The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) excluding Seneca and Manilius Introduced and Annotated by F. J. Van Beeck |
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 | The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) |  |
Enter Periander.
Now on the Stage see Periander move!
He who once said, and what he said will prove
Μελετη το παν. Thought is all in all.
Since him a perfect Agent we may call
Who first considers what he undergoes;
For we should still forecast, as Terence shows,
Th'Event of Business, whether good, or bad,
E'r w'undertake it: where may best be had
Conveniency for Planting, where to build,
When to wage War, and where to pitch a Field:
Nor unconsiderately take in hand
Or great or small Things; for that makes a stand
In the free Progress of all new designs;
In which, there's nothing Policy injoyns
Like Consultation; hence it is that they
Who use it not, Chance does, not Counsell, sway.
But I retire; whilst you with better Fate
Imploy your Thoughts how to uphold your State.
Now on the Stage see Periander move!
He who once said, and what he said will prove
Μελετη το παν. Thought is all in all.
Since him a perfect Agent we may call
Who first considers what he undergoes;
For we should still forecast, as Terence shows,
Th'Event of Business, whether good, or bad,
E'r w'undertake it: where may best be had
Conveniency for Planting, where to build,
When to wage War, and where to pitch a Field:
Nor unconsiderately take in hand
Or great or small Things; for that makes a stand
In the free Progress of all new designs;
In which, there's nothing Policy injoyns
Like Consultation; hence it is that they
Who use it not, Chance does, not Counsell, sway.
But I retire; whilst you with better Fate
Imploy your Thoughts how to uphold your State.
| The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) | |