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Essay XXXIV: Of Riches
Essay XXXIV: Of Riches
I cannot call riches better than the baggage of virtue. The Roman word
is better, impedimenta. For as the baggage is to an army, so is riches to
virtue. It cannot be spared nor left behind, but it hindereth the march; yea,
and the care of it sometimes loseth or disturbeth the victory. Of great
riches there is no real use, except it be in the distribution; the rest is
but conceit. So saith Solomon, Where much is, there are many to consume it;
and what hath the owner but the sight of it with his eyes? The personal
fruition in any man cannot reach to feel great riches: there is a custody of
them; or a power of dole and donative of them; or a fame of them; but no
solid use to the owner. Do you not see what feigned prices are set upon
little stones and rarities? and what works of ostentation are undertaken,
because there might seem to be some use of great riches? But then you will
say, they may be of use
o buy men out of dangers or troubles. As Solomon
saith, Riches are as a strong hold, in the imagination of the rich man. But
this is excellently expressed, that it is in imagination, and not always in
fact. For certainly great riches have sold more men than they have bought
out. Seek not proud riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly,
distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly. Yet have no abstract nor
friarly contempt of them. But distinguish, as Cicero saith well of Rabirius
Posthumus, In studio rei amplificandae apparebat, non avaritiae praedam, sed
instrumentum bonitati quaeri [In seeking to increase his estate it was
apparent that he sought not a prey for avarice to feed on, but an instrument
for goodness to work with]. Harken also to Solomon, and beware of hasty
gathering of riches; Qui festinat ad divitias, non erit insons [He that
maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent]. The poets feign, that when
Plutus (which is Riches) is sent from Jupiter, he limps and goes slowly; but
when he is sent from Pluto, he runs and is swift of foot. Meaning that riches
gotten by good means and just labor pace slowly; but when they come by the
death of others (as by the course of inheritance, testaments, and the like),
they come tumbling upon a man. But it mought be applied likewise to Pluto,
taking him for the devil. For when riches come from the devil (as by fraud
and oppression and unjust means), they come upon speed. The ways to enrich
are many, and most of them foul. Parsimony is one of the best, and yet is not
innocent; for it withholdeth men from works of liberality and charity. The
improvement of the ground is the most natural obtaining of riches; for it is
our great mother`s blessing, the earth`s; but it is slow. And yet where men
of great wealth do stoop to husbandry, it multiplieth riches exceedingly. I
knew a nobleman in England, that had the greatest audits ^1 of any man in my
time; a great grazier, a great sheep-master, a great timber man, a great
collier, a great corn-master, a great lead-man, and so of iron, and a number
of the like points of husbandry. So as the earth seemed a sea to him, in
respect of the perpetual importation. It was truly observed by one, that
himself came very hardly to a little riches, and very easily to great riches.
For when a man`s stock is come to that, that he can expect the prime of
markets, and overcome those bargains which for their greatness are few men`s
money, and be partner in the industries of younger men, he cannot but
increase mainly. The gains of ordinary trades and vocations are honest; and
furthered by two things chiefly: by diligence, and by a good name for good
and fair dealing. But the gains of bargains are of a more doubtful nature;
when men shall wait upon ^2 others` necessity, broke ^3 by servants and
instruments to draw them on, put off others cunningly that would be better
chapmen, ^4 and the like practices, which are crafty and naught. As for the
chopping of bargains, when a man buys not to hold but to sell over again,
that commonly grindeth double, both upon the seller and upon the buyer.
Sharings do greatly enrich, if the hands be well chosen that are trusted.
Usury is the certainest means of gain, though one of the worst; as that
whereby a man doth eat his bread in sudore vultus alieni [in the sweat of
another man`s face]; and besides, doth plough upon Sundays. But yet certain
though it be, it hath flaws; for that the scriveners and brokers do value ^5
unsound men to serve their own turn. The fortune in being the first in an
invention or in a privilege doth cause sometimes a wonderful overgrowth in
riches; as it was with the first sugar man in the Canaries. Therefore if a
man can play the true logician, to have as well judgment as invention, he
may do great matters; especially if the times be fit. He that resteth upon
gains certain shall hardly grow to great riches; and he that puts all upon
adventures doth oftentimes break and come to poverty: it is good therefore
to guard adventures with certainties, that may uphold losses. Monopolies,
and coemption of ^6 wares for re-sale, where they are not restrained, are
great means to enrich; especially if the party have intelligence what things
are like to come into request, and so store himself beforehand. Riches gotten
by service, though it be of the best rise, ^7 yet when they are gotten by
flattery, feeding humors, and other servile conditions, they may be placed
amongst the worst. As for fishing for testaments and executorships (as
Tacitus saith of Seneca, testamenta et orbos tamquam indagine capi [he took
testaments and wardships as with a net]), it is yet worse; by how much men
submit themselves to meaner persons than in service. Believe not much them
that seem to despise riches; for they despise them that despair of them; and
none worse when they come to them. Be not penny-wise; riches have wings, and
sometimes they fly away of themselves, sometimes they must be set flying to
bring in more. Men leave their riches either to their kindred, or to the
public; and moderate portions prosper best in both. A great state left to an
heir, is as a lure to all the birds of prey round about to seize on him, if
he be not the better stablished in years and judgment. Likewise glorious ^8
gifts and foundations are like sacrifices without salt; and but the painted
sepulchres of alms, which soon will putrefy and corrupt inwardly. Therefore
measure not thine advancements by quantity, but frame them by measure: and
defer not charities till death; for, certainly, if a man weigh it rightly, he
that doth so is rather liberal of another man`s than of his own.
[Footnote 1: Revenues.]
[Footnote 2: Watch for.]
[Footnote 3: Deal.]
[Footnote 4: Traders.]
[Footnote 5: Represent as sound.]
[Footnote 6: Buying up.]
[Footnote 7: Latin, though it have a certain dignity.]
[Footnote 8: Showy.]
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