
In mortem Crassi.[1]
On the death of Crassus.
Mors una beat & ditat.
Death makes a man both happy and rich.
Qui nequit effossis animum complere metallis,
Continuoque lucro sedulus immoritur,
Sollicitusque solo commissam cogitat ollam,
Hunc quis opinetur divitis esse loco?
Dum petit Euphratem, fatis lachrymantibus, aurum
Quod sitiit Crassus, mortuus ille bibit.
Haec erit extremo, me iudice, gratia fato,
Quòd dat inexpletis mentibus esse modum.
The man who cannot get enough of [lit. fill his soul with] precious metals from the mines [lit. that have been dug up], And ceaselessly, unremittingly pines after wealth, And anxiously thinks of his treasure-jar [lit. jar entrusted to the ground] - Who would call this man’s life rich? While he was making for the Euphrates, and the Fates wept, that gold for which Crassus thirsted, he got, in death, to taste. If you ask me, this will be the favour given by death [lit. final doom], Because it grants requital to unsatisfiable spirits.

NARRATIO PHILOSOPHICA.
QUae tantopere in animis hominum dum
ad utilitatis rationem omnia conferunt, cu
piditatis inveteravit opinio, eadem ipsa vel omnium
concessu patrimonia & haereditates expilare, ca-
lendaria conturbare, & rationes domesticas mira
biliter affligere una consuevit: fereque evenit, ut
quò maior in patrefamiliâs habendi & lucri fa-
ciendi cura dominatur, hòc illi minus ex animo
fortuna respondeat. Nam Croesum ditissimum Ly-
dorum regem unius belli ad extremum procella
pervertit: & quae ei avaritia ad tantas opes crede-
batur esse suffragata, eadem illum in fortunarum
& capitis discrimen coniecit. Neque mea senten-
tia accommodatior ad inopiam & rerum omnium
desperationem aditus esse potest, quàm per divi-
tias, quibus si te impensius addixeris, minus opi-
nor promoveas, quàm ii qui modico contenti pau
pertarem [=paupertatem]
omni studio coluerunt. His enim quo-
quo modo se res habeant, licet esse beatissimis.
Quis enim aliqua re carere iudicetur, qui eam non
desiderat? at qui non caret, habet certè, aut ab ha-
bente nihil discrepat. Qui verò vulgò divites ap-
pellantur, & in pecunia facienda versantur impen
sius, si qua clades domesticam illorum rationem
perculerit, ne illi quidem non aerumnosi esse pos-
sunt. Semper enim in isto genere contentionis il-
lud valuit, ubi non sis qui fueris, non est cur velis
vivere. Itaque ipsa rerum copia quae tranquillita-
tem & quietem cupidis hominibus allatura esse
Link to an image of this page [L4r p167]videbatur, saepissimè ruinae & calamitatis pericu-
lum sturit. Quòd si ut de Polycrate Samiorum ty
ranno accepimus, alicui omnia cumulatè suppete
rent, quae homini à fortuna suppeditari possunt,
non possit tamen is verè felix numerari. Quis enim
eam felicitatem nominavit, quae subito aliquo ca
su interpellari potest? quis summum bonum, quod
non est perpetuum? Testes sunt multi & praestan-
tes viri, quorum operosa concursatio aliquando
in calce, saepissimè in cursu, interdum etiam in car
ceribus impedita est: & qui dies illis à gra-
vissimis contentionibus requiescendi
esse debuisset, is omnium saepe
luctuosissimus ap-
paruit.
1. M. Licinius Crassus, triumvir with Caesar and Pompey, and the richest man in Rome, was killed on an ill-fated expedition against the Parthians, apparently in an attempt to become yet richer.
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- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clothing for the lower part of the body [41D23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- death of M. Licinius Crassus: the Parthians cut off his head and pour molten gold down the throat [98B(CRASSUS, M.L.)68] Search | Browse Iconclass
- drinking [41C12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- five persons [31A(+75)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- flag, colours (as symbol of the state, etc.) [44A3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear and clothing for the upper part of the body [41D22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- helved weapons, polearms (for striking, hacking, thrusting) (with NAME) [45C14(HALBERD)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- horse (with NAME of race or kind) [46C13141(...)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- kitchen-utensils (with NAME) [41C27(Pan)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- liquid (state of matter); condensation [22A312] Search | Browse Iconclass
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- open fire (in general) [41B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- preparing of material by melting [47C1211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- riding a horse, ass, mule, etc.; rider, horseman [46C131] Search | Browse Iconclass
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- Acquisition, Gain, Profit [55A1] Search | Browse Iconclass
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- minerals and metals (with NAME) [25D13(GOLD)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- money-chest, treasure-chest, money-box [46A1632] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Mortality, Extinction of Life [58BB1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Wealth, Opulence; 'Opulenza', 'Richezza' (Ripa) [55B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
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