A woman should gather roses ere,
Time's Ceaseless foot o'ertaketh her,
For if too long she make delay,
Her chance for love may pass away.
Chorus:
Too late, ALAS! Will she repent,
When age is come and beauty spent.
Too late, ALAS! Will she repent,
When age is come and beauty spent.
And well it is she seek it while
Health, strength and youth around her smile,
To pluck the fruits of love in youth
Is each wise women's rule forsooth.
CHORUS
For when age creepeth o'er us, hence
Go also the sweet joys of sense,
And ill doth she her days employ
Who lets life pass without love's joy.
CHORUS
And if my counsel she despise,
Not knowing how 'tis just and wise,
Too Late, Alas! Will she repent
When age is come and beauty spent.
CHORUS
But witful women will believe
My words, and thankfully receive
My counsels and my rules will foster
With care and many a paternoster.
CHORUS
Say for my soul's health when I die
For teaching them so worthily.
Well know I that these golden rules
Shall long be taught in noblest schools.
CHORUS