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The Richest Man in Babylon - George S. Clason — Transcript

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0:00the richest man in Babylon
0:02by George S Classen
0:05this audio presentation is brought to
0:07you by secret knowledge
0:11chapter 1.
0:13the man who desired gold
0:15band sir The Chariot builder of Babylon
0:18was thoroughly discouraged
0:21from his seat upon the low wall
0:23surrounding his property he gazed sadly
0:25at his simple home in the open Workshop
0:28in which stood a partially completed
0:29chariot
0:31his wife frequently appeared at the open
0:33door
0:34her furtive glance is in his Direction
0:36reminded him that the meal bag was
0:39almost empty and he should be at work
0:40finishing the Chariot hammering and
0:42hewing polishing and painting stretching
0:45taut the leather over the wheel rims
0:47preparing it for delivery so he could
0:49collect from his wealthy customer
0:51nevertheless his fat muscular body sat
0:55solidly upon the wall
0:57his slow mind was struggling patiently
0:59with a problem for which he could find
1:01no answer
1:03the Hot Tropical Sun so typical of this
1:06Valley of the Euphrates beat down upon
1:08Him mercilessly
1:10beads of perspiration formed upon his
1:12brow and trickled down unnoticed to lose
1:14themselves in Thai hairy jungle on his
1:17chest
1:18Beyond his home Tower the high terraced
1:20wall surrounding the king's Palace
1:23nearby cleaning the blue Heavens was the
1:26painted Tower of the Temple of Bell
1:29in the shadow of such Grandeur was his
1:31simple home and many others far less
1:33neat and well cared for
1:35Babylon was like this a mixture of
1:38grandeur and squalor of dazzling wealth
1:40and direst poverty crowded together
1:43without plan her system within the
1:45protecting walls of the city
1:47behind him had he cared to turn and look
1:50the noisy Chariots of the Rich jostled
1:52and crowded aside the sandale Tradesmen
1:54as well as the barefooted beggars
1:57even the rich were forced to turn into
1:59the gutters to clear the way for the
2:01long lines of slave water carriers on
2:03the king's business each bearing a heavy
2:06goat skin of water to be poured upon the
2:08Hanging Gardens
2:09bandsaw was too engrossed in his own
2:12problem to hear or heed the confused
2:14hubbub of the busy City
2:16it was the unexpected twanging of the
2:19strings from a familiar liar that
2:20aroused him from his reverie
2:22he turned and looked into the sensitive
2:24smiling face of his best friend cobby
2:27the musician
2:29May the gods bless thee with great
2:31liberality my good friend began kobby
2:34with an elaborate salute
2:36yet it does appear they have already
2:38been so generous thou neatest not to
2:41labor
2:42I Rejoice with thee in thy Good Fortune
2:45more I would even share it with thee
2:48pray for my purse which must be bulging
2:51else that would be busy in your shop
2:52extract but two humble shekels and lend
2:55them to me until after the nobleman's
2:57feast this night
2:59thou Wilt not miss the mayor they are
3:01returned
3:02if I did have two shekels banser
3:05responded gloomily to no one could I
3:07lend them not even to you my best of
3:10friends for they would be my fortune my
3:13entire Fortune
3:14no one lends his entire Fortune not even
3:17to his best friend
3:19what exclaimed kobby with genuine
3:22surprise thou Hast not one shekel in thy
3:25purse yet sit like a statue upon a wall
3:28why not complete that chariot
3:31how else can't thou provide for thy
3:33Noble appetite
3:35it is not like thee my friend
3:37where is thy endless energy
3:40does something distress thee
3:42have the gods brought to the troubles
3:45a torment from the gods it must be
3:47bancer agreed
3:49it began with a dream a senseless dream
3:52in which I thought I was a man of means
3:55from my belt hung a handsome purse heavy
3:58with coins
4:00there were shekels which I cast with
4:02careless freedom to the Beggars there
4:04were pieces of silver with which I did
4:06by finery for my wife and whatever I did
4:08desire for myself there were pieces of
4:11gold which made me feel assured of the
4:13future and unafraid to spend a silver
4:15a glorious feeling of contentment was
4:18Within Me
4:19you would not have known me for thy
4:21hard-working friend
4:23nor wouldstv known my wife so free from
4:26wrinkles was her face and Shining with
4:28happiness
4:30she was Again The Smiling maiden of our
4:32early merry days
4:34a pleasant dream indeed commented kavi
4:37but why should such Pleasant feelings as
4:39it aroused turn thee into a glum statue
4:42upon the wall
4:43why indeed
4:45because when I awoke and remembered how
4:48empty was my purse a feeling of
4:50rebellion swept over me
4:52let us talk it over together for as the
4:55sailors do say we ride in the same boat
4:57we too
4:59as youngsters we went together to the
5:02priests to learn wisdom
5:04as young men we shared each other's
5:06pleasures
5:07as grown men we have always been close
5:10friends
5:11we have been contented subjects of Our
5:14Kind
5:15we have been satisfied to work long
5:17hours and spend our earnings freely
5:20we have earned much coin in the years
5:22that have passed yet to know the joys
5:24that come from wealth we must dream
5:26about them
5:27ba
5:29Are we more than dumb sheep
5:31we live in the richest city in all the
5:33world
5:34The Travelers do say none equals it in
5:37wealth
5:38about us is much display of wealth but
5:41of it we ourselves have not
5:43after half a lifetime of hard labor thou
5:46my best of friends asked an empty person
5:49says to me may I borrow such a trifle as
5:52two shekels until after the nobleman's
5:54feast this night
5:55then what do I reply
5:58do I say here's my purse its contents
6:01will I gladly share
6:03no I admit that my purse is as empty as
6:06thine
6:07what is the matter
6:09why cannot we acquire silver and gold
6:12more than enough for food and ropes
6:15consider also our sons banser continued
6:18are they not following in the footsteps
6:21of their fathers
6:22need day and their families and their
6:24sons and their son's families live all
6:26their lives in the midst of such
6:28Treasures of gold and yet like us be
6:31content to banquet upon sour goat's milk
6:33and porridge
6:35never in all the years of our friendship
6:38did thou talk like this before Ben sir
6:41kobby was puzzled
6:44never in all those years did I think
6:46like this before
6:48early Dawn until Darkness stopped me I
6:51have labored to build the finest
6:52chariots any man could make soft
6:55heartily hoping someday the gods would
6:57recognize my worthy deeds and bestow
6:59upon me great prosperity
7:01this they have never done
7:04At Last I realize this they will never
7:06do
7:08therefore my heart is sad
7:10I wish to be a man of means
7:13I wish to own lands and cattle to have
7:16fine robes and coins in my purse
7:19I am willing to work for these things
7:21with all the strength in my back with
7:23all the skill in my hands with all the
7:25cunning in my mind but I wish my
7:27laborers to be fairly rewarded
7:30what is the matter with us
7:32again I ask you
7:34why cannot we have our just share of the
7:37good things so plentiful for those who
7:38have the gold with which to buy them
7:41would I knew an answer
7:43cobby replied
7:45no better than thou am I satisfied
7:48my earnings for my liar are quickly gone
7:52often must I plan and scheme that my
7:54family be not hungry
7:56also within my breast is a deep longing
7:59for a liar large enough that it may
8:01truly sing the strains of music that do
8:03surge through my mind
8:05with such an instrument could I make
8:07music finer than even the King has heard
8:09before
8:10such a liar thou shouldst have
8:13no man in all Babylon could make it sing
8:16more sweetly could make it sing so
8:18sweetly not only the king but the gods
8:21themselves would be delighted
8:23but how may is thou secure it while we
8:25both of us are as poor as the king's
8:27slaves
8:28listen to The Bell
8:30here they come
8:32he pointed to the long column of half
8:34naked sweating water bearers plotting
8:37laboriously up the Narrow Street from
8:39the river
8:40five abreast they marched each bent
8:42under a heavy goat skin of water
8:45a fine figure of a man he who doth lead
8:48them
8:49cobby indicated the wearer of the Bell
8:51who marched in front without a load
8:54a prominent man in his own country tis
8:56easy to see
8:58there are many good figures in the line
9:00Panzer agreed as good men as we
9:04tall blonde men from the north laughing
9:07black men from the south little brown
9:09men from the nearer countries
9:11all marching together from the river to
9:14the gardens back and forth day after day
9:17year after year
9:19not of Happiness to look forward to
9:22beds of straw upon which to sleep hard
9:24grain porridge to eat
9:27pity the poor brutes kobby
9:30pity them I do
9:31yet thou Dost make me see how little
9:34better off are we free men though we
9:36call ourselves
9:38that is truth kobby unpleasant thought
9:41though it be
9:42we do not wish to go on year after year
9:45living slavish lives
9:47working working working
9:50getting nowhere
9:52might we not find out how others acquire
9:54gold and do as they do
9:56cobby inquired
9:58perhaps there is some secret we might
10:00learn if we but sought from those who
10:02knew replied ban sir thoughtfully
10:06this very day suggested kobby I did pass
10:09our old friend Orchid riding in his
10:12golden chariot
10:13this I will say he did not look over my
10:16humble head as many in his station might
10:18consider his right
10:20instead he did wave his hand that all
10:23onlookers might see him take greetings
10:25and bestow his smile of friendship upon
10:27kavi the musician
10:29he is claimed to be the richest man in
10:31all Babylon banser mused
10:34so rich the king is said to seek his
10:37golden Aid in Affairs of the treasury
10:39cobby replied
10:41so rich benzer interrupted I fear if I
10:44should meet him in the darkness of the
10:46night I should lay my hands upon his fat
10:48wallet
10:49nonsense reprove copy a man's wealth is
10:53not in the purse he carries
10:55a fat purse quickly empties if there be
10:58no golden stream to refill it
11:00arcade has an income that constantly
11:03keeps his purse full no matter how
11:05liberally he spends
11:07income that is the thing ejaculated
11:10banser
11:11I wish an income that will keep flowing
11:14into my purse whether I sit upon the
11:16wall or travel to far lands
11:18archid must know how a man can make an
11:21income for himself
11:22dust suppose it is something he could
11:24make clear to a mind as slow as mine
11:27thinks he did teach his knowledge to his
11:30son no Mesa kobby responded
11:33did he not go to Nineveh and so it is
11:35told at the end become without aid from
11:38his father one of the richest men in
11:40that City
11:41kaabi thou bring us to me a rare thought
11:45a new light gleaned in dancer's eyes
11:48it costs nothing to ask wise advice from
11:51a good friend and our kid was always
11:53that
11:54never mind though our purses be as empty
11:57as the falcon's nest of a year ago
11:59let that not detain us
12:02we are weary of being without gold in
12:04the midst of plenty
12:06we wish to become men of means
12:09come let us go to Arcade and ask how we
12:11also May acquire incomes for ourselves
12:15thou speakest with true inspiration
12:17banser
12:19they'll bring it to my mind a new
12:21understanding
12:23thou makeest me to realize the reason
12:25why we have never found any measure of
12:27wealth
12:28we never sought it
12:30thou Hast labored patiently to build the
12:33staunchest Chariots in Babylon
12:35to that purpose was devoted your best
12:38endeavors
12:39therefore at it thou did succeed
12:42I strove to become a skillful liar
12:45player
12:46and added I did succeed
12:49in those things toward which we exerted
12:51our best Endeavors we succeeded
12:53the gods were content to let us continue
12:55thus
12:57now at last we see a light bright like
13:00that from the Rising Sun
13:02it biddeth us to learn more that we may
13:05Prosper more
13:06with a new understanding we shall find
13:08honorable ways to accomplish our desires
13:12let us go to Ark at this very day band
13:14sir urged also let us ask other friends
13:17of our Boyhood days who have fared no
13:20better than ourselves to join us that
13:22day too may share in his wisdom
13:25thou word ever thus thoughtful of thy
13:27friends band sir
13:29therefore hast thou many friends
13:32it shall be as thou sayest
13:34we go this day and take them with us
13:39chapter 2.
