Arany János - Győrei Zsolt (szerk.): The trill of the nightingale (Budapest, 2019)

V - „'Tis enough if it shines for me” - Up to the Last (Thomas Cooper)

Up to the Last

Your lute, still clasp It to your chest,

Till earnest death should happen by.

And meanwhile pluck It strings and lo,

Your doleful heart may solace find.

Nor love nor wine Flow in your blood,

But still, don’t put it down, just play! Have you no joys To share, no griefs,

Or woes misfortune sent your way?

For life is sweet,

If you can find

Contentment in remaining days.

When autumn comes,

And leaves turn brown,

Don’t crave the warmth of summer days.

Your hopes are ash Your day half passed,

The sun is setting o’er the leas,

Yet savor joys, bid woes goodbye,

and scatter them upon the breeze.