_ Which epoch makes
Young women and old wine; and 'tis great pity,
Of two such excellent things, increase of years,
Which still improves the one, should spoil the other.
Young women and old wine; and 'tis great pity,
Of two such excellent things, increase of years,
Which still improves the one, should spoil the other.
Byron
_ Sir, I thank you.
360
Your offer's noble were it to a friend,
And not unkind as to an unknown stranger,
Though scarcely prudent; but no less I thank you.
I am a beggar in all save his trade;
And when I beg of any one, it shall be
Of him who was the first to offer what
Few can obtain by asking. Pardon me. [_Exit_ WERNER.
_Gab. _ (_solus_). A goodly fellow by his looks, though worn
As most good fellows are, by pain or pleasure,
Which tear life out of us before our time; 370
I scarce know which most quickly: but he seems
To have seen better days, as who has not
Who has seen yesterday? --But here approaches
Our sage intendant, with the wine: however,
For the cup's sake I'll bear the cupbearer.
_Enter_ IDENSTEIN.
_Iden. _ 'Tis here! the _supernaculum! _[168] twenty years
Of age, if 'tis a day.
_Gab.
_ Which epoch makes
Young women and old wine; and 'tis great pity,
Of two such excellent things, increase of years,
Which still improves the one, should spoil the other. 380
Fill full--Here's to our hostess! --your fair wife!
[_Takes the glass_.
_Iden. _ Fair! --Well, I trust your taste in wine is equal
To that you show for beauty; but I pledge you
Nevertheless.
_Gab. _ Is not the lovely woman
I met in the adjacent hall, who, with
An air, and port, and eye, which would have better
Beseemed this palace in its brightest days
(Though in a garb adapted to its present
Abandonment), returned my salutation--
Is not the same your spouse?
_Iden. _ I would she were! 390
But you're mistaken:--that's the stranger's wife.
_Gab. _ And by her aspect she might be a Prince's;
Though time hath touched her too, she still retains
Much beauty, and more majesty.
_Iden. _ And that
Is more than I can say for Madame Idenstein,
At least in beauty: as for majesty,
She has some of its properties which might
Be spared--but never mind!
Your offer's noble were it to a friend,
And not unkind as to an unknown stranger,
Though scarcely prudent; but no less I thank you.
I am a beggar in all save his trade;
And when I beg of any one, it shall be
Of him who was the first to offer what
Few can obtain by asking. Pardon me. [_Exit_ WERNER.
_Gab. _ (_solus_). A goodly fellow by his looks, though worn
As most good fellows are, by pain or pleasure,
Which tear life out of us before our time; 370
I scarce know which most quickly: but he seems
To have seen better days, as who has not
Who has seen yesterday? --But here approaches
Our sage intendant, with the wine: however,
For the cup's sake I'll bear the cupbearer.
_Enter_ IDENSTEIN.
_Iden. _ 'Tis here! the _supernaculum! _[168] twenty years
Of age, if 'tis a day.
_Gab.
_ Which epoch makes
Young women and old wine; and 'tis great pity,
Of two such excellent things, increase of years,
Which still improves the one, should spoil the other. 380
Fill full--Here's to our hostess! --your fair wife!
[_Takes the glass_.
_Iden. _ Fair! --Well, I trust your taste in wine is equal
To that you show for beauty; but I pledge you
Nevertheless.
_Gab. _ Is not the lovely woman
I met in the adjacent hall, who, with
An air, and port, and eye, which would have better
Beseemed this palace in its brightest days
(Though in a garb adapted to its present
Abandonment), returned my salutation--
Is not the same your spouse?
_Iden. _ I would she were! 390
But you're mistaken:--that's the stranger's wife.
_Gab. _ And by her aspect she might be a Prince's;
Though time hath touched her too, she still retains
Much beauty, and more majesty.
_Iden. _ And that
Is more than I can say for Madame Idenstein,
At least in beauty: as for majesty,
She has some of its properties which might
Be spared--but never mind!
