1. How often do the arrows of death go astray,
Piercing my neck and silencing my friends?

2. Had I but known, when time brought down the youths,
That he who was struck deafened me too,

3. How can frail creatures tossed
Each day by the thirsty hand of death remain?

4. Or how can we hope that any man will live forever
And ransom from death one man with another?

5. Black and white are their days’ colors,
Unchanging, though mine have changed.

6. Alas! A strong, stubborn fate rules us
And destroys mankind between tree trunk and wound.

7. So we have no intimate who keeps affection alive
Or new one who keeps newness alive.

8. He gives the gift but soon regrets it,
And feeds with honey laced with colocynth.

9. Often the greedy is denied sustenance though
His riding beast is fat and reaches journey’s end.