XII + 

Crabbed age and youth cannot live together: + 

Youth is full of pleasance, age is full of care; + 

Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather; + 

Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare. + 

Youth is full of sport, age’s breath is short; + 

Youth is nimble, age is lame; + 

Youth is hot and bold, age is weak and cold; + 

Youth is wild, and age is tame. + 

Age, I do abhor thee; youth, I do adore thee; + 

O, my love, my love is young! + 

Age, I do defy thee: O, sweet shepherd, hie thee, + 

For methinks thou stay’st too long. + 