Thomas Hardy — First or Last

If grief come early        &nbsp Joy comes late,        &nbsp If joy come early        &nbsp Grief will wait;        &nbsp       &nbsp Aye, my dear and tender! Wise ones joy them early While the cheeks are red, Banish grief till surly Time has dulled their dread.        &nbsp And joy being ours        &nbsp Ere youth has flown,        &nbsp The later hours        &nbsp May find us gone;        &nbsp       &nbsp Aye, my dear and tender!