Remedies against the vices.
"Lest the greedy Scylla of a devouring gulf
should sink you in the deep night of lusting desires,
give to your palate the reins of restraint,
pay the belly's tribute more modestly,
let the rain of Bacchus flow modestly
through the pathway of the throat, let it pour out cups of wine with restraint:
drink but a little, so that the mouth may seem
to give kisses, as it were, to the cups of Bacchus.
Let the water of wine break its own pride,
let its streams temper the fury of the god:
let Thetis offer herself as a bride to Bacchus,
let the bride curb the tyranny of her husband.
Let plain, simple, sparing eating
crush the murmurings of proud flesh.
So that the tyrant may press upon you more lightly,
ever swelling with pride in this flesh,
sluggish Desire will thus pass its time in idleness,
the reins of lust will be reined in within you,
the languishing sting of the flesh will grow numb,
and the flesh will thus become the handmaid of the spirit:
grant the bolt of the door to sight,
rein in your eyes, lest too shamelessly
they hunt beyond the reach of light's assault,
and their messenger offer plunder to the mind.
If the fever of possessing intoxicates any men,
let them force money to depart from the mind,
let ambition feel the triumph of the mind,
let the conquered neck of Desire be held down.
Let money itself not linger shut up
in purses, nor lie sleeping in sloth,
idle to no one, but rather keep watch,
guardian of honor, for the uses of the rich:
if the time is right, if the place demands it,
let the buried mass of money rise up,
let purses vomit forth their coins completely.
Let every gift serve the cause of honor.
If you wish to trample the neck of pride,
the swellings of arrogance, the lightning-bolts of spirit,
weigh well the burden of your fleeting origin,
the toils of life, and the due bond of death."