XII: Whoever have fattened on the fleeting wealth of…

Whoever have fattened on the fleeting wealth of the world,
The worms of the earth, at last, have become glutted with them!

The world's great ones too, whose history the books relate,
One after the other have fallen, slaughtered by the knife of death!

Their wealth, lands, and mansions, they have transmitted to others:
Body by body, they have fallen asleep in the house of the tomb!

Of the empty adulations of the world, they were amazingly vain;
But they were overcome with regret, when the time of departure came.

Seeing that the world showed no constancy to the departed,
How are those who remain, so ardent, to-day, in its pursuit?

The world is a faithless bride, that destroyeth her husband;
Hence the wise, for this reason, are to her friendship so cold.

The flowers, that every season bloomed in the garden so sweetly,
Have likewise, in the autumn, thus been scattered to the winds.

O thou, of vain pleasures so proud! for thy departure prepare!
Thy cotemporaries have grown weary in looking out for thee!

Behold these graves! say, what wilt thou with gardens do?
Look upon thy dear friends! observe what they have become!

Bend thy looks upon them--comely youths, and youthful brides!
Separate from each other, in their graves they have withered away!

By virtuous actions, O SEPARATED! Heaven is attainable;
Then never follow in the way of those who have gone astray.