Book 3 Affectional Life
the Archetype of the Son, the suit of Wands which makes visible the simplicity
3.
The Heroes great and good
Revere thou next,
7.
Bear what thou canst : pow'r cometh at man's need.
11.
Of ills the Goddess Fortune gives to man
Bear meekly thou thy lot, nor grieve at it ;
But cure it as thou canst. Remember this :
Fate gives the least of evil to the good.
15.
First think, then act ; lest foolish be thy deed.
Unhappy he who thoughtless acts and speaks :
But that which after vexes not do thou.
19.
When first thou dost from soothing sleep uprise,
Hasten about thy day's intended work ;
Nor suffer sleep to fall on thy soft lids
Till thrice thou has each act of the day recalled :
How have I sinned ? What done ? What duty missed ?
Go through them first to last ; and, if they seem
Evil, reproach thyself ; if good, rejoice.
23.
Thou, having mastered this,
That essence of Gods and mortal men shalt know
Which all things permeates, which all obey.
27.
Such fate doth blind mankind, who, up and down,
With countless woes are carried by its wheel.
31.
But courage ! Men are children of the Gods,
35.
Ponder all things, and stablish high thy mind,
That best of charioteers.
