The quality of his heirs
Must give pause
To him whose loot
Is slated for their jaws.
A rather more classical meditation on this theme we find in Horace.
Quis scit an adiciant hodiernae crastina summae
tempora di superi?
Cuncta manus avidas fugient heredis, amico
quae dederis animo.
Who knows if Jove who counts our score
Will toss us in a morning more?
What with your friend you nobly share
At least you rescue from your heir. (Samuel Johnson)
Who know if the gods above will add the hours of tomorrow
to the total of today?
Whatever you give to your own dear self will escape
the greedy hands of your heir. (David West)
Who knows if heav’n will give to-morrow’s boon
To this our daily pray’r?
The goods you take to keep your soul in tune,
Shall scape your greedy heir. (Christopher Smart)