The New Zealand Evangelist
Loss in Delays
Loss in Delays.
Shun delays, they breed remorse;
Take thy time, while, time doth serve thee;
Creeping snails have weakest force,
Fly their fault, lest thou repent thee;
Good is best, when soonest wrought,
Lingering labours come to nought.
Hoist up sail while gale doth last,
Time and tide stay no man's pleasure;
Seek not time, when time is past,
Sober speed is wisdom's leisure;
After wits are dearly bought,
Let thy fore-wit guide thy thought.
Time wears all his locks before,
Take then hold upon his forehead;
When he flies, he turns no more,
And behind his scalp is naked:
Works adjourned have many stays,
Long demurs breed new delays.
Seek thy salve while sore is green,
Festered wounds ask deeper lancing;
After cures are seldom seen,
Often sought, scarce ever chancing.
Time and place give best advice;
Out of season, out of price.
Drops do pierce the stubborn flint,
Not by force, but often felling;
Custom kills with feeble dint,
More by use, than strength prevailing;
Single sands have little weight,
Many make a drowning freight.
Yonder twigs are bent with ease,
Aged trees do break with bending;
Young desires make little prease,*
Growth doth make them past amending:
Happy man that soon doth knock
Babel's babes against the rock.