John Addington Symonds, The Invitation to Youth, from Mediæval Latin Students’ Songs, from The Bibelot, Volume I, Number III, A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, Edited by Thomas B. Mosher, rare poetry, rare prose, free online text, e-book, 12th, 13th century English poetry and music, troubadours, Goliardic songs and poems, online text, free e-book, on www.elfinspell.com (Bibelot1SymondsYouth)

From The Bibelot, A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, Volume I, Number III, Testimonial Edition, Edited and Originally Published by Thomas B. Mosher, Portland, Maine; Wm. Wise & Co.; New York; 1895; p. 65 .

“There is a very pretty Invitation to Youth, the refrain of which, though partly undecipherable, seems to indicate an Italian origin. I have thought it well to omit this refrain; but it might be rendered thus, maintaining the strange and probably corrupt reading of the last line: —
    “List, my fair, list, bela mia,
      To the thousand charms of
            Venus!
      Da hizevaleria. ”

THE
INVITATION
TO YOUTH.

TAKE your pleasure, dance and play,
Each with other while ye may:
Youth is nimble, full of grace;
Age is lame, of tardy pace.

We the wars of love should wage,
Who are yet of tender age;
’Neath the tents of Venus dwell
All the joys that youth loves well.

Young men kindle heart’s desire;
You may liken them to fire:
Old men frighten love away
With cold frost and dry decay.

III. MEDIÆVAL LATIN STUDENTS’ SONGS

THE
INVITATION
TO YOUTH.

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III. MEDIÆVAL LATIN STUDENTS’ SONGS

THE INVITATION TO YOUTH.

[Back] [Blueprint] [Next]

THE
INVITATION
TO YOUTH.