It is a proverb long ago sung, but which I shall nevertheless repeat, Wealth is most honored among men, and brings to them the greatest power." • PRECIPITATE HASTE. Precipitate haste leads to injustice, but slowlymatured counsels bring forth deeds of wisdom. ABOUT. By this, too, it is evident that woman is a great evil; for the father, who begot and brought her up, gives her a dowry and sends her away, to be rid of the evil. But the husband, on the other hand, when he has received the bane into his house, rejoices, and puts splendid ornaments on the vile image, tricking her out with robes, unhappy man! exhausting all the riches of his house upon her. HOW A RECONCILIATION OUGHT TO BE BROUGHT But he makes a virtue of necessity, for, having allied himself to noble kinsmen, he retains with seeming joy his uneasy bed, or, if he has received a good bride, but worthless parents-in-law, he forgets the evil in consideration of the good. Happier is he who leads to his house a plain, gentlehearted, simple wife. I hate the knowing dame; may there not be in my house one more wise than woman ought to be. For Venus with ease engenders wiles in these knowing dames; but a woman of simple capacity, by reason of her small understanding, is removed from folly. WE JUDGE BY THE EVENT. If I had been successful, I would have assuredly been ranked among the wise; for our reputation for wisdom depends much on our success. THE FOOL. O men erring in many things! why do ye teach ten thousand arts, contriving and inventing everything? but one thing you know not, nor yet have searched out, to teach that man wisdom who is void of sense. When a friend is angry with his friend, let him meet him face to face, and fix his eyes on his friend's eyes, remembering only the object for which he is come, and forgetting all former grievances. IF ALL JUDGED ALIKE, THERE WOULD BE NO DISPUTES. If the same thing were judged honorable alike by all, and also wise, no contest or debate would arise among men; but now nothing is the same or like except the names; each gives his own meaning to them. AMBITION. Why, my child, dost thou court ambition, the most baneful of deities? Do it not, she is an unjust goddess. For often hath she entered into houses and flourishing cities, and issued forth again, bringing destruction on those who welcomed her. Of such an one thou art madly enamored. My child, it is nobler to pay honor to equality, which ever knits friends to friends, states to states, e. NO ONE HAPPY TO THE END OF LIFE. nothing happy throughout. and allies to allies; for equality is sanctioned both | ers, having nothing, and short of the means of life. by nature and by human laws. Whereas the less are clamorous, much addicted to envy, aiming their is always at enmity with the greater, and hence bitter shafts against the rich, and led away by the springs the day of hatred. For it was equality tongues of evil leaders. Betwixt these extremes that established measures among men, and weights there are those who save the state, guarding the and numbers. The dark eye of night and the light laws which the state may appoint. of the sun equally walk their yearly round, and neither of them being inferior, envies the other. Thus the sun and the night equally serve mortals, and wilt thou not brook equality and give up his share to him? Then, where is justice? Why dost thou honor so extravagantly the royal state-a prosperous injustice—and think so highly of her? To be conspicuous ?-a mere empty glory. Or wouldst thou labor to have thy house full of riches?ents, a most honorable service; for he receive And what is this abundance? 'tis nothing but a back from his children what he has bestowed of name, since what is sufficient is abundance to the his parents. wise. Man enjoys his stores, not as his own, but as the gifts of the gods, who, when they choose, again resume them. So Proverbs (xxiii. 5)—" Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." THE NECESSITY OF FATE. THE DUTY OF A SON TO HIS PARENTS. Unhappy the child who does not help his par THE DEMAGOGUE. We have not there the inflated demagogue, who puffing the people up with words, turns them as in terest prompts him. For he that is pleasant, an winds himself into their hearts to-day, offends t morrow; then, with fresh calumnies cloaking hi former errors, he escapes from justice. And the For a mortal must endure the necessity of fate how can a people rightly guide a city who do n proceeding from the gods. THE RICH AND THE POOR. It is good for the prosperous to cast their eye on the poor, and for the poor to look upward to the rich with a feeling of rivalry, that the desire of wealth may spur on the one, and the high fortune of the other may fear a sad change. THE BENEFICENCE OF THE DEITY. With others, indeed, I have disputed the question: for some assert that the ills of life outweigh the good to man. But my opinion is the opposite, I believe that blessings are more abundant; for, if it were not so, we should not enjoy the light of life. The Being who called us forth from foul and savage life I thank, enduing us with reason, and then giving us the tongue as the messenger of words, so as to distinguish speech; the growth of fruits he gave, and for that growth the heavendescending rain, that it might nourish the fruits of the earth and sustain the stomach; besides, he invented coverings against the cold of winter, and to ward off the burning heat of the sun, and the sailing over the sea, that we might exchange with each other the fruits which each wants. See St. Paul's speech at Lystra (Acts xiv. 17)—"He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." See also Psalm civ. throughout. THE INNOCENT INVOLVED WITH THE GUILTY. For the Deity, deeming fortune the same to all, is wont to involve with him that is guilty the man that is innocent and has done no evil. THERE ARE THREE CLASSES IN EACH STATE. examine minutely the reasons that are brough forward? For time gives wisdom superior to in prudent haste. But a poor laborer of the soil, eve if he were not unschooled in knowledge, canno from his very employment, be able to look to t common weal. Surely ill fares it with the bett ranks when those of low degree hold dignit "wielding at will the fierce democracy," risin from base obscurity. 