The Age of Gold

A silver shilling for his white haired Granny,

That child is richer far with but penny;

Compared with youth, that has but little more,

Old men with gold must still be counted poor.

When you have spent your three score years and ten,

And tell how you have prospered in the end-

Think then of others in their golden youth,

That still have all their precious years to spend.

When you are old, and live for memory's sake,

What are you but all tail, and nothing more?

Think of your youth, with all its lovely dreams,

When you, all eyes, were richer far, though poor.