abhorrence; for whatsoever gifts it giveth to its friends, these
in turn in passion it taketh away, and shall hand over its
victims, stripped of all good things, clad in the garment of
shame, and bound under heavy burdens, to eternal tribulation.
And those again whom it exalteth, it quickly abaseth to the
utmost wretchedness, making them a foot-stool and a laughing
stock for their enemies. Such are its charms, such its bounties.
For it is an enemy of its friends, and traitor to such as carry
out its wishes: dasheth to dire destruction all them that lean
upon it, and enervateth those that put their trust therein. It
maketh covenants with fools and fair false promises, only that it
may allure them to itself. But, as they have dealt
treacherously, it proveth itself treacherous and false in
fulfilling none of its pledges. To-day it tickleth their gullet
with pleasant dainties; to-morrow it maketh them nought but a
gobbet for their enemies. To-day it maketh a man a king:
to-morrow it delivereth him into bitter servitude. To-day its
thrall is fattening on a thousand good things; to-morrow he is a
beggar, and drudge of drudges. To-day it placeth on his head a
crown of glory; to-morrow it dasheth his face upon the ground.
To-day it adorneth his neck with brilliant badges of dignity;
to-morrow it humbleth him with a collar of iron. For a little
while it causeth him to be the desire of all men; but after a
time it maketh him their hate and abomination. To-day it
gladdeneth him: but to-morrow it weareth him to a shadow with
lamentations and wailings. What is the end thereof, thou shalt
hear. Ruthlessly it bringeth its former lovers to dwell in hell.
Such is ever its mind, such its purposes. It lamenteth not its
departed, nor pitieth the survivor. For after that it hath
cruelly duped and entangled in its meshes the one party, it