Queen Caroline to Her Guests Dear friends, stay! Lamplit wafts of wit keep sorrow In the purlieus of to-morrow: Dear friends, stay! Haste not away! Even now may Time be weaving Tricks of ravage, wrack, bereaving: Haste not away! Through the pane, Lurking along the street, there may be Heartwrings, keeping hid till day be, Through the pane. Check their reign: Since while here we are the masters, And can barricade dim disasters: Check their reign! Give no ear To those ghosts withoutside mumming, Mouthing, threatening, ‘We are coming!’ Give no ear! Sheltered here Care we not that next day bring us Pains, perversions! No racks wring us Sheltered here. Homeward gone, Sleep will slay this merrymaking; No resuming it at waking, Homeward gone. After dawn Something sad may be befalling; Mood like ours there’s no recalling After dawn! Morrow-day Present joy that moments strengthen May be past our power to lengthen, Morrow-day! Dear friends, stay! Lamplit wafts of wit keep sorrow In the limbo of to-morrow: Dear friends, stay!