None ever die who wish; 'tis those that gloat
On life that Charon hurries to his boat;
Seized by the leg, dragged off against their will,
E'en while of food and drink they take their fill.
Those who to immortality aspire
Short fare soon serves to cure of their desire.
οὐθεὶς πώποτε,
ὦ δέσποτ᾿, ἀπέθαν᾿ ἀποθανεῖν πρόθυμος ὤν,
τοὺς γλιχομένους δὲ ζῆν κατασπᾷ τοῦ σκέλους
ἄκοντας ὁ Χάρων ἐπὶ τὸ πορθμεῖόν τ᾿ ἄγει
σιτιζομένους καὶ πάντ᾿ ἔχοντας ἀφθόνως.
ὁ δὲ λιμός ἐστιν ἀθανασίας φάρμακον.
ὦ δέσποτ᾿, ἀπέθαν᾿ ἀποθανεῖν πρόθυμος ὤν,
τοὺς γλιχομένους δὲ ζῆν κατασπᾷ τοῦ σκέλους
ἄκοντας ὁ Χάρων ἐπὶ τὸ πορθμεῖόν τ᾿ ἄγει
σιτιζομένους καὶ πάντ᾿ ἔχοντας ἀφθόνως.
ὁ δὲ λιμός ἐστιν ἀθανασίας φάρμακον.
Original text (Ancient Greek)