Horace, Odes 1.11

Carm. 1.11.1Tū nē quaesierīs, scīre nefās, quem mihi, quem tibi
fīnem dī dederint, Leuconoē, nec Babylōniōs
temptārīs numerōs.

Do not ask, Leuconoe (to know is forbidden), what end the gods have given to me, what to you, and do not try Babylonian calculations.

Note. Metre: Fifth (Greater) Asclepiadean. Tū nē quaesieris: nē + perfect subjunctive, a prohibition, 'do not ask'. scīre nefās (est), 'to know is forbidden'. quem mihi, quem tibi fīnem: quem is the interrogative adjective with fīnem. Babylōniōs numerōs, Babylonian (astrological) calculations; temptāris = temptāveris.

Carm. 1.11.3Ut melius, quidquid erit, patī.

How much better to endure whatever will be!

Note. Ut melius ... patī! An exclamation: 'How much better to endure whatever will be!'

Carm. 1.11.4Seu plūrīs hiemēs seu tribuit Iuppiter ultimam,
5quae nunc oppositīs dēbilitat pūmicibus mare
Tyrrhēnum: sapiās, vīna liquēs et spatiō brevī
spem longam resecēs.

Whether Jupiter has granted us more winters or this as our last, which now wears down the Tyrrhenian sea against the opposing rocks, be wise, strain the wine, and in a short space cut back long hope.

Note. Seu ... seu, 'whether ... or'. plūrīs hiemēs, 'more winters'; ultimam (hiemem), 'as the last'. quae ... dēbilitat ... mare: the winter wears down the Tyrrhenian sea against the rocks that face it (oppositīs pūmicibus). The three jussive subjunctives sapiās, liquēs, resecēs: 'be wise, strain the wine, cut back long hope' (like pruning a vine).

Carm. 1.11.7Dum loquimur, fūgerit invida
aetās: carpe diem quam minimum crēdula posterō.

While we are talking, envious time will have fled: seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the next.

Note. fūgerit, future perfect: 'will have fled' while we speak. invida aetās, 'envious time'. carpe diem, 'pluck the day' like a fruit; quam minimum crēdula posterō (diēī), 'trusting as little as possible in tomorrow'.