Robert Herrick, To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time
 

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Time still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use time;
And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may forever tarry.

 Robert Herrick (1591–1674)

Στις Παρθένες, Να Ζήσουν το Σήμερα

Μάζεψε τα μπουμπούκια όσο μπορείς
Ο χρόνος μακριά πετάει
Και το λουλούδι που σήμερα γελά
Αύριο θα ξεψυχάει.

Το ένδοξο μάτι τ' ουρανού, ο ήλιος
Όσο ψηλότερα ανατέλει
Τη δύση φέρνει πιο κοντά
Κι η νύχτα βασιλεύει.

Τα πρώτα χρόνια είναι καλά
Που η νιότη και το αίμα βράζει
Μα δυστυχώς περνούν
Κι ο χρόνος που ξοδεύτηκε ποτέ δεν επιστρέφει.

Γι' αυτό μη χάνεις τον καιρό, καθόλου μη διστάζεις
Όσο είσαι ακόμα νεαρή το γάμο να ετοιμάζεις
Της ομορφιάς σου τον ανθό για πάντα σαν τον χάσεις
Ζωή μοναχική θα πρέπει να περάσεις.

Μετάφραση: Μ. Γ.

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

  by Robert Herrick

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
   Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
   Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, 
   The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
   And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
   When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
   Times still succeed the former. 

Then be not coy, but use your time,
   And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
   You may forever tarry.    

- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15923#sthash.8ueEwpS2.dpuf

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

  by Robert Herrick

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
   Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
   Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, 
   The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
   And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
   When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
   Times still succeed the former. 

Then be not coy, but use your time,
   And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
   You may forever tarry.    

- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15923#sthash.8ueEwpS2.dpuf

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

  by Robert Herrick

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
   Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
   Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, 
   The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
   And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
   When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
   Times still succeed the former. 

Then be not coy, but use your time,
   And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
   You may forever tarry.    

- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15923#sthash.8ueEwpS2.dpuf

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

  by Robert Herrick

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
   Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
   Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, 
   The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
   And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
   When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
   Times still succeed the former. 

Then be not coy, but use your time,
   And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
   You may forever tarry.    

- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15923#sthash.8ueEwpS2.dpuf

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

  by Robert Herrick

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
   Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
   Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, 
   The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
   And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
   When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
   Times still succeed the former. 

Then be not coy, but use your time,
   And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
   You may forever tarry.    

- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15923#sthash.8ueEwpS2.dpuf