Let's Away with Study!

Here is a poem that every student should be able to relate to, though originally written in Latin in the twelfth century. (The term "gay" takes it proper meaning in this poem, that is, to be light-hearted.)

The poem was translated to English by Helen Waddell, in Mediaeval Latin Lyrics.


Let's Away with Study

Let's away with study,
Folly's sweet.
Treasure all the pleasure
Of our youth:
Time enough for age
To think on Truth.
So short a day,
And life so quickly hasting,
And in study wasting
Youth that would be gay!

'Tis our spring that's slipping,
Winter draweth near,
Life itself we're losing,
And this sorry cheer
Dries the blood and chills the heart,
Shrivels all delight.
Age and all its crowd of ills
Terrifies our sight.
So short a day,
And life so quickly hasting,
And in study wasting
Youth that would be gay!

Let us as the gods do,
'Tis the wiser part:
Leisure and love's pleasure
Seek the young in heart
Follow the old fashion,
Down into the street!
Down among the maidens,
And the dancing feet!
So short a day,
And life so quickly hasting,
And in study wasting
Youth that would be gay!

There for the seeing
Is all loveliness,
White limbs moving
Light in wantoness.
Gay go the dancers,
I stand and see,
Gaze, till their glances
Steal myself from me.
So short a day,
And life so quickly hasting,
And in study wasting
Youth that would be gay!