唐伯虎：不煉金丹不坐禪，不為商賈不耕田。Not heating up the tripod for the Elixir pill, Nor doing deep meditation while sitting still

【言志】 明 • 唐伯虎

　
 

不煉金丹不坐禪，

不為商賈不耕田。

閑來寫幅丹青賣，

不使人間造孽錢。

"Not heating up the tripod for the Elixir pill"

-- by Tang Bohu (Ming Dynasty)

-- Translated by Frank C Yue

Not heating up the tripod for the Elixir pill,

Nor doing deep meditation while sitting

still --

A merchant or a farmer, I shall not be;

At leisure, I will just draw a painting for 

sale.

I've vowed ne'er to make money that's 

sinful and stale;

(I love to live my life my way and will be

free!)