Shall win the vantage. Caitiff base
Is he who flincheth ’fore the face
Of Fortune when he feels her grip,
And suffereth her his feet to trip.
Shame and disgrace it is to see
A strong man unresistingly
Submit his neck to hangman’s cord;
Nor sympathy nor pitying word
Have I for such an one.
Despise
With sturdy heart the flattering lies
Of Fortune, whether she pretend
On thee her love or spite to spend.”
XXXVIII
Unto the Lover Reason shows
Dame Fortune’s wheel, and how it goes,6230
Pointing what lack of power hath she
O’er men, brave, resolute, and free.
Trust not Fortune
“Leave Fortune then to turn her wheel
With ceaseless, tireless hand, and deal
(Standing upright with banded eyes)
Her gifts. One man with wealth she tries
To blind, and on him heapeth she
Great honour, but with poverty
Afflicteth others, and whene’er
Capricious fancy seizeth her,6240
Round goes her wheel again. A fool
Is he who chafeth ’neath her rule,
Neglecting to enjoy the day
Of happiness while yet he may,
{rh|VOL. I.||P}}
