i6

BOOK I.

alone, did not free themselves utterly from avarice, because although he is notenjoying them, one who can possess other forms of property may alsobecome avaricious.

Now let us reply to the attacks hurled against the products of mines.In the first place, they call gold and silver the scourge of mankind becausethey are the cause of destruction and ruin to their possessors. But in thismanner, might not anything that we possess be called a scourge tohuman kind,—whether it be a horse, or a garment, or anything else ?For, whether one rides a splendid horse, or journeys well clad, he wouldgive occasion to a robber to kill him. Are we then not to ride on horses,but to journey on foot, because a robber has once committed a murder inorder that he may steal a horse ? Or are we not to possess clothing, becausea vagabond with a sword has taken a traveller’s life that he may rob himof his garment ? The possession of gold and silver is similar. Seeingthen that men cannot conveniently do all these things, we should be on ourguard against robbers, and because we cannot always protect ourselvesfrom their hands, it is the special duty of the magistrate to seize wicked andvillainous men for torture, and, if need be, for execution.

Again, the products of the mines are not themselves the cause of war.Thus, for example, when a tyrant, inflamed with passion for a woman ofgreat beauty, makes war on the inhabitants of her city, the fault lies in theunbridled lust of the tyrant and not in the beauty of the woman. Likewise,when another man, blinded by a passion for gold and silver, makes warupon a wealthy people, we ought not to blame the metals but transfer allblame to avarice. For frenzied deeds and disgraceful actions, which arewont to weaken and dishonour natural and civil laws, originate from ourown vices. Wherefore Tibullus is wrong in laying the blame for war ongold, when he says : “ This is the fault of a rich man’s gold ; there wereno wars when beech goblets were used at banquets.” But Virgil, speaking ofPolymnestor, says that the crime of the murderer rests on avarice :

“ He breaks all law ; he murders Polydorus, and obtains gold byviolence. To what wilt thou not drive mortal hearts, thou accursedhunger for gold ?”

And again, justly, he says, speaking of Pygmalion, who killed Sichaeus :

“ And blinded with the love of gold, he slew him unawares withstealthy sword .” 22

For lust and eagerness after gold and other things make men blind, andthis wicked greed for money, all men in all times and places have considereddishonourable and criminal. Moreover, those who have been so addicted toavarice as to be its slaves have always been regarded as mean and sordid.Similarly, too, if by means of gold and silver and gems men can overcomethe chastity of women, corrupt the honour of many people, bribe the courseof justice and commit innumerable wickednesses, it is not the metals whichare to be blamed, but the evil passions of men which become inflamed andignited; or it is due to the blind and impious desires of their minds. But**Virgil. Mneid, hi., 1 . 55, andfi, 1 . 349.