The Evening-Watch [A Dialogue]

By Henry Vaughan

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.