VII + 

Or reconciled them, it may be, + 

And all the three to breakfast went; + 

Then he’d malign them secretly + 

With jest and gossip gaily blent. + 

Sed alia tempora. And bravery + 

(Like love, another sort of knavery!) + 

Diminishes as years decline. + 

But, as I said, Zaretski mine + 

Beneath acacias, cherry-trees, + 

From storms protection having sought, + 

Lived as a really wise man ought, + 

Like Horace, planted cabbages, + 

Both ducks and geese in plenty bred + 

And lessons to his children read. + 