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By gold all good faith has been banished; by gold our rights are
abused; the law itself is influenced read more
By gold all good faith has been banished; by gold our rights are
abused; the law itself is influenced by gold, and soon there will
be an end of every modest restraint.
[Lat., Auro pulsa fides. auro venalia jura,
Aurum lex sequitur, mox sine lege pudor.]
Alas! the small discredit of a bribe
Scarce hurts the lawyer, but undoes the scribe.
Alas! the small discredit of a bribe
Scarce hurts the lawyer, but undoes the scribe.
'Tis pleasant purchasing our fellow-creatures;
And all are to be sold, if you consider
Their passions, and read more
'Tis pleasant purchasing our fellow-creatures;
And all are to be sold, if you consider
Their passions, and are dext'rous; some by features
Are brought up, others by a warlike leader;
Some by a place--as tend their years or natures;
The most by ready cash--but all have prices,
From crowns to kicks, according to their vices.
What, shall one of us,
That struck for the foremost man of all this world
But for read more
What, shall one of us,
That struck for the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers--shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honors
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
Judges and senates have been bought for gold;
Esteem and love were never to be sold.
Judges and senates have been bought for gold;
Esteem and love were never to be sold.
But here more slow, where all are slaves to gold,
Where looks are merchandise, and smiles are sold.
But here more slow, where all are slaves to gold,
Where looks are merchandise, and smiles are sold.
No mortal thing can bear so high a price,
But that with mortal thing it may be bought.
No mortal thing can bear so high a price,
But that with mortal thing it may be bought.
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
Our supple tribes repress their patriot throats,
And ask no questions but the price of votes.
Our supple tribes repress their patriot throats,
And ask no questions but the price of votes.
