龟虽寿

神龟虽寿，犹有竟时。
腾蛇乘雾，终为土灰。
老骥伏枥，志在千里；
烈士暮年，壮心不已。
盈缩之期，不但在天；
养怡之福，可得永年。
幸甚至哉，歌以咏志。

-- 曹操：《步出夏門行》 组诗之一

Though the Divine Tortoise Enjoys longevity

东山 译

Though the Divine Tortoise enjoys longevity,
Its life has a destined span;
Though winged serpents ride high on clouds,
They'll fall flumping to be dusts and ashes at the last;
Though old war-horses in stables,
Still they are longing to gallop thousand miles;
Men with lofty ideals though advanced in age,
Never cease endeavoring for sublime goals.
Human lives could be long or short,
Determined not only by Heaven;
So long as you maintain well and enjoy life,
Everyone can live upto the celestial years.
Feeling fortunate and elated,
I am chanting of my aspirations.