An ape, a lion, a fox, and an ass lyrics
by Henry Purcell
An Ape, a Lion, a Fox, and an Ass
Do shew forth Man's Life as it were in a Glass:
For Apish we are till Twenty and one
And after that, Lions till Forty be gone;
Then witty as Foxes till Threescore and Ten
But after that Asses, and so no more Men
A Dove, a Sparrow, a Parrot, a Crow
As plainly sets forth how you Women may know:
Harmless they are, till Thirteen be gone
Then Wanton as Sparrows till Forty draw on;
Then Prating as Parrots till Threescore be o'er
Then Birds of ill Omen, and Women no more