Yet what are they, the learned and the great?
Awhile of longer wonderment the theme!
Who shall read more

Yet what are they, the learned and the great?
Awhile of longer wonderment the theme!
Who shall presume to prophesy their date,
Where nought is certain save the uncertainty of fate?
- Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher,

Thy fate is the common fate of all; Into each life some rain must fall.

Thy fate is the common fate of all; Into each life some rain must fall.

Fate leads the willing and drags along the unwilling.

Fate leads the willing and drags along the unwilling.

What fates impose, that men must needs abide; It boots not to resist both wind and tide

What fates impose, that men must needs abide; It boots not to resist both wind and tide

Everything comes gradually and at its appointed hour.

Everything comes gradually and at its appointed hour.

The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers,
And heavily in clouds brings on the day,
The great, read more

The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers,
And heavily in clouds brings on the day,
The great, the important day, big with the fate
Of Cato, and of Rome.

The bow is bent, the arrow flies,
The winged shaft of fate.

The bow is bent, the arrow flies,
The winged shaft of fate.

Can you make a mistake and miss your fate?

Can you make a mistake and miss your fate?

Fate steals along with silent tread,
Found oftenest in what least we dread;
Frowns in the storm read more

Fate steals along with silent tread,
Found oftenest in what least we dread;
Frowns in the storm with angry brow,
But in the sunshine strikes the blow.