13:41the richest man in Babylon
13:44in Old Babylon there once lived a
13:46certain very rich man named arcade
13:49far and wide he was famed for his great
13:51wealth
13:52also was be famed for his liberality
13:56he was generous in his charities
13:59he was generous with his family
14:01he was liberal in his own expenses
14:04but nevertheless each year his wealth
14:06increased more rapidly than he spent it
14:09and there were certain friends of
14:11younger days who came to him and said
14:13you Orchid are more fortunate than we
14:17you have become the richest man in all
14:19Babylon while we struggle for existence
14:22you can wear the finest garments and you
14:24can enjoy the rarest Foods while we must
14:27be content if we can clothe our families
14:29in Raymond that is presentable and feed
14:31them as best we can
14:33yet once we were equal
14:35we studied under the same master
14:38we played in the same games
14:41and in neither the studies nor the games
14:43did you outshine us
14:45and in the years since you have been no
14:47more an honorable citizen than we
14:50nor have you worked harder or more
14:52Faithfully insofar as we can judge
14:55why then should a Fickle fate single you
14:58out to enjoy all the good things of life
15:00and ignore us who are equally deserving
15:03thereupon archive remonstrated with them
15:06saying if you have not acquired more
15:08than a bare existence in the years since
15:10we were youths it is because you either
15:12have failed to learn the laws that
15:14govern the building of wealth or else
15:16you do not observe them
15:18fickle fate is a vicious goddess who
15:20brings no permanent good to anyone
15:23on the contrary she brings ruin to
15:26almost every man upon whom she showers
15:28unearned gold
15:30she makes wanton Spenders who soon
15:32dissipate all they receive and are left
15:34beset by overwhelming appetites and
15:37desires they have not the ability to
15:39gratify
15:40yet others whom she favors become misers
15:42and hoard their wealth fearing to spend
15:44what they have knowing they do not
15:47possess the ability to replace it
15:49they further are beset by fear of
15:51robbers and doom themselves to lives of
15:54emptiness and secret misery
15:56others there probably are who can take
15:58unearned gold and add to it and continue
16:01to be happy and content its citizens
16:04but so few are they I know of them but
16:07by hearsay
16:08think you of the men who have inherited
16:10sudden wealth and see if these things
16:12are not so
16:14his friends admitted that of the men
16:16they knew who had inherited wealthy's
16:18words were true and they beside him to
16:20explain to them how he had become
16:21possessed of so much Prosperity so he
16:24continued
16:25in my youth I looked about me and saw
16:28all the good things that were to bring
16:30happiness and contentment
16:32and I realized that wealth increased the
16:34potency of all these
16:36wealth is a power
16:38with wealth many things are possible
16:41one may ornament the home with the
16:43richest of furnishings
16:45one may sail the distant sees
16:48one may Feast on the Delicacies of far
16:51lands
16:52one made by the ornaments of the gold
16:54worker and the stone polisher
16:57one may even build Mighty temples for
16:59the Gods
17:00one may do all these things and many
17:03others in which there is Delight for the
17:05senses and gratification for the soul
17:08and when I realized all this I decided
17:11to myself that I would claim my share of
17:13the good things of life
17:15I would not be one of those who stand
17:17afar off enviously watching others enjoy
17:21I would not be content to clothe myself
17:23in the cheapest raiment that looked
17:24respectable
17:26I would not be satisfied with the lot of
17:28a poor man
17:30on the contrary I would make myself a
17:32guest at this banquet of good things
17:35being as you know the son of a humble
17:38Merchant one of a large family with no
17:40hope of an inheritance and not being
17:43endowed as you have so frankly said with
17:46Superior powers or wisdom I decided that
17:48if I was to achieve what I desired time
17:51and study would be required
17:53as for time all men have it in abundance
17:57you each of you have let slip by
18:00sufficient time to have made yourselves
18:02wealthy
18:03yet you admit you have nothing to show
18:06except your good families of which you
18:08can be justly proud
18:10as for study did not our wise teacher
18:12teach us that learning was of two kinds
18:15the one kind being the things we learned
18:17and knew and the other being the
18:19training that taught us how to find out
18:20what we did not know
18:22therefore did I decide to find out how
18:25one might accumulate wealth and when I
18:27had found out to make this my task and
18:29do it well
18:31four is it not wise that we should enjoy
18:33what we dwell in the brightness of the
18:35sunshine for Sorrows enough shall
18:37descend upon us when we depart for the
18:39darkness of the world of spirit
18:41I found employment as a scribe in the
18:44hall of records and long hours each day
18:46I labored upon the clay tablets
18:49week after week and month after month I
18:52labored yet for my earnings I had not to
18:55show
18:56food and clothing and Penance to the
18:58gods and other things of which I could
19:00remember not what absorbed all my
19:02earnings
19:04but my determination did not leave me
19:07and one day aldamish the money lender
19:09came to the house of the city master and
19:12ordered a copy of the ninth law and he
19:14said to me I must have this in two days
19:16and if the task is done by that time two
19:19coppers will I give to thee
19:21so I labored hard but the law was long
19:24and when aldamish returned the task was
19:26unfinished
19:28he was angry and had I been his slave he
19:31would have beaten me
19:32but knowing the city Master would not
19:35permit him to injure me I was unafraid
19:37so I said to him algomish you are a very
19:40rich man
19:42tell me how I may also become rich and
19:44all night I will carve upon the clay and
19:47when the Sun rises it shall be completed
19:50he smiled at me and replied you are a
19:52forward knave but we will call it a
19:55bargain
19:56all that night I carved though my back
19:58pained and the smell of the wick made my
20:00head ache until my eyes could hardly see
20:04but when he returned its son up the
20:06tablets were complete
20:08now I said tell me what you promised
20:11you have fulfilled your part of our
20:13bargain my son he said to me kindly and
20:16I am ready to fulfill mine
20:19I will tell you these things you wish to
20:21know because I am becoming an old man
20:23and an old tongue loves to wag
20:25and when youth comes to age for advice
20:28he receives the wisdom of years
20:30but too often does you think that age
20:33knows only the wisdom of days that are
20:35gone and therefore profits not
20:38but remember this the Sun that shines
20:41today is the Sun that Shone when thy
20:43father was born and will still be
20:45shining when thy last grandchild shall
20:47pass into the darkness
20:49the thoughts of Youth he continued are
20:52bright lights that shine forth like the
20:54meteors that oft make brilliant the sky
20:56but the wisdom of age is like the fixed
20:58stars that shine so unchanged that the
21:01Sailor may depend upon them to steer his
21:03course
21:04Mark you well my words for if you do not
21:07you will fail to grasp the truth that I
21:09will tell you and you will think that
21:11your night's work has been in vain
21:13then he looked at me shrewdly from under
21:15his Shaggy brows and said in a low
21:17forceful tone I found the road to wealth
21:20when I decided that a part of all I
21:22earned was mine to keep
21:24and so will you
21:26then he continued to look at me with a
21:28glance that I could feel Pierce me but
21:30said no more
21:31is that all
21:33I asked
21:35that was sufficient to change the heart
21:37of a sheep herder Into the Heart of a
21:39money lender he replied
21:42but all I earn is mine to keep is it not
21:45I demand it
21:47far from it he replied
21:50do you not pay the Garment maker
21:53do you not pay the sandal maker
21:55do you not pay for the things you eat
21:58can you live in Babylon without spending
22:01what have you to show for your earnings
22:03of the past mouth
22:04what for the past year
22:07fool
22:08you pay to everyone but yourself
22:11Dullard you labor for others
22:14as well be a slave and work for what
22:16your master gives you to eat and where
22:19if you did keep for yourself one tenth
22:21of all you earn how much would you have
22:23in 10 years
22:25my knowledge of the numbers did not
22:27forsake me and I answered as much as I
22:30earn in one year
22:31you speak but half the truth he retorted
22:35every gold piece you save is a slave to
22:38work for you
22:39every copper it earns is its child that
22:42also can earn for you
22:44if you would become wealthy then what
22:46you save must earn and its children must
22:48earn that all may help to give to you
22:50the abundance you crave
22:52you think I cheat you for your long
22:54night's work he continued but I am
22:57paying you a thousand times over if you
22:59have the intelligence to grasp the truth
23:01I offer you
23:02a part of all you earn is yours to keep
23:06it should be not less than a tenth no
23:08matter how little you earn
23:10it can be as much more as you can afford
23:13pay yourself first
23:15do not buy from the clothes maker and
23:17the sandal maker more than you can pay
23:19out of the rest and still have enough
23:20for food and charity and Penance to the
23:23Gods
23:24wealth like a tree grows from a tiny
23:27seed
23:28the first copper you save is the seed
23:30from which your tree of wealth shall
23:32grow
23:33the sooner you plant that seed the
23:35sooner shall the tree grow
23:37and the more Faithfully you nourish and
23:39water that tree with consistent savings
23:42the sooner may you bask in contentment
23:44beneath its shade
23:46so saying he took his tablets and went
23:49away
23:50I thought much about what he had said to
23:52me and it seemed reasonable
23:54so I decided that I would try it
23:57each time I was paid I took one from
23:59each ten pieces of copper and hid it
24:01away
24:02and strange as it may seem I was no
24:05shorter of funds than before
24:08I noticed little difference as I managed
24:10to get along without it
24:12but often I was tempted as my horde
24:14began to grow to spend it for some of
24:16the good things the merchants displayed
24:18brought by camels and ships from the
24:21land of the Phoenicians
24:23but I wisely refrained
24:25a 12th month after algomish had gone he
24:28again returned and said to me son have
24:30you paid to yourself not less than one
24:32tenth of all you have earned for the
24:34past year
24:35I answered proudly yes master I have
24:39that is good he answered beaming upon me
24:42and what have you done with it
24:44I have given it to asmer the brickmaker
24:47who told me he was traveling over the
24:49far Seas an entire he would buy for me
24:51the rare jewels of the Phoenicians
24:54when he returns we shall sell these at
24:56high prices and divide the earnings
24:59every fool must learn he growled but why
25:02trust the knowledge of a brickmaker
25:04about jewels
25:05would you go to the bread maker to
25:07inquire about the Stars
25:09no by my tunic you would go to the
25:12astrologer if you had power to think
25:15your savings are gone youth you have
25:18jerked your wealth tree up by the roots
25:21but plant another
25:23try again
25:24and next time if you would have advice
25:26about jewels go to the jewel Merchant
25:29if you would know the truth about sheep
25:32go to the herdsmen
25:33advice is one thing that is freely given
25:36away but watch that you take only what
25:38is worth having
25:40he who takes advice about his savings
25:42from one who is inexperienced in such
25:44matters shall pay with his savings for
25:47proving the falsity of their opinions
25:49saying this he went away
25:52and it was as he said
25:54for the Phoenicians are Scoundrels and
25:57soul to asthma worthless bits of glass
25:59that look like gems
26:01but as alchemish had bit me I again
26:03saved each tenth copper for I now had
26:06formed the habit and it was no longer
26:08difficult
26:09again 12 months later alchemish came to
26:12the room of the scribes and addressed me
26:15what progress have you made since last I
26:17saw you
26:19I have paid myself Faithfully I replied
26:21and my savings I have entrusted to add
26:24you the shield maker to buy bronze and
26:27each fourth month he does pay me the
26:29rental
26:30that is good
26:32and what do you do with the rental
26:34I do have a great feast with honey and
26:37fine wine and spiced cake
26:39also I have bought me a Scarlet tunic
26:42and someday I shall buy me a young ass
26:45upon which to ride
26:47to which algomish left you do eat the
26:50children of your savings
26:52then how do you expect them to work for
26:54you
26:55and how can they have children that will
26:56also work for you
26:58first get the an army of golden slaves
27:01and then many a Rich Banquet may you
27:03enjoy without regret
27:05so saying he again went away
27:08nor did I again see him for two years
27:10when he once more returned in his face
27:12was full of deep lines and his eyes
27:14drooped for he was becoming a very old
27:16man
27:17and he said to me our kid hast thou yet
27:20achieved the wealth thou dreamed of
27:23and I answered not yet all that I desire
27:25but some I have and it earns more and
27:28its earnings earn more
27:30and do you still take the advice of
27:32brickmakers
27:33about brick making they give good advice
27:35I retorted
27:37Orchid he continued you have learned
27:40your lessons well
27:41you first learned to live upon less than
27:44you could earn
27:45next you learn to seek advice from those
27:47who are competent through their own
27:49experiences to give it
27:51and lastly you have learned to make gold
27:54work for you
27:55you have taught yourself how to acquire
27:58money how to keep it and how to use it
28:01therefore you are competent for a
28:03responsible position
28:05I am becoming an old man
28:08my sons think only of spending and give
28:10no thought to earning
28:12my interests are great and I fear too
28:15much for me to look after
28:17if you will go to nepor and look after
28:19my lands there I shall make you my
28:21partner and you shall share in my estate
28:24so I went in a poor and took charge of
28:26his Holdings which were large
28:28and because I was full of ambition and
28:31because I had mastered the three laws of
28:33successfully handling wealth I was
28:35unable to increase greatly the value of
28:37his properties
28:38so I prospered much and when the spirit
28:41of albumish departed for the Spear of
28:43Darkness I did share in his estate as he
28:46had arranged under the law
28:48so spake Orchid and when he had finished
28:50his Tale one of his friends said you
28:53were indeed fortunate that algomish made
28:55of you and heir
28:56fortunate only in that I had the desire
28:59to prosper before I first met him
29:01for four years did I not prove my
29:04definiteness of purpose by keeping one
29:06tenth of all earned
29:07would you call a fisherman lucky who for
29:10years so studied the habits of the fish
29:12that with each changing wind he could
29:14cast his Nets about them
29:16opportunity is a haughty goddess who
29:18wastes no time with those who are
29:20unprepared
29:21you had strong willpower to keep on
29:23after you lost your first Year's savings
29:26you are unusual in that way spoke up
29:29another
29:30willpower retorted arcade
29:33what nonsense
29:35do you think willpower gives a man the
29:37strength to lift a burden the camel
29:39cannot carry or to draw a load The Oxen
29:42cannot budge
29:43willpower is but the unflinching purpose
29:46to carry a task you set for yourself to
29:48fulfillment
29:50if I set for myself a task be it ever so
29:53trifling I shall see it through
29:55how else shall I have confidence in
29:57myself to do important things
30:00should I say to myself for a hundred
30:02days as I walk across the bridge into
30:04the city I will pick from the road of
30:07pebble and cast it into the stream I
30:09would do it
30:10if on the seventh day I passed by
30:12without remembering I would not say to
30:15myself tomorrow I will cast two Pebbles
30:17which will do as well
30:19instead I would retrace my steps and
30:22cast the pebble
30:24nor on the 20th day would I say to
30:26myself arcad this is useless
30:29what does it Avail you to cast a pebble
30:31every day
30:33throw in a handful and be done with it
30:36no I would not say that nor do it
30:39when I set a task for myself I complete
30:42it
30:43therefore I am careful not to start
30:45difficult and impractical tasks because
30:48I love leisure
30:50and then another friend spoke up and
30:52said if what you tell is true and it
30:55does seem as you have said reasonable
30:57then being so simple if all men did it
31:00there would not be enough wealth to go
31:02around
31:03wealth grows wherever men exert energy
31:05arcade replied
31:07if a rich man builds him a new Palace is
31:10the gold he pays out gone
31:13no the brickmaker has part of it and the
31:15labor has part of it and the artist has
31:18part of it
31:19and everyone who labors upon the house
31:21has part of it yet when the palace is
31:23completed is it not worth all it cost
31:26and is the ground upon which it stands
31:29not worth more because it is there
31:31and is the ground that adjoins it not
31:33worth more because it is there
31:36wealth grows in Magic ways
31:39no man can prophesy the limit of it
31:42have not the Phoenicians built great
31:44cities on Barren coasts with the wealth
31:46that comes from their ships of Commerce
31:48on the Seas
31:49what then do you advise us to do that we
31:51also may become rich asked still another
31:54of his friends
31:55the years have passed and we are no
31:58longer young men and we have nothing put
32:00by
32:01I advise that you take the wisdom of
32:03algomish and say to yourselves a part of
32:06all I earn is mine to keep
32:08say it in the morning when you first
32:10arise
32:11say it at noon
32:13say it at night
32:15say it each hour of every day
32:18say it to yourself until the words stand
32:21out like letters of fire across the sky
32:24impress yourself with the idea
32:27fill yourself with the thought
32:29then take whatever portion seems wise
32:32let it be not less than one-tenth and
32:35Lay It by
32:36arrange your other expenditures to do
32:38this if necessary
32:40but lay by that portion first
32:43soon you will realize what a rich
32:45feeling it is to own a treasure upon
32:47which you alone have claimed
32:49as it grows it will stimulate you
32:52a new Joy of life will thrill you
32:55greater efforts will come to you to earn
32:58more
32:59four of your increased earnings will not
33:01the same percentage be also yours to
33:03keep
33:04then learn to make your treasure work
33:06for you
33:07make it your slave
33:10make its children and its children's
33:11children work for you
33:13ensure an income for thy future
33:16look thou at the agent and forget not
33:19that in the days to come now also will
33:20be numbered among them
33:22therefore invest thy treasure with
33:24greatest caution that it be not lost
33:27usurious rates of return are deceitful
33:30Sirens that sing but to lure the unwary
33:32upon the rocks of loss and remorse
33:35provide also that thy family may not
33:37want should the gods call thee to their
33:39realms
33:40for such protection it is always
33:42possible to make provision with small
33:44payments at regular intervals
33:47therefore the Provident man delays not
33:49an expectation of a large sum becoming
33:52available for such a wise purpose
33:54council with wise men
33:57seek the advice of men whose daily work
33:59is handling money
34:01let them save you from such an error as
34:04I myself made in entrusting my money to
34:06the Judgment of asthma the brickmaker
34:09a small return and a safe one is far
34:12more desirable than risk
34:14enjoy life while you are here
34:17do not over strain or try to save too
34:19much
34:21if one tenth of all you earn is as much
34:23as you can comfortably keep be content
34:25to keep this portion
34:27live otherwise according to your income
34:29and let not yourself get niggardly and
34:31afraid to spend
34:33life is good and life is Rich with
34:36things worthwhile and things to enjoy
34:39his friends thanked him and went away
34:42some were silent because they had no
34:44imagination and could not understand
34:47some were sarcastic because they thought
34:49that one so rich should divide with old
34:51friends and not so fortunate
34:54but some had in their eyes a new light
34:57they realized that aldamish had come
34:59back each time to the room of the
35:01scribes because he was watching a man
35:03work his way out of Darkness into light
35:06when that man had found the light a
35:08place awaited him
35:10no one could fill that place until he
35:12had for himself worked out his own
35:14understanding until he was ready for
35:16opportunity
35:17these latter were the ones who in the
35:20following years frequently Revisited
35:22arcade who received them gladly
35:25he counseled with them and gave them
35:27freely of his wisdom as men of broad
35:29experience are always glad to do
35:32and he assisted them in so investing
35:34their savings that it would bring in a
35:36good interest with safety and would
35:37neither be lost nor entangled in
35:39Investments That paid no dividends
35:42the turning point in these men's lives
35:45Came Upon that day when they realized
35:47the truth that had come from algomish to
35:49arkid and from Market to them
35:51a part of all you earn is yours to keep
35:56chapter 3.
