The Consolation of Philosophy

In the Achaemenian rocks, where Parthians with their darts

In their dissembled flight do wound their enemies,

Tigris from the same head doth with Euphrates rise,

And forthwith they themselves divide in several parts;

But if they join again, and them one channel bound,

Bringing together all that both their waves do bear;

The ships and trees, whose roots they from the bank do tear,

Will meet, and they their floods will mingle and confound,

Yet run this wandering course in places which are low,

And in these sliding streams a settled law remains.¹

So fortune, though it seems to run with careless reins,

Yet hath it certain rule, and doth in order flow."