Laus Virtutis. Sensit furentis saevitiam freti arx nesciarum cedere rupium: nituntur immortale marmor exiguae terebrare guttae: collo iuvencus fert docili iugum, incude mucro fingitur, obstitit urgente latratu Laconum fisa suae modo cerva formae. The swiftest bird that flies about Is caught at length in fowler's net; The greatest fish in deepest brooke Is soon deceived by subtle hooke; Yea, man himself, unto whose will All things are bounden to obey, For all his wit and worthie skill, There is no thing but time doeth waste; But Vertue sits triumphing still Upon her throne of glorious fame: Though spiteful death must body kill, Yet hurts he not his vertuous fame, But life or death, whatso betides The state of Vertue never slides. MARSHALL. praecellat ala, serius ocius auceps volucrem retibus implicat: rex ipse rivorum doloso decipitur cito piscis hamo. quin et potentes nos animantium, tot nos honesti dotibus ingeni artis tot insignes, caduci labimur effluimusque seclo. nil est quod annis non pereat: perit triumphat et terrae superstes fulta sedens adamante Virtus, secura leti gentibus invidi, intaminatis integra laudibus, immota, seu nudantur enses seu quatiunt Acheronta manes. DOROTHEA. THOU fool! That gloriest in having power to ravish A trifle from me I am weary of: What is this life to me? not worth a thought; Or, if it be esteemed, 'tis that I lose it To win a better even thy malice serves To me but as a ladder to mount up To such a height of happiness, where I shall Look down with scorn on thee and on the world; ΔΩΡΟΘΕΑ. ὦ μωρ', ὃς αὐχεῖς εἴ μ' ἀφαρπάζειν σθένεις φαῦλόν τι, φαῦλον κτῆμα δύσφορόν θ ̓ ἅμα τοῦ ζῆν ἐμοὶ τί κέρδος; οὐδαμοῦ λέγω πλὴν ἐς τοσοῦτον, εἰ μεταλλάξω βίον τοῦ νῦν ἀμείνω· σὴ μὲν οὖν λώβη μόνον ἐπακριούσῃ, βαθμὸς ὡς, ὑπηρετεῖ ὑψίθρονον πρὸς ὄλβον, οὗ καθημένη καταφρονήσω σοῦ τε καὶ θνητῶν δύης· |