35:587 cures for a lean purse
36:01the glory of Babylon endures
36:04down Through the Ages its reputation
36:06comes to us as the richest of cities its
36:09Treasures is fabulous
36:11yet it was not always so
36:14The Riches of Babylon were the results
36:16of the wisdom of its people
36:18they first had to learn how to become
36:20wealthy
36:21when the good King sargin returned to
36:24Babylon after defeating his enemies the
36:27elamites he was confronted with a
36:29serious situation
36:31the Royal Chancellor explained it to the
36:34king thus
36:35after many years of great Prosperity
36:37brought to our people because your
36:39majesty built the Great irrigation
36:40canals and the mighty temples of the
36:42Gods now that these works are completed
36:45the people seem unable to support
36:46themselves
36:48the laborers are without employment
36:51the merchants have few customers
36:54the farmers are unable to sell their
36:56produce
36:57the people have not enough gold to buy
37:00food
37:01but where has all the gold gone that we
37:03spent for these great improvements
37:04demanded the king
37:07it has found its way I fear responded to
37:10Chancellor into the possession of a few
37:12very rich men of our city
37:14it filtered through the fingers of most
37:16our people as quickly as the goat's milk
37:19goes through the strainer
37:21now that the stream of gold has ceased
37:23to flow most of our people have nothing
37:25to for their earnings
37:27the King was thoughtful for some time
37:30then he asked why should so few men be
37:33able to acquire all the gold
37:35because they know how replied the
37:37chancellor
37:39one may not condemn a man for succeeding
37:41because he knows how
37:43neither May one with Justice take away
37:46from a man what he has fairly earned to
37:48give to Men of less ability
37:50but why demanded the king should not all
37:53the people learn how to accumulate gold
37:55and therefore become themselves rich and
37:58prosperous
37:59quite possible your Excellency
38:02but who can teach them
38:04certainly not the priests because they
38:07know not of money making
38:09who knows best in all our city how to
38:11become wealthy Chancellor ask the king
38:15thy question answers itself your majesty
38:18who has amassed the greatest wealth in
38:21Babylon
38:22well said my able Chancellor
38:25it is orchid
38:27he is richest man in Babylon
38:30bring him before me on the morrow
38:33upon the following day as the king had
38:35decreed arcade appeared before him
38:37straight and sprightly despite his three
38:40score years and ten
38:42arcade spoke the king is it true Thou
38:45Art the richest man in Babylon
38:47so it is reported your majesty and no
38:50man disputes it how became as thou so
38:52wealthy
38:54by taking advantage of opportunities
38:56available to all citizens of our good
38:58City
38:59thou hats nothing to start with
39:02only a great desire for wealth
39:05besides this nothing
39:07arcade continued the king our city is in
39:11a very unhappy State because a few men
39:13know how to acquire wealth and therefore
39:15monopolize it while the mass of our
39:17citizens lack the knowledge of how to
39:19keep any part of the gold they receive
39:21it is my desire that Babylon be the
39:24wealthiest city in the world
39:26therefore it must be a city of many
39:29wealthy men
39:30therefore we must teach all the people
39:33how to acquire riches
39:35tell me arcad is there any secret to
39:38acquiring wealth
39:39can it be taught
39:41it is practical your majesty
39:44that which one man knows can be taught
39:46to others
39:48the king's eyes glowed
39:50archid thou speaketh the words I wish to
39:53hear
39:54wilt thou lend thyself to this great
39:56cause
39:57wilt thou teach thy knowledge to a
40:00school for teachers each of whom shall
40:02teach others until there are enough
40:03trained to teach these truths to every
40:05worthy subject in my domain
40:08arkid Bowden said I am thy humble
40:11servant to command
40:12whatever knowledge I possess will I
40:15gladly give for the betterment of my
40:16fellow men and the glory of my king
40:19let your good Chancellor arrange for me
40:21A Class of 100 men and I will teach to
40:24them those seven cures which did fat in
40:26my purse then which there was none
40:28leaner in all Babylon
40:30a fortnight later in compliance with the
40:33King's Command The Chosen hundred
40:35assembled in the Great Hall of the
40:37Temple of learning seated upon colorful
40:39rings in a semicircle
40:41archid sat beside a small tablet upon
40:44which smoked a sacred lamp sending forth
40:46a strange and pleasing odor
40:49behold the richest man in Babylon
40:51whispered a student nudging his neighbor
40:53as archid arose
40:55he is but a man even as the rest of us
40:59as a dutiful subject of our great king
41:01archid began I stand before you in his
41:04service
41:05because once I was a poor youth who did
41:08greatly desire gold and because I found
41:10knowledge that enabled me to acquire it
41:12he asks that I impart unto you my
41:15knowledge
41:16I started my fortune in the humblest way
41:19I had no Advantage not enjoyed as fully
41:22by you and every citizen in Babylon
41:25the first Storehouse of my treasure was
41:27a well purse
41:29I loathe its useless emptiness
41:31I desire to be round and full clinking
41:34with the sound of gold
41:36therefore I saw every remedy for a lean
41:39purse
41:40I found seven
41:42to you who are assembled before me shall
41:46I explain the seven cures for a lean
41:48purse which I do recommend to all men
41:50who desire much gold
41:52each day for seven days will I explain
41:54to you one of the seven remedies
41:57listen attentively to the knowledge that
41:59I will impart
42:01debate it with me
42:03discuss it among yourselves
42:05learn these lessons thoroughly that ye
42:08may also plant in your own purse the
42:10seed of wealth
42:12first must each of you start wisely to
42:14build a Fortune of his own
42:16then wilt thou be competent and only
42:19then to teach these truths to others
42:22I shall teach to you in simple ways how
42:25to fatten your purses
42:26this is the first step leading to the
42:29Temple of wealth and no man May climb
42:31who cannot plant his feet firmly upon
42:33the first step
42:35we shall now consider the first cure
42:38the first cure
42:40start thy purse to fattening
42:42arcid addressed a thoughtful man in the
42:45second row
42:46my good friend at what craft work is
42:49thou
42:50I replied the man Emma scribe and carve
42:53records upon the clay tablets
42:55even at such labor did I myself earn my
42:58first coppers
43:00therefore thou Hast the same opportunity
43:02to build a fortune
43:04he spoke to a floyd-faced man farther
43:07back
43:09pray tell also what Dost thou to earn
43:11thy bread
43:12I responded this man Emma meat butcher
43:16I do buy the goats the farmers raise and
43:19kill them and sell the meat to the
43:20housewives and the hides to the Sandal
43:22makers
43:24because thou Dost also labor and earn
43:26thou Hast every advantage to succeed
43:28that I did possess
43:30in this way did arcade proceed to find
43:33out how each man labored to earn his
43:35living
43:36when he had done questioning them he
43:38said
43:39now my students ye can see that there
43:42are many trades and labors at which men
43:44may earn coins
43:46each of the ways of earning is a stream
43:48of gold from which the worker doth
43:50divert by his Labor's apportioned to his
43:52own purse
43:54therefore into the purse of each of you
43:56flows a stream of coins large or small
43:58according to his ability
44:00is it not so
44:02thereupon they agreed that it was so
44:05then continued arcid if each of you
44:08desireth to build for himself a fortune
44:10is it not wise to start by utilizing
44:13that source of wealth which he already
44:15has established
44:16to this they agreed
44:18then R could turn to a humble man who
44:21had declared himself an egg Merchant
44:23if thou select one of thy baskets and
44:26put into it each morning 10 eggs and
44:28take out from it each evening nine eggs
44:30what will eventually happen
44:32it will become in time overflowing
44:35why
44:37because each day I put in one more egg
44:39than I take out
44:41Arc had turned to the class with a smile
44:44does any man here have a lean purse
44:47first they looked amused
44:49then they laughed
44:51lastly they waved their purses in jest
44:55alright he continued now I shall tell
44:58thee the first remedy I learned to cure
45:00a lean purse
45:01do exactly as I have suggested to the
45:04egg Merchant
45:05for every 10 coins thou placest within
45:08thy purse take out for use but nine
45:11thy purse will start to fatten at once
45:13and its increasing weight will feel good
45:15in thy hand and bring satisfaction to
45:17thy soul
45:18deride not what I say because of its
45:21simplicity
45:22truth is always simple
45:25I told the I would tell how Built My
45:27fortune
45:28this was my beginning
45:30I too carried a lean purse and cursed it
45:34because there was not within to satisfy
45:35my desires
45:37but when I began to take out from my
45:39purse but nine parts of ten I put in it
45:42began to fatten
45:44so will thine
45:46now I will tell a strange truth the
45:48reason for which I know not
45:50when I ceased to pay out more than nine
45:53tenths of my earnings I managed to get
45:55along just as well
45:57I was not shorter than before
45:59also air long Bitcoins come to me more
46:03easily than before
46:05surely it is a law of the gods that unto
46:07him who keepeth and spendeth not a
46:10certain part of all his earnings shall
46:12gold come more easily
46:14likewise him whose purse is empty does
46:17gold avoid
46:18which desirest thou the most
46:21is it the gratification of thy desires
46:23of each day a jewel a bit of finery
46:26better Raymond more food things quickly
46:29gone and forgotten
46:31or is it substantial belongings gold
46:33lands herds merchandise income bringing
46:37Investments
46:38the coins thou takeest from thy purse
46:41bring the first
46:42the coins thou leavest within it will
46:44bring the latter
46:46this my students was the first cure I
46:49did discover for my lean purse for each
46:5210 coins I put in to spend but nine
46:55debate this amongst yourselves
46:58If any man proves it untrue tell me upon
47:01the morrow when we shall meet again
47:03the second cure
47:05control thy expenditures
47:08some of your members my students have
47:11asked me this how can a man keep one
47:13tenth of all he earns in his purse when
47:15all the coins he earns are not enough
47:17for his necessary expenses
47:19so did arcade address his students upon
47:22the second day
47:23yesterday how many of the carried lean
47:26purses
47:27all of us entered the class
47:30yet thou do not all learn the same
47:33some earn much more than others
47:36some have much larger families to
47:38support
47:39yet all purses were equally lean
47:43now I will tell the an unusual truth
47:45about men and Sons of men
47:48it is this that what each of us calls
47:50are necessary expenses will always grow
47:53to equal our incomes unless we protest
47:55to the contrary
47:57confused not the necessary expenses with
48:00thy desires
48:01each of you together with your good
48:03families have more desires than your
48:05earnings can gratify
48:07therefore I thy earnings spent to
48:09gratify these Desires in so far as they
48:12will go
48:13still thou retainest many unratified
48:16desires
48:17all men are burdened with more desires
48:20than they can gratify
48:22because of my wealthinkist though I may
48:24gratify every desire
48:26it is a false idea
48:28there are limits to my time
48:31there are limits to my strength
48:34there are limits to the distance I may
48:36travel
48:37there are limits to what I may eat
48:40there are limits to the zest with which
48:42I may enjoy
48:44I say to you that just as weeds grow in
48:46a field wherever the farmer leaves space
48:48for their Roots even so freely do
48:50desires grow in men Whenever there is a
48:53possibility of their being gratified
48:55thy desires are a multitude and those
48:58that thou mayest gratify are but few
49:01study thoughtfully thy accustomed habits
49:04of living
49:05herein may be most often found certain
49:07accepted expenses that may wisely be
49:10reduced or eliminated
49:12let thy motto be 100 of appreciated
49:15value demanded for each coin spent
49:18therefore engrave upon the clay each
49:21thing for which thou desireth to spend
49:24select those that are necessary in
49:26others that are possible through the
49:27expenditure of nine tenths of thy income
49:31cross out the rest and consider them but
49:33a part of that great multitude of
49:35desires that must go unsatisfied and
49:37regret them not
49:39budget then thy necessary expenses
49:42touch not the one tenth that is
49:44fattening thy purse
49:46let this be thy great desire that is
49:48being fulfilled
49:50keep working with a budget keep
49:52adjusting it to healthy
49:54make it thy first assistant in defending
49:56thy fattening purse
49:58here upon one of the students wearing a
50:01robe of red and gold arose and said I am
50:04a free man
50:06I believe that it is my right to enjoy
50:08the good things of life
50:10therefore do I rebel against the slavery
50:12of a budget which determines just how
50:15much I may spend and for what
50:17I feel it would take much pleasure for
50:19my life and make me little more than a
50:21pack ass to carry a burden
50:23to him archid replied who my friend
50:26would determine thy budget
50:28I would make it for myself responded to
50:31protesting one
50:32in that case where a pack has to budget
50:35his burden would he include there in
50:37jewels and rugs and heavy bars of gold
50:40not so
50:41he would include hay and Grain and a bag
50:44of water for the Desert Trail
