犹有竟时。
The people suffer more and more;
腾蛇乘雾，
They’re bold but act against the law.
终为土灰。
At the sight of these poor men,
传说神龟有几千年的寿命，
The might of sorrow strikes again.
但总会有死的一天。
In such a pondering mood I am
腾蛇能够乘云驾雾，
That I sing it as an epigram.
也不免同蝼蚁化为尘土。
Long in the world the turtle stays,
老骥伏枥，
Yet it has an end unto its days.
志在千里。
High in the sky the dragon flies,
烈士暮年，
Yet it returns to earth when it dies.
壮心不已。
Long in the pen the old steed stays,
骏马被关在厩中，
Yet recalls its running ways.
心中只想着千里驰驱。
A hero blest with senior years
有大志的人虽到晚年，
Aims high, strives hard dismissing fears.
壮心也不会停止。
How long the sand of life may flow,
盈缩之期，
Not to Heaven alone we owe.
不但在天。
Sound in body, sound in mind,
养怡之福，
We can leave death far behind.
可得永年。
In such a pondering mood I am
幸甚至哉，
That I sing it as an epigram.