Truly now is the golden age; the highest honour comes by means of
gold; by gold love is procured.
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Truly now is the golden age; the highest honour comes by means of
gold; by gold love is procured.
[Lat., Aurea nunc vere sunt saecula; plurimus auto
Venit honos; auro concilatur amor.]

You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of
thorns--you shall not crucify mankind upon read more

You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of
thorns--you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!

Gold begets in brethren hate;
Gold in families debate;
Gold does friendship separate;
Gold read more

Gold begets in brethren hate;
Gold in families debate;
Gold does friendship separate;
Gold does civil wars create.

Accursed thirst for gold! what dost thou not compel mortals to
do?
[Lat., Quid non mortalia pectora cogis,
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Accursed thirst for gold! what dost thou not compel mortals to
do?
[Lat., Quid non mortalia pectora cogis,
Auri sacra fames?]

I see, the jewel best enamelled
Will lose his beauty; yet the gold bides still
That others read more

I see, the jewel best enamelled
Will lose his beauty; yet the gold bides still
That others touch, and often touching will
Wear gold; and no man that hath a name,
By falsehood and corruption doth it shame.

How quickly nature falls into revolt
When gold becomes her object!
For this the foolish overcareful fathers
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How quickly nature falls into revolt
When gold becomes her object!
For this the foolish overcareful fathers
Have broke their sleep with thoughts, their brains with care.
Their bones with industry.
For this they have engrossed and piled up
The cankered heaps of strange-achieved gold;
For this they have been thoughtful to invest
Their sons with arts and martial exercises.

Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is read more

Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.

Gold is a vain and foolish fancy.
[Fr., L'or est une chimere.]

Gold is a vain and foolish fancy.
[Fr., L'or est une chimere.]

What nature wants, commodious gold bestows;
'Tis thus we cut the bread another sows.

What nature wants, commodious gold bestows;
'Tis thus we cut the bread another sows.