68
NONE lives for ever, brother, and nothing lasts for long. Keep that in mind and rejoice.
Our life is not the one old burden, our path is not the one long journey.
One sole poet has not to sing one aged song.
The flower fades and dies; but he who wears the flower has not to mourn for it for ever.
Brother, keep that in mind and rejoice.
There must come a full pause to weave perfection into music.
Life droops toward its sunset to be drowned in the golden shadows.
Love must be called from its play to drink sorrow and be borne to the heaven of tears.
Brother, keep that in mind and rejoice.
We hasten to gather our flowers lest they are plundered by the passing winds.
It quickens our blood and brightens our eyes to snatch kisses that would vanish if we delayed.
Our life is eager, our desires are keen, for time tolls the bell of parting.
Brother, keep that in mind and rejoice.
There is not time for us to clasp a thing and crush it and fling it away to the dust.
The hours trip rapidly away, hiding their dreams in their skirts.
Our life is short; it yields but a few days for love.
Were it for work and drudgery it would be endlessly long.
Brother, keep that in mind and rejoice.
Beauty is sweet to us, because she dances to the same fleeting tune with our lives.
Knowledge is precious to us, because we shall never have time to complete it.
All is done and finished in the eternal Heaven.
But earth's flowers of illusion are kept eternally fresh by death.
Brother, keep that in mind and rejoice.
68
没有人永远活着，兄弟，没有东西可以经久。
把这紧记在心及时行乐吧。
我们的生命不是那个旧的负担，
我们的道路不是那条长的旅程。
一个单独的诗人，不必去唱一支旧歌。
花儿萎谢；但是戴花的人不必永远悲伤。
弟兄，把这个紧记在心及时行乐吧。
必须有一段完全的停歇，
好把“圆满”编进音乐。
生命向它的黄昏下落，为了沉浸于金影之中。
必须从游戏中把“爱”召回，去饮忧伤之酒，再去生于泪天。
弟兄，把这紧记在心及时行乐吧。
我们忙去采花，怕被过路的风偷走。
去夺取稍纵即逝的接吻，使我们血液奔流双目发光。
我们的生命是热切的，愿望是强烈的，
因为时间在敲着离别之钟。
弟兄，把这紧记在心及时行乐吧。
我们没有时间去把握一件事物，
揉碎它又把它丢在地上。
时间急速地走过，把梦幻藏在裙底。
我们的生命是短促的，只有几天恋爱的工夫。
若是为工作和劳役，生命就变得无尽的漫长。
弟兄，把这紧记在心及时行乐吧。
美对我们是甜柔的，
因为她和我们生命的快速调子应节舞蹈。
知识对我们是宝贵的，
因为我们永不会有时间去完成它。
一切都在永生的天上做完。
但是大地的幻象的花朵，
却被死亡保持得永远新鲜。
弟兄，把这紧记在心及时行乐吧。
