Ἀσθενῶ, ἡ σάρξ φθίνει·

Aegrotus sum, corpus labitur;

I am sick, my body failing;

δύο νόμισμ᾽ ἔχω, τὸ λαμπρὸν καὶ τὸ μέλαν,

duos nummos fero, aureum et obscurum,

I carry two coins, bright and dark,

καὶ ἐρωτῶ τίνι ὁδῷ βαδίζειν.

et rogo: qua via est?

and I ask: what path remains?

Καὶ σιγῇ γράφω· σιγὴ με στηρίζει.

In silentio scribo; silentium me servat.

I write in silence; silence sustains me.

Νίκην καλοῦσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἡ καρδία βιβλίων ἐφίεται,

Victoria nominatur, sed cor libris cupit,

They call it victory, but my heart longs for books,

οὐ τροπαίων.

non tropaeis.

not for trophies.

Ζυγίζω βίον καὶ ὅραμα,

Pondero vitam et visionem,

I balance life and vision,

ἀσθένειαν καὶ ἔργον,

morbum et laborem,

illness and labor,

φῶς καὶ σκιάν.

lucem et umbram.

light and shadow.

Νίκη ἐστὶ τὸ μὴ συντριβῆναι·

Victoria est non frangi;

Victory is not to be broken;

Τύχη οὔτε ἐχθρὰ οὔτε φίλη,

Fortuna nec hostis nec amica,

Fortune is neither enemy nor friend,

ἀλλ᾽ ὁ τροχὸς ὁ αἰεί περιστρεφόμενος.

sed rota semper volvens.

but the wheel that always turns.

ἔστω ἡ ἀκρόπολις ἔνδον·

Intus stet arx mea;

Let the fortress stand within;

τὰ ἔξω τείχη πίπτει,

muri foris cadunt,

though the walls without fall,

ἀλλ᾽ ἡ ψυχὴ μένει.

anima manet.

the soul remains.