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.
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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.
Gold has worked down from Alexander's time ... When something holds good for two thousand years I do not believe read more
Gold has worked down from Alexander's time ... When something holds good for two thousand years I do not believe it can be so because of prejudice or mistaken theory.
Though wisdom cannot be gotten with gold, still less can it be gotten without it.
Though wisdom cannot be gotten with gold, still less can it be gotten without it.
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.
Speech is silver; silence is golden.
Speech is silver; silence is golden.
How quickly nature falls into revolt
When gold becomes her object!
For this the foolish overcareful fathers
read more
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.
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.
Gold gives to the ugliest thing a certain charming air,
For that without it were else a miserable affair.
read more
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.]
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.
