sub pedibus nimbos et rauca tonitrua calcat: 210 sic patiens animus per tanta negotia liber emergit similisque sui, iustique tenorem flectere non odium cogit, non gratia suadet. nam spretas quis opes intactaque pectora lucro commemoret? fuerint aliis haec forte decora: 215 nulla potest laus esse tibi, quae crimina purget. servat inoffensam divina modestia vocem: temperiem servant oculi; nec lumina fervor asperat aut rabidas suffundit sanguine venas, nullaque mutati tempestas proditur oris. 220 quin etiam sontes expulsa corrigis ira et placidus delicta domas; nec dentibus umquam instrepis horrendum, fremitu nec verbera poscis. Qui fruitur poena, ferus est, legumque videtur vindictam praestare sibi; cum viscera felle 225 canduerint, ardet stimulis ferturque nocendi prodigus, ignarus causae: dis proximus ille, quem ratio, non ira movet, qui facta rependens consilio punire potest. mucrone cruento se iactent alii, studeant feritate timeri 230 addictoque hominum cumulent aeraria censu. lene fluit Nilus, sed cunctis amnibus extat utilior nullo confessus murmure vires; acrior ac rapidus tacitas praetermeat ingens Danuvius ripas; eadem dementia sani 235 gurgitis inmensum deducit in ostia Gangen. torrentes inmane fremant lassisque minentur * * * * * Page 355 beneath its feet while it treads upon the thunder’s roar; so thy patient mind, unfettered by cares so manifold, rises high above them; thou art ever the same, no hatred can compel thee, no affection induce thee, to swerve from the path of justice. For why should any speak of riches scorned and a heart unallured by gain? These might perhaps be virtues in others: absence of vice is no praise to bestow on thee. The calm of a god banishes anger from thy voice; the spirit of moderation shines from thine eyes; passion never inflames that glance or fills with blood the angry veins; never is a tempest heralded on thy changed countenance. Nay, thou punishest the very criminals without show of anger and checkest their evil-doing with unruffled calm. Never dost thou gnash with thy teeth upon them nor shout orders for them to be chastised.