50:46the purpose of a budget is to help thy
50:49purse to fatten
50:50it is to assist thee to have thy
50:52necessities and insofar as attainable by
50:55other desires
50:57it is to enable thee to realize thy most
51:00cherished desires by defending them from
51:02thy casual wishes
51:04like a bright light in a dark cave that
51:06budget shows up the leaks from thy purse
51:08and enables thee to stop them and
51:10control thy expenditures for definite
51:12and gratifying purposes
51:14this then is the second cure for a lean
51:17purse
51:19budget by expenses that thou mayest have
51:21coins to pay for thy Necessities to pay
51:24for thy enjoyments and to gratify thy
51:26worthwhile desires without spending more
51:28than nine tenths of thy earnings
51:30the third cure
51:32make thy gold multiply
51:35behold Eileen purse is fattening
51:38thou Hast disciplined thyself to leave
51:40therein one tenth of all thou earneth
51:43thou Hast controlled thy expenditures to
51:46protect thy growing treasure
51:48next we will consider means to put thy
51:50treasure to labor and to increase
51:53gold in a purse is gratifying to own and
51:56satisfy the miserly soul but earns
51:58nothing
51:59the gold we may retain from our earnings
52:02is but the start
52:03the earnings it will make shall build
52:05our fortunes
52:07so spoke arcade upon the third day to
52:10his class
52:11how therefore may we put our goal to
52:13work
52:14my first investment was unfortunate for
52:17I lost all
52:18its tale I will relate later
52:21my first profitable investment was a
52:24loan I made to a man named agar a shield
52:26maker
52:27once each year did he buy large
52:29shipments of bronze brought from across
52:31the sea to use in his trade
52:34lacking sufficient Capital to pay the
52:36merchants he would borrow from those who
52:38had extra coins
52:40he was an honorable man
52:42his borrowing he would repay together
52:45with a liberal rental as he sold his
52:47Shields
52:48each time I loan to him I loaned back
52:51also the rental he had paid to me
52:53therefore not only did my Capital
52:55increase but its earnings likewise
52:58increased
52:59most gratifying was it to have these
53:01sums returned to my purse
53:04I tell you my students a man's wealth is
53:07not in the coins he carries in his purse
53:09it is the income he builteth the golden
53:12stream that continually floweth into his
53:14purse and keepeth it always bulging
53:17that is what every man desireth
53:20that is what thou each one of thee
53:22desireth an income that continueth to
53:25come whether thou work or travel
53:27great income one have acquired
53:30so great that I am called a very rich
53:32man
53:33my loans to agar were my first training
53:36in profitable investment
53:38gaining wisdom from this experience I
53:41extended my loans and Investments as my
53:43Capital increased
53:45from a few sources at first for many
53:48sources later flowed into my purse a
53:50golden stream of wealth available for
53:52such wise uses as I should decide
53:55behold from my humble earnings I had
53:57begotten a horde of golden slaves each
54:00laboring and earning more gold
54:02as they labored for me so their children
54:04also labored and their children's
54:06children until great was the income from
54:09their combined efforts
54:10gold increaseth rapidly when making
54:13reasonable earnings as thou Wilt see
54:15from the following a farmer when his
54:17first son was born took 10 pieces of
54:20silver to a money lender and asked him
54:22to keep it on rental for his son until
54:24he became 20 years of age
54:26this the money lender did and agreed the
54:29rental should be one-fourth of its value
54:31each four years
54:33the farmer asked because this sum he had
54:36set aside as belonging to his son that
54:38the rental be add to the principal
54:40when the boy had reached the age of 20
54:43years the farmer again went to the money
54:45lender to inquire about the silver
54:48the money lender explained that because
54:50this sum had been increased by compound
54:52interest the original 10 pieces of
54:55silver had now grown to 30 and one-half
54:57pieces
54:58the farmer was well pleased and because
55:01the sun did not need the coins he left
55:03them with the money lender
55:05when the sun became 50 years of age the
55:08father meantime having passed to the
55:10other world the money lender paid the
55:12son in settlement 167 pieces of silver
55:16thus in 50 years had the investment
55:19multiplied itself at rental almost 17
55:22times
55:23this then is the third cure for a lean
55:26purse to put each coin to laboring that
55:29it may reproduce its kind even as the
55:31flocks of the field and help bring to
55:33the income a stream of wealth that shall
55:35flow constantly into thy purse
55:38the fourth cure
55:40guard thy Treasures from loss
55:42Misfortune loves a shining mark
55:45gold in a man's purse must be guarded
55:48with firmness Elsa be lost
55:50thus it is wise that we must first
55:53secure small amounts and learn to
55:55protect them before the gods entrust us
55:57with larger
55:58so spoke arcade upon the fourth day to
56:01his class
56:02every owner of gold is tempted by
56:05opportunities whereby it would seem that
56:07he could make large sums by its
56:09investment in most plausible projects
56:11often friends and relatives are eagerly
56:14entering such investment and urge him to
56:16follow
56:17the first sound principle of investment
56:20is security for thy principle
56:22Is it wise to be intrigued by larger
56:24earnings when their principal may be
56:26lost
56:27I say not
56:29the penalty of risk is probable loss
56:33study carefully before parting with thy
56:35treasure each assurance that it may be
56:37safely reclaimed
56:39be not misled by thine own romantic
56:42desires to make wealth rapidly
56:44before thou loan it to any man assure
56:46thyself of his ability to repay and his
56:49reputation for doing so that thou mayest
56:51not unwittingly be making him a present
56:53of thy hard-earned treasure
56:55before thou entrusted as an investment
56:58in any field acquaint thyself with the
57:00dangers which may beset it
57:02my own first investment was a tragedy to
57:05me at the time
57:06the guarded Savings of a year I did
57:08entrust to a brickmaker named asmer who
57:11was traveling over the far seas and
57:13entire agreed to buy for me the rare
57:16jewels of the Phoenicians
57:18these we would sell upon his return and
57:20divide the profits
57:22the Phoenicians were Scoundrels and sold
57:24him bits of glass
57:26my treasure was lost
57:29today my training would show to me at
57:31once the Folly of entrusting a
57:33brickmaker to buy jewels
57:35therefore do I advise thee from the
57:37wisdom of my experiences be not too
57:40confident of thine own wisdom in
57:42entrusting thy Treasures to the possible
57:44pitfalls of Investments
57:46better by far to consult the wisdom of
57:49those experienced in handling money for
57:51profit
57:52such advice is freely given for the
57:54asking and may readily possess a value
57:56equal in gold to the sum thou
57:58considerest investing
58:00in truth such is its actual value if it
58:03save thee from loss
58:05this then is the fourth cure for a lean
58:08purse and of great importance if it
58:10prevent thy purse from being emptied
58:12once it has become well filled
58:14guide thy treasure from loss by
58:17investing only where thy principle is
58:19safe where it may be reclaimed if
58:21desirable and where thou will not fail
58:23to collect a fair rental
58:25consult with wise men
58:27secure the advice of those experienced
58:30in the profitable handling of gold
58:32let their wisdom protect thy treasure
58:35from unsafe Investments
58:37the fifth cure
58:39make of thy dwelling a profitable
58:41investment
58:42if a man setteth aside nine parts of his
58:45earnings upon which to live and enjoy
58:47life and if any part of this nine Parts
58:49he can turn into a profitable investment
58:52without detriment to his well-being then
58:54so much faster will his treasures grow
58:57so spake archit to his class at their
59:00fifth lesson
59:01all too many of our men of Babylon do
59:03raise their families in unseemly
59:05quarters
59:07they do pay to exacting landlords
59:09liberal rentals for rooms where their
59:11wives have not a spot to raise the
59:13blooms that glad in a woman's heart and
59:15their children have no place to play
59:16their games except in the unclean alleys
59:20No Man's family can fully enjoy life
59:22unless they do have a plot of ground
59:24wherein children can play in the clean
59:26Earth and where the wife may raise not
59:28only blossoms but good Rich herbs to
59:31feed her family
59:32to a man's heart it brings gladness to
59:35eat the figs from his own trees and The
59:37Grapes of his own Vines
59:39to own his own domicile and to have it a
59:42place he is proud to care for part of
59:44confidence in his heart and greater
59:46effort behind all his endeavors
59:48therefore do I recommend that every man
59:51on the roof that sheltereth him and his
59:54nor is it beyond the ability of any
59:56well-intentioned man to own his home
59:59hath not our great king So widely
1:00:02extended the walls of Babylon that
1:00:04within them much land is now unused and
1:00:06may be purchased at some's most
1:00:08reasonable
1:00:09also I say to you my students that the
1:00:12money lenders gladly consider the
1:00:14desires of men who seek homes and land
1:00:16for their families
1:00:18readily May thou borrow to pay the
1:00:20brickmaker and the Builder for such
1:00:22commendable purposes if thou can show a
1:00:24reasonable portion of the necessary sum
1:00:27which thou thyself hath provided for the
1:00:29purpose
1:00:30then when the house be built thou canst
1:00:33pay the money lender with the same
1:00:34regularity as thou didst pay the
1:00:36landlord
1:00:37because each payment will reduce thy
1:00:40indebtedness to the money lender a few
1:00:42years will satisfy his loan
1:00:44then will thy heart be glad because thou
1:00:47Wilt own in thy own right a valuable
1:00:49property and thy only cost will be the
1:00:51king's taxes
1:00:53also will thy Good Wife go more often to
1:00:55the river to wash thy robes that each
1:00:58time returning she may bring a goat skin
1:01:00of water to pour upon the growing things
1:01:03thus come many blessings to the man who
1:01:05owneth his own house
1:01:07and greatly will it reduce his cost of
1:01:10living making available more of his
1:01:12earnings for pleasures and the
1:01:13gratification of his desires
1:01:16this then is the fifth cure for a lean
1:01:19purse own thy own home
1:01:21the sixth cure
1:01:23ensure a future income
1:01:26the life of every man proceedeth from
1:01:28his childhood to his old age
1:01:31this is the path of life and no man May
1:01:33deviate from it unless the gods call him
1:01:35prematurely to the world Beyond
1:01:38therefore do I say that it behooves a
1:01:40man to make preparation for a suitable
1:01:42income in the days to come when he is no
1:01:45longer young and to make preparations
1:01:47for his family should he be no longer
1:01:49with them to comfort and support them
1:01:51this lesson shall instruct thee in
1:01:53providing a full purse when time has
1:01:55made thee less able to learn
1:01:57so archit addressed his class upon the
1:02:00sixth day
1:02:01the man who because of his understanding
1:02:04of the laws of wealth acquireth a
1:02:06growing Surplus should give thought to
1:02:09those Future Days
1:02:10he should plan certain Investments or
1:02:13provision that may endure safely for
1:02:15many years yet will be available when
1:02:17the time arrives which he has so wisely
1:02:19anticipated
1:02:21there are diverse Ways by which a man
1:02:23May provide with safety for his future
1:02:26he may provide a hiding place and their
1:02:28various secret treasure
1:02:30yet no matter with what skill it be
1:02:33hidden it may nevertheless become the
1:02:35loot of Thieves
1:02:36for this reason I recommend not this
1:02:39plan
1:02:40a man made by houses or lands for this
1:02:43purpose
1:02:44if wisely chosen as to their usefulness
1:02:46and value in the future they are
1:02:48permanent in their value and their
1:02:50earnings or their sale will provide well
1:02:52for his purpose
1:02:54a man May loan a small son to the money
1:02:56lender and increase it at regular
1:02:58periods
1:03:00the rental which the money lender adds
1:03:02to this will largely add to its increase
1:03:05I do know a sandal maker named Anson who
1:03:08explained to me not long ago that each
1:03:10week for eight years he had deposited
1:03:12with his money lender two pieces of
1:03:14silver
1:03:15the money lender had but recently given
1:03:18him an accounting over which he greatly
1:03:19rejoiced
1:03:21the total of his small deposits with
1:03:23their rental at the customary rate of
1:03:25one fourth their value for each four
1:03:27years had now become a thousand and
1:03:30forty pieces of silver
1:03:32I did gladly encourage him further by
1:03:34demonstrating to him with my knowledge
1:03:36of the numbers that in 12 years more if
1:03:38he would keep his regular deposits of
1:03:40but two pieces of silver each week the
1:03:43money lender would then owe him 4 000
1:03:45pieces of silver a worthy competence for
1:03:48the rest of his life
1:03:49surely when such a small payment made
1:03:52with regularity death produce such
1:03:54profitable results no man can afford not
1:03:57to ensure a treasure for his old age and
1:03:59the protection of his family no matter
1:04:01how prosperous his business and his
1:04:03Investments may be
1:04:04I would that I might say more about this
1:04:07in my mind rests a belief that someday
1:04:10wise thinking men will devise a plan to
1:04:12ensure against death whereby many men
1:04:14pay in but a trifling some regularly the
