But a great majority of mankind, misled by a wrong desire cry," No sum is enough; because you are esteemed in proportion to what you possess. "What can one do to such a tribe as this? Why, bid them be wretched, since their inclination prompts them to it. As a certain person is recorded[ to have lived] at Athens, covetous and rich, who was wo nt to despise the talk of the people in this manner:" The crowd hiss me; but I applaud myself at home, as soon as I contemplate my money in my chest. " The thirsty Tantalus catches at the streams, which elude his lips. Why do you laugh? The name changed, the tale is told of you. You sleep upon your bags, heaped up on every side, gaping over them, and are obliged to abstain from them, as if they were consecrated things, or to amuse yourself with them as you would with pictures. Are you ignorant of what value money has, what use it can afford? Bread, herbs, a bottle of wine may be purchased; to which[ necessaries], add[ such others], as, being withheld, human nature would be uneasy with itself. What, to watch half dead with terror, night and day, to dread profligate thieves, fire, and your slaves, lest they should run away and plunder you; is this delightful? I should always wish to be very poor in possessions held upon these terms. 