Et quasi cursores vitae lampada tradunt

Yesterday I quoted a passage from Lucretius in De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things).  Always dangerous dangerous to wander in Lucretian waters, you get sucked in.

Sic rerum summa novatur

semper, et inter se mortales mutua vivunt.

augescunt aliae gentes, aliae minuuntur,

inque brevi spatio mutantur saecla animantum

et quasi cursores vitae lampada tradunt. 

 

Thus the sum of things is ever being renewed, and mortal creatures live dependent one upon another. Some species increase, others diminish, and in a short space the generations of living creatures are changed and, like runners, pass on the torch of life. 

 

Book II, line 75 (tr. Rouse)

One of my favorite poems is Vitai Lampada by Henry Newbolt which references that old Roman formula, "They pass on the torch of life."

Vitai Lampada

by Sir Henry Newbolt (1862-1938) 

There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night --

Ten to make and the match to win --

A bumping pitch and a blinding light,

An hour to play and the last man in.

And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat,

Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,

But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote --

'Play up! play up! and play the game!'

The sand of the desert is sodden red, --

Red with the wreck of a square that broke; --

The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel dead,

And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.

The river of death has brimmed his banks,

And England's far, and Honour a name,

But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks:

'Play up! play up! and play the game!'

This is the word that year by year,

While in her place the School is set,

Every one of her sons must hear,

And none that hears it dare forget.

This they all with a joyful mind

Bear through life like a torch in flame,

And falling fling to the host behind --

'Play up! play up! and play the game!'