And then he drew a dial from his poke 21 And, looking on it with lack-luster eye, 22 Says very wisely “It is ten o’clock. 23 Thus we may see,” quoth he, “how the world wags. 24 ’Tis but an hour ago since it was nine, 25 And after one hour more ’twill be eleven. 26 And so from hour to hour we ripe and ripe, 27 And then from hour to hour we rot and rot,
JAQUES . . .
And then he drew a dial from his poke 21
And, looking on it with lack-luster eye, 22
Says very wisely “It is ten o’clock. 23
Thus we may see,” quoth he, “how the world wags . 24
’Tis but an hour ago since it was nine, 25
And after one hour more ’twill be eleven. 26
And so from hour to hour we ripe and ripe, 27
And then from hour to hour we rot and rot, 28
And thereby hangs a tale.” When I did hear 29
The motley fool thus moral on the time, 30
My lungs began to crow like chanticleer 31
That fools should be so deep-contemplative , 32
And I did laugh sans intermission 33
An hour by his dial. O noble fool! 34
A worthy fool! Motley’s the only wear. 35
