i6 BOOK I. 



alone, did not free themselves utterly from avarice, because although he is not 

 enjoying them, one who can possess other forms of property may also 

 become 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 because 

 they are the cause of destruction and ruin to their possessors. But in this 

 manner, might not anything that we possess be called a scourge to 

 human kind, — whether it be a horse, or a garment, or anything else ? 

 For, whether one rides a splendid horse, or journeys well clad, he would 

 give occasion to a robber to kiU him. Are we then not to ride on horses, 

 but to journey on foot, because a robber has once committed a murder in 

 order that he may steal a horse ? Or are we not to possess clothing, because 

 a vagabond with a sword has taken a traveller's life that he may rob him 

 of his garment ? The possession of gold and silver is similar. Seeing 

 then that men cannot conveniently do all these things, we should be on our 

 guard against robbers, and because we cannot always protect ourselves 

 from their hands, it is the special duty of the magistrate to seize wicked and 

 villainous 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 of 

 great beauty, makes war on the inhabitants of her city, the fault lies in the 

 unbridled lust of the t3n:ant and not in the beauty of the woman. Likewise, 

 when another man, blinded by a passion for gold and silver, makes war 

 upon a wealthy people, we ought not to blame the metals but transfer all 

 blame to avarice. For frenzied deeds and disgraceful actions, which are 

 wont to weaken and dishonour natural and civil laws, originate from our 

 own vices. Wherefore Tibullus is wrong in laying the blame for war on 

 gold, when he says : " This is the fault of a rich man's gold ; there were 

 no wars when beech goblets were used at banquets." But Virgil, speaking of 

 Polymnestor, says that the crime of the murderer rests on avarice : 



" He breaks all law ; he murders Polydorus, and obtains gold by 



violence. To what wilt thou not drive mortal hearts, thou accursed 



hunger for gold ?" 

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



" And blinded with the love of gold, he slew him unawares with 



stealthy sword."^^ 



For lust and eagerness after gold and other things make men blind, and 

 this wicked greed for money, all men in all times and places have considered 

 dishonourable and criminal. Moreover, those who have been so addicted to 

 avarice 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 overcome 

 the chastity of women, corrupt the honour of many people, bribe the course 

 of justice and commit innumerable wickednesses, it is not the metals which 

 are to be blamed, but the evil passions of men which become inflamed and 

 ignited ; or it is due to the blind and impious desires of their minds. But 

 i. III., 1. 55, and i, 1. 349. 



