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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An ass is but an ass, though laden with gold.
An ass is but an ass, though laden with gold.
Gold! Gold! Gold! Bright and yellow, hard and cold.
Gold! Gold! Gold! Bright and yellow, hard and cold.
Truth comes to us from the past, then, like gold washed down from the mountains.
Truth comes to us from the past, then, like gold washed down from the mountains.
Gold gives to the ugliest thing a certain charming air,
For that without it were else a miserable affair.
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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.]
Don't gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold...
Don't gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold...
If you are truthful you will have as much gold as you want.
If you are truthful you will have as much gold as you want.
How quickly nature falls into revolt
When gold becomes her object!
For this the foolish overcareful fathers
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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.
As every thread of gold is valuable, so is every moment of time
As every thread of gold is valuable, so is every moment of time
