Classic Poem

Though more than all the unrifled stores
Of Ind and Araby contain,
Your wealth, and though your palace floors
Fill Tyrrhene and Apulian main,
If Fate with adamant nails draws near
To fix the roof-beams in your stead,
Ne'er shall you free your soul from fear,
Nor from the noose of death your head.
The nomad Scyths a life more true—
Whose wandering homes on wains are borne—
And hardy Getians pursue,
For whom free crops of fruits and corn
Spring up on unallotted soil,
That is for but one season tilled;
Then rests the labourer from his toil,
And on like terms his place is filled.
Never to orphan children there
In kindness will stepmother fail,
Nor dowered wife dominion bear,
Or trust a sleek adulterer's tale.
Good parents they rich dowry call,
With chastity reserved and shy,
True to the marriage bond, by all
Held sacred, or who breaks must die.
Who from blood-guilt and rancour mad
Of civil strife would purge the land,
And to his name on statues add
‘Father of Cities’, with firm hand
Wild licence let him curb, and earn
Posthumous praise; for (shame to say!)
Through envy worth, alive, we spurn,
But seek when reft from sight away.
How will sad plainings aid our cause,
If punishments repress not crime?
What profit is in idle laws
When manners fail, if nor the clime
That bounds of tropic heat enclose,
Nor that which next the north wind lies,
Set fast in crust of frozen snows,
Keeps merchants out, sailors devise
Craft to subdue the stormy sea,
And scorned poverty bids us make
No scruple aught to do or be,
And virtue's toilsome path forsake?
Ours be it, if truly we repent,
Or to the Capitol to bring
With crowds to cheer us up the ascent,
Or in the nearest sea to fling
Jewels, and gold that serves no need,
But cause for worst offences finds.
Let from all trace of sordid greed
Our hearts be cleansed. Let the young minds,
Too softly bred, be fortified
By rougher schooling. Now the boy
Of gentle birth, untaught to ride,
Shrinks from the chase, more apt with toy—
Greek hoop but choose for test of skill,
Or dice prohibited by law.
What hope for else, when fathers will
From fraud on guest and partner draw
Money for worthless heirs to spend?
In sooth, of growing wealth ne'er slacks
The shameless quest; yet to the end
A little still the total lacks.