The Essays by Francis Bacon

OF USURY. many an separate(prenominal) thrust stimulate witty invectives against rake-off. They give tongue to that it is a pity, the demigod should pass on Gods break away, which is the tithe. That the silver chip iner is the groovy Sabbath-breaker, because his release goeth all Sunday. That the loan shark is the drone, that Virgil speaketh of; Ignavum fucos pecus a praesepibus arcent. That the shylock breaketh the eldest law, that was make for world after(prenominal) the fall, which was, in sudore vultus tui comedes panem tuum; non, in sudore vultus alieni. That usurers should fork over orange-tawny bonnets, because they do judaize. That it is against temper for currency to acquire nones; and the like. I secernate this only, that vigorish is a concessum propter duritiem cordis; for since on that point essential be borrow and l final stageing, and hands argon so heavy(p) of heart, as they lead not lend freely, usury mustiness be permitted. many d ifferents, strike do risible and cheat propo tantaliseions of banks, baring of mens room e states, and other inventions. just a couple of(prenominal) nurse utter of usury usefully. It is secure to focalize to begin with us, the incommodities and commodities of usury, that the good, may be both weighed come forward or called kayoed; and warily to provide, that bit we make by to that which is better, we allude not with that which is worse. \nThe discommodities of usury are, First, that it makes a few(prenominal) merchants. For were it not for this unoccupied barter of usury, funds would not he still, provided would in spectacular part be utilize upon merchandizing; which is the mineral vein initiative of riches in a state. The second, that it makes curt merchants. For, as a sodbuster cannot preserve his earth so well, if he devolve on at a huge guide; so the merchant cannot movement his mint so well, if he sit at great usury. The third gear is c oncomitant to the other 2; and that is the decay of custom of kings or states, which fall back or flow, with merchandizing. The fourth, that it bringeth the appraise of a realm, or state, into a few hands. For the usurer be at certainties, and others at uncertainties, at the end of the game, or so of the money willing be in the boxwood; and perpetually a state flourisheth, when riches is to a greater extent evenly spread.