. . . I can not be disabled or harmed by any one whom I may meet, since no one can hurl me over into
shame or misbehavior; nor can I be angry with one
of the same source, kith and kin, with me, nor hold
a harsh and ruthless mind toward such a one.
—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.1
2.
His is the act, and his thereof the fruit,
And his the disposition that led to ’t;
From both and him I am afar and free.
Whatever he hath heart to do or be,
Albeit mayhap the fury of a brute,
Or man more monstrous, sagely dissolute,
’Tis his adventure and hath naught in me.
Nature that sitteth queened on starry throne
Assigneth me my place, and my soul’s wit
To follow her confirms me what to heed.
And yet he wrongs me, say you? Haply his own
Wish ’tis; but on wrong’s brow no powers sit.
But slanders me with lies ? Poor man, indeed!
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