III.8 A Saying of Socrates

Though common be the name of friend,
Few can to faithfulness pretend,
That Socrates (whose cruel case,
I'd freely for his fame embrace,
And living any envy bear
To leave my character so fair)
Was building of a little cot,
When some one, standing on the spot,
Ask'd, as the folks are apt to do,
"How comes so great a man as you
Content with such a little hole?"--
"I wish," says he, "with all my soul
That this same little house I build
Was with true friends completely fill'd."