When I was one-and-twenty

by A.E. Housemen [1896]

When I was one-and-twenty
I heard a wise man say, 
"Give crowns and punds and guineas
But not your heart away;
Give pearls away and rubies
But keep your fancy free"
But I was one-and-twenty,
No use to talk to me.

I was one-and-twenty
I head him say again,
"The heart out of the bossom
was never given in vain.
'Tis paid with sigh a-plenty
And sold for endless rue."
And I am two-and-twenty
And oh, 'tis true, 'tis true.