Sharp winter melts and changes into springnow the west wind, now cables haul the boats
on their dry hulls, and now the cattle tire
of their close stall, the farmer of his fie.
Venus leads dancers under the large moon,
the naked nymphs and graces walk the earth,
one foot and then another. Birds return
they flsh and mingle in mid-air. Now, now,
the time to tear the blossoms from the bough,
to gather wild flwers from the thawing fild;
now, now, to sacrifi the kid or lamb
to Faunus in the green and bursting woods,
for bloodless death with careless foot strikes down
the peasant's hut and the stone towers of kings.
Move quickl, the brief sum of life forbids
our opening any long account with hope;
night hems us in and ghosts, and death's close clay ...
Sestius, soon, soon, you will not rush to beat
the dice and win the lordship of the feast,
or tremble for the niht's fatiguing joys,
sleepless for this child, then for that one-boys
soon lost to man, soon lost to girls in heat