66 THE LAND WHERE, GIRT WITH FRIENDS OR FOE A MAN MAY SPEAK THE THING HE WILL." There is no greater evil to a state than a tyra when in the first and chiefest place the laws ho not one common tenor, but one man, lording over the laws, keeps it to himself; here is equality. Where the laws are written, the we and powerful have equal justice, and the low ranks, when wronged, can answer the higher bold words; the weaker, with justice on its si triumphs over the great. This is to be free. there a man fraught with good counsel, useful the state? He speaks it, and becomes illustriou else, if he chooses, he holds his peace. there be more just than this? And then, wh the people are sovereigns of the land, it glories its valiant youth; while a tryant hates such state of things, and slays the best men, who thinks are wise, fearing for his power. then, can a state become strong, when ruthl power cuts off each brave spirit, and mows do each opening floweret, like the crops in the nal meadow? DISCRETION IS VALOR. What H A wise man's love streams first to his child then to his parents and country, which he sho There are three classes of citizens; some are desire to raise to glory and not to crush. Dan terh, listless, and yet ever craving for more; oth-ous is a daring pilot and sailor in a ship; wis he who knows his time to moor it in safety. To twice young, twice old, when we made a mistake, my mind discretion is valor. having this twofold life, we could correct it. WAR NOT WITH THE DEAD. I deem it right to bury the dead, from no desire to injure the city or bring on man-slaying contests, but preserving the common law of Greece. What is there wrong in this? For suppose you have suffered from the Argives, they are now dead; ye have driven them away with credit to yourselves and disgrace to them, and thus justice has been done. Allow the dead to be entombed in the earth; for each part that forms the frame of man, must return whence it came, the soul to the ethereal sky, the body to the earth. For we do not possess this body as our own save to dwell in during this breathing space of life, and then we must give it back to the earth that sustained it. Dost thou think to do injury to Argos only by not burying the dead? By no means; this is a question common to all Greece, if any deprive the dead of their right, keeping them unburied; for it would be a disgrace to the brave if such a law were allowed to hold good. LIFE IS A STRUGGLE. But, ye silly men, learn the state of man; our life is a struggle: some gain the prize early, some hereafter, some now; for fortune plays the wanton. By the wretched she is greatly honored, that she may favor him, while the prosperous hold her in high honor, dreading the veering gale. COURAGE V. VAIN. Courage profits men naught, if God denies His aid. VANITY OF MEN. Vain mortals! stretching the bow beyond what is fitting, and justly suffering many ills, ye yield not to the advice of friends, but learn only from circumstances. THE BRAVE MAN. For when a man is brought up honorably, he feels ashamed to act basely; every one trained to noble deeds blushes to be found recreant; valor may be taught, as we teach a child to speak, to hear those things which he knows not; such love as the child learns he retains with fondness to old ge-strong incitements to train your children well. TO BE TWICE YOUNG. Alas! why is it not permitted to mortals twice to be young, and thence return once more to old age? For in our domestic affairs, if aught be illconducted, we put it right by after thoughts, but we have not this power over life. If we could be MOURNING FOR THE DEATH OF A DAUGHTER. Be it so. What must I, wretched, do? Go home, and there see the sad desolation of my home, and loneliness of my life? Or shall I go to the dwelling of this Capaneus? Most pleasant, indeed, it was to me before, when my daughter was yet living, but she lives no longer; then she used to caress my beard and stroke this head with her hand. Nothing is dearer to an aged sire than a daughter; sons have spirits of higher pitch, but are less inclined to endearing fondness. Will you not speedily lead me to my house, and give me up to darkness, when I may perish, wasting away my aged frame with fastings? What will it avail me to touch the bones of my child? O age! difficult to be contended with, how I hate thee when I have reached thee, and hate all who are anxious to lengthen out existence with food, drink, and spells, turning aside the stream of life so as not to die! It is more fitting for thee, naught but a use less burden upon earth, to pass away in death and make room for the young. AFFLICTION FOR DEATH OF CHILDREN. For what greater grief canst thou find out for mortals than to see their children dead? HOPE ALWAYS. That is the noble man, who is full of confident hopes; the abject soul despairs. THE GOOD. Are not the good, though slow to speak, oft provoked to give vent to their feelings? SEDITION. For a city does not prosper that shakes with sedition and is rent by evil counsels. FATE. For whosoever strives against heaven-sent calamities, his striving is folly. What must be, no one will ever make so that it be