Madman, what shall be the end? Though thou possess either Ocean, though Lydia pour forth for thee her golden waters, though thou join Croesus’ throne to Cyrus’ crown, yet shalt thou never be rich nor ever contented with thy booty. The greedy man is always poor. Fabricius, happy in his honourable poverty, despised the gifts of monarchs; the consul Serranus sweated at his heavy plough and a small cottage gave shelter to the warlike Curii. To my mind such poverty as this is richer than thy wealth, such a home greater than thy palaces. There pernicious luxury seeks for the food that satisfieth not; here the earth provides a banquet for which is nought to pay. With thee wool absorbs the dyes of Tyre; thy patterned clothes are stained with purple; here are bright flowers and the meadow’s breathing charm which owes its varied hues but to itself. There are beds piled on glittering bedsteads; here stretches the soft grass, that breaks not sleep with anxious cares. There a crowd of clients dins through the spacious halls, here is song of birds and the murmur of the gliding stream. A frugal life is best. Nature has given the opportunity of happiness to all, knew they but how to use it. Had we realized this we should now have been enjoying a simple life, no trumpets would be sounding, no whistling spear would speed, no ship be buffeted by the wind, no siege-engine overthrow battlements. * * * * * Page 42 Crescebat scelerata sitis praedaeque recentis 220 incestus flagrabat amor, nullusque petendi cogendive pudor: crebris periuria nectit blanditiis; sociat perituro foedere dextras. si semel e tantis poscenti quisque negasset, effera praetumido quatiebat corda furore. 225 quae sic Gaetuli iaculo percussa leaena aut Hyrcana premens raptorem belua partus aut serpens calcata furit? iurata deorum maiestas teritur; nusquam reverentia mensae. non coniunx, non ipse simul, non pignora caesa 230 sufficiunt odiis; non extinxisse propinquos, non notos egisse sat est; exscindere cives funditus et nomen gentis delere laborat. nec celeri perimit leto; crudelibus ante suppliciis fruitur; cruciatus, vincla, tenebras 235 dilato mucrone parat. pro saevior ense parcendi rabies concessaque vita dolori! mors adeone parum est? causis fallacibus instat, arguit attonitos se iudice. cetera segnis, ad facinus velox, penitus regione remotas 240 impiger ire vias: non illum Sirius ardens brumave Riphaeo stridens Aquilone retardat. effera torquebant avidae praecordia curae, effugeret ne quis gladios neu perderet ullum Augusto miserante nefas. non flectitur annis, 245 non aetate labat: iuvenum rorantia colla ante patrum vultus stricta cecidere securi;