Alciato's Book of Emblems

Emblem 32

Good men ought to fear nothing from the rich

On one side of the wall adjoining me is Marius,
on the other, Subbardus, names known well in the forum.
Very rich, they build and moreover busy themselves - alas! -
to block off all my light.
O woe! I could be like that Phineus
whom the sister harpies harrassed
to drive him from his home -
were not my honesty and spirit
(my spirit - which strives for virtue),
both Zetes and Calais to these neighbours.