-
At first, the infant, Mewling And Puking in the nurse's arms.
Crying, Whining, Little -
Then the schoolboy/girl, with his/her
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school.
Learning, Growing, Annoyed -
And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with woeful ballad
Made to his/her mistress' eyebrows
Inlove, Happy -
Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden, and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. -
And then the justice
In fair round belly, with good capon lin'd,
With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws, and modern instances,
And so he plays his part.
Older, Wise, And Relaxing -
The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose, and pouch on side,
His youthful hose well sav'd, a world too wide,
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again towards childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound.
Slow, Skinny, Small -
Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
Can't see, hear, or taste.
