ESSAY XIX.

RICHES.

I CANNOT call riches better than the baggage [1] 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 [2] man cannot reach to feel great riches; there is a cus

[1.] Impedimenta: baggage: hence figuratively, hindrances, impediments. [Divitiarum magnarum nullus est usus, præterquam in iis expendendis: cætera in opinione versantur.]

The rest is but conceit: Paraphrase. Where, &c.: Bacon does not quote from the common English version of Eccles. 5: 11, which reads thus :-"When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?"

Loseth: causeth us to lose. It seems to be, however, an established idiom of our language. There are other examples in Bacon's writings.

[2.] The personal, &c.: Paraphrase the first clause.

Dole: a dealing out or apportionment.

blows your son might drop.'

"So sure the dole, so ready at their call

That in the dole of

They stood prepared to see the manna fall "-Dryden.

: The

Donative from donare, to give, a gift or largess. Romans were entertained with shows and donatives.'-Dryden.

tody of them, or a power of dole and donative of them, or a fame of them; but no solid use to the owner. [3] 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 [4] some use of great riches? But then you will say, they may be of use to buy men out of dangers or troubles, as Solomon saith, "Riches are as a stronghold 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 [5] more men than they have bought out. Seek not

[3.] Feigned: Synonyme? [Ut usus,

&c.]

Because: in order that.

[4.] Saith: Prov. 10: 15, compared with 28:11. The rich man's wealth is his strong city.' Bought out: redeemed.

[5.] Proud riches: Why so described? [Divitias magnas.] No abstract or friarly contempt: no contempt of riches viewed apart from their proper uses, and such as the Romish monks professed to entertain. [A seculo abstracti.] Distinguish : [Sed de usu distingue.] In studio: In his desire to increase his fortune, it was evident that he sought, not the gratification of avarice, but the means of doing good.'-Cic. P. Rabir. 2.

There is a passage in the Life of Bacon, by Devey, which forms a beautiful illustration of this sentence :-"His nature was abhorrent of avarice, the most degrading of human passions. He enriched himself only to lavish his bounties on others, and to invest his household with an air of splendid magnificence. Selfish distinctions of meum and tuum, so jealously observed by little minds, were hardly impressed upon his noble nature, and he showed as much readiness to dispense gifts as to accept them. With him splendor did not extend to luxurious gratification, or unfit him for acts of benevolence. At table he was exceedingly temperate, and satisfied himself with the simplest food. The needy never left his mansion unrelieved, and his

proud riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly; yet have no abstract or friarly contempt of them; but distinguish, as Cicero saith well of Rabirius Posthumus, "in studio rei amplificando apparebat, non avaritiæ prædam, sed instrumentum bonitati quæri.”

Hearken also to Solomon, and beware of hasty [6] gathering of riches; Qui festinat ad divitias, non erit insons." The poets feign, that when Plutus (which [7] 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 labour 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 might be applied likewise to Pluto, taking him for the devil; for when riches come from the devil

purse was ever open to promote the charitable objects of the benevolent. It is impossible that such a character should not make us forget his vices and pay tribute to his virtues, as well as his genius."

Have no abstract, &c.: Instead of affecting ungratefully to slight or to complain of God's gifts (the goods of this world), it is our part to endeavor to make them goods to us, by studying to use them aright, and to promote, through them, the best interests of ourselves and our fellow creatures.-W.

[6.] Qui, &c.: 'He who hastens to riches shall not be without guilt.' The common English version reads:-' He that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent.'-Prov. 28: 20.

[7.] By the death, &c.: Pluto, in the ancient mythology, was king of Hades-the place of departed spirits; hence riches obtained by the will of deceased persons are represented as coming from Pluto.

Upon speed: at or with.

"Take upon command what help we have."-Shak.

(as by fraud and oppression, and unjust means), they [8] 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 [9] 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; but it is slow and yet, where men of great wealth do stoop to husbandry, it multiplieth riches exceedingly. [10] I knew a nobleman of England that had the

"And

Some

[9.] Improvement: Synonyme? Obtaining, &c.: a condensed expression. Supply the ellipsis. Blessing: means of happiness. Great mother: The Earth has been so called, perhaps, from the inspired account of man's creation :the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground."-Gen. 2:7. See also Gen. 3: 19; Job 10: 9; Eccl. 12: 7. Pagan writers have denominated the Earth as 'mother,' because it produces all things; and there are some examples of ancient Pagans, when about to die, commending themselves to their mother, Earth. So, one's country is often affectionately called our mother, as in a certain sense it produced, and it

sustains us.

The idea here before us, is beautifully exhibited in Bacon's Story of Deucalion, in these words :-" The poets tell us, that the inhabitants of the old world being totally destroyed by the universal deluge, excepting Deucalion and Pyrrha, these two, desiring with zealous and fervent devotion to restore mankind, received this oracle for answer, that 'they should succeed by throwing their mother's bones behind them.' This at first cast them into great sorrow and despair, because, as all things were levelled by the deluge, it was in vain to seek their mother's tomb; but at length they understood the expression of the oracle to signify the stones of the earth, which is the mother of all things.'-Page 239 of the 'Wisdom of the Ancients.'

[10.] Audits: rent-rolls, accounts of income. [Cui maximi reditus proveniebant e re rustica.]

"Yet I can make my audit up."-Shak.

So as: so that.

greatest audits 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 [11] one, "That himself came very hardly to 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 [12] gains of ordinary trades and vocations are honest, and furthered by two things, chiefly, by diligence, and by a

[11.] Can expect, &c.: can wait for the best of markets; or for a rise of prices. 'Expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.'-Heb. 10: 13. 'Elihu had expected till Job had spoken.' And overcome, &c.: Another very obscure clause, but much plainer in the Latin: 'Atque eos contractus superare, quibus ob summæ magnitudinem perpauci admodum homines apti sunt; atque etiam in laboribus aliorum participare, qui minus pecunia abundant; fieri non potest quin supra modum ditescat.' Whence we derive the following substitute: And to secure [easily command] those bargains which on account of their greatness very few men are fitted to secure, and also to participate in the [avails of the] labors of others who have less money, he cannot but increase his wealth enormously.'

[12.] Honest: honorable. 'Provide things honest in the sight of all men.'-Rom. 12:17. Gains of bargains: i. c.

of the larger bargains referred to. watch for.

Wait upon: wait for;

Broke: buy, or transact business.

Chapmen: buyers.

"Fair Diomede, you do as chapmen do~

Dispraise the thing that they intend to buy."-Shak.

Grindeth double: Paraphrase.