noon
I leave many great designs unattempted , and many great attempts unfinished . My mind is burdened with no heavy crime , and therefore I compose myself to tranquillity ; endeavour to abstract my thoughts from hopes and cares which , though reason knows them to be vain , still try to keep their old possession of the heart ; expect , with serene humility , that hour which nature can not long delay , and hope to possess in a better state that happiness which here I could not find , and that virtue which here I have not attained . '' He arose and went away , leaving his audience not much elated with the hope of long life . The Prince consoled himself with remarking that it was not reasonable to be disappointed by this account ; for age had never been considered as the season of felicity , and if it was possible to be easy in decline and weakness , it was likely that the days of vigour and alacrity might be happy ; that the noon of life might be bright , if the evening could be calm . The Princess suspected that age was querulous and malignant , and delighted to repress the expectations of those who had newly entered the world . She had seen the possessors of estates look with envy on their heirs , and known many who enjoyed pleasures no longer than they could confine it to themselves . Pekuah conjectured that the man was older than he appeared , and was willing to impute his complaints to delirious dejection ; or else supposed that he had been unfortunate , and was therefore discontented .