Horace

(David Ferry's translation)

Time wil bring to light whatever lies hidden
Beneath the earth; whatever there is that shines
So brightly now will be buried someday in the dark.
(Horace, Epistle i.6)

埋藏的好物, 總有日會出土.
眼下金碧輝煌的一切, 終必掩沒於黑暗.

It's not the folly of foolishness that's shameful;
The shame is not knowing when the folly's time is over.
(Horace, Epistle i.14)

儍事不打緊, 最怕唔識收.

The ox wishes he wore the horse's saddle;
The horse, tired of riders, longs for the plow;
Let man and beast be content with what they're best at.
(Horace, Epistle i.14)

牛耕田, 巴望上馬鞍; 馬倦馱, 寧可犁田地;
人與畜牲, 還是各安天分, 最好.

耕牛羨慕上馬鞍, 馬倦於人騎, 反而寧願犁田地. 可見人也好, 畜牲也好, 既然各擅勝場, 還是各安天分最好.

Death is the finish line that everyone crosses.
(Horace, Epistle i.16)

死亡是完成賽事的終點線, 人人都得跑過.

... consent for a while
To mix a little pleasure in with your prudence.
It's time to be foolish when the time is right.
(Horace, Ode iv.12)

得快活時且快活, 應糊塗處當糊塗.