If gold would prolong life,
I would have no other concern,
Than to amass gold.
Death would visit me,
I would send him away quickly,
By giving him my treasure;
But if strict fate
Won't allow it thus,
Gold is no longer necessary for me;
Love and good cheer
Will be my concern.
Si l'or prolongeait la vie,
Je n'aurais point d'autre envie
Que d'amasser bien de l'or;
La mort me rendant visite ,
Je la renverrais bien vite ,
En lui donnant mon tresor.
Mais si la sorte sévère
Ne le permet pas ainsi,
L'or ne m'est plus necessaire;
L'amour et la bonne chère
Partageront mon souci.
- Fontenelle, Dialogue IV, On Philosophy, Anacreon, Aristotle