There is thy gold; worse poison to men's souls, Doing more murther in this loathsome world, Than these poor compounds read more

There is thy gold; worse poison to men's souls, Doing more murther in this loathsome world, Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell:.

Commerce has set the mark of selfishness,
The signet of its all-enslaving power
Upon a shining ore, read more

Commerce has set the mark of selfishness,
The signet of its all-enslaving power
Upon a shining ore, and called it gold;
Before whose image bow the vulgar great,
The vainly rich, the miserable proud,
The mob of peasants, nobles, priests, and kings,
And with blind feelings reverence the power
That grinds them to the dust of misery.
But in the temple of their hireling hearts
Gold is a living god, and rules in scorn
All earthly things but virtue.

It is much better to have your gold in the hand than in the heart.

It is much better to have your gold in the hand than in the heart.

A thirst for gold,
The beggar's vice, which can but overwhelm
The meanest hearts.

A thirst for gold,
The beggar's vice, which can but overwhelm
The meanest hearts.

A mask of gold hides all deformities.

A mask of gold hides all deformities.

Gold like the sun, which melts wax, but hardens clay, expands great souls.

Gold like the sun, which melts wax, but hardens clay, expands great souls.

Stronger than thunder's winged force
All-powerful gold can speed its course;
Through watchful guards its passage make,
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Stronger than thunder's winged force
All-powerful gold can speed its course;
Through watchful guards its passage make,
And loves through solid walls to break.
[Lat., Aurum per medios ire satellites
Et perrumpere amat saxa potentius
Ictu fulmineo.]

Gold gives to the ugliest thing a certain charming air,
For that without it were else a miserable affair.
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Gold gives to the ugliest thing a certain charming air,
For that without it were else a miserable affair.
[Fr., L'or donne aux plus laids certain charme pour plaire,
Et que sans lui le reste est une triste affaire.]

And yet he hadde "a thombe of gold" pardee.

And yet he hadde "a thombe of gold" pardee.