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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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.]
Truly now is the golden age; the highest honour comes by means of
gold; by gold love is procured.
read more
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.]
The lust of gold succeeds the rage of conquest;
The lust of gold, unfeeling and remorseless!
The read more
The lust of gold succeeds the rage of conquest;
The lust of gold, unfeeling and remorseless!
The last corruption of degenerate man.
An ass is but an ass, though laden with gold.
An ass is but an ass, though laden with gold.
Gold's father is dirt, yet it regards itself as noble.
Gold's father is dirt, yet it regards itself as noble.
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.
Every honest miller has a golden thumb.
Every honest miller has a golden thumb.
Accursed thirst for gold! what dost thou not compel mortals to
do?
[Lat., Quid non mortalia pectora cogis,
read more
Accursed thirst for gold! what dost thou not compel mortals to
do?
[Lat., Quid non mortalia pectora cogis,
Auri sacra fames?]
Not Philip, but Phillip's gold, took the cities of Greece.
Not Philip, but Phillip's gold, took the cities of Greece.
