When I was one and twenty I heard a wise man say, “Give crowns pounds 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. When I was one and twenty
I heard him say again, “The heart out of the bosom Was never given in vain; ‘Tis paid with sighs a plenty And sold for endless rue.” And now I’m two-and-twenty And oh, ‘tis true, ‘tis true.