Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 1.pdf/244

Fortitude of Socrates Of all who lived was he the man
Judged by Apollo Pythian
For wisest, as Solinus saith;
For ne’er could Fortune’s changeful breath
Alter his visage—still ’twas seen,
In joy unmoved—in woe serene.6190
And even when, because, quoth he,
‘There is but one great Deity,’
They brought to him the poison cup,
Calmly he drank the potion up,
Charging his gaolers they should ne’er
By more than one God use to swear.

Heraclitus—Diogenes—^{[errata 1]}
Old time philosophers were these,^{[errata 2]}
Who^{[errata 3]} held it scorn that joy or woe
Should glad their souls or overthrow6200
Their calm of mind; without a sigh
Or smile they met stern destiny.
Follow these wise men’s ways, nor swerve
Therefrom, wouldst thou my love deserve.
But let not Fortune’s freaks dismay
Thine heart, although foul tricks she play.
A puny wrestler should I call
The man who suffers Fortune’s fall
Without a struggle, but a-low
Will lie, abashed by overthrow.6210
No man should let himself be ta’en,
But give her buffets back again
With vigour; Fortune faintly fights
With him who hardy battle dights,
And he who strikes and fears her not,
Whether in palace or in cot,

1. Correction: Heraclitus—Diogenes— should be amended to Bethink you of Diogenes: detail
2. Correction: Old time philosophers were these, should be amended to And Heraclitus, both of these: detail
3. Correction: Who should be amended to Had: detail