Vanitas! Vanitatum Vanitas!

My trust in nothing now is placed,     Hurrah!     So in the world true joy I taste,     Hurrah!     Then he who would be a comrade of mine     Must rattle his glass, and in chorus combine,     Over these dregs of wine.     I placed my trust in gold and wealth,     Hurrah!     But then I lost all joy and health,     Lack-a-day!     Both here and there the money roll'd,     And when I had it here, behold,     From there had fled the gold!     I placed my trust in women next,     Hurrah!     But there in truth was sorely vex'd,     Lack-a-day!     The False another portion sought,     The True with tediousness were fraught,     The Best could not be bought.     My trust in travels then I placed,     Hurrah!     And left my native land in haste.     Lack-a-day!     But not a single thing seem'd good,     The beds were bad, and strange the food,     And I not understood.     I placed my trust in rank and fame,     Hurrah!     Another put me straight to shame,     Lack-a-day!     And as I had been prominent,     All scowl'd upon me as I went,     I found not one content.     I placed my trust in war and fight,     Hurrah!     We gain'd full many a triumph bright,     Hurrah!     Into the foeman's land we cross'd,     We put our friends to equal cost,     And there a leg I lost.     My trust is placed in nothing now,     Hurrah!     At my command the world must bow,     Hurrah!     And as we've ended feast and strain,     The cup we'll to the bottom drain;     No dregs must there remain!