Horace: Book I, Ode 2

"Tu ne quæsieris, scire nefas, quem, mihi, quem tibi"

AD LEUCONOEN


Look not, Leuconoë, into the future; 
Seek not to find what the answer may be; 
Let no Chaldean clairvoyant compute your 
Time of existence. . . . It irritates me!

Better to bear whatever may happen soever 
Patiently, playing it through like a sport, 
Whether the end of your breathing is Never, 
Or, as is likely, your time will be short.

This is the angle, the true situation; 
Get me, I pray, for I'm putting you hep: 
While I've been fooling with versification 
Time has been flying. . . . Both gates! 
Watch your step!