Page 667 of 1391

'Hope,' he says, 'cherishes the soul of him who lives in justice

and holiness, and is the nurse of his age and the companion of

his journey;-hope which is mightiest to sway the restless soul of

man.'

How admirable are his words! And the great blessing of riches, I

do not say to every man, but to a good man, is, that he has had

no occasion to deceive or to defraud others, either intentionally

or unintentionally; and when he departs to the world below he is

not in any apprehension about offerings due to the gods or debts

which he owes to men. Now to this peace of mind the possession of

wealth greatly contributes; and therefore I say, that, setting

one thing against another, of the many advantages which wealth

has to give, to a man of sense this is in my opinion the

greatest.