Fortune and Virtue

Fortune and Virtue, Wisdom and Folly, their seconds,
upon a time contended in the Olympics; every man thought
that Fortune and Folly would have the worst, and pitied
their cases; but it fell out otherwise.
Fortune was blind and cared not where she stroke, nor whom,
without laws, Audabatarum instar, &c.
Folly, rash and inconsiderate, esteemed as little what she said
or did.
Virtue and Wisdom gave place, were hissed out, and exploded
by the common people; Folly and Fortune admired, and so are
all their followers ever since:
knaves and fools commonly fare and deserve best
in worldlings' eyes and opinions.

About Thomas Gray

Pre-Romantic poet best known for "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard," a meditation on mortality.

More poems by Thomas Gray

View all Thomas Gray poems →

More Life & Death poems

View all Life & Death poems →