1. A lover abandoned me once, then he visited me
And after that he replaced his displeasure with acceptance

2. And said, "Grant me one of your gifts"
And whatever you give will be compensated

3. So I gave him a full third of my life
And a quarter, a sixth, then an eighth, but he turned away

4. And said, "Too little," I said, "I have more to add"
I added to it a third of the past seventh

5. And I kept twenty years for myself to live
So here is my request, made into elegant poetry

6. Now if you count, was this life enough
For a literary, wise, learned and vigilant man?