Classic Poem

" RICHES are wronged by those who would divert
Them from their native use, which is to flow
Quick to the aid and succor of distress,
Not to be lent for usury; for God
Has furnished misers all that they keep hid.
Diverted from their destined functioning,
Riches avenge themselves upon such hosts.
Most shamefully they shadow, lurk, and draw
Three swords with which to pierce the hoarder's heart:
The first is toil by which the wealth's acquired;
The second, heartfelt fear of robbers' wiles,
Which ceaselessly dismays; the third is grief
That all must soon be left. As I have said,
Most miserably are misers self-deceived.
" So, like a queen or highborn dame, does Wealth
Revenge herself on slaves who hold her fast.
Reposing herself in quiet peace, she makes
Those wretches lie awake with toil and care.
Close fettered at her feet she keeps them cowed
So that she has all honor, they all shame
Who languish in the torment of her rule.
No profit comes to one thus bound to her,
For she'll live on when he who dares not rouse
Her to activity shall end his life.
But valiant men will harness her and ride,
And make her gallop as they ply their spurs,
Wholeheartedly enjoying holiday.
They'll take example of old Daedalus,
Who formed the wings, by magic not by skill,
With which Icarus made the air his road.
So will they make Wealth wings with which to fly,
Who otherwise would but torment them so
That they'd no honor have nor praise by her.
Then they'll ne'er be reproved for avarice,
Inordinate desire, or covetous sin.
Rather they'll reputation get from Wealth
For courtesy that's known throughout the world,
For overflowing virtue, generous hearts,
Most grateful unto God, who generously
With His own goods did fill the world when He
Had made it. (Who but I e'er told you this?)
As Avarice her stench to heaven sends,
Free-handed, courteous Generosity
Sends up perfume. God hates the miserly
And damns them as uncouth idolaters —
Malodorous wretches — slaves unreasonable,
Although they think and say they only hoard
Their money as assurance against want.
" O sweet terrestrial Wealth! Say, do you bless
Those folk who lock you up within their walls?
Do they not tremble all the more with fear
The more they get of you? State so unsure
Cannot be happiness. Should such a gift,
That can no calm assurance give, seem blest?
" Perhaps someone who hears me rail at Wealth
May cite in refutation mighty lords
Who, as the common folk suppose, for praise
Of their nobility, take utmost pains
To hem themselves about with armed men —
Five hundred or five thousand infantry —
And of their valor thus give evidence.
Quite contrary's the case, as God well knows:
It's grievous, haunting fear that prompts the show.
A beggar of La Greve more safely walks
Alone where'er he will, and e'en may dance
Among the thieves, unfearing their intent,
Than can a king in his fur-bordered robe
Bear with him all the treasure he's amassed
In gold and precious stones; for every thief,
Wherever he may go, will take his share,
And kill the king himself upon the spot
Lest he should have the robber caught and hanged.
The king's own strength is not two apples' worth
Greater than is the happy beggar's power;
But through his men he works. Oh, no; I lie!
They're not his men who own his seignory;
Though he's their lord, he must their freedom guard.
Rather he's theirs, for all his power depends
Upon his servants' will; if they remove
Their aid, which they may do whene'er they will,
The king remains alone. He has no claim
Upon the people's valor, wit, or might,
Nor on their bodies or their property.
Nature denies him this; they are not his.
Nor Fortune, be she e'er so debonair
To men, can more perform in giving things
Which Nature has denied, strive as she may. "
" Ah, madam, by the king of Heaven, " I cried
" Tell me what things may certainly be mine,
Or if I can claim ought to be mine own. "
" Yes, " she responded, " but not house nor land
Nor robes nor rich adornments, worldly goods,
Nor any sort of furniture, but things
That better and more costly are by far:
What you within you have and know you have,
That ever will remain and never leave
To do another service; it is yours.
External goods are not worth anything
To you or any other man who lives.
You really own naught but what is within;
All other things are Fortune's property
Which she broadcasts or gathers at her will,
And gives or takes to make fools laugh or cry.
No wise man prizes aught that Fortune does;
Her turning wheel makes such nor glad nor glum.
Well may we doubt her instability.
Therefore the love of her is far from wise,
And most disgraceful in a man of wit;
Nor should it, easily eclipsed, delight.
By no means ought you set your heart on it;
Soil yourself never with so great a sin.
If ever you have called yourself a friend,
And yet have sinned in that you loved for gain,
You should be much disdained by all good men.
Believe me and be wise. The love I've named
You should renounce and leave as something vile.
I see also that you were splitting hairs
When you imputed malice to my lore,
Declaring that I give commands to hate.
What have I said that you interpret thus? "
" All day you've urged, and haven't finished yet,
That I renounce my lord for some rude love —
I know not what. To Carthage one might go
And search from west to east, from north to south,
And live until one's teeth fell out for age,
Scouring the earth with utmost diligence
Until all had been seen, and yet not find
The sort of love that you've described to me.
When gods of old before the giants fled,
And Chastity, Good Faith, and Law withdrew,
That love, I ween, was swept clean from the earth,
Or so dismayed it lost itself in flight.
