sorow is lost, bewailed, and lamented.
The hart that with couetousnes is set on fire, cannot
with woods and bowes of riches, but with the earth of
the graue be satisfied and quenched.
God to the ambitious and couetous harts gaue this
for a paine, that neither with enough nor with too much
they should content themselues.
Thales being demanded what profite he had that was
not couetous, he answered; Such a one is deliuered from
the torments of his desire; and besides that he recoue∣reth
friends for his person, for riches torment him bi∣cause
he spendeth them not.
Greedie and couetous hartes care not though the
prince shutteth vp his hart, so that he open his cofers:
but noble and valiant men little esteem that which they
lock vp in their cofers, so that their harts be opened to
their friends.
Periander had in him such liuelines of spirite on the
one side, and such couetousnes of worldly goods on the
other side, that the Historiographers are in doubt whe∣ther
was greater the Philosophie that he taught in the
schooles, or the tyrannie that he vsed in robbing the
common wealth.
I am in doubt which was greater the care that vertu∣ous
princes had in seeking out of Sages to counsel them,
or the great couetousnes that others haue at this pre∣sent
to purchase themselues treasures.
Libertie of the soule, and care of goods in this life, ne∣uer
agree togither.
The prince which is couetous, is scarce of capacitie
to receiue good councel.
When couetousnes groweth, Iustice falleth; force
and violence ruleth; snatching raigneth; lecherie is at li∣bertie;
the euil haue power, and the good are oppressed.
Finally, all do reioice to liue to the preiudice of another,
and euery man to seek his own priuate commoditie.