on. Concerning which, I take that also
to be worthy consideration, that no man doubteth him to be a valiant man
in whom he seeth valour, and it is manifest that he which hath swiftness
is swift. So, likewise, music maketh musicians, physic physicians, and
rhetoric rhetoricians. For the nature of everything doth that which is
proper unto it, and is not mixed with contrary effects but repelleth all
opposites. But neither can riches extinguish unsatiable avarice, nor
power make him master of himself whom vicious lusts keep chained in
strongest fetters. And dignity bestowed upon wicked men doth not only
not make them worthy but rather bewrayeth and discovereth their
unworthiness. How cometh this to pass? Because in miscalling things that
are otherwise, you take a pleasure which is easily refuted by the effect
of the things themselves. Wherefore, by right, these things are not to
be called riches, this is not to be called power, that is not to be
called dignity. Lastly, we may conclude the same of all fortunes in
which it is manifest there is nothing to be desired, nothing naturally
good, which neither are always bestowed upon good men, nor do make them
good whom they are bestowed upon.

[112] The subject of _deferantur_ is _dignitates potentiaque_.

[113] The free man was the philosopher Anaxarchus: the tyrant, Nicocreon
the Cypriote. For the story see Diogenes Laertius ix. 59.

[114] Cf. Apollod. ii. 5. 11; Claudian xviii. 159; Virg. _Georg._ iii. 4.

[115] Cf. Cicero, _De Off._ iii. 99.

VI.

Nouimus quantas dederit ruinas
Vrbe flammata patribusque caesis
Fratre qui quondam ferus interempto
Matris effuso maduit cruore
Corpus et uisu gelidum pererrans 5
Ora non tinxit lacrimis, sed esse
Censor extincti potuit decoris.
Hic tamen sceptro populos regebat
Quos uidet condens radios sub undas
Phoebus extremo ueniens ab ortu, 10
Quos premunt septem gelidi triones,
Quos Notus sicco uiolentus aestu
Torret ardentes recoquens harenas.
Celsa num tandem ualuit potestas
Vertere praui rabiem Neronis? 15
Heu grauem sortem, quotiens iniquus
Additur saeuo gladius ueneno!"

VI.

We know what stirs he made
Who did the Senate slay and Rome with fire invade,
Who did his brother kill,
And with his mother's blood his moistened hand did fi