James Vila Blake, Sonnets from Marcus Aurelius 13

13. 

Τοῖς μὲν ἀλόγοις ζῴοις καὶ καθόλου πράγμασι καὶ ὑποκειμένοις, ὡς λόγον ἔχων λόγον μὴ ἔχουσι, χρῶ μεγαλοφρόνως καὶ ἐλευθέρως: τοῖς δὲ ἀνθρώποις, ὡς λόγον ἔχουσι, χρῶ κοινωνικῶς: ἐφ̓ ἅπασι δὲ θεοὺς ἐπικαλοῦ. καὶ μὴ διαφέρου πρὸς τὸ πόσῳ χρόνῳ ταῦτα πράξεις: ἀρκοῦσι γὰρ καὶ τρεῖς ὧραι τοιαῦται. 

As to the unreasoning creatures, and current affairs and present conditions around you, treat them generously and gently, because you have reason and they are void of reason. But as to men, since they are endowed with reason, use them as your fellows and comrades. And in all things call on the Divine Powers. And have no concern as to how long a time you are to do these things; for if one live but three hours in such a way and to such purpose, it is enough. 

—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 6.23 

13. 

My soul, treat all things, prythee, as what they are, 

My mute or unbrogued fellows, as speechless so, 

And thus but little reasoned; and let this bar 

Incline me to reason for them, high for low. 

We talk with reasons to reasons, being men; 

But Nature’s birds and brooks, tree-fingering breeze, 

Gaunt roars, compound my voice. Be it my ken 

To hold in reasoning love fellows like these. 

For this seek help. Is any wise alone? 

Let each give aid, and then all seek to God, 

Commingled in petitionary tone 

That moves to one what ’s near or far abroad. 

For time, each hath enough to do his part. 

Moments but few are mighty, flamed with heart. 

IMAGE: Giovanni Bellini, The Feast of the Gods (1514)