Virgil, Aeneid X.501-502
Melphi speaks
Nescia mens hominum fati sortisque futurae
et servare modum, rebus sublata secundis!
The priest translates
«O mind of men, that knows neither fate nor the lot to come, nor how to keep within measure when lifted up by good fortune!»
And interprets
This verse comes to you as an affectionate warning. If things are going well for you, a promotion, a new love, an unexpected gain, that is wonderful, and you have every right to enjoy it. Melphi only asks you not to lose your sense of measure. In lucky times it is easy to feel invincible, to raise your voice, to humiliate those left behind, to spend more than you need. No one knows the future, and what you proudly show off today may weigh on you tomorrow. This is not a sentence, it is a nuance: celebrate, but kindly. Be careful about the words you use with those who have lost, and about the trophies you wear.
The historical translations
Vassene or Turno. O cieche umane menti,
Come siete de’ fati e del futuro
Poco avvedute! E come oltra ogni modo
Ne’ felici successi insuperbite!
exulting in the spoil. O heart of man,
not knowing doom, nor of events to be!
Nor, being lifted up, to keep thy bounds
in prosperous days! To Turnus comes the hour