The only earthly ills we need to fear
Are those that we ourselves could have prevented
All others only seem to afflict us here,
And need not be lamented.

'Twas somewhat thus the ancient Stoic meant:
That were those seeming evils evils truly,
The gods had given us power to prevent,
Or meet their coming duly.

For they are from above, come by a law
That shapes our lives, despite our fancied merit:
The gods are good, and ever seek to draw
Us nearer them in spirit.

They love and chasten. To the eyes of Time
Their good seems bad, their law a contradiction.
They build hard steps to heaven and bid us climb:
They win us by affliction.