And he who meditates on others’ woes,

Shall in that meditation lose his own:

Call then the tragic poet to your aid,

Hear him, and take instruction from the stage:

Let Telephus appear; behold a prince,

A spectacle of poverty and pain,

Wretched in both.—And what if you are poor?

Are you a demigod? Are you the son

Of Hercules? Begone! Complain no more.

Doth your mind struggle with distracting thoughts?