Thomas Hardy - First or Last lyrics

If grief come early   Joy comes late,   If joy come early   Grief will wait;    Aye, my dear and tender! Wise ones joy them early While the cheeks are red, Banish grief till surly Time has dulled their dread.   And joy being ours   Ere youth has flown,   The later hours   May find us gone;    Aye, my dear and tender!