XVIII

What is our life? The play of passion.
Our mirth? The music of division:
Our mothers’ wombs the tiring-houses be,
Where we are dressed for life’s short comedy.
The earth the stage; Heaven the spectator is, 5
Who sits and views whosoe’er doth act amiss.
The graves which hide us from the scorching sun
Are like drawn curtains when the play is done.
Thus playing post we to our latest rest,
And then we die in earnest, not in jest.

SER VOLTER ROLI
(1554?–1618)
XVIII

Šta je život naš? Strasti drama jedna.
Naša dragost? Podele muzika bedna:
Utrobe naših majki garderobe za glumce su tek,
Gde se oblačimo za komedije kratki vek.
Zemlja pozornica jest; Onaj na Nebu gledalac samo,
Koji sedi i gleda ko od nas propusti predstavu vamo.
Grobovi, krijuć nas od sunčevog kobnog žara, vaj!
Ko zavese su spuštene kad predstavi je kraj.

I tako igrajuć idemo na počinak lako,
A onda umremo u zbilji, ne u šali, tako.
(1892)

(Prevela Magda Jovanović)

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