Hasty Youth

To blunt the stinging of our hasty youth
We play and run from consequences curse.
The pain of error children do rehearse
that by such err may learn to act in truth.
So swiftly do our traitorous feet betray
and carry us to trials we would avoid;
the follies that we sought to be enjoyed
contend with all the guilt we would allay.
Though age alone does not make rash men couth
or overshoots the mark and makes them terse
the lucky few grow to be wise as Ruth
and learn to, through their action, fill their purse.
Thus youth gives way to age: as dark to day.
But when the sun will rise, the gods have toyed
that none may know the climax of that play.
Apollo, Wise, has made us fools, annoyed;
If each young boy would this avoid he can
Revenge is had in acting as a man.