“Above all fail not in loving-kindness; for though we be surpassed in every virtue yet mercy alone makes us equal with the gods. Let thine actions be open and give no grounds for suspicion, be loyal to thy friends nor lend an ear to rumours. He who attends to such will quake at every idle whisper and know no moment’s peace. Neither watch nor guard nor yet a hedge of spears can secure thee safety; only thy people’s love can do that. Love thou canst not extort; it is the gift of mutual faith and honest goodwill. Seest thou not how the fair frame of the very universe binds itself together by love, and how the elements, not united by violence, are for ever at harmony among themselves? Dost thou not mark how that Phoebus is content not to outstep the limits of his path, nor the sea those of his kingdom, and how the air, which in its eternal embrace encircles and upholds the world, presses not upon us with too heavy a weight nor yet yields to the burden which itself sustains? Whoso causes terror is himself more fearful; such doom befits tyrants. Let them be jealous of another’s fame, murder the * * * * * Page 308 muniti gladiis vivant saeptique venenis, ancipites habeant arces trepidique minentur: tu civem patremque geras, tu consule cunctis, non tibi, nec tua te moveant, sed publica vota. 295 “In commune iubes si quid censesque tenendum, primus iussa subi: tunc observantior aequi fit populus nec ferre negat, cum viderit ipsum auctorem parere sibi. componitur orbis regis ad exemplum, nec sic inflectere sensus 300 humanos edicta valent quam vita regentis: mobile mutatur semper cum principe vulgus. “His tamen effectis neu fastidire minores neu pete praescriptos homini transcendere fines. inquinat egregios adiuncta superbia mores. 305 non tibi tradidimus dociles servire Sabaeos, Armeniae dominum non te praefecimus orae, nec damus Assyriam, tenuit quam femina, gentem. Romani, qui cuncta diu rexere, regendi, qui nec Tarquinii fastus nec iura tulere 310 Caesaris. annales veterum delicta loquuntur: haerebunt maculae. quis non per saecula damnat Caesareae portenta domus? quem dira Neronis funera, quem rupes Caprearum taetra latebit incesto possessa seni? victura feretur 315 gloria Traiani, non tam quod Tigride victo nostra triumphati fuerint provincia Parthi, alta quod invectus fractis Capitolia Dacis, * * * * * Page 309