2020-10-26

Poem in "Don Quixote"

We had a volume containing a certain translation at home when I was young.  I've been searching for that specific translation for many years.  This one is close, but not exactly the same.  This is only the 3rd stanza out of four.

But oh! the blessing I implore,
Not fate itself can give!
Since time elapsed exists no more,
No power can bid it live.
Our days soon vanish into nought,
And have no being but in thought.
Whate'er began must end at last;
In vain we twice would youth enjoy;
In vain would we recal the past,
Or now the future hours employ.

 
The version I know and love differed in at least the following ways:
 
Line 5 was: Time quickly passes into nought (and thus line 6 "has" vs "have")
Line 7 was: All things must have an end at last
Line 9 was: In vain would we relive the past
 

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