Though royal purple soothes his pride,
  And snowy pearls his neck adorn,
Nero in all his riot lives
  The mark of universal scorn.
Yet he on reverend heads conferred
  Th' inglorious honours of the state.
Shall we, then, deem them truly blessed
  Whom such preferment hath made great?
Monadnock Valley Press > Boethius > The Consolation of Philosophy