Quisquis composito serenus aeuo Fatum sub pedibus egit[85] superbum Fortunamque tuens utramque rectus Inuictum potuit tenere uultum, Non illum rabies minaeque ponti 5 Versum funditus exagitantis aestum Nec ruptis quotiens uagus caminis Torquet fumificos Vesaeuus ignes Aut celsas soliti ferire turres Ardentis uia fulminis mouebit. 10 Quid tantum miseri saeuos tyrannos Mirantur sine uiribus furentes? Nec speres aliquid nec extimescas, Exarmaueris impotentis iram. At quisquis trepidus pauet uel optat, 15 Quod non sit stabilis suique iuris, Abiecit clipeum locoque motus Nectit qua ualeat trahi catenam. [85] _Fortasse_ iecit; cf. Verg. _Georg._ ii. 491 _sq._ IV. Who mildly can his age dispose, And at his feet proud destiny throws: Who stoutly doth each chance behold, Keeping his countenance uncontrolled: Not him the ocean's rage and threat, Stirring the waves with angry heat, Nor hot Vesuvius when he casts From broken hills enflaméd blasts, Nor fiery thunder can dismay, Which takes the tops of towers away. Why do fierce tyrants us affright, Whose rage is far beyond their might? For nothing hope, nor fear thou harm, So their weak wrath thou shalt disarm. But he whom hope or terror takes, Being a slave, his shield forsakes, And leaves his place, and doth provide A chain wherewith his hands are tied. IV. "Sentisne," inquit, "haec atque animo inlabuntur tuo, an [Greek: onos luras]? Quid fles, quid lacrimis manas? [Greek: Exauda, mae keuthe nooi.] Si operam medicantis exspectas, oportet uulnus detegas." Tum ego collecto in uires animo: "Anne adhuc eget admonitione nec per se satis eminet fortunae in nos saeuientis asperitas? Nihilne te ipsa loci facies mouet? Haecine est bibliotheca, quam certissimam tibi sedem nostris in laribus ipsa delegeras? In qua mecum saepe residens de humanarum diuinarumque rerum scientia disserebas? Talis habitus talisque uultus erat, *cum tecum naturae secreta rimarer, cum mihi siderum uias radio describeres, cum mores nostros totiusque uitae rationem ad caelestis ordinis exempla formares? Haecine praemia referimus tibi obsequentes? Atqui tu hanc sententiam Platonis ore sanxisti: beatas fore res publicas, si eas uel studiosi sapientiae regerent uel earum rectores studere sapientiae contigisset. Tu eiusdem uiri ore hanc sapientibus capessendae rei publicae necessariam causam esse monuisti, ne improbis flagitiosisque ciuibus urbium relicta gubernacula pestem bonis ac perniciem ferrent.