When you have ought to do, or are to treat
With persons whose authority is great,
Let Socrates and Zeno shew you how,
And what their prudence would think fit to do,
Were they to manage this affair for you.
With what a temper, how serene and brave,
In such a case, would they themselves behave!
For neither would they crouch, nor yield thro' fear,
Nor would they rude or insolent appear;
Nor would they any thing unseemly say,
Nor yet through flatt'ry give the cause away.
By these great patterns act, you cannot fail;
Wisdom and courage, joyn'd, must needs prevail.