§1Per quinquennia iam decem, §2ni fallor, fuimus; septimus insuper §3annum cardo rotat, dum fruimur sole volubili.
I have already lived for five decades, if I am not mistaken; and furthermore, a seventh turning point revolves my years, while we enjoy the turning sun.
The end presses on, and God already applies a day close to old age.
§6quid nos utile tanti spatio temporis egimus?
What useful thing have we done in the space of so much time?
mox docuit toga §9infectum vitiis falsa loqui, non sine crimine.
Soon the toga taught me, tainted with vices, to speak falsehoods, not without sin.
§10tum lasciva protervitas §11et luxus petulans (heu pudet ac piget!) §12foedavit iuvenem nequitiae sordibus ac luto.
Then lascivious impudence and petulant luxury (alas, it shames and grieves me!) defiled my youth with the filth and mud of wickedness.
§13exim iurgia turbidos §14armarunt animos, et male pertinax §15vincendi studium subiacuit casibus asperis.
After that, lawsuits armed my turbulent mind, and a misguidedly stubborn passion for winning was subjected to harsh misfortunes.
§16bis legum moderamine §17frenos nobilium reximus urbium, §18ius civile bonis reddidimus, terruimus reos.
Twice, under the guidance of the laws, we held the reins of noble cities, restoring civil law to the good and terrifying the guilty.
§19tandem militiae gradu §20evectum pietas principis extulit §21adsumptum propius stare iubens ordine proximo.
At last, when I was raised by the grade of military service, the piety of the prince exalted me, ordering me, received closer, to stand in the nearest rank.
§22haec dum vita volans agit, §23inrepsit subito canities seni, §24oblitum veteris me Saliae consulis arguens, §25sub quo prima dies mihi §26quam multas hiemes volverit, et rosas §27pratis post glaciem reddiderit, nix capitis probat,
While flying life is doing these things, gray hair suddenly crept upon the old man, accusing me of having forgotten the ancient consul Salia, under whom my first day was; and the snow on my head proves how many winters it has rolled round, and how many roses it has restored to the meadows after the ice.
§28numquid talia proderunt §29carnis post obitum vel bona vel mala §30cum iam, quidquid id est quod fueram, mors aboleverit?
Will such things, whether good or bad, profit after the death of the flesh, when death will have already destroyed whatever I was?
I must say to myself: "Whoever you are, your mind has lost the world which it cherished.
§33non sunt illa Dei, quae studuit, cuius habeberis. ’ §34atqui fine sub ultimo §35peccatrix anima stultitiam exuat: §36saltem voce Deum concelebret, si meritis nequit,
Those things which it strove for do not belong to God, to whom you will belong." Yet, close to the very end, let the sinful soul put off its folly; let it at least praise God with its voice, if it cannot by its merits.
§37hymnis continuet dies, §38nec nox ulla vacet quin Dominum canat; §39pugnet contra hereses, catholicam discutiat fidem, §40conculcet sacra gentium, §41labem, Roma, tuis inferat idolis, §42carmen martyribus devoveat, laudet apostolos,
Let it continue the days with hymns, and let no night be free from singing of the Lord; let it fight against heresies, let it defend the catholic faith, let it trample on the shrines of the gentiles, let it deal a blow, O Rome, to your idols, let it dedicate a song to the martyrs, and praise the apostles.