Towards the well-ordered life made small beginning

Compared with thee, whose legislation draws

Threads out so fine that thy October spinning

Comes before mid-November to a pause.

How many times hast thou renewed thy men,

Yea, within days that in thy memory dwell,

And changed thy laws and offices, and then

Customs and coins! if thou remember well

Thou wilt behold thyself, unless quite blind,

Like a sick woman, restless, that in vain