faith?To-morrow, friend,to-morrow.

3. If those to whom we owe a debt,

Are harmed unless we pay,

When shall we struggle to be just?

To-day, my friend,to-day.

But, if our debtor[208]fail our hope,

And plead his ruin thorough,[209]

When shall we weigh his breach[210]of faith?

To-morrow, friend,to-morrow.

4. For virtuous[211]acts, and harmless joys,The minutes will not stay;We’ve always time to welcome them,To-day, my friend,to-day.But care, resentment,[212]angry words,And unavailing sorrow,Come far too soon, if they appearTo-morrow, friend,to-morrow.

4. For virtuous[211]acts, and harmless joys,

The minutes will not stay;

We’ve always time to welcome them,

To-day, my friend,to-day.

But care, resentment,[212]angry words,

And unavailing sorrow,

Come far too soon, if they appear

To-morrow, friend,to-morrow.

[203]Grieve, mourn, sorrow.[204]Stern, severe, rigid.[205]Urge, press, impel.[206]Re-bukeˊ, reproof, reprehension.[207]Chide, blame, reproach.[208]Debtˊ-or, one that owes.[209]Thorˊ-ough, complete, perfect.[210]Breach, non-fulfillment, violation.[211]Virˊ-tuous, morally good.[212]Re-sentˊ-ment, retaliation.

[203]Grieve, mourn, sorrow.

[204]Stern, severe, rigid.

[205]Urge, press, impel.

[206]Re-bukeˊ, reproof, reprehension.

[207]Chide, blame, reproach.

[208]Debtˊ-or, one that owes.

[209]Thorˊ-ough, complete, perfect.

[210]Breach, non-fulfillment, violation.

[211]Virˊ-tuous, morally good.

[212]Re-sentˊ-ment, retaliation.

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