Classic Poem

God makes not good men wantons, but doth bring
Them to the field, and, there, to skirmishing:
With trials those, with terrors these He proves,
And hazards those most, whom the most He loves:
For Sceva, darts; for Cocles, dangers; thus
He finds a fire for mighty Mutius;
Death for stout Cato; and besides all these,
A poison, too. He has for Socrates;
Torments for high Attilius; and, with want,
Brings in Fabricius for a combatant:
But, bastard-slips, and such as He dislikes,
He never brings them once to th' push of pikes.