Showing posts with label index: Perry 111. Show all posts
Showing posts with label index: Perry 111. Show all posts

Hercules and Plutus


4.12. HERCULES AND PLUTUS. Riches are deservedly despised by a man of worth, because a well-stored chest intercepts praise from its true objects.
When Hercules was received into heaven as the reward of his virtues, and saluted in turn the Gods who were congratulating him, on Plutus approaching, who is the child of Fortune, he turned away his eyes. His father, Jupiter, enquired the reason: “I hate him,” says he, “because he is the friend of the wicked, and at the same time corrupts all by presenting the temptation of gain.” [more info]

Hercules and Plutus


4.10. HERCULES AND PLUTUS.
Wealth by the brave is justly scorn’d,
Since men are from the truth suborn’d,
And a full chest perverts their ways
From giving or deserving praise.
When Hercules, for matchless worth,
Was taken up to heav’n from earth,
As in their turns to all the crowd
Of gratulating gods he bow’d,
When Plutus, Fortune’s son, he spies,
He from his face averts his eyes.
Jove ask’d the cause of this disgust:
“I hate him, as he is unjust,
To wicked men the most inclined,
And grand corrupter of mankind.” [more info]