yoke

[Peter Jiong]

[FONT=&quot]But gradually the shadows of the past fell away and Bertha was able more consciously to appreciate the beauty and the life that surrounded her. And knowing it transitory she set herself to enjoy it as best she could. Care and youth are with difficulty yoked together, and merciful time wraps in oblivion the most gruesome misery.

From Mrs. Craddock [/FONT](set in the late 19th century) by W Somerset Maugham

What does the underlined part mean?

 

[Skrej]

See verb definition 2. See the noun entries on same page for the item that the verb comes from. Pictures of the noun here.

 

[Peter Jiong]

What does “care” mean？Why is care related with youth？

 

[jutfrank]

I think the writer is saying that there's an association between being young and being carefree.

 

[Skrej]

What does “care” mean？Why is care related with youth？

That's exactly what the text is saying - the two aren't really related. That's why it's so difficult to "yoke" them together, because they don't naturally pair well.