Ellis Walker, Epictetus in Poetical Paraphrase 20

XX.

With the same manners, which, when you're a guest
You use at some rich neighbour's sumptuous feast,
Manage the rest of your affairs of life
With easy conversation, void of strife;
Void of rude noise; As when some novelty
Is handed round the table; if 'tis nigh,
Stretch forth your hand, take share with modesty;
If it pass by do not detain by force,
Nor snatch at it, 'twill shew your breeding coarse;
Is it not near you yet, at distance plac'd,
Shew not your greediness by too much haste,
Nor, like a hungry waiter standing by,
Devour it at a distance with your eye.
Abstain a while, 'tis but a minutes' fast,
Take patience, man, 'twill surely come at last.
Now if the same behaviour be your guide,
In all the actions of your life beside,
As in respect of children, wife, estate,
Of being rich, or made a magistrate,
If modestly you take and thank kind heav'n
For any of these blessings to you giv'n;
Or if, depriv'd of ought, you straight resign
All to its will; nor peevishly repine:
Or if, as yet unbless'd, you meekly wait,
With humble patience, the decrees of fate;
Not desp'rate, nor yet importunate:
Some time or other, when the gods think fit,
Bless'd with eternal banquets thou shall sit
Among th' immortal pow'rs, and free from care,
Perpetual joys and happiness shalt share.
But if so great thy soul, as to abstain,
And bravely with a noble scorn disdain,
These outward proffers, which mankind do bless,
Thou'rt sure a god, thou can'st not sure be less.
For what's a god, but a bless'd being, freed
From cares, that never dies, or stands in need?
Thou shalt not only be the guest of heav'n,
But with the foremost rank of gods be ev'n;
Equal in pow'r. By methods such as these
Great Heraclitus, great Diogenes,
And some, like them, to deathless honours rise;
Who, with th' immortals, in due glory shine;

Who, as they well deserv'd, were call'd divine.