To a Young Gentleman, who was blam'd for marrying Young

CEnsur'd for being Happy made too Young!
'Tis by a foolish or an envious Tongue.
'Tis to be happy to be early joyn'd
To a lov'd Nymph as charming as she's kind.
Can Heaven it self bestow a greater Blessing,
Than early mutual love, and long possessing?
Tell those who blame thee that till Thirty they
The noon of Life, for Love's chief meal may stay.
So plagu'd by pinching hungery formal fools
Stay for a Clock, and are enslav'd to Rules.
Most to fall to that usual season wait;
The Beasts, when half life's journey's over, bait.
But tyr'd by the bad way, and ill at ease,
What they in misery taste, but half can please.
He who at once is fresh, sharpset and gay,
With perfect pleasure does about him lay.