龍薩是一位法國著名的愛情詩人，也是最早用法語寫作的詩人之一，他為后世留下了一部古典與愛情完美結合的詩集。龍薩(1524-1585)在他19歲的時候成為了一名神職人員，每個月的俸祿使他可以專注于創作而無須為生活擔憂。對美麗的卡桑德拉(Cassandre)的愛慕，激發了龍薩的創作靈感;他在1552年為自己的女神寫下了著名的十四行詩《愛情》。因為作品大獲成功，龍薩從此便被承認了作家的身份，并被公認為卓越的愛情詩人。《當你老了》下面是兩個版本的英語翻譯，葉芝也有詩歌名為《當你老了》。

When You Are 0ld - Pierre De Ronsard 英譯版1

When you are very old, and in your chair

At eve, beside the fire, your shuttle ply,

Singing my verses, you amazed will cry,

‘ Ronsard proclaimed my charms when I was fair. ‘

No servant then hearing you thus declare

(Though o’er her labours toiling drowsily)

But at my name her weariness will fly,

Blessing your name with praise all time shall spare.

I shall a boneless ghost lie ‘ neath the ground,

My rest by myrtle shades for ever found,

And you will o’er your fire crouch old and gray,

My love regretting and your scornful hate.

Trust me, live now, nor for to-morrow wait,

But pluck life’s roses while it is to-day.

When You Are 0ld - Pierre De Ronsard 英譯版2

When you are old, at evening candle-lit

beside the fire bending to your wool,

read out my verse and murmur, "Ronsard writ

this praise for me when I was beautiful."

And not a maid but, at the sound of it,

though nodding at the stitch on broidered stool,

will start awake, and bless love’s benefit

whose long fidelities bring Time to school.

I shall be thin and ghost beneath the earth

by myrtle shade in quiet after pain,

but you, a crone, will crouch beside the hearth

mourning my love and all your proud disdain.

And since what comes to-morrow who can say?

Live, pluck the roses of the world to-day.”

當你老了---龍薩

當你老了，暮色里將蠟燭點燃

在爐火旁邊紡著毛衣

讀起我的詩篇，低聲抱怨道：

“當我年輕美貌時，龍薩曾寫詩贊美我”

你那些矮凳上勞累得昏然欲睡的女仆們

聽到這聲音

無一不被驚醒，驚羨你曾有幸

受到他的贊美，在這樣的贊美里得到永恒

那時我或許已是地下消瘦的鬼魂

掙脫了苦痛，靜靜地在桃樹的樹陰下安眠

而你，也已是爐火旁一個佝僂的老婦

懊悔昔日竟驕傲地藐視我的愛誰能說準明天會是什么光景

生活著，趁今朝還在，趕緊去采摘那玫瑰