O NEPOS, twice my neigh(b)our (since at home <br />We're door by door, by Flora's temple dome; <br />And in the country, still conjoined by fate, <br />Behold our villas standing gate by gate), <br />Thou hast a daughter, dearer far than life - <br />Thy image and the image of thy wife. <br />Thy image and thy wife's, and be it so! <br /> <br />But why for her, { neglect the flowing } can <br /> { O Nepos, leave the } <br /> <br />And lose the prime of thy Falernian? <br />Hoard casks of money, if to hoard be thine; <br />But let thy daughter drink a younger wine! <br />Let her go rich and wise, in silk and fur; <br /> <br />Lay down a { bin that shall } grow old with her; <br /> { vintage to } <br /> <br />But thou, meantime, the while the batch is sound, <br />With pleased companions pass the bowl around; <br />Nor let the childless only taste delights, <br />For Fathers also may enjoy their nights.<br /><br />Robert Louis Stevenson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ad-nepotem/
