Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) - 2.7.4. lyrics

‘You've escaped! Then I hope you'll know fear, and be Cautious after learning your lesson: oh no, you'll look To the next chance of terror and ruin, you inveterate slave! What creature that breaks its chains and flees, returns to them So perversely? “I'm no adulterer,” you say: nor am I a thief By Hercules, when I wisely avoid your silver plate. Remove the risks though: and errant Nature will burst Free of its reins. Are you my master, ruled by so many Men and things? Touched by the rod three times, four times, It will never release you from your miserable fears. Add these words that carry no less weight than those: Whether one who obeys a slave's called a proxy, as Your lot say, or a co-slave, what else am I to you? Wretch, you who order me around serve another, Like a wooden puppet jerked by alien strings. So who is free? The wise man: in command of himself, Unafraid of poverty, chains, or d**h, bravely Defying his pa**ions, despising honours, complete In himself, smoothed and rounded, so that nothing External can cling to his polished surface, whom Fortune by attacking ever wounds herself. Can you Claim any of this for your own? The woman demands A fortune, bullies you, slams the door in your face, Drowns you in cold water, then calls you back! Take your Neck from the vile yoke. “I'm free, free,” say it! You can't: A despot, and no slight one, oppresses your spirit, Pricking sharp spurs in your tired flanks, yanking when you shy.'