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IV.12. Malas Esse Diuitias

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 111.

Opes inuisae merito sunt forti uiro,

quia diues arca ueram laudem intercipit.

Caelo receptus propter uirtutem Hercules,

cum gratulantes persalutasset deos,

ueniente Pluto, qui Fortunae est filius,

auertit oculos. Causam quaesiuit Pater.

"Odi" inquit "illum quia malis amicus est

simulque obiecto cunctaa corrumpit lucro."

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Not yet available.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

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Translation:

Riches are justly hated by courageous people: coffers of cash put a stop to honest traffic in praise.

Thanks to his excellent qualities, Hercules was received into heaven. He saluted the gods who came to congratulate him one after another, but when he was approached by Plutus, the god of wealth and the son of Fortune, Hercules turned his eyes aside. Father Jupiter asked him why he did this. Hercules answered, 'I hate the god of riches: he is a friend to the wicked who corrupts the entire world by throwing his money around!'

Hercules and Plutus (trans. C. Smart)

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."

Illustration:

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