And boring and sad, and none to be given a hand
When a minute of suffering comes                     
Desires!.. what's the use of desiring vainly without a stand?.. 
While the years slip by - the best ones!            

To love... whom again?... for a while - it is worth no pains, 
But to love for eternity no one could.
Shall you look in yourself? - of the past no vestige remains: 
There all has been nothing, every joy, every wound... 

What passions? - After all sooner or later their pleasant disease  
Shall vanish, if you reason it out at rest;
And life, look it over with icy attention - it is 
Such an empty and foolish jest...