Complete Poems

Whatever has been wanting, let only that much depart; it is necessary
That from the beginning there be a contempt of death in life. And yet,
If I live as one about to die, I shall not die then,
When I die. He dies, who believes he is always living.
Clearly, this horror, spread abroad by the common folk, terrifies
The dark stains of the world and trivial souls;
Since they have feared that nothing could come from something, [or] what is to be.
Yet when that sharp fear is present, sharp death is absent; when
Death will be present, that fear will be absent. A single
Point and moment separates them, so that they cannot exist together. What then?
If I do not exist, shall I suffer? If I do exist, there is no change.
But foul Tartarus strikes dire perils into me.
Deceive life, you cunning one: you will deceive Tartarus as well. For
If you make your desires less than your virtue:
A white throne among the eternal stars is promised.
Wherefore, the longest ages of life are not the best,
But those which are to be sought from the Superiors. Nor by prayers
Themselves, but by counsels, and by the light of blameless
Works, content with little, and within
Myself, I shall emerge great; I shall be borne outside, and lofty beyond
Humble natures, having obtained the hoped-for honor.
Which neither ambition, nor the opinion of the vain mob,
Gives or takes away from me, but I myself, and the provident force with the Gods.
Against fortune, no rampart is made stronger,
No barrier, no military caltrop, than
To wish for nothing in excess, and to grow accustomed to moderate things. As much as
Nature gives, you will always bear; she will never take it away,
Until she removes you from biting cares, whence
It is a gain to have unloosed one's feet, and to be admitted to the true
Fatherland in the heavens, among the citizens of a happy court.

Why he writes.

Between the pursuit of honored wisdom, and those
Arts which have been sent down to us from heaven,