Laudator Temporis Acti

Beowulf 1761-1768 (tr. David Wright):

For a little while you will be at the peak of your strength; but it will not be long before sickness or the sword, or the hand of fire, or the raging sea, a thrust of the knife, a whizzing arrow, or hideous dotage, or failure and darkening of the eyes, will plunder you of your might; and in the end, brave soldier, death will defeat you.

                       Nu is þines mægnes blæd
ane hwile.     Eft sona bið
þæt þec adl oððe ecg     eafoþes getwæfeð,
oððe fyres feng,     oððe flodes wylm,
oððe gripe meces,     oððe gares fliht,        1765
oððe atol yldo;     oððe eagena bearhtm
forsiteð ond forsworceð;     semninga bið
þæt ðec, dryhtguma,     deað oferswyðeð.

George Jack, Beowulf. A Student Edition (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995), p. 131: The same (tr. E. Talbot Donaldson):

Now for a time there is glory in your might: yet soon it shall be that sick­ness or sword will diminish your strength, or fire's fangs, or flood's surge, or sword's swing, or spear's flight, or appalling age; brightness of eyes will fail and grow dark; then it shall be that death will overcome you, warrior.