FALSE RICHES. 
101 
amethysts, sapphires, and rubies, to express 
the different degrees of ripeness. Every year 
the possessor of these riches was weighed; 
the weights were little golden fruits, which 
he threw amongst his courtiers after the cere¬ 
mony. These courtiers, who were the great¬ 
est lords in India, scrambled for their pos¬ 
session. 
So false riches are the only things which 
surprise and charm the vulgar; they are 
equally degrading to him who possesses them 
and to him who desires their possession. 
Beautiful gardens of Alcinous! You con¬ 
tain neither palms nor vines, nor harvests of 
gold and diamonds, yet all the treasures of 
the great Mogul would not be able to pur¬ 
chase one of those beautiful trees, which 
the divine Homer has covered with eternal 
flowers and fruits. _ 
It is related that Pythias, a rich Lydian, 
possessing many mines of gold, neglected 
the culture of his land, and employed his 
numerous slaves only in the labours of the 
mines. His wife, who was full of wisdom 
and goodness, served him a supper, all the 
dishes of which were filled with gold. I 
give you,” said she, “ the only thing we have 
in abundance; you can but reap that which 
you sow ; see, yourself, if gold is so great a 
blessing.” This lesson made a deep im¬ 
pression on the mind of Pythias, who then 
