From ‘Oedipus at Colonus’

    Endure what life God gives and ask no longer span；

    Cease to remember the delights of youth， travel-wearied aged¹ man；

    Delight becomes death-longing² if all longing else be vain.

    Even from that delight memory treasures so，

    Death， despair， division of families， all entanglements³ of mankind grow，

    As that old wandering beggar and these God-hated children know.

    In the long echoing street the laughing dancers throng⁴，

    The bride is carried to the bridegroom‘s chamber⁵ through torchlight and tumultuous song；

    I celebrate the silent kiss that ends short life or long.

    Never to have lived is best， ancient writers say；

    Never to have drawn⁶ the breath of life， never to have looked into the eye of day；

    The second best‘s a gay goodnight and quickly turn away.