1homicides, warfare, brothers are
maddened against brothers, a
children against parents.”
children against parents.”
This from Naumachius also pleases them:
“Gold and silver are but dust, like the stones that lie
scattered
the pebbly beach, or on the margins of the rivers.”
the pebbly beach, or on the margins of the rivers.”
On the other hand, they censure these verses of Euripides:
“Plutus is the god for wise men: all else is mere folly and at
t
same time a deception in words.”
same time a deception in words.”
So in like manner these lines from Theognis:
“O Plutus, thou most beautiful and placid god! whilst I have
th
however bad I am, I can be regarded as good.”
however bad I am, I can be regarded as good.”
They also blame Aristodemus, the Spartan, for these words:
“Money makes the man; no one who is poor is either
good
honoured.”
honoured.”
And they rebuke these songs of Timocles:
“Money is the life and soul of mortal men.
He who has n
heaped up riches for himself wanders like a dead man amongst t
living.”
heaped up riches for himself wanders like a dead man amongst t
living.”
Finally, they blame Menander when he wrote:
“Epicharmus asserts that the gods are water, wind, fire, earth,
su
and stars. But I am of opinion that the gods of any use to us are silv
and gold; for if thou wilt set these up in thy house thou mayest se
whatever thou wilt. All things will fall to thy lot; land, houses, slav
silver-work; moreover friends, judges, and witnesses. Only give free
for thus thou hast the gods to serve thee.”
and stars. But I am of opinion that the gods of any use to us are silv
and gold; for if thou wilt set these up in thy house thou mayest se
whatever thou wilt. All things will fall to thy lot; land, houses, slav
silver-work; moreover friends, judges, and witnesses. Only give free
for thus thou hast the gods to serve thee.”
But besides this, the strongest argument of the detractors is that
t
fields are devastated by mining operations, for which reason forme
Italians were warned by law that no one should dig the earth for metals a
so injure their very fertile fields, their vineyards, and their olive grov
Also they argue that the woods and groves are cut down, for there is need
an endless amount of wood for timbers, machines, and the smelting of meta
And when the woods and groves are felled, then are exterminated the bea
and birds, very many of which furnish a pleasant and agreeable food for ma
Further, when the ores are washed, the water which has been used pois
the brooks and streams, and either destroys the fish or drives them awa
Therefore the inhabitants of these regions, on account of the devastation
their fields, woods, groves, brooks and rivers, find great difficulty in procur
the necessaries of life, and by reason of the destruction of the timber th
are forced to greater expense in erecting buildings. Thus it is said, it
clear to all that there is greater detriment from mining than the value
the metals which the mining produces.
fields are devastated by mining operations, for which reason forme
Italians were warned by law that no one should dig the earth for metals a
so injure their very fertile fields, their vineyards, and their olive grov
Also they argue that the woods and groves are cut down, for there is need
an endless amount of wood for timbers, machines, and the smelting of meta
And when the woods and groves are felled, then are exterminated the bea
and birds, very many of which furnish a pleasant and agreeable food for ma
Further, when the ores are washed, the water which has been used pois
the brooks and streams, and either destroys the fish or drives them awa
Therefore the inhabitants of these regions, on account of the devastation
their fields, woods, groves, brooks and rivers, find great difficulty in procur
the necessaries of life, and by reason of the destruction of the timber th
are forced to greater expense in erecting buildings. Thus it is said, it
clear to all that there is greater detriment from mining than the value
the metals which the mining produces.
So in fierce contention they clamour, showing by such
examples
follow that every great man has been content with virtue, and despis
metals. They praise Bias because he esteemed the metals mer
as fortune's playthings, not as his real wealth. When his enemies h
captured his native Priene, and his fellow-citizens laden with precious thin
follow that every great man has been content with virtue, and despis
metals. They praise Bias because he esteemed the metals mer
as fortune's playthings, not as his real wealth. When his enemies h
captured his native Priene, and his fellow-citizens laden with precious thin