'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.

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.

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.]

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.

There is gold for you. Sell me your good report.

There is gold for you. Sell me your good report.

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.

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?

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.