Adrian's Address to His Soul When Dying

Adrian's Address to His Soul When Dying  (1804)  by Hadrian, translated by George Gordon, Lord Byron

A more literal translation of Hadrian's Latin than Byron's inspired version may be found near the end of the Wikipedia entry on Hadrian.

Animula! vagula, blandula,
Hospes comesque corporis,
Quae nunc abibis in loca-
Pallidula, rigida, nudula,
Nec, ut soles, dabis Jocos?

Ah! gentle, fleeting, wav'ring sprite,
Friend and associate of this clay!
  To what unknown region borne,
Wilt thou now wing thy distant flight?
No more with wonted humour gay,
  But pallid, cheerless, and forlorn.

This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.