VI. HYGIENE

When Science taught mankind to breathe

A little while ago,

Only a wise and thoughtful few

Were really in the know:

Nor could the Youth his features wreathe,

Puffing from all the lungs beneath:

When Duty whispered softly “Breathe!”

The Youth would answer “Blow!”

When Science proved with lucid care

The need of Exercise,

Our thoughtless Youth was climbing trees

Or lightly blacking eyes:

To reckless idlers breaking bounds

For football or for hare-and-hounds,

Or fighting hard for fourteen rounds,

It came as a surprise.

But when she boldly counsels Sleep

To persons when in bed,

Then, then indeed men blush to see

The daybreak blushing red:

The early risers whom we term

Healthy, grow sickly and infirm;

The Early Bird who caught the Worm

Will catch the Germ instead.

For this at least be Science praised

If all the rest be rot,

That now she snubs the priggish child

That quits too soon his cot:

The pharisaic pachyderm

Of spiritual pride shall squirm:

The Early Bird catches the worm,

The Worm that dieth not.