1:04:17aggregate making a handsome sum for the
1:04:19family of each member who passeth to the
1:04:21Beyond
1:04:23this do I see is something desirable and
1:04:25which I could highly recommend
1:04:27but today it is not possible because it
1:04:30must reach beyond the life of any man or
1:04:32any partnership to operate
1:04:35it must be as stable as the King's
1:04:37throne
1:04:38someday do I feel that such a plan shall
1:04:41come to pass and be a great blessing to
1:04:43many men because even the first small
1:04:45payment will make available a snug
1:04:47Fortune for the family of a member
1:04:49should he pass on
1:04:50but because we live in our own day and
1:04:53not in the days which are to come must
1:04:55we take advantage of those means and
1:04:57ways of accomplishing our purposes
1:04:59therefore do I recommend to all men that
1:05:02they by wise and well thought out
1:05:04methods do provide against a lean purse
1:05:07in their mature years
1:05:09for a lean purse to a man no longer able
1:05:12to earn or to a family without its head
1:05:14is a sore tragedy
1:05:16this then is the sixth cure for a lean
1:05:19purse
1:05:20provide an advance for the needs of thy
1:05:22growing age and the protection of thy
1:05:24family
1:05:25the seventh cure
1:05:28increase thy ability to earn
1:05:30this day do I speak to thee my students
1:05:33of one of the most vital remedies for a
1:05:35lean purse
1:05:37yet I will talk not of gold but of
1:05:39yourselves of the men beneath the Robes
1:05:42of Many Colors who do sit before me
1:05:45I will talk to you of those things
1:05:46within the minds and lives of men which
1:05:49do work for or against their success
1:05:52so did arcid address his class upon the
1:05:54seventh day
1:05:56not long ago came to me a young man
1:05:58seeking to borrow
1:06:00when I questioned him the cause of his
1:06:02necessity he complained that his
1:06:04earnings were insufficient to pay his
1:06:06expenses
1:06:07thereupon I explained to him this being
1:06:10the case he was a poor customer for the
1:06:12money lender as he possessed no Surplus
1:06:15earning capacity to repay the loan
1:06:18what you need young man I told him is to
1:06:21earn more coins
1:06:23what Dost thou to increase thy capacity
1:06:25to earn
1:06:27all that I can do he replied
1:06:30six times within two moons have I
1:06:32approached my master to request my pay
1:06:34be increased but without success
1:06:37no man can go oftener than that
1:06:40we may smile at his Simplicity yet he
1:06:43did possess one of the vital
1:06:44requirements to increase his earnings
1:06:47within him was a strong desire to earn
1:06:50more a proper and commendable desire
1:06:53preceding accomplishment must be desire
1:06:57thy desires must be strong indefinite
1:07:00General desires are but weak longings
1:07:04for a man to wish to be rich is of
1:07:06little purpose
1:07:07for a man to desire five pieces of gold
1:07:10is a tangible desire which he can press
1:07:12to fulfillment
1:07:14after he has backed his desire for five
1:07:17pieces of gold with strength of purpose
1:07:19to secure it next he can find similar
1:07:21ways to obtain 10 pieces and then 20
1:07:23pieces and later a thousand pieces and
1:07:26behold he has become wealthy
1:07:29in learning to secure his one definite
1:07:31small desire he hath trained himself to
1:07:33secure a larger one
1:07:35this is the process by which wealth is
1:07:38accumulated first in small sums then in
1:07:41larger ones as a man learns and becomes
1:07:43more capable
1:07:45desires must be simple and definite
1:07:48they defeat their own purpose should
1:07:50they be too many too confusing or Beyond
1:07:53a man's training to accomplish
1:07:55as a man perfect death himself in his
1:07:58calling even so doth his ability to earn
1:08:00increase
1:08:01in those days when I was a humble scribe
1:08:04carving upon a clay for a few coppers
1:08:06each day I observe that other workers
1:08:08did more than I and were paid more
1:08:11therefore did I determine that I would
1:08:13be exceeded by none
1:08:15nor did it take long for me to discover
1:08:17the reason for their greater success
1:08:20more interest in my work more
1:08:22concentration upon my task more
1:08:25persistence in my effort and behold few
1:08:28men could carve more tablets in a day
1:08:30than I
1:08:31with reasonable promptness my increased
1:08:34skill was rewarded nor was it necessary
1:08:36for me to go six times to my master to
1:08:39request recognition
1:08:41the more of wisdom we know the more we
1:08:43may earn
1:08:45that man who seeks to learn more of his
1:08:47craft shall be richly rewarded
1:08:49if he is an artisan he may seek to learn
1:08:52the methods and the tools of those most
1:08:54skillful in the same line
1:08:57if he labareth at the law or at healing
1:08:59he may consult and exchange knowledge
1:09:01with others of his calling
1:09:04if he be a merchant he may continually
1:09:06seek better Goods that can be purchased
1:09:08at lower prices
1:09:10always do the Affairs of man change and
1:09:13improve because key-minded men seek
1:09:15greater skill that they may better serve
1:09:17those upon whose patronage they depend
1:09:20therefore I urge all men to be in the
1:09:23front rank of progress and not to stand
1:09:25still lest they be left behind
1:09:28many things come to make a man's life
1:09:30rich with gainful experiences
1:09:33such things as the following a man must
1:09:35do if you respect himself
1:09:38he must pay his debts with all the
1:09:40promptness within his power not
1:09:42purchasing that for which he is unable
1:09:44to pay
1:09:45he must take care of his family that
1:09:47they may think and speak well of him
1:09:50he must make a will of record that in
1:09:52case the gods call him proper and
1:09:54honorable division of his property be
1:09:56accomplished
1:09:58he must have compassion upon those who
1:10:00are injured and Smitten by Misfortune
1:10:02and Aid them within reasonable limits
1:10:05he must do Deeds of thoughtfulness to
1:10:07those dear to him
1:10:08thus the seventh and last remedy for a
1:10:11lean purse is to cultivate thy own
1:10:13powers to study and become wiser to
1:10:16become more skillful to so act as to
1:10:18respect thyself
1:10:20thereby shalt thou acquire confidence in
1:10:22thyself to achieve thy carefully
1:10:24considered desires
1:10:26these then are the seven cures for a
1:10:28lean purse which out of the experience
1:10:31of a long and successful life I do urge
1:10:34for all men who desire wealth
1:10:36there is more gold in Babylon my
1:10:39students than thou dreamest of
1:10:42there is abundance for all
1:10:44go thou forth and practice these truths
1:10:46that thou mayest prosper and grow
1:10:48wealthy as is thy right
1:10:51go thou forth and teach these truths
1:10:53that every honorable subject of his
1:10:55majesty may also share liberally in the
1:10:57ample wealth of our beloved City
1:11:01chapter 4.
1:11:03meet the goddess of good luck
1:11:06if a man be lucky there is no
1:11:08foretelling the possible extent of his
1:11:10good fortune
1:11:11pitch him into the Euphrates and like
1:11:13his not he will swim out with a pearl in
1:11:15his hand
1:11:17Babylonian proverb
1:11:19the desire to be lucky is universal
1:11:22it was just as strong in the breasts of
1:11:24men four thousand years ago in ancient
1:11:26Babylon as it is in the hearts of men
1:11:29today
1:11:30we all hope to be favored by the
1:11:32Whimsical goddess of good luck
1:11:34is there some way we can meet her in
1:11:36attract not only her favorable attention
1:11:39but her generous favors
1:11:41is there a way to attract good luck
1:11:44that is just what the men of ancient
1:11:46Babylon wish to know
1:11:48it is exactly what they decided to find
1:11:51out
1:11:52they were shrewd men and Keen thinkers
1:11:55that explains why their city became the
1:11:57richest and most powerful city of their
1:12:00time
1:12:01in that distant past they had no schools
1:12:04or colleges
1:12:05nevertheless they had a center of
1:12:07learning and a very practical one it was
1:12:10among the towered buildings in Babylon
1:12:13was one that ranked in importance with
1:12:15the Palace of the king the Hanging
1:12:17Gardens and the temples of the Gods
1:12:20you will find scant mention of it in the
1:12:22history books more likely no mention at
1:12:24all yet it exerted a powerful influence
1:12:27upon the thought of that time
1:12:29this building was the Temple of learning
1:12:31where the wisdom of the past was
1:12:33expounded by voluntary teachers and
1:12:35where subjects of popular interest were
1:12:37discussed in open forms
1:12:39within its walls all men met as equals
1:12:43the humblest of slaves could dispute
1:12:45with impunity the opinions of a prince
1:12:47of the Royal House
1:12:49among the many who frequented the Temple
1:12:51of learning was a wise rich man named
1:12:54arcat called the richest man in Babylon
1:12:57he had his own special Hall where almost
1:13:00any evening a large group of men some
1:13:02old some very young but mostly
1:13:05middle-aged gathered to discuss and
1:13:07argue interesting subjects
1:13:09suppose we listen in to see whether they
1:13:12knew how to attract good luck
1:13:14the sun had just set like a great red
1:13:16ball of Fire shining through the haze of
1:13:18desert dust when arkid strolled to his
1:13:21accustomed platform
1:13:22already full four scoremen were awaiting
1:13:25his arrival reclining on their small
1:13:27rugs spread upon the floor
1:13:30were still arriving
1:13:32what shall we discuss this night
1:13:34arcade inquired
1:13:37after a brief hesitation a tall cloth
1:13:39Weaver addressed him arising as was the
1:13:42custom
1:13:43I have a subject I would like to hear
1:13:45discussed yet hesitate to offer lest it
1:13:48seem ridiculous to you Market and my
1:13:50good friends here
1:13:52upon being urged to offer it both by
1:13:55Orchid and by calls from the others he
1:13:57continued this day I have been lucky for
1:14:00I have found a purse in which there are
1:14:01pieces of gold
1:14:03to continue to be lucky is my great
1:14:06desire
1:14:07feeling that all men share with me this
1:14:09desire I do suggest we debate how to
1:14:12attract good luck that we may discover
1:14:14ways it can be enticed to one
1:14:16a most interesting subject has been
1:14:19offered arcade commented one most worthy
1:14:21of our discussion
1:14:23to some men good luck bespeaks but a
1:14:26chance happening that like an accident
1:14:28maybe fall one without purpose or Reason
1:14:31others do believe that the instigator of
1:14:34all good fortune is our most bountiest
1:14:36goddess ashta ever anxious to reward
1:14:39with generous gifts those who please her
1:14:42speak up my friends what say you shall
1:14:45we seek to find if there be means by
1:14:47which good luck may be enticed to visit
1:14:49each and all of us
1:14:51yeah
1:14:53yeah
1:14:54and much of it responded the growing
1:14:57group of eager listeners
1:14:59thereupon arcade continued to start our
1:15:01discussion let us first hear from those
1:15:04Among Us who have enjoyed experiences
1:15:05similar to that of the cloth Weaver in
1:15:08finding or receiving without effort upon
1:15:10their part valuable Treasures or jewels
1:15:13there was a pause in which all looked
1:15:15about expecting someone to reply but no
1:15:18one did
1:15:19what no one
1:15:21archid said then rare indeed must be
1:15:24this kind of good luck
1:15:26who now will offer a suggestion as to
1:15:28where we shall continue our search
1:15:31that I will do spoke a well-robed young
1:15:33man arising
1:15:36when a man speaketh of luck is it not
1:15:38natural that his thoughts turn to the
1:15:40gaining tables
1:15:41is it not that we find many men quoting
1:15:43the favor of the goddess and hope she
1:15:45will bless them with Rich winnings
1:15:48as he resumed his seat of voice called
1:15:50do not stop
1:15:52continue thy story
1:15:54tell us tits thou find favor with the
1:15:57goddess at the gaming tables
1:15:59did she turn the cubes with red side up
1:16:01so thou fill thy purse at the Dealer's
1:16:03expense or did she permit the blue sides
1:16:06to come up so the dealer raked in a
1:16:07hard-earned pieces of silver
1:16:10the young man joined the good-natured
1:16:12laughter then replied I am not averse to
1:16:15admitting she seemed not to know I was
1:16:17even there
1:16:18but how about the rest of you
1:16:20have you found her waiting about such
1:16:22places to roll the cubes in your favor
1:16:25we are eager to hear as well as to learn
1:16:29a wise Start Broken arcade
1:16:32we meet here to consider all sides of
1:16:34each question
1:16:36to ignore the gaming table would be to
1:16:38overlook an instinct common to most men
1:16:40the love of taking a chance with a small
1:16:43amount of silver in the hope of winning
1:16:44much gold
1:16:46that doth remind me of the races but
1:16:49yesterday called out another listener
1:16:52if the goddess frequents the gaming
1:16:54tables certainly she dosed not Overlook
1:16:56the races where the Gilded chariots and
1:16:58the foaming horses offer far more
1:17:00excitement
1:17:02tell us honestly arcad did she whisper
1:17:05to you to place your bet upon those gray
1:17:07horses from Nineveh yesterday
1:17:09I was standing just behind the and could
1:17:11scarce believe my ears when I heard the
1:17:13place thy bed upon the grace
1:17:16thou knowest as well as any of us that
1:17:18no team in all Assyria can beat our
1:17:20beloved base in a fair race
1:17:23ditz the goddess whisper in thy ear to
1:17:25bet upon the grace because at the last
1:17:27turn the inside black would stumble and
1:17:30so interfere with our base that the
1:17:32Grays would win the race and score an
1:17:33unearned victory
1:17:35arcade smiled indulgently at the banter
1:17:38what reason have we to feel the good
