A worm is in the bud of youth

Quote byWilliam Cowper · 1731–1800

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: "Stanzas subjoined to a Bill of Mortality" (1787).

English (original)

A worm is in the bud of youth, And at the root of age.

— William Cowper

But oars alone can ne'er prevail To reach the distant coast; The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, Or all the toil is lost.

Beware of desp'rate steps! The darkest day (Live till tomorrow) will have passed away.

Absence from whom we love is worse than death, And frustrate hope severer than despair.

Man disobeys, and deity disowns me.

Damned below Judas; more abhorred than he was.

Oh! I could thresh his old jacket till I made his pension jingle in his pockets.