BOOK XXXIII. I. wi. =; 



generous as she is in all things for our benefit ! The 

 things that she has concealed and hidden under- 

 ground, those that do not quickly come to birth, 

 are the things that destroy us and drive us to the 

 depths belovv ; so that suddenly the mind soars 

 aloft into the void and ponders what finally \vill be 

 the end of draining her dr^' in all the ages, what will 

 be the point to which avarice vriW penetrate. How 

 innocent, how blissful, nay even how luxurious life 

 might be, if it coveted nothing from any source but 

 the surface of the earth, and, to speak briefly, 

 nothing but what lies ready to her hand ! 



II. Gold is dug out of the earth and in proximity to <?oM. 

 it gold-solder, which still retains in Greek a name ^ 

 derived from gold, so as to make it appear more 

 precious. It was not enough to have discovered one 

 bane to plague life, %\-ithout setting value even on 

 the corrupt humours of gold ! Avarice was seeking 

 for silver, but counted it a gain to have discovered 

 cinnabar ^ by the way, and devised a use to make of 

 red earth. Alas for the prodigality of our inventive- 

 ness ! In how many ways have we raised the prices 

 of objects ! The art of painting has come in addition, 

 and we have made gold and silver dearer by means 

 of engraving ! Man has learnt to challenge nature 

 in competition ! The enticements of the \ices have 

 augmented even art : it has pleased us to engrave 

 scenes of licence upon our goblets, and to drink 

 through the midst of obscenities. Afterwards these 

 were flung aside and began to be held of no account, 

 when there was an excess of gold and silver. Out 

 of the same earth we dug supplies of fluor-spar^ 

 and cr\-sta], things which their mere fragility 

 rendered costly. It came to be deemed the proof 



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