Even ponderous Justice fled at last.
All left the world — they couldn't stand the wars —
To make their habitations in the skies,
Descending thenceforth but in miracles.
The gods were driven out by force of Fraud,
Who now with outrage holds their heritage.
" Not even Tully, who took careful pains
To search all secret writings, could find out,
For all his ingenuity, that e'er
In all the ages since the world began
Have there been couples more than three or four
Who knew this perfect love; and I believe,
For never have I read of such a thing,
That fewer yet who lived in Tully's time
Proved by their words that they were such-like friends.
Am I more wise than Tully? I should be
A sottish fool were I to search for love
That is not to be found upon the earth.
Where should I look for what does not exist?
Can I fly with the cranes beyond the clouds
As did in truth the swan of Socrates?
I'll silent be; I've no such foolish hope.
The gods would think I threatened Paradise,
As did the giants once, and hurl their bolts
At me. Perhaps this is the end you seek;
'Twere, doubtless, in accord with your ill will. "
" Fair friend, " said she, " now listen. If that love
Is unattainable, as well may be
In your case as in others, for your faults,
I'll tell you of another — no, the same
In different guise — which all men may attain.
It is a mere extension of true love,
Embracing all mankind, not only one.
Participating in community
Of love, you may love all in general,
And love all loyally. Love the whole world
As you would one, with all-embracing love.
Be to all men what you'd have all men be
To you; do naught but what you would have done
To you again. If thus you show your love,
All will cry quits. This course you should pursue;
Without this trait no man should ever live.
Because unrighteous folk desert such love,
Justices are appointed on the earth
To be defense and refuge for the weak,
To punish and chastise the criminal,
And make him mend his ways who has renounced
True love, and wounds or kills his fellow man,
Or ravishes or robs or steals or harms
By false detraction or conspired complaint
Or other evil means, open or hid.
It is such men that Justice must control. "
" Ah, lady, since you speak of Justice now,
Who formerly was of so great renown,
For God's sake tell me something about her. "
" Most willingly! Say what you wish to know. "
" Make judgment for me, then, 'twixt her and Love.
Which, as it seems to you, is worth the more? "
" To what species of love do you refer? "
" To that in whom you wish me to confide;
I need not bring to bar the Love I know. "
" Poor fool, believe that, if you will! In truth
The good love I describe has greater worth. "
" Prove that. "
" I will most gladly. Of two things
Both profitable, proper, necessary,
The one that is most needed is worth more. "
" Lady, you speak the truth. "
" You'll not deny,
Considering the nature of these two,
That needful and of profit is each one. "
" That's true. "
" The best of these most profit has? "
" That I agree. "
" Then let me more recall:
The love I praise, that springs from charity,
A greater necessity than justice is. "
" Prove that ere you go on. "
" Most willingly.
I say, without deceit, more necessary
And better is the thing that can suffice
All by itself to make one choose the best
Than that which needs extraneous aid. Can you
Deny me this? "
" Why not? Make it more clear,
That I may see that you're not tricking me.
Ere I agree, I'd an example have. "
" My faith! You place on me a heavy task
With your demands for instances and proofs.
However, an example you shall have,
Since there's no other way to make you see.
If without aid a man could sail a boat
Better than you, you'd say he was more skilled? "
" Yes, dame; at least he'd better know the ropes. "
" Take this, then, as sufficient simile.
If justice failed, then love would be enough
To lead men in a fair and perfect life
Without the aid of law; but, without love,
Justice could not. Therefore is love the best. "
" Prove that to me. "
" I will if you'll keep still!
Once Justice reigned, when Saturn was supreme;
But Jupiter the cullions of his sire
Cut off as they had been but sausages
(A cruel and hardhearted son was he!)
And flung them in the sea, whence Venus sprang,
Goddess of Love, as you may read in books.
If she came back to earth and was received
Today as once she was, there still were need
That men should love each other mutually
No matter how much justice they-observed;
For justice were destructive without love.
But were men joined in mutual love no wrong
Would any to another do; and vice
Thus banished, what of good could Justice do? "
" Lady, I know not. "
" I believe you don't.
All the inhabitants of this fair world
Quiet and peacefully would live; no king
Nor prince they'd have — no bailiff or provost —
So honest they would be; judges would hear
No clamoring for justice. So I say
That justice is worth less than simple love.
Though Justice against Malice may prevail —
Mother of liberty — destroying Rule —
Yet, were the earth not soiled with crime and sin,
Mankind would have no use for judge or king.
Judges have proved most odiously that they
Ought first to judge themselves, since 'tis their wish
That men confide in them; and they should be
Both diligent and true, not negligent
Or covetous, pretentious, lax, or false
In doing right by all who make complaints.
But now they sell their judgments, and upset
All precedents; they tally, count, erase;
And poor folk pay — rob Peter to pay Paul.
Such judge who hangs a thief should hang himself,
If he would render judgment on the wrongs
And rapines that his misused power has often caused. "