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Usury walks arm in arm with avarice; for, although it does not hoard its pelf from the public, it never dispenses it but with the certainty of restitution with swinging interest; for the cry is, gold begets gold: and, although the adage may be verified by all such as have it at command, and will lend it out at usury, they, nevertheless, will find in the sequel, that satisfaction doth not attend its increase; for happiness kicks the beam, leaving them the slaves of unceasing anxiety, apprehension, and fear. L'avaro quanto più hà, tanto più è bisognoso.

Although in this stanza the poet hath, according to custom, levelled his shafts at the descendants of Abraham, the Christians are no less reluctant than themselves in amassing gold at any price: and I very much question, if there are not existing among us many Judas's, who would not scruple at any sacrifice, so that wealth was but the purchase: for as religion, honour, and probity, have long been discarded by all ranks of society, in order to its attainment, I conceive that there would be no difficulty in bringing Christians to the perpetration of any crime in the service of Crœsus. Yet, let such fools remember,