Carmina non prosunt
Songs aren't any use
(Latin Elegiacs)

"Carmina non prosunt, non auri cantus acervis
addet; nec digitum progrediere tua
in vita dominae nova semper fingere temptans
carmina, non fama est celsa petenda tibi?"
Talia sic fatur sibi (recta mente) poeta
rursum at scribat, si praetereat domina!

"Songs are no use; they're not
going to add to your gleaming
pile of gold. Your life's not
going to advance a finger's breadth
by always trying to come up with new
songs for your girl. Shouldn't
you be seeking lofty glory?"
Such did the poet say to himself,
when his mind was thinking clear.
But if his girl walked by that day
He'd take to writing verse again.