Avarice
The Base Origin of Money
The poet addresses money, lamenting its ruinous power while revealing its humble origin from a dark mine.
Money, you ruin of happiness and source of woe—where do you come from, that you're so fresh and fine? I know your parentage is base and low: man found you poor and dirty in a mine. Surely you contributed so little to this great kingdom you've now got that he had to dig you out of your dark cave and hollow when you were helpless:
The Idolatry of Wealth
Money is transformed by human craft and stamped with man's image, becoming an idol that ultimately ensnares its maker.
Then, forcing you through fire, he made you bright: No—you've taken on the face of man; for we have stamped and sealed you, and transferred our right: You are the man, and man is only dross to you. Man calls you his wealth—he who made you rich; and while he digs you out, he falls into the ditch.✦
Read the original English
MOney, thou bane of blisse, & sourse of wo, Whence com'st thou, that thou art so fresh and fine? I know thy parentage is base and low: Man found thee poore and dirtie in a mine.
Surely thou didst so little contribute To this great kingdome, which thou now hast got, That he was fain, when thou wert destitute, To digge thee out of thy dark cave and grot:
Then forcing thee, by fire he made thee bright: Nay, thou hast got the face of man; for we Have with our stamp and seal transferr'd our right: Thou art the man, and man but drosse to thee.
Man calleth thee his wealth, who made thee rich; And while he digs out thee, falls in the ditch.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.7.15;Prov.26.27;Eccl.10.8 — Behold, he labors with iniquity, and conceives trouble, and gives birth to falsehood." "With iniquity" reads more naturally aloud than "labors iniquity" while preserving the birth imagery. Prov.26.27 — Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and the one who rolls a stone—it will come back on him. Eccl.10.8 — Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall, a snake may bite them.
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