τὸ πνεῦμα ὅπου θέλει πνεῖ, καὶ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἀκούεις, ἀλλ' οὐκ οἶδας πόθεν ἔρχεται καὶ ποῦ ὑπάγει·

The wind blows to and fro, but what is there to do?

An air-filled sail is hard to keep, the neck is strained to hold the beat.

The wind behind's an evil task: the sun bears down and makes one sick,

No breeze is free to lick one's locks, and a steady hand must guide the ship

Right down the course, a hair off line, or slams the boom and you're cut in twain.

Tween that and directly off the side, a lovely time may be had

A bit of air keeps things fresh, though spitting off the back's a mighty mess;

To make a turn around the wind, a jibe is what it's called by men:

A lolling lull is what comes first, and then a wham of massive force;

Ropes might be caught across the mast, and time is lost and headway lags.

The wind a slight askew across the bow, now that's a line quite good to follow:

The hull sings forth a lovely song, and the boat pinches so port's long gone;

A turn across the frightly gale is but a rapid tack not near a mile,

And how the wind blows through one's hair, and splashing water is a pleasant fear.

But wind ahead, impossible to pass, long minutes sit before is cast

Another glancing breeze to send the boat on forth and on again;

The danger quite present though, as a pinching pilot truly knows;

Th'excitement of a rapid pace, and pinching in brings another rate,

But too far in and such is seen, that one has found oneself without wind.

But changing winds and winds not at all, o'er that I could almost kill:

Frustration sets in like a storm, and one's proper course is thrown to scorn.

How can one go where one would go, if all is different then from now?

I would a wind a slight askew across my course, but pleasant winds are hard to work,

And forget that with a destination, I must go where the wind will blow on.

I shall follow course, for as long as prevailing winds are carried strong,

But when they change (as always do) I'll make or break with hardened bow,

So that at the spirit shall I bend, but in the hope of love and kin.