and yet his wedge of gold shall prove but as Achans wedge; a wedge to cleave his soul in sunder, 1and as that Babylonish garment to be his windingsheet. [The rich mans wealth is his strong City.] Covetous 2persons do really think themselves simply the better, and the safer for their hoards and heaps of riches; but they may one day find themselves greatly mistaken. Famous 3is that story of Croesus among the Heathens, he was a great King, and tumbled up and down in his gold and silver, and Solon that wise man of Greece, coming into his Country, he desired to speak with him, and when he saw him, after Solon had seen and viewed all his wealth and glory, he asked him, whom he thought to be the happiest man in the world, imagining that Solon would have said Croesus: But Solon answered, I think Tellus was the most happy man. Tellus, saith he; why Tellus? Because, said Solon, though he was poor, yet he was a good man, and content with that which he had; and having governed the Common-wealth well, and brought up his Child honestly and religiously, he died honourably. Well then, said Croesus, but who doest thou think the second happy man in the world? I think, said he, those two Brothers, that instead of Horses drew their Mother in a Chariot to the Temple. Whereupon said Croesus, what thinkest thou of me? I think, says he, thou art a very rich man; but a man may be happy though he be poor, and a man may be unhappy though he be rich, for he may lose all his riches before he dye; ⟨p. 191⟩and therefore Ante obitum nemo, I think none truly happy, but he that lives well, and dyes well: Whereupon that Wise man Solon was dismissed the Court with neglect. But afterward this Croesus making War against Cyrus, he was overcome by Cyrus; and being taken captive, he was laid upon a pile of wood to be burned to death, then lying on the pile of wood, he cried out and said: O Solon, Solon, Solon. Cyrus enquiring, what he meant? He answered, this Solon was a Wise man of Greece, that told me, that happiness did not consist in riches, for they might all be lost, and a rich man might die miserable: Whose words, said he, I then neglected, but now I find true; and therefore now I cry out, O Solon, Solon, Solon! Let us now tell the covetous man, the worldly man, that his happiness lies not in riches, though he looks upon his riches as his strong City; he won't mind us, he won't regard.
and yet his wedge of gold shall prove but as Achans wedge; a wedge to cleave his soul in sunder, 1and as that Babylonish garment to be his windingsheet. [The rich mans wealth is his strong City.] Covetous 2persons do really think themselves simply the better, and the safer for their hoards and heaps of riches; but they may one day find themselves greatly mistaken. Famous 3is that story of Croesus among the Heathens, he was a great King, and tumbled up and down in his gold and silver, and Solon that wise man of Greece, coming into his Countrey, he desired to speak with him, and when he saw him, after Solon had seen and viewed all his wealth and glory, he asked him, whom he thought to be the happiest man in the world, imagining that Solon would have said Croesus: But Solon answered, I think Tellus was the most happy man. Tellus, saith he; why Tellus? Because, said Solon, though he was poor, yet he was a good man, and content with that which he had; and having governed the Common-wealth well, and brought up his Child honestly and religiously, he died honourably. Well then, said Croesus, but who doest thou think the second happy man in the world? I think, said he, those two Brothers, that instead of Horses drew their Mother in a Chariot to the Temple. Whereupon said Croesus, what thinkest thou of me? I think, says he, thou art a very rich man; but a man may be happy though he be poor, and a man may be unhappy though he be rich, for he may lose all his riches before he dye; ⟨p. 191⟩and therefore Ante obitum nemo, I think none truly happy, but he that lives well, and dyes well: Whereupon that Wise man Solon was dismissed the Court with neglect. But afterward this Croesus making War against Cyrus, he was overcome by Cyrus; and being taken captive, he was laid upon a pile of wood to be burned to death, then lying on the pile of wood, he cried out and said: O Solon, Solon, Solon. Cyrus enquiring, what he meant? He answered, this Solon was a Wise man of Greece, that told me, that happiness did not consist in riches, for they might all be lost, and a rich man might die miserable: Whose words, said he, I then neglected, but now I find true; and therefore now I cry out, O Solon, Solon, Solon! Let us now tell the covetous man, the worldly man, that his happiness lyes not in riches, though he looks upon his riches as his strong City; he won't mind us, he won't regard.
- 1Joshua 7. 21. to ult.
- 2Prov. 10. 15. See 1 Tim. 6. 27.
- 3Herodot. lib. 1.
