Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) - 2.3.3. lyrics

“If Damasippus is mad for buying old statues: Does that make his creditors of sound mind? So, If I say: ‘Take this money, you needn't return it,' Are you mad if you take it? Or wouldn't you be Madder to scorn the gift kind Mercury offers? Write ten IOU's on Nerius: if not satisfied, add A hundred, a thousand of crafty Cicuta's chains: Still slippery Proteus will escape his bonds. Drag him to court and he'll laugh behind his mask, Turned boar, bird, or stone, or if he likes, a tree. If to manage things badly is mad, while well is sane, Then believe me, Perellius' brain is softest Who writes out the loan you can never repay. Settle down then, please, and pay attention, all you Who are pale with fierce ambition or love of gold, Fevered by excess, sad superstition, or another Disorder of mind: sit nearer to me while I show That every one of you from first to last is mad.”