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De Cultu Feminarum

V.

[1] Aurum et argentum, principes materiae cultus saecularis, id sint necesse est unde sunt, terra scilicet plane gloriosior, quoniam in maledictorum metallorum feralibus officinis poenali opere deplorata nomen terrae in igni reliquit atque exinde de tormentis in ornamenta, de suppliciis in delicias, de ignominiis in honores metalli refuga mutatur. [2] Sed et ferri et aeris et aliarum uilissimarum materiarum par condicio est et terreni generis et metallici operis, quo nihilo generosior iudicari possit auri et argenti substantia penes naturam.

Quod si de qualitate usus gloria est auro et argento, atquin magis ferro et aeri quorum ita disposita utensilitas ut et proprias operas plures et necessariores exhibeant rebus humanis et nihilominus auri et argenti de suo uicem accommodent iustioribus causis. Nam et anuli ferro fiunt; quaedam esui et potui uascula ex aere adhuc seruat memoria antiquitatis. Viderit, si etiam ad spurca instrumentis auri et argenti demens copia deseruit. [3] Certe nec ager auri opere paratur, nec nauis argenti uigore eontexitur. Nullus bidens aurum demergit in terram, nullus clauus argentum intimat tabulis. Taceo totius uitae necessitates ferro et aeri innixas, cum illae ipsae diuites materiae et de metallis refodiendae et in quocumque usu producendae sine ferri et aeris operario uigore non possint. [4] Iam igitur aestimarndum est unde obueniat tanta dignitas auro et argento, cum et consanguineis quantum ad genus et potioribus quantum ad utensilitatem materiis praeferantur.

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On the Apparel of Women

Chapter V.--Gold and Silver Not Superior in Origin or in Utility to Other Metals.

Gold and silver, the principal material causes of worldly ¹ splendour, must necessarily be identical (in nature) with that out of which they have their being: (they must be) earth, that is; (which earth itself is) plainly more glorious (than they), inasmuch as it is only after it has been tearfully wrought by penal labour in the deadly laboratories of accursed mines, and there left its name of "earth" in the fire behind it, that, as a fugitive from the mine, it passes from torments to ornaments, from punishments to embellishments, from ignominies to honours. But iron, and brass, and other the vilest material substances, enjoy a parity of condition (with silver and gold), both as to earthly origin and metallurgic operation; in order that, in the estimation of nature, the substance of gold and of silver may be judged not a whit more noble (than theirs). But if it is from the quality of utility that gold and silver derive their glory, why, iron and brass excel them; whose usefulness is so disposed (by the Creator), that they not only discharge functions of their own more numerous and more necessary to human affairs, but do also none the less serve the turn of gold and silver, by dint of their own powers, ² in the service of juster causes. For not only are rings made of iron, but the memory of antiquity still preserves (the fame of) certain vessels for eating and drinking made out of brass. Let the insane plenteousness of gold and silver look to it, if it serves to make utensils even for foul purposes. At all events, neither is the field tilled by means of gold, nor the ship fastened together by the strength of silver. No mattock plunges a golden edge into the ground; no nail drives a silver point into planks. I leave unnoticed the fact that the needs of our whole life are dependent upon iron and brass; whereas those rich materials themselves, requiring both to be dug up out of mines, and needing a forging process in every use (to which they are put), are helpless without the laborious vigour of iron and brass. Already, therefore, we must judge whence it is that so high dignity accrues to gold and silver, since they get precedence over material substances which are not only cousin-german to them in point of origin, but more powerful in point of usefulness.