Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to importune,
He had not the method of making a fortune.

Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to importune,
He had not the method of making a fortune.

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.

'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.

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.

Every man has his price.

Every man has his price.

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?

'Tis gold
Which buys admittance--oft it doth--yea, and makes
Diana's rangers false themselves, yield up
read more

'Tis gold
Which buys admittance--oft it doth--yea, and makes
Diana's rangers false themselves, yield up
This deer to th' stand o' th' stealer: and 'tis gold
Which makes the true man kill'd and saves the thief,
Nay, sometimes hangs both thief and true man.

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.

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.