efuse me death by the sword I will
take care to kill myself with my own hand."

Erik rejoined thus: "I pray that the gods may turn thee from the folly
of thy purpose; turn thee, I say, that thou mayst not try to end a most
glorious life abominably. Why, surely the gods themselves have forbidden
that a man who is kind to others should commit unnatural self-murder.
Fortune has tried thee to find out with what spirit thou wouldst meet
adversity. Destiny has proved thee, not brought thee low. No sorrow has
been inflicted on thee which a happier lot cannot efface. Thy prosperity
has not been changed; only a warning has been given thee. No man behaves
with self-control in prosperity who has not learnt to endure adversity.
Besides, the whole use of blessings is reaped after misfortunes have
been graciously acknowledged. Sweeter is the joy which follows on the
bitterness of fate. Wilt thou shun thy life because thou hast once had a
drenching, and the waters closed over thee? But if the waters can crush
thy spirit, when wilt thou with calm courage bear the sword? Who would
not reckon swimming away in his armour more to his glory than to his
shame? How many men would think themselves happy were they unhappy
with thy fortune? The sovereignty is still thine; thy courage is in its
prime; thy years are ripening; thou canst hope to compass more than thou
hast yet achieved. I would not find thee fickle enough to wish, not only
to shun hardships, but also to fling away thy life, because thou couldst
not bear them. None is so unmanly as he who from fear of adversity loses
heart to live. No wise man makes up for his calamities by dying. Wrath
against another is foolish, but against a man's self it is foolhardy;
and it is a coward frenzy which dooms its owner. But if thou go
without need to thy death for some wrong suffered, or for some petty
perturbation of spirit, whom dost thou leave behind to avenge thee?
Who is so mad that he would wish to punish the fickleness of fortune by
destroying himself? What man has lived so prosperously but that ill
fate has sometimes stricken him? Hast thou enjoyed felicity unbroken
and passed thy days without a shock, and now, upon a slight cloud of
sadness, dost thou prepare to quit thy life, only to save thy anguish?
If thou bear trifles so ill, how shalt thou endure the heavier frowns
of fortune? Callow is the man who has never tasted of the cup of sorrow;
and no man who has not suffered hardships is temp