mine be a just cause for thee to hope for better? Notwithstanding, lose not thy courage, and, living in a kingdom which is common to all men, desire not to be governed by peculiar laws proper only to thyself. [103] Cf. Herod, i. 87. [104] Cf. Livy xlv. 8. Paul=Aemilius Paulus surnamed Macedonius for his defeat of Perses last king of Macedonia in 168 B.C. [105] _Il._ xxiv. 527. II. Si quantas rapidis flatibus incitus Pontus uersat harenas Aut quot stelliferis edita noctibus Caelo sidera fulgent Tantas fundat opes nec retrahat manum 5 Pleno copia cornu, Humanum miseras haud ideo genus Cesset flere querellas. Quamuis uota libens excipiat deus Multi prodigus auri 10 Et claris auidos ornet honoribus, Nil iam parta uidentur, Sed quaesita uorans saeua rapacitas Altos[106] pandit hiatus. Quae iam praecipitem frena cupidinem 15 Certo fine retentent, Largis cum potius muneribus fluens Sitis ardescit habendi? Numquam diues agit qui trepidus gemens Sese credit egentem.' 20 [106] altos _vulg._; alios _codd. opt._ II. If Plenty as much wealth should give, ne'er holding back her hand, As the swift winds in troubled seas do toss up heaps of sand, Or as the stars in lightsome nights shine forth on heaven's face, Yet wretched men would still accuse their miserable case. Should God, too liberal of His gold, their greedy wishes hear, And with bright honour them adorn; yet all that nothing were, Since ravenous minds, devouring all, for more are ready still. What bridle can contain in bounds this their contentless will, When filled with riches they retain the thirst of having more? He is not rich that fears and grieves, and counts himself but poor.' III. His igitur si pro se tecum fortuna loqueretur, quid profecto contra hisceres non haberes, aut si quid est quo querelam tuam iure tuearis, proferas oportet. Dabimus dicendi locum." Tum ego: "Speciosa quidem ista sunt," inquam, "oblitaque Rhetoricae ac Musicae melle dulcedinis; tum tantum, cum audiuntur, oblectant. Sed miseris malorum altior sensus est. Itaque cum haec auribus insonare desierint, insitus animum maeror praegrauat." Et illa: "Ita est," inquit. "Haec enim nondum morbi tui remedia sed adhuc contumacis aduersum curationem doloris fomenta quaedam sunt. Nam quae in profundum sese penetrent, cum tempestiuum fuerit admouebo. Verumtamen ne te existimari miserum uelis, an numerum modumque tuae felicitatis oblitus es?