Yet at the last they mean nothing,
for naked we came out of the blackness and naked we return there. Vanity
of vanities, all is vanity!"
CHAPTER IV
KARI
Thus began my life in London in the house of my uncle, John Grimmer,
who was called the Goldsmith. In truth, however, he was more than this,
since not only did he fashion and trade in costly things; he lent out
moneys to interest upon security to great people who needed it, and
even to the king Richard and his Court. Also he owned ships and did much
commerce with Holland, France, yes, and with Spain and Italy. Indeed,
although he appeared so humble, his wealth was very large and always
increased, like a snowball rolling down a hill; moreover, he owned much
land, especially in the neighbourhood of London where it was likely to
grow in value.
"Money melts," he would say, "furs corrupt with moth and time, and
thieves break in and steal. But land--if the title be good--remains.
Therefore buy land, which none can carry away, near to a market or a
growing town if may be, and hire it out to fools to farm, or sell it
to other fools who wish to build great houses and spend their goods in
feeding a multitude of idle servants.
Pages:
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103