Literal: In childhood we strove to go to school, Our turn to teach, joyous as a rule The end of the story is sad and cruel From dust we came, and gone with winds cool. Meaning: Pursuing knowledge in childhood we rise Until we become masterful and wise But if we look through the disguise We see the ties of worldly lies. Fitzgerald: Myself when young did eagerly frequent Doctor and Saint, and heard great Argument About it and about: but evermore Came out by the same Door as in I went. German: Zum Meister ging ich einst- das war die Jugendzeit- Dann hab ich mich der eigenen Meisterschaft gefreut. Und wollt ihr wissen, was davon das Ende ist? Den Staubgeborenen hat wie Staub der Wind zerstreut.