Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/435

Rh nor to be in the usurer's book, is an argument that such an one is needy.

Why dost thou repair and make court (as it were) obsequiously to a banker or merchant? go thy ways and borrow of thine own bank, make a friend of thine own stock; flagons thou hast and pots, chargers, basons and dishes all of silver plate; employ the same about thy necessities, for to supply thy wants, and when thou hast disfumished thy table and cupboard, the gentle town Aulis, or else the isle Tenedos, will make up all again with fair vessel of earth and pottery which is much more neat and pure than those of silver; for these carry not the strong smell nor unpleasant scent of usury, which like rust or canker, every day more and more sullieth, fretteth and eateth into thy costly magnificence; these will not put thee in mind daily of the calends and new moons, which being in itself the most sacred and holy day of the month, is by means of the usurers become odious and accursed. For as touching those who choose rather to lay their goods to gage, and to pawn them for to borrow money thereupon and pay for use, than to sell them right out, I am verily persuaded that god Jupiter himself, surnamed Ctesius, that is. Possessor, cannot save them from beggary. Abashed they are to receive the price and value of their goods to the worth; but they be not ashamed to pay interest for the loan of money. And yet that wise and politic Pericles caused the costly robe and attire of the statue of Minerva, weighing forty talents in line gold, to be made in such sort, that he might take it off and put it on as he would at his pleasure; To the end (quoth he) that when we stand in need of money for maintenance of war, we may serve our turns therewith for the time, and afterwards put in the place again another of no less weight and worth; even so we likewise in our occasions and affairs, like as in the besieging of a city, ought never to admit the garrison of an usurer or enemy, nor to endure to see before our eyes our own goods delivered out for to continue in perpetual servitude, out rather to cut off from our table all that is neither profitable nor necessary; likewise from our beds, from our couches, and our ordinary expenses in diet whatsoever is needless, thereby to maintain and keep ourselves free, in hope and with full intent to supply and make amends again for it, if fortune afterwards smile upon us. Certes, the Roman dames in times past were willing to part with their jewels and ornaments of gold, yea, and give them away as an offering of first-fruits to Apollo Pythius, whereof was made a golden cup, and the same sent to