In this poem, the author warns "Helen Grey" or being overly confident. The author tells her that she is loved now, but that she should not take too much comfort on that. She is beautiful, but she should not be overly proud, as in time, old age will come and men will forget about her. Therefore, she should not be so arrogant, and she should instead appreciate what she has now. The lines in bold emphasize the idea of being careful that you are not in the way of your own happiness.