"All otherwise" (saide he) "I riches read, And deeme them roote of all disquietnesse; First got with guile, and then preserv'd with dread, And after spent with pride and lavishnesse, Leaving behind them griefe and heavinesse: Infinite mischiefes of them doe arize, Strife and debate, bloodshed and bitternesse, Outrageous wrong, and hellish covetize, That noble heart as great dishonour doth despize. "Ne thine be kingdomes, ne the scepters thine; But realmes and rulers thou doest both confound, And loyall truth to treason doest incline: Witnesse the guiltlesse blood pourd oft on ground, The crowned often slaine, the slayer cround; The sacred Diademe in peeces rent, And purple robe gored with many a wound, Castles surprizd, great cities sackt and brent; So mak'st thou kings, and gaynest wrongfull government. "Long were to tell the troublous stormes that tosse The private state, and make the life unsweet: Who swelling sayles in Caspian sea doth crosse, And in frayle wood on Adrian gulf doth fleet, Doth not, I weene, so many evils meet." Then Mammon wexing wroth: "And why then," sayd, "Are mortall men so fond{22} and undiscreet So evill thing to seeke unto their ayd, And having not complaine, and having it upbrayd?" "Indeede," (quoth he) "through fowle intemperaunce Frayle men are oft captiv'd to covetise; But would they thinke with how small allowaunce Untroubled Nature doth herselfe suffise, Such superfluities they would despise, Which with sad cares empeach{23} our native joyes. At the well-head the purest streames arise; But mucky filth his braunching armes annoyes, And with uncomely weedes the gentle wave accloyes.{24} "The antique world, in his first flowring youth, Fownd no defect in his Creators grace; But with glad thankes, and unreproved truth,{25} The gifts of soveraine bounty did embrace: Like Angels life was then mens happy cace; But later ages pride, like corn-fed steed, Abusd her plenty and fat swolne encreace To all licentious lust, and gan exceed The measure of her meane and naturall first need. "Then gan a cursed hand the quiet wombe Of his great Grandmother{26} with steele to wound, And the hid treasures in her sacred tombe With Sacriledge to dig. Therein he fownd Fountaines of gold and silver to abownd, Of which the matter of his huge desire And pompous pride eftsoones he did compownd; Then avarice gan through his veines inspire His greedy flames, and kindled life-devouring fire."