Ellis Walker's Poetry, by written

• In Praise of Epictetus

  Great Epictetus, pardon if we praise!
  'Tis not thy character to raise:

  85 lines
• I. Things dependent or not dependent on us

  Respecting man, things are divided thus:
  Some do not, and some do belong to us.

  12 lines, 3 comments
• II. Things dependent or not dependent on us

  Those actions which are purely ours are free
  By nature such, as cannot hinder'd be,

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• III. Things dependent or not dependent on us

  If then thou shouldst suppose those thing are free,
  Whose nature is condemn'd to slavery;

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• IV. Things dependent or not dependent on us

  If then thou dost desire such things as these,
  If thou wouldst tread these flow'ry ways of peace,

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• V. Things dependent or not dependent on us

  When Fancy then with her black train appears,
  Of difficulties, dangers, hardships, fears,

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• VI. Things dependent or not dependent on us

  With our aversions and desires doth rise
  A smiling twin-born hope, whose flatteries

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• VII. Things dependent or not dependent on us

  Therefore be sure that thy aversion fall
  Only on things which thou thy own may'st call,

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• VIII. Things dependent or not dependent on us

  In things that charm the soul, which love incite,
  By nature's force, use, profit, or delight.

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• IX. Things dependent or not dependent on us

  In ev'ry thing thou undertak'st, 'tis fit
  Thou in true judgement's scales examine it;

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• X. Opinion the cause of Misfortunes

  Unjustly men of nature's laws complain,
  As cause of all their misery and pain.

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• XI. Opinion the cause of Misfortunes

  Be not transported with too great a sense
  Of any outward object's excellence;

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• XII. Remedies against all Accidents

  As in a voyage, when you at anchor ride,
  You go on shore fresh water to provide;

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• XIII. Things soon to be parted with, not to be doted on

  Wish not that things, not in your pow'r, may run
  As you would have them; wish them as they're done;

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• XIV. Temperance

  In ev'ry thing that happens search you mind
  And try what force, what faculties you find

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• XV. Our Wishes to be Restrained

  With men 'tis usual, when depriv'd of ought
  Which with much pleasure entertain'd the thought,

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• XVI. Patience

  You would be wise, I'll teach you if you please,
  Withdraw you mind from such wild thoughts as these

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• XVII. Constancy

  Would you be wise? Ne'er take it ill you're thought
  A fool, because you tamely set at naught

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• XVIII. Our Wishes are to be restrained

  If thou desir'st thy children, friends or wife
  Should never die, but share immortal life

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• XIX. True Freedom

  Him, and him only, we may justly call
  The pow'rful lord, the sovereign of all;

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• XX. Life compared to a Banquet

  With the same manners, which, when you're a guest
  You use at some rich neighbour's sumptuous feast,

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• XXI. Modesty and Contentment

  When you see any one with tears bemoan
  The loss of goods or absence of a son,

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• XXII. Man, who cannot chuse his part in this Life, yet may chuse to perform it well

  While on this busy stage, the world you stay,
  You're, as it were the actor of a play;

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• XXIII. Man, who cannot chuse his part in this Life, yet may chuse to perform it well

  The direful raven's, or the night-owl's voice,
  Frightens the neighbourhood with boding noise;

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• XXIV. How to be Invincible

  If you would be invincible, you may;
  I'll shew you a certain and ready way.

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• XXV. How to be Invincible

  When any man of greater pow'r you see
  Invested with the robes of dignity,

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• XXVI. Injury

  Not he that beats thee, or with sland'rous tongue
  Gives thee ill language, doth thee any wrong;

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• XXVII. The usefulness of frequent thoughts of Death

  Let death, let banishment, and ev'ry ill,
  Which mortals thoughts with apprehension fill,

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• XXVIII. Wisdom laugh'd at by the Multitude

  Wisdom, you say, is what you must desire,
  The only charming blessing you admire,

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• XXIX. Better to be wise, than to seem to be so

  If to please others, studying to be dear
  In their kind thoughts, you move beyond your sphere

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