Note Oh! who art thou so fast proceeding, Ne'er glancing back thine eyes of flame? Marked but by few, through earth I'm speeding, And Opportunity's my name. What form is that, which scowls beside thee? Repentance is the form you see: Learn then, the fate may yet betide thee: She seizes them who seize not me.[6.2 — Chapter VI

[6.2] This stanza is imitated from Machiavelli's Capitolo dell' Occasione.