not. INCONSTANCY OF HUMAN THINGS. But ye old men, brief is the space of life allotted to you; pass it as pleasantly as ye can, not grieving from morn till eve. Since time knows not how to preserve our hopes, but, attentive to its own concerns, flies away. YOUTH AND AGE. Youth is dear to me, but age ever lies upon my head a heavier burden than the rocks of Ætna, dimming mine eyelids with sober veil. I would not have the riches of Asia's throne, nor that my house should shine with gold, in preference to youth, which is fairest in wealth and fairest in poverty. Sad and funereal age I abhor. Hence may it perish in the billows, and never enter the houses and cities of men, but be borne on wings through the air. But if the gods had understood and been wise in the affairs of non, they would NO ONE HAPPY BEFORE HIS DEATH. perous, ere we see his death, as fortune is but for a day. have bestowed a twofold youth, as an undoubted mark of virtue, upon such as shared it; and after By his present fortune he proclaims aloud to all death they would have returned a second time to this truth, not to envy the man who seems prosthe light of the sun, whereas baseness would have had a single term of life, and in this way would the bad and good have been distinguished, in the same way as amidst the clouds the stars are a guide to the sailors. Whereas now there is no certain mark given by the gods to distinguish the good and bad, but time, as it revolves, is studious of wealth alone. DESCRIPTION OF MADNESS. Iris. The wife of Jove did not surely send thee hither, to show thy wisdom. man. THE HIGH-BORN OUGHT TO BE TRUTHFUL. In such noble people as you the mouth ought to be truthful. HIGH AND HUMBLE LIFE. I envy the man who has passed through lif without danger, to the world, to fame unknown not those raised to greatness. THE WILY TONGUE. The tongue cunning to excite envy is an evil. THE WAVERER. The wavering mind is a base possession, not t be trusted by friends. THE CUNNING CANDIDATE FOR POWER. Madness. I swear by the sun that I am doing what I desire not to do. But if I must needs be subservient to Juno and thee, I must follow swiftly and with a rush, as dogs follow the huntsOn I go; not the sea raging with billows, nor the rocking earthquake, nor the thunder's rage inflicting pangs, is so furious as I when I rush with racing speed against the breast of Thou knowest when thou wast striving to gai Hercules. And I shall break down these walls the leadership of the Greeks against Troy-i and desolate his house, having first caused him to appearance careless of the honor, but secretl slay his children; but he that kills them shall not desirous of it-how humble thou wast, shakin know that they are his sons who fall beneath his every one by the hand, and keeping open door t hands, till he has respite from my madness. See all who wished to enter; giving audience to all i even now he shakes his head, standing at the bar-turn, even if he wished it not, seeking by affabilit riers, and rolls in silence his distorted gorgon eyes. to buy popularity among the multitude. And he has no command over his breathing; like a then when thou wert successful, changing th bull prepared for the onslaught, he bellows dread-mode of acting, thou wast no longer the same t fully, invoking the Furies from Tartarus. Quickly thy old friends, difficult of access, and seldon shall I rouse thee to the dance, and give forth within doors. Ill does it become an honest ma music rife with terror. Away, Iris, to Olympus, when prosperous to change his manners, bu raising thy noble foot; but we shall enter unseen rather then to be staunch to his friends, when b the abode of Hercules. his changed position he can serve them. An I would not make any one ruler of a state general of an army on account of his wealth: th leader should have wisdom: every man sage i counsel is a leader. THE NOBLE AND IGNOBLE. What advantages attend ignoble birth! Suc persons are at liberty to weep and bemoan then selves, but to the noble this is denied. We hav pride as the guide of our life, and are slaves to th people. LOVE. Blest are they who enjoy the nuptial couch Aphrodite, the temperate and modest goddes obtaining a calm from those maddening sting when Love with golden locks bends both his boy of graces, one for a prosperous fate, the other f life's wild tumult. I deprecate, O fairest Venu the latter; but mine be love's temperate grac the holy flame of chaste desire; mine be mi Venus and not ungoverned passion. THE POWERFUL. To th' inferior ranks of life The powerful and the wealthy are as gods. A DAUGHTER. It is good that a daughter leave her home, but yet it pains a father's heart when he delivers a child to another house, the object of his tender care. A WIFE. THE GODS SAVE WHOM THEY LOVE. The gods dispense to men what is unlooked for, and those whom they love they save. ENDURE DEATH WITH PATIENCE. I esteem not him to be wise who, when he sees A wise man should have a useful and good wife death near, tries to overcome its terrors with wailin his house, or not marry at all. A MOTHER. Childbirth is painful, and yet a child is a matter of great endearment; 'tis common to the whole human race to toil on behalf of children. LEAN NOT TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. ings, being without hope of safety, since he thus has two ills instead of one, and makes his folly known, dying none the less. But one must needs let fortune have its way. WOMAN QUICK TO FORM DEVICES. WOMEN A FAITHLESS RACE. There is a time when it is pleasant not to build too much on our own wisdom; but then, again, there is a time when it is useful to exert our judg-partners in what has been done. See how faithless is the female race! and ye are |