Haemon
HEM. Reason, my father, by the gods is giv'n
To men, the noblest treasure we can boast.
That without reason thou hast framed thy speech
I can not say, I know not how to say,
685
This with more grace some other may pronounce.
Me nature bids with deep attention mark
Respecting thee how each may speak, how act,
How blame in words that would offend thy ears.
Thy presence on the people strikes an awe;
690
Their secret murmurs it is mine to hear;
For Thebes laments this virgin, as her fate
Of all her sex the least deserving, doom'd
Most wretchedly for glorious deeds to die :....
"That she her brother's corse, in battle slain,
"Disdains to leave unburied, to be torn
695
" By hungry dogs and ravenous beasts of prey,
"Deserves she not for this the brightest meed
" Of golden honour?" Such the general voice,
Which in dark murmurs whispers discontent.
The world hath not a treasure which I prize
High as thy prosperous honours; to a son...
700
There is no ornament to grace his name
Bright as his father's glory; and on him.
Again th' illustrious son fresh glory beams.
Far be this temper from thy mind, to think
What thou may'st say, and nothing else, is right.
705
Whoe'er imagines prudence all his own,
Or deems that he hath pow'rs to speak and judge,
Such as none other hath, when they are known
They are found shallow. There are many things
Which e'en the wise without disgrace may learn,
And yield convinc'd. Beneath the wintry storms
710
Thou seest the trees, that bend their heads, preserve
Their branching honours; those which boldly dare
The tyrannous blasts, uprooted fall and die.
The pilot thus, who proudly swells his sails
With vigour unrelax'd, o'ersets his bark,
715
Then on the shatter'd planks at random floats.!
715
Abate thy anger then, and let thy thoughts
Yield to cool reason: if my younger years
Have aught of judgment, I
Of most exalted merit, whose large mind
720
Contains all knowledge: but since nature deigns
This ample grace to few, from those who speak
And counsel well our glory is to learn.
