Milton's masterpiece is not, however, our concern here. Its most famous lines appear above. A dip into the time-obsessed poetry of the 16th and 17th centuries quickly dispells that illusion. Today's technology may be speedier, but a sense of hurry is nothing new. Feeling the years slip away, Milton lamented the coming of his 23rd birthday.
Time is the truly scarce resource.
In Marvell's era, three score and ten was indeed a great age. Just as important, we have lengthened our days, lighting up the night. We have made convenience a marketable commodity. If, while writing this article, I am also running the washing machine, my effective life has been extended by the time it would take to do laundry by hand. To the consternation of convenience-denouncing social critics, I and millions of others are willing to pay well for such life extension.