Fragment CVII: The gods in just allotment have assign’d

The gods in just allotment have assign’d
Youth and old age, the portion of mankind,
Alike for all; impartially we share
Youth’s early pleasures ; equally we bear
The latter ills of life, sickness and care.
One single evil, more severe and rude
Than age or sickness or decrepitude,
Is dealt unequally, for him that rears
A thankless offspring ; in his latter years,
Ungratefully requited for his pains,
A parsimonious life and thrifty gains,
With toil and care acquir’d for their behoof;
And no return! but insolent reproof;
Such as might scare a beggar from the gate,
A wretch unknown, poor and importunate !
—To be revil’d, avoided, hated, curst ;
This is the last of evils, and the worst!