Classic Poem

“Up, to the office, and there till four:
“Up, to the office, and to the play.”
Thus Mr. Pepys in the years of yore.
This is the sum of his earthly day.
Early he rose, or long he lay;
Donned his stockings and ate his bread,
Went to court in a splendid shay. . . .
“Up, to the office … and so to bed.”

“Saw the ships as they left the shore”;
“Met with Nelly … my wife distrait”;
“Kissed Mrs. Knipp … but I vowed no more.”
This is the sum of his earthly day.
“So to church for an hour, to pray:
So to a barber's, who trimmed my head.
Met with Mercer, who said me nay.
Up, to the office … and so to bed.”

“Donned my surtout I had never wore;
So to the office, accounts to pay.
Met with Nell, which I do deplore.”
This is the sum of his earthly day.
“So to the playhouse, and thence away
Home, and a volume of Potter's read.
Played my flute, and was merry and gay. . . .
Up, to the office … and so to bed.”

L'ENVOI .

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may—
This is the sum of his earthly day.
And, when the whole of it's done and said,
“Up, to the office … and so to bed.”