Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/438

416 is reported of hares that at one time they suckle young leverets and be ready to kinnule others that be in their bellies, and withal to conceive afresh: but the debts of these barbarous, wicked and cruel usurers do bring forth before they conceive. For in putting out their money they re-demand it presently; in laying it down they take it up, they deliver that again for interest which they received and took in consideration of loan and use. It is said of the Messenians' city: Gate after gate a man shall here find, And yet one gate there's always behind. But it may better be said of usurers: Usury here upon ursury doth grow, And end thereof you never shall know. And here withal in some sort they laugh at natural philosophers, who hold this axiom. That of nothing can be engendered nothing: for with them usury is bred of that which neither is, nor ever was; of that I say which never had subsistence nor being. Howbeit, these men think it a shame and reproach to be a publican, and take to farm for a rent the public revenues, notwithstanding the laws do permit and allow that calling, whereas themselves against all the laws of the world exact a rent and custom for that which they put forth to usury; or rather, to speak a truth, in lending their money they defraud their debtors as bankrupts do their creditors. For the poor debtor, who receiveth less than he hath set down in his obligation, is most falsely cozened, deceived and cut short of that which he ought to have.

And verily, the Persians repute lying to be a sin, but in a second degree: for in the first place they reckon to owe money and be indebted; inasmuch as leasing followeth commonly those that be in debt. But yet usurers lie more than they, neither are there any that practise more falsehood and deceit in their day debt books wherein they write, that to such a one they have delivered so much, whereas indeed it is far less; and so the motive of their lying is fair avarice, and neither indigence nor poverty, but even a miserable covetousness and desire ever to have more and more; the end whereof turneth neither to pleasure nor profit unto themselves, but to the loss and ruin of those whom they wring and wrong: for neither till they those grounds which they take away from their debtors; nor dwell in the houses out of which they turn them; nor eat their meat upon those tables which they have from them; nor yet clad