"Diis immortalibus sero", said an old Roman,
when he held one handle of the plough, whilst Death held the other.
Though you were to join in the commission all the directors of the two
academies to the directors of the Caisse d'Escompte, one old,
experienced peasant is worth them all. I have got more information
upon a curious and interesting branch of husbandry, in one short
conversation with an old Carthusian monk, than I have derived from all
the Bank directors that I have ever conversed with. However, there
is no cause for apprehension from the meddling of money dealers with
rural economy. These gentlemen are too wise in their generation. At
first, perhaps, their tender and susceptible imaginations may be
captivated with the innocent and unprofitable delights of a pastoral
life; but in a little time they will find that agriculture is a
trade much more laborious, and much less lucrative, than that which
they had left. After making its panegyric, they will turn their
backs on it like their great precursor and prototype. They may, like
him, begin by singing "Beatus ille" but what will be the end?
Haec ubi locutus foenerator Alphius,
Jam jam futurus rusticus
Omnem redegit idibus pecuniam;
Quaerit calendis ponere.
They will cultivate the Caisse d'Eglise, under the sacred auspices
of this prelate, with much more profit than its vineyards and its
cornfields.
Pages:
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301