First a thought, afterwards a date

Time was when I was not. I have been a voluntary motion, but am become a time-measured existence. I was first a thought, and afterwards a date. I was a convenient method of reckoning among the running sands of the Hour-glass, and was called an Hour. I was a convenient unit for the calculation of events, and was called a Date. I was a convenient measure for the arrangement of events into periods of convenient length, and was called a Period. I was a convenient measure for the arrangement of events into longer and longer periods, and was called a Time. I was a convenient measure for the arrangement of events into periods of indefinite length, and was called a Date. I was a convenient measure for the arrangement of events into periods of unlimited length, and was called an