1:17:40goddess would take that much interest in
1:17:42any man's bet Upon A Horse Race
1:17:45to me she is a goddess of love and
1:17:47dignity whose pleasure it is to Aid
1:17:49those who are in need and to reward
1:17:51those who are deserving
1:17:53I look to find her not at the gaming
1:17:55tables or the races where men lose more
1:17:58gold than they win but in other places
1:18:00where the doings of men are more
1:18:01worthwhile and more worthy of reward
1:18:04in tilling the soil in honest trading in
1:18:07all of man's occupations there is
1:18:10opportunity to make a profit upon his
1:18:12efforts and his transactions
1:18:14perhaps not all the time will he be
1:18:16rewarded because sometimes his judgment
1:18:18may be faulty and other times the winds
1:18:21and the weather May defeat his efforts
1:18:24yet if he persists he may usually expect
1:18:27to realize his profit
1:18:29this is so because the chances of profit
1:18:31are always in his favor
1:18:34but when a man playeth the games the
1:18:36situation is reversed for the chances of
1:18:39profit are always against him and always
1:18:41in favor of the gamekeeper
1:18:43the game is so arranged that it will
1:18:45always favor the keeper
1:18:47it is his business at which he plans to
1:18:50make a liberal profit for himself from
1:18:52the coins bet by the players
1:18:54few players realize how certain are the
1:18:57gamekeepers profits and how uncertain
1:18:59are their own chances to win
1:19:01for example let us consider Wagers
1:19:04placed upon the cube
1:19:06each time it is cast we bet Which side
1:19:08will be Uppermost
1:19:10if it be the red side the game master
1:19:12pays to us four times our bet
1:19:15but if any other of the five sides come
1:19:17up almost we lose our bet
1:19:20thus the figures show that for each cast
1:19:22we have five chances to lose but because
1:19:25the red pays four for one we have four
1:19:28chances to win
1:19:29in a night's play the game master can
1:19:32expect to keep for his profit one-fifth
1:19:34of all the coins wagered
1:19:36can a man expect to win more than
1:19:38occasionally against odds so arranged
1:19:40that he should lose one-fifth of all his
1:19:42bets
1:19:43yet some men do win large sums at times
1:19:46volunteered one of the listeners
1:19:49quite so they do arcade continued
1:19:52realizing this the question comes to me
1:19:55whether money is secured in such ways
1:19:57brings permanent value to those who are
1:19:59thus lucky
1:20:00among my acquaintances are many of the
1:20:03successful men of Babylon yet among them
1:20:05I am unable to name a single one who
1:20:07started his success from such a source
1:20:10you who are gathered here tonight know
1:20:12many more of our substantial citizens
1:20:15to me it would be of much interest to
1:20:17learn how many of our successful
1:20:19citizens can credit the gaming tables
1:20:21with their start to success
1:20:23suppose each of you tell of those you
1:20:25know
1:20:26what say you
1:20:28after a prolonged silence a wag ventured
1:20:31woodstai inquiry include the gamekeepers
1:20:34if you think of no one else I could
1:20:36responded
1:20:38if not one of you can think of anyone
1:20:40else then how about yourselves
1:20:42are there any consistent winners with us
1:20:45who hesitate to advise such a source for
1:20:47their incomes
1:20:49his challenge was answered by a series
1:20:51of groans from the rear taken up and
1:20:53spread amid much laughter
1:20:55it would seem we are not seeking good
1:20:57luck in such places as the goddess
1:20:59frequency he continued
1:21:02therefore let us explore other fields
1:21:05we have not found it in picking up lost
1:21:07wallets
1:21:08neither have we found it haunting the
1:21:10gaming tables
1:21:12as to the races I must confess to have
1:21:15lost far more coins there than I have
1:21:17ever won
1:21:18now suppose we consider our trades and
1:21:21businesses
1:21:22is it not natural if we conclude a
1:21:25profitable transaction to consider it
1:21:27not good luck but a just reward for our
1:21:29efforts
1:21:30I am inclined to think we may be
1:21:32overlooking the gifts of the goddess
1:21:35perhaps she really does assist us when
1:21:37we do not appreciate her generosity
1:21:40who can suggest further discussion
1:21:43thereupon an elderly Merchant arose
1:21:45smoothing his genteel white robe
1:21:48with thy permission most honorable
1:21:50arcade and my friends I offer a
1:21:52suggestion
1:21:54if as you have said we take credit to
1:21:57our own industry and ability for our
1:21:59business success why not consider the
1:22:01successes we almost enjoy but which
1:22:03escaped us happenings which would have
1:22:05been most profitable
1:22:07they would have been rare examples of
1:22:09good luck if they had actually happened
1:22:12because they were not brought to
1:22:14fulfillment we cannot consider them as
1:22:16our just Rewards
1:22:18surely many men here have such
1:22:19experiences to relate
1:22:22here is a wise approach arcade approved
1:22:25who among you have had good luck within
1:22:27your grasp only to see it Escape
1:22:30many hands were raised among them that
1:22:32of the merchant
1:22:34I could motion to him to speak
1:22:36as you suggested this approach we should
1:22:39like to hear first from you
1:22:41I will gladly relate a tale he resumed
1:22:44that Duff illustrate how closely unto a
1:22:47man good luck may approach and how
1:22:48blindly he may permit it to escape much
1:22:51to his loss in later regret
1:22:53many years ago when I was a young man
1:22:56just married and well started to earning
1:22:58my father did come one day in urge most
1:23:01strongly that I enter in an investment
1:23:04the son of one of his good friends had
1:23:06taken notice of a Barren tract of land
1:23:08not far beyond the outer walls of our
1:23:10city
1:23:11it lay high above the canal where no
1:23:14water could reach it
1:23:15the son of my father's friend devised a
1:23:18plan to purchase this land build three
1:23:20large water wheels that could be
1:23:22operated by oxen and thereby raise the
1:23:24life-giving waters to the fertile soil
1:23:27this accomplished he planned to divide
1:23:30into small tracks and sell to the
1:23:31residents of the city for herb patches
1:23:34the son of my father's friend did not
1:23:37possess sufficient gold to complete such
1:23:39an undertaking
1:23:40like myself he was a young man earning a
1:23:43fairsome
1:23:45his father like mine was a man of large
1:23:48family and small means
1:23:50he therefore decided to interest a group
1:23:53of men to enter the Enterprise with him
1:23:56the group was to comprise 12 each of
1:23:59whom must be a money earner and agree to
1:24:01pay one tenth of his earnings into the
1:24:03Enterprise until the land was made ready
1:24:05for sale
1:24:06all would then share justly in the
1:24:08prophets in proportion to their
1:24:10investment
1:24:11thou my son bespoke my father unto me
1:24:14art now in thy Young Manhood
1:24:17it is my deep desire that thou begin the
1:24:20building of a valuable estate for myself
1:24:21that thou mayest become respected among
1:24:24men
1:24:25I desire to see thou profit from a
1:24:27knowledge of the thoughtless mistakes of
1:24:29thy father
1:24:30this do I most ardently desire my father
1:24:33I replied
1:24:35then this do I advise
1:24:38do what I should have done at thy age
1:24:41from my earnings keep out one tenth to
1:24:43put into favorable Investments
1:24:46with this one tenth of thy earnings and
1:24:48what it will also earn thou canst before
1:24:50Thou Art my age accumulate for thyself a
1:24:53valuable estate
1:24:55thy words are words of wisdom my father
1:24:58greatly do I desire riches
1:25:01yet there are many uses to which my
1:25:04earnings are called
1:25:05therefore do I hesitate to do as thou
1:25:08Dost advice
1:25:10I am Young
1:25:11there is plenty of time
1:25:14so I thought at thy age yet behold many
1:25:17years have passed and I have not yet
1:25:19made the beginning
1:25:20we live in a different age my father
1:25:24I shall avoid their mistakes
1:25:26opportunity stands before thee my son
1:25:30it is offering a chance that may lead to
1:25:33wealth
1:25:34I beg of thee do not delay
1:25:37go upon the moral to the son of my
1:25:39friend and bargain with him to pay 10 of
1:25:41thy earnings into this investment
1:25:44go promptly upon the moral
1:25:47opportunity waits for no man
1:25:50today it is here soon it is gone
1:25:53therefore delay not
1:25:55in spite of the advice of my father I
1:25:58did hesitate
1:26:00there were beautiful new robes just
1:26:02brought by the Tradesmen from the East
1:26:03Robes of such richness and Beauty my
1:26:06good wife and I felt we must each
1:26:08possess one
1:26:09should I agree to pay one-tenth of my
1:26:12earnings into the enterprise we must
1:26:14deprive ourselves of these and other
1:26:16Pleasures we dearly desired
1:26:18I delayed making a decision until it was
1:26:21too late much to my subsequent regret
1:26:24the Enterprise did prove to be more
1:26:26profitable than any man had prophesied
1:26:29this is my tale showing how I did permit
1:26:32good luck to escape
1:26:34in this tale we see how good luck waits
1:26:36to come to that man who accepts
1:26:38opportunity commented a swarthy man of
1:26:41the desert
1:26:42to the building of an estate there must
1:26:44always be the beginning
1:26:46that start may be a few pieces of gold
1:26:48or silver which a man diverts from his
1:26:51earnings to his first investment
1:26:53I myself am the owner of many hertz
1:26:57start of my herds I did begin when I was
1:27:00a mere boy and did purchase with one
1:27:02piece of silver a young calf
1:27:04this being the beginning of my wealth
1:27:07was of great importance to me
1:27:09to take his first start to building an
1:27:12estate is as good luck as can come to
1:27:14any man
1:27:15with all men that first step which
1:27:18changes them from men who earn from
1:27:20their own labor to men who draw
1:27:21dividends from the earnings of their
1:27:23gold is important
1:27:25some fortunately take it when young and
1:27:28thereby outstrip in financial success
1:27:30those who do take it later or those
1:27:32unfortunate men like the father of this
1:27:35Merchant who never take it
1:27:37hello friend the merchant taken this
1:27:40step in his early manhood and this
1:27:42opportunity came to him this day he
1:27:44would be blessed with much more of this
1:27:46world's Goods
1:27:47should the good luck of our friend the
1:27:50cloth Weaver cause him to take such a
1:27:52step at this time it will indeed be but
1:27:54the beginning of much greater good
1:27:56fortune
1:27:57thank you
1:27:59I like to speak also
1:28:01a stranger from another country arose
1:28:04I am a Syrian
1:28:06not so well do I speak your tongue
1:28:09I wish to call this friend the merchant
1:28:12a name
1:28:13maybe you think it not polite this name
1:28:17yet I wish to call him that
1:28:19but alas I not know your word for it
1:28:23if I do call it in Syrian you will not
1:28:26understand
1:28:27therefore please some good gentleman
1:28:30tell me that right name you call man who
1:28:32puts off doing those things that might
1:28:34be good for him
1:28:35procrastinator called a voice
1:28:38that's him shouted the Syrian waving his
1:28:41hands excitedly he accepts an odd
1:28:44opportunity when she comes
1:28:46he waits
1:28:48he says I have much business right now
1:28:51by and by I talk to you
1:28:53opportunity she will not wait for such
1:28:56slow fellow
1:28:58she thinks if a man desires to be lucky
1:29:00he will step quick
1:29:02any man not step quick when opportunity
1:29:05comes he big procrastinator like our
1:29:07friend this Merchant
1:29:09the merchant arose and bowed
1:29:11good-naturally in response to the
1:29:13laughter
1:29:14my admiration to thee Stranger Within
1:29:17our gates who hesitates not to speak the
1:29:19truth
1:29:21and now let us hear another tale of
1:29:23opportunity
1:29:24who has for us another experience
1:29:26demanded arcade
1:29:28I have responded a red robe man of
1:29:31middle age
1:29:33I am a buyer of animals mostly camels
1:29:36and horses
1:29:37sometimes I do also by the sheep and
1:29:40goats
1:29:41the tail I am about to relate will tell
1:29:43truthfully how opportunity came one
1:29:46night when I did least expect it
1:29:48perhaps for this reason I did let it
1:29:50Escape
1:29:51of this you shall be the judge
1:29:54returning to the city one evening after
1:29:56a disheartening 10 Day's Journey in
1:29:58search of camels I was much angered to
1:30:01find the gates of the city closed and
1:30:03locked
1:30:04while my slave spread our tent for the
1:30:06night which we looked to spend with
1:30:08little food and no I water I was
1:30:10approached by an elderly farmer who like
1:30:12ourselves found himself locked outside
1:30:16honored sir he addressed me from my
1:30:18appearance I do judge thee to be a buyer
1:30:22if this be so much would I like to sell
1:30:24to be the most excellent flock of sheep
1:30:26just driven up
1:30:28alas My Good Wife lies very sick with
1:30:31the fever
1:30:32I must return with all haste
1:30:35by thou my sheep that I and my slaves
1:30:38May Mount our camels and travel back
1:30:40without delay
1:30:41so dark it was that I could not see his
1:30:44flock but from the bleeding I did know
1:30:46it must be large
1:30:47having wasted 10 days searching for
1:30:50camels I could not find I was glad to
1:30:52bargain with him
1:30:54in his anxiety he did set a most
1:30:56reasonable price
1:30:58I accepted well knowing my slaves could
1:31:01drive the Flop through the city gates in
1:31:03the morning and sell at a substantial
1:31:05profit
1:31:06the bargain concluded I called my slaves
1:31:09to bring torches that we might count the
1:31:11flock which the farmer declared to
1:31:13contain 900.
1:31:15I shall not burden you my friends with a
1:31:18description of our difficulty in
1:31:19attempting to count so many thirsty
1:31:21Restless Milling sheep
1:31:24it proved to be an impossible task
1:31:27therefore I bluntly informed the farmer
1:31:30I would count them at daylight and pay
1:31:31him then
1:31:33please most honorable sir he pleaded pay
1:31:36me but two-thirds of the price tonight
1:31:38that I may be on my way
1:31:40I will leave my most intelligent and
1:31:43educated slave to assist to make the
1:31:45count in the morning
1:31:46he is trustworthy and to him thou
1:31:49can'tst pay the balance
1:31:51but I was stubborn and refused to make
1:31:53payment that night
1:31:54next morning before I awoke the city
1:31:57Gates opened and four buyers rushed out
1:32:00in search of flocks
1:32:02they were most eager and willing to pay
1:32:04high prices because the city was
1:32:06threatened with Siege and food was not
1:32:08plentiful
1:32:09nearly three times the price at which he
1:32:12had offered the flock to me did the old
1:32:14farmer receive for it
1:32:16thus was where good luck allowed to
1:32:18escape
1:32:19here is a tale most unusual commented
1:32:22arcade
1:32:23what wisdom does it suggest
1:32:26the wisdom of making a payment
1:32:28immediately when we are convinced our
1:32:30bargain is wise suggested a venerable
1:32:32saddle maker
1:32:34if the bargain be good then thus thou
1:32:36need protection against thy own
1:32:38weaknesses as much as against any other
1:32:40man
1:32:41we Mortals are changeable
1:32:44alas I must say more apt to change our
1:32:47minds when right than wrong
1:32:49we are stubborn indeed
1:32:52right we are prone to vacillate and let
1:32:55opportunity Escape
1:32:56my first judgment is my best
1:33:00yet always have I found it difficult to
1:33:02compel myself to proceed with a good
1:33:04bargain when made
1:33:05therefore as a protection against my own
1:33:08weaknesses I do make a prompt deposit
1:33:11thereon
1:33:12this stuff saved me from later regrets
1:33:15for the good luck that should have been
1:33:16mine
1:33:17thank you
1:33:19again I like to speak
1:33:21the Syrian was upon his feet once more
1:33:25these Tales much alike
1:33:27each time opportunity fly away for same
1:33:30reason
1:33:31each time she come to procrastinator
1:33:33bringing good plan
1:33:35each time they hesitate not say right
1:33:39now best time I do it quick
1:33:41how can men succeed that way
1:33:44wise are thy words my friend responded
1:33:47to buyer
1:33:49good luck fled from procrastination in
1:33:51both these Tales
1:33:53yet this is not unusual
1:33:56the spirit of procrastination is within
1:33:58all men
1:34:00we desire riches yet how often when
1:34:03opportunity death appear before us that
1:34:06Spirit of procrastination from within
1:34:08Tuff urged various delays in our
1:34:10acceptance
1:34:11in listening to it we do become our own
1:34:13worst enemies
1:34:15in my younger days I did not know it by
1:34:18this long word our friend from Syria
1:34:19death enjoy
1:34:21I did think at first it was my own poor
1:34:24judgment that did cause me loss of many
1:34:26profitable trades
1:34:27later I did credit it to my stubborn
1:34:30disposition
1:34:31At Last I did recognize it for what it
1:34:34was a habit of needless delaying where
1:34:37action was required action prompt and
1:34:39decisive
1:34:41how I did hate it when its true
1:34:43character stood revealed
1:34:45with the bitterness of a wild ass hitch
1:34:47to a chariot I did break loose from this
1:34:49enemy to my success
1:34:52thank you
1:34:53I like ass question from Mr Merchant
1:34:56the Syrian was speaking
1:34:59you will find robes not like those of
1:35:01poor man
1:35:03you speak like successful man
1:35:05tell us do you listen now when
1:35:07procrastination Whispers in your ear
1:35:10like our friend the buyer I also had to
1:35:13recognize and Conquer procrastination
1:35:15responded to Merchant
1:35:17to me it proved to be an enemy ever
1:35:20watching waiting to thwart my
1:35:22accomplishments
1:35:23the tale I did relate is but one of many
1:35:26similar instances I could tell to show
1:35:28how it drove away my opportunities
1:35:31it is not difficult to conquer once
1:35:33understood
1:35:34no man willingly permits the thief to
1:35:37Rob his bins of grain
1:35:39nor does any man willingly permit an
1:35:41enemy to drive away his customers and
1:35:44Rob him of His prophets
1:35:46when once I did recognize that such acts
1:35:48as these my enemy was committing with
1:35:50determination I conquered him
1:35:53so must every man Master his own Spirit
1:35:55of procrastination before he can expect
1:35:57to share in the rich Treasures of
1:35:59Babylon
1:36:00what sayist orchid
1:36:03because Thou Art the richest man in
1:36:05Babylon many do Proclaim thee to be the
1:36:07luckiest
1:36:09Dost agree with me that no man can
1:36:11arrive at a full measure of success
1:36:13until he hath completely crushed the
1:36:15spirit of procrastination within him
1:36:18it is even as thou sayest archid
1:36:20admitted
1:36:21during my long life I have watched
1:36:23generation following generation marching
1:36:26forward along those Avenues of trade
1:36:28science and learning that lead to
1:36:30success in life
1:36:32opportunities came to all these men
1:36:35some grasp theirs and moved steadily to
1:36:38the gratification of their deepest
1:36:39desires but the majority hesitated
1:36:42faltered and fell behind
1:36:44arkid turned to the cloth Weaver
1:36:47thou did suggest that we debate good
1:36:49luck
1:36:50let us hear what thou now thinkest upon
1:36:53the subject
1:36:54I do see good luck in a different light
1:36:58I had thought of it as something most
1:36:59desirable that might happen to a man
1:37:01without effort upon his part
1:37:04now I do realize such happenings are not
1:37:07the sort of thing one may attract to
1:37:09himself
1:37:10from our discussion have I learned that
1:37:12to attract good luck to oneself it is
1:37:14necessary to take advantage of
1:37:16opportunities
1:37:18therefore in the future I shall Endeavor
1:37:20to make the best of such opportunities
1:37:22as do come to me
1:37:24thou Hast well grasped the truths
1:37:27brought forth in our discussion archid
1:37:29replied
1:37:30good luck we do find often follows
1:37:33opportunity but seldom comes otherwise
1:37:36our Merchant friend would have found
1:37:38great good luck had he accepted the
1:37:40opportunity the good goddess did present
1:37:42to him
1:37:43our friend the buyer likewise would have
1:37:46enjoyed good luck had he completed the
1:37:48purchase of the flock and sold at such a
1:37:50handsome prophet
1:37:52we did pursue this discussion to find a
1:37:54means by which good luck could be
1:37:56enticed to us
1:37:58I feel that we have found a way
1:38:00both the tales did illustrate how good
1:38:03luck follows opportunity
1:38:05herein lies a truth that many similar
1:38:07Tales of good luck won or lost could not
1:38:10change
1:38:12the truth is this good luck can be
1:38:14enticed by accepting opportunity
1:38:17those eager to grasp opportunities for
1:38:19their betterment do attract the interest
1:38:21of the good goddess
1:38:23she is ever anxious to Aid those who
1:38:25please her
1:38:27men of action please her best
1:38:30action will lead thee forward to the
1:38:32successes thou Das desire
1:38:34men of action are favored by the goddess
1:38:36of good luck
1:38:40chapter 5.
1:38:42the Five Laws of gold
1:38:44a bag heavy with gold or a clay tablet
1:38:47carved with words of wisdom if thou hats
1:38:50thy Choice which Woods thou choose
1:38:53by the flickering light from the fire of
1:38:55desert shrubs the suntan faces of the
1:38:58listeners gleaned with interest
1:39:00the gold the gold chorused the 27.
1:39:04old calibab smiled knowingly
1:39:07Park he resumed raising his hand
1:39:11hear the wild dogs out there in the
1:39:13night
1:39:14they howl and wail because they are lean
1:39:16with hunger
1:39:18yet feed them and what do they
1:39:21fight and strep
1:39:22then fight and strut some more giving no
1:39:25thought to the morrow that will surely
1:39:27come
1:39:28just so it is with the sons of men
1:39:31give them a choice of gold and wisdom
1:39:33what do they do
1:39:35ignore the wisdom and waste the gold
1:39:38on the morrow they wail because they
1:39:40have no more gold
1:39:42is reserved for those who know its laws
1:39:45and abide by them
1:39:47calibab drew his white rope close about
1:39:49his lean legs for a cool night wind was
1:39:52blowing
1:39:53because thou Hast serve me Faithfully
1:39:56Upon Our long journey because thou cared
1:39:58well for my camels because thou toiled
1:40:01uncomplainingly across the hot Sands of
1:40:03the desert because thou fought bravely
1:40:05the robbers that sought to despoil my
1:40:07merchandise I will tell thee this night
1:40:09the tale of the Five Laws of gold such a
1:40:12tale as thou never has heard before
1:40:15Harkey with deep attention to the words
1:40:17I speak for if you grasp their meaning
1:40:20and heed them in the days that Come Thou
1:40:22shalt have much gold
1:40:24he paused impressively
1:40:26above in a canopy of blue the Stars
1:40:29Shone brightly in the Crystal Clear
1:40:31Skies of Babylonia
1:40:33behind the group loomed their faded
1:40:35tents tightly staked against possible
1:40:37desert storms
1:40:39beside the tents were neatly stacked
1:40:42bales of merchandise covered with skins
1:40:45nearby the camel herd sprawled in the
1:40:47sand some chewing their Cuts contentedly
1:40:50others snoring in horse Discord
1:40:53thou Hast told us many good Tales
1:40:55calabab spoke up the chief packer
1:40:58we look to thy wisdom to guide us upon
1:41:01the moral when our service with thee
1:41:02shall be at an end
1:41:04I have but told thee of my adventures in
1:41:06strange and distant lands but this night
1:41:09I shall tell thee of the wisdom of
1:41:10archib the wise rich man
1:41:13much have we heard of him acknowledge
1:41:15the chief Packer for he was the richest
1:41:17man that ever lived in Babylon
1:41:20the richest man he was and that because
1:41:22B was wise in the ways of gold even as
1:41:25no man had ever been before him
1:41:28this night shall I tell you of his great
1:41:30wisdom as it was told to me by no Maser
1:41:32his son many years ago in Nineveh when I
1:41:35was but a lad
1:41:37my master and myself had tarried long
1:41:40into the night in the Palace of no Mesa
1:41:42I had helped my master bring great
1:41:44bundles of fine rugs each one to be
1:41:47Tried by no Maser until his choice of
1:41:49colors was satisfied
1:41:51at last he was well pleased and
1:41:53commanded us to sit with him and to
1:41:55drink a rare vintage odorous to the
1:41:57nostrils and most warming to my stomach
1:41:59which was unaccustomed to such a drink
1:42:02then did he tell us this tale of the
1:42:04great wisdom of arcade his father even
1:42:07as I shall tell it to you
1:42:09in Babylon it is the custom as you know
1:42:12that the sons of wealthy fathers live
1:42:14with their parents in expectation of
1:42:16inheriting the estate
1:42:17arcade did not approve of this custom
1:42:20therefore when no Mesa reached man's
1:42:23estate he sent for the young man and
1:42:25addressed him
1:42:27my son it is my desire that thou succeed
1:42:30to my estate
1:42:31thou must however first prove that thou
1:42:34art capable of wisely handling it
1:42:37therefore I wish that they'll go out
1:42:39into the world and show thy ability both
1:42:42to acquire gold and to make thyself
1:42:43respected among men
1:42:45to start Thee Well I will give thee two
1:42:48things of which I myself was denied when
1:42:51I started as a poor youth to build up a
1:42:53fortune
1:42:54first I give thee this bag of gold
1:42:58if thou use it wisely it will be the
1:43:00basis of thy future success
1:43:03second I give thee this clay tablet upon
1:43:06which is carved the Five Laws of gold
1:43:09if thou Dost but interpret them in thy
1:43:11own acts they shall bring the competence
1:43:13and security
1:43:15ten years from this day Come Thou back
1:43:17to the house of thy father and give
1:43:19account of thyself
1:43:21if thou prove worthy I will then make
1:43:23Thee the heir to my estate
1:43:25otherwise I will give it to the priests
1:43:28that they may barter for my soul the
1:43:30land consideration of the Gods
1:43:32so no Maser went forth to make his own
1:43:35way taking his bag of gold the clay
1:43:37tablet carefully wrapped in silken cloth
1:43:40his slave and the horses upon which they
1:43:43rode
1:43:44the Ten Years passed and no Maser as he
1:43:47had agreed returned to the house of his
1:43:49father Who provided a great feast in his
1:43:51honor to which he invited many friends
1:43:54and relatives
1:43:55after the feast was over the father and
1:43:58mother mounted their throne-like seats
1:44:00at one side of the Great Hall and no
1:44:02Maser stood before them to give an
1:44:04account of himself as he had promised
1:44:06his father
1:44:07it was evening
1:44:09the room was hazy with smoke from the
1:44:11Wicks of the oil lamps that but dimly
1:44:13lighted it
1:44:15slaves and white woven jackets and
1:44:17tunics fan the humid air rhythmically
1:44:19with long-stand Palm leaves
1:44:22a stately dignity colored the scene
1:44:25the wife of no Maser and his two young
1:44:27Sons with friends and other members of
1:44:29the family sat upon rugs behind him
1:44:32eager listeners
1:44:34my father he began deferentially I bow
1:44:37before thy wisdom
1:44:39ten years ago when I stood at the gates
1:44:41of manhood thou babe me go forth and
1:44:43become a man among men instead of
1:44:46remaining a vassal to thy Fortune
1:44:48thou gave me liberally of thy gold
1:44:51thou gave me liberally of thy wisdom
1:44:54of the gold alas
1:44:57I must admit of a disastrous handling
1:45:00it fled indeed from my inexperienced
1:45:03hands even as a wild hair flees at the
1:45:06first opportunity from the youth who
1:45:08captures it
1:45:09the father smiled indulgently
1:45:12continue my son thy tail interests me in
1:45:15all its details
1:45:17I decided to go to Nineveh as it was a
1:45:20growing city believing that I might find
1:45:22their opportunities
1:45:24I joined a caravan and among its members
1:45:26made numerous friends
1:45:28two well-spoken men who had a most
1:45:31beautiful white horse as Fleek as the
1:45:33wind were among these
1:45:35as we journeyed they told me in
1:45:37confidence that in Nineveh was a wealthy
1:45:39man who owned a horse so Swift that it
1:45:41had never been beaten
1:45:43its owner believed that no horse living
1:45:46could run with greater speed
1:45:48therefore would you wager any
1:45:50somehowever large that his horse could
1:45:52outspeed any horse in all Babylonia
1:45:55compared to their horse so my friend
1:45:58said it was but a lumbering ass that
1:46:00could be beaten with ease
1:46:02they offered as a great favor to permit
1:46:05me to join them in a wager
1:46:07I was quite carried away with the plan
1:46:10our horse was badly beaten and I lost
1:46:13much of my gold
1:46:15the father laughed
1:46:17later I discovered that this was a
1:46:19deceitful plan of these men and they
1:46:21constantly journeyed with Caravans
1:46:23seeking victims
1:46:24you see the man in Nineveh was their
1:46:27partner and shared with them the bets he
1:46:29won
1:46:30this shrewd deceit taught me my first
1:46:32lesson in looking out for myself
1:46:35I was soon to learn another equally
1:46:37bitter
1:46:38in the Caravan was another young man
1:46:41with whom I became quite friendly
1:46:43he was the son of wealthy parents and
1:46:46like myself journeying to Nineveh to
1:46:48find a suitable location
1:46:51not long after our arrival he told me
1:46:53that a merchant had died in his shop
1:46:55with its Rich merchandise and patronage
1:46:58could be secured at a paltry price
1:47:00saying that we would be equal Partners
1:47:03but first he must return to Babylon to
1:47:05secure his gold he prevailed upon me to
1:47:08purchase the stock with my gold agreeing
1:47:10that his would be used later to carry on
1:47:12our venture
1:47:13he long delayed the trip to Babylon
1:47:15proving in the meantime to be an unwise
1:47:18buyer and a foolish Spender
1:47:20I finally put him out but not before the
1:47:23business had deteriorated to where we
1:47:25had only unsalable goods and no gold to
1:47:27buy other Goods
1:47:29I sacrificed what was left to an
1:47:31Israelite for a pitiful some
1:47:34there followed I tell you my father
1:47:37bitter days
1:47:39I sought employment and found it not for
1:47:41I was without trade or training that
1:47:43would enable me to earn
1:47:45I sold my horses
1:47:47I sold my slave
1:47:50I sold my extra robes that I might have
1:47:52food in a place to sleep but each day
1:47:54Grim want crouched closer
1:47:57but in those bitter days I remembered
1:47:59thy confidence in me my father
1:48:02had sent me forth to become a man and
1:48:05this I was determined to accomplish
1:48:07the mother buried her face and wept
1:48:10Softly
1:48:11at this time I bethought me of the table
1:48:14thou had given to me upon which thou had
1:48:16carved the Five Laws of gold
1:48:18thereupon I read most carefully thy
1:48:21words of wisdom and realized that had I
1:48:23but sought wisdom first my gold would
1:48:26not have been lost to me
1:48:28I learned by heart each law and
1:48:30determined that when once more the
1:48:32goddess of Good Fortune smiled upon me I
1:48:34would be guided by the wisdom of age and
1:48:37not by the inexperience of Youth
1:48:39for the benefit of you who are seated
1:48:41here this night I will read the wisdom
1:48:43of my father as engraved upon the clay
1:48:45tablet which he gave to me 10 years ago
1:48:48the Five Laws of gold
1:48:51one gold cometh gladly and an increasing
1:48:54quantity to any man who will put by not
1:48:56less than one tenth of his earnings to
1:48:58create an estate for his future and that
1:49:00of his family
1:49:02two gold Labyrinth diligently and
1:49:04contentedly for the wise owner who finds
1:49:07for a profitable employment multiplying
1:49:09even as the flocks of the field
1:49:12three gold klingeth to the protection of
1:49:14the cautious owner who invests it under
1:49:16the advice of men wise in its handling
1:49:19for gold slippeth away from the man who
1:49:22invested in businesses or purposes with
1:49:24which he is not familiar or which are
1:49:26not approved by those skilled in its
1:49:28keep
1:49:295. gold flees the man who would force it
1:49:32to Impossible earnings or who followeth
1:49:34the alluring advice of tricksters and
1:49:36schemers or who trusts it to his own
1:49:38inexperience and romantic Desires in
1:49:41investment
1:49:42these are the five laws of gold as
1:49:44written by my father
1:49:46I do Proclaim them as of greater value
1:49:49than gold itself as I will show by the
1:49:51continuance of my Tale
1:49:53he again faced his father
1:49:56I have told thee of the depth of poverty
1:49:58and despair to which my inexperience
1:50:00brought me
1:50:02however there is no chain of disasters
1:50:04that will not come to an end
1:50:07mine came when I secured employment
1:50:09managing a crew of slaves working upon
1:50:11the new outer wall of the city
1:50:13profiting from my knowledge of the first
1:50:15law of gold I saved a copper from my
1:50:18first earnings adding to it at every
1:50:20opportunity until I had a piece of
1:50:22silver
1:50:23it was a slow procedure for one must
1:50:26live
1:50:27I did spend grudgingly I admit because I
1:50:31was determined to earn back before the
1:50:3210 years were over as much gold as you
1:50:35my father had given to me
1:50:38one day the slave master with whom I
1:50:40have become quite friendly said to me
1:50:42thou art a Thrifty youth who spends not
1:50:45wantingly what he earns
1:50:47has thou gold put by that is not earning
1:50:50yes I replied it is my greatest desire
1:50:54to accumulate gold to replace that which
1:50:56my father gave to me and which I have
1:50:58lost
1:50:59tis a worthy ambition I will grant and
1:51:02you know that the gold which you have
1:51:04saved can work for you and earn much
1:51:05more gold
1:51:07alas
1:51:09my experience has been bitter for my
1:51:11father's gold has fled for me and I am
1:51:13in much fear lest my own do the same
1:51:16if thou Hast confidence in me I will
1:51:19give thee a lesson in the profitable
1:51:21handling of gold he replied
1:51:23within a year the outer wall will be
1:51:26complete and ready for the great Gates
1:51:28of bronze that will be built at each
1:51:29entrance to protect the city from the
1:51:31king's enemies
1:51:33in all Nineveh there is not enough metal
1:51:35to make these Gates and the King has not
1:51:37thought to provide it
1:51:39here is my plan a group of us will pool
1:51:42our gold and send a caravan to the mines
1:51:44of copper and Tin which are distant and
1:51:47bring to Nineveh the metal for the gates
1:51:50when the king says make the great Gates
1:51:53we alone can supply the metal and a rich
1:51:55price he will pay
1:51:57if the king will not buy from us we will
1:52:00yet have the medal which can be sold for
1:52:02a fair price
1:52:03in his offer I recognized an opportunity
1:52:06to abide by the third law and invest my
1:52:09savings under the guidance of wise men
1:52:12nor was I disappointed
1:52:14our pool was a success and my small
1:52:17store of gold was greatly increased by
1:52:19the transaction
1:52:21in due time I was accepted as a member
1:52:24of this same group in other Ventures
1:52:26they were men wise in the profitable
1:52:29handling of gold
1:52:30they talked over each plan presented
1:52:33with great care before entering upon it
1:52:36they would take no chance on losing
1:52:38their principle or tying it up in
1:52:40unprofitable investments from which
1:52:42their gold could not be recovered
1:52:44such foolish things as the horse race
1:52:46and the partnership into which I had
1:52:48entered with my inexperience would have
1:52:50had scanned consideration with them
1:52:52they would have immediately pointed out
1:52:54their weaknesses
1:52:56through my association with these men I
1:52:59learned to safely invest gold to bring
1:53:01profitable returns
1:53:03as the years went on my treasure
1:53:05increased more and more rapidly
1:53:08I not only made back as much as I lost
1:53:10but much more
1:53:12through my misfortunes my trials and my
1:53:15success I have tested time and again the
1:53:18wisdom of the Five Laws of gold my
1:53:21father and have proven them true in
1:53:23every test
1:53:24to him who is without knowledge of the
1:53:26Five Laws gold comes not often and goeth
1:53:29away quickly
1:53:31but to him who abide by the Five Laws
1:53:34gold comes and works as his dutiful
1:53:36slave
1:53:37no Maser ceased speaking in motion to a
1:53:40slave in the back of the room
1:53:42the slave brought forward one at a time
1:53:45three heavy leather bags
1:53:47one of these no Mesa took and placed
1:53:50upon the floor before his father
1:53:51addressing him again
1:53:53thou didst give to me a bag of gold
1:53:55Babylon gold
1:53:57behold in its place I do return to the a
1:54:00bag of miniva gold of equal weight and
1:54:02equal exchange as all will agree
1:54:05thou didst give to me a clay tablet
1:54:07inscribed with wisdom
1:54:09behold in its stead I do return two bags
1:54:13of gold
1:54:14so saying he took from the slave the
1:54:17other two bags and likewise placed them
1:54:20upon the floor before his father
1:54:22this I do to prove to thee my father of
1:54:25how much greater value I consider thy
1:54:27wisdom than thy gold
1:54:29yet who can measure in bags of gold the
1:54:32value of wisdom
1:54:34without wisdom gold is quickly lost by
1:54:37those who have it but with wisdom gold
1:54:39can be secured by those who have it not
1:54:41as these three bags of gold do prove
1:54:45it does indeed give to me the deepest
1:54:48satisfaction my father to stand before
1:54:51thee and say that because of thy wisdom
1:54:53I have been able to become rich and
1:54:55respected before men
1:54:57the father placed his hand fondly upon
1:54:59the head of nomeser
1:55:01thou Hast learned well thy lessons and I
1:55:04am indeed fortunate to have a son to
1:55:07whom I may entrust my wealth
1:55:09Calabar ceased his tail and looked
1:55:12critically at his listeners
1:55:14what means this to thee this tale of no
1:55:16Mercer he continued
1:55:19who amongst thee can go to thy father or
1:55:21to the father of thy wife and give an
1:55:23account of wise handling of his earnings
1:55:26what would these venerable men think
1:55:27were you to say I have traveled much and
1:55:30learned much and labored much and earned
1:55:32much yet alas of gold I have little
1:55:35some I spent wisely semi spent foolishly
1:55:38in much I lost in unwise ways
1:55:41Dost still think it but an inconsistency
1:55:44of Fate that some men have much gold and
1:55:46others have not
1:55:48then you air
1:55:50men have much gold when they know the
1:55:52Five Laws of gold and abide thereby
1:55:55because I learned these five laws in my
1:55:58youth and abided by them I have become a
1:56:00wealthy Merchant
1:56:02not by some strange magic did I
1:56:04accumulate my wealth
1:56:06wealth that comes quickly go at the same
1:56:08way
1:56:09wealth that stayeth to give enjoyment
1:56:11and satisfaction to its owner comes
1:56:14gradually because it is a child born of
1:56:16knowledge and persistent purpose
1:56:18to earn wealth is but a slight burden
1:56:21upon the thoughtful man
1:56:23bearing the burden consistently from
1:56:25year to year accomplishes the final
1:56:27purpose
1:56:28the Five Laws of gold offer to the a
1:56:31rich reward for their observance
1:56:33each of these Five Laws is Rich with
1:56:36meaning unless thou overlook this in the
1:56:38briefness of my tale I will now repeat
1:56:40them
1:56:42I do know them each by heart because in
1:56:44my youth I could see their value and
1:56:46would not be content until I knew them
1:56:48word for word
1:56:50the first law of gold
1:56:52cometh gladly and an increasing quantity
1:56:55to any man who will put by not less than
1:56:58one tenth of his earnings to create an
1:56:59estate for his future and that of his
1:57:01family
1:57:02any man who will put by one tenth of his
1:57:05earnings consistently and invest it
1:57:07wisely will surely create a valuable
1:57:09estate that will provide an income for
1:57:11him in the future and further guarantee
1:57:13safety for his family in case the gods
1:57:15call him to the world of Darkness
1:57:17this law always saith that gold cometh
1:57:20gladly to such a man
1:57:22I can truly certify this in my own life
1:57:26the more gold I accumulate the more
1:57:28readily it comes to me and in increased
1:57:30quantities
1:57:32the gold which I save earns more even as
1:57:34yours will and its earnings earn more
1:57:37and this is the working out of the first
1:57:39law
1:57:40the second law of gold
1:57:42Labyrinth diligently and contentedly for
1:57:45the wise owner who finds for a
1:57:47profitable employment multiplying even
1:57:49as the flocks of the field
1:57:51gold indeed is a willing worker
1:57:55it is ever eager to multiply when
1:57:57opportunity presents itself
1:58:00to every man who has a store of gold set
1:58:02by opportunity comes for its most
1:58:04profitable use
1:58:06as the years pass it multiplies itself
1:58:09in surprising fashion
1:58:11the Third Law of gold
1:58:14clineth to the protection of the
1:58:16cautious owner who invests it under the
1:58:18advice of men wise in its handling
1:58:21gold indeed Clinic to the cautious owner
1:58:24even as it flees the careless owner
1:58:27the man who seeks the advice of men wise
1:58:30in handling gold soon learneth not to
1:58:32jeopardize his treasure but to preserve
1:58:34in safety and to enjoy in contentment
1:58:36its consistent increase
1:58:39the fourth law of gold
1:58:41slippeth away from the man who invests
1:58:44it in businesses or purposes with which
1:58:46he is not familiar or which are not
1:58:48approved by those skilled in its keep
1:58:51to the man who hath gold yet is not
1:58:53skilled in its handling many uses for it
1:58:55appear most profitable
1:58:57too often these are fought with danger
1:59:00of loss and if properly analyzed by wise
1:59:02men show small possibility of profit
1:59:06therefore the inexperienced owner of
1:59:08gold who trusts to his own judgment and
1:59:11invests it in business or purposes with
1:59:13which he is not familiar too often finds
1:59:16his judgment imperfect and pays with his
1:59:18treasure for his inexperience
1:59:20wise indeed is he who investeth his
1:59:23treasures under the advice of men
1:59:25skilled in the ways of gold
1:59:27the fifth law of gold
1:59:30flees the man who would force it to
1:59:32Impossible earnings or who followeth the
1:59:34alluring advice of tricksters and
1:59:36schemers or who trusts it to his own
1:59:38inexperience and romantic Desires in
1:59:41investment
1:59:42fanciful propositions that thrill-like
1:59:45Adventure Tales always come to the new
1:59:47owner of gold
1:59:48these appear to endow his treasure with
1:59:51magic powers that will enable it to make
1:59:53impossible earnings
1:59:55yet hiji the wise men for verily they
1:59:57know the risks that lurk behind every
1:59:59plan to make great wealth suddenly
2:00:02forget not the rich men of Nineveh who
2:00:05would take no chance of losing their
2:00:06principle or tying it up in unprofitable
2:00:09Investments
2:00:10this ends my tale of the Five Laws of
2:00:13gold
2:00:14in telling it to thee I have told the
2:00:16secrets of my own success
2:00:19yet they are not Secrets but truths
2:00:21which every man must first learn and
2:00:23then follow who wishes to step out of
2:00:25the multitude that like you wild dogs
2:00:27must worry each day for food to eat
2:00:31tomorrow we enter Babylon
2:00:34look
2:00:35see the fire that burns Eternal above
2:00:37the Temple of Bell
2:00:39we are already inside