The Evening-Watch: A Dialogue

BODY

Farewell! I go to sleep; but when
The day-star springs, I’ ll wake again.

SOUL

Go, sleep in peace; and when thou liest
Unnumber’ d in thy dust, when all this frame
Is but one dram, and what thou now descriest
In sev’ ral parts shall want a name,
Then may his peace be with thee, and each dust
Writ in his book, who ne’ er betray’ d man’ s trust!

BODY

Amen! but hark, ere we two stray
How many hours dost think ’ till day?

SOUL

Ah go; th’ art weak, and sleepy. Heav’ n
Is a plain watch, and without figures winds
All ages up; who drew this circle, even
He fills it; days and hours are blinds.
Yet this take with thee. The last gasp of time
Is thy first breath, and man’ s eternal prime.