The world adheres to vanity,
And craves all earthly property.
No centuries will ever tame,
Vanity’s most meagre fame.
Let’s love and joke, lets joke and love,
But always mind the Heavens above,
Full piously and honestly.
All that is pure take properly.
But first of all do fear God’s might!
A trifle then both death and fright.
Daniel Naborowski (1573 – 1640) Poland
Translated by Jarek Zawadzki
Source: Selected Masterpieces of Polish Poetry, translated from the Polish by Jarek Zawadzki, Creative Commons, 2015
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