. Audacter adfirmem, si tua forent quae amissa conquereris
nullo modo perdidisses. An ego sola meum ius exercere prohibebor? Licet
caelo proferre lucidos dies eosdemque tenebrosis noctibus condere. Licet
anno terrae uultum nunc floribus frugibusque redimire, nunc nimbis
frigoribusque confundere. Ius est mari nunc strato aequore blandiri, nunc
procellis ac fluctibus inhorrescere. Nos ad constantiam nostris moribus
alienam inexpleta hominum cupiditas alligabit? Haec nostra uis est, hunc
continuum ludum ludimus; rotam uolubili orbe uersamus, infima summis summa
infimis mutare gaudemus. Ascende si placet, sed ea lege ne utique[102] cum
ludicri mei ratio poscet, descendere iniuriam putes. An tu mores ignorabas
meos? Nesciebas Croesum regem Lydorum Cyro paulo ante formidabilem mox
deinde miserandum rogi flammis traditum misso caelitus imbre defensum? Num
te praeterit Paulum Persi regis a se capti calamitatibus pias inpendisse
lacrimas? Quid tragoediarum clamor aliud deflet nisi indiscreto ictu
fortunam felicia regna uertentem? Nonne adulescentulus [Greek: doious
pithous ton men hena kakon ton d'heteron eaon] in Iouis limine iacere
didicisti? Quid si uberius de bonorum parte sumpsisti? Quid si a te non
tota discessi? Quid si haec ipsa mei mutabilitas iusta tibi causa est
sperandi meliora? Tamen ne animo contabescas et intra commune omnibus
regnum locatus proprio uiuere iure desideres.

[102] utique _Klussmann_; uti _codd._

II

But I would urge thee a little with Fortune's own speeches. Wherefore
consider thou if she asketh not reason. 'For what cause, O man, chargest
thou me with daily complaints? What injury have I done thee? What goods
of thine have I taken from thee? Contend with me before any judge about
the possession of riches and dignities; and if thou canst show that the
propriety of any of these things belong to any mortal wight, I will
forthwith willingly grant that those things which thou demandest were
thine. When Nature produced thee out of thy mother's womb, I received
thee naked and poor in all respects, cherished thee with my wealth, and
(which maketh thee now to fall out with me) being forward to favour
thee, I had most tender care for thy education, and adorned thee with
the abundance and splendour of all things which are in my power. Now it
pleaseth me to withdraw my hand, yield thanks, as one that hath had the
use of that which was not his own. Thou hast no just cause