English Poetry. Lewis Carroll. Punctuality. Льюис Кэрролл.

Lewis Carroll (Льюис Кэрролл)

Punctuality

Man Naturally loves delay,
And to procrastinate;
Business put off from day to day
Is always done to late.

Let ever hour be in its place
Firm fixed, nor loosely shift,
And well enjoy the vacant space,
As though a birthday gift.

And when the hour arrives, be there,
Where'er that "there" may be;
Uncleanly hands or ruffled hair
Let no one ever see.

If dinner at "half-past" be placed,
At "half-past" then be dressed.
If at a "quarter-past" make haste
To be down with the rest

Better to be before you time,
Than e're to be behind;
To open the door while strikes the chime,
That shows a punctual mind.

Moral:

Let punctuality and care
Seize every flitting hour,
So shalt thou cull a floweret fair,
E'en from a fading flower 

Lewis Carroll’s other poems:

1. Выборы в Совет Оксфордского университета • The Elections to the Hebdomadal Council
2. Пилигримлянин • The Wandering Burgess
3. Он прав, миляга! • What Tottles Meant
4. Покинутые парки • The Deserted Parks
5. Охота на Снарка. Трали-Врали в Восьми Финтах. Финт Шестой. Сон Балабола • The Hunting of the Snark. Fit the Sixth. The Barrister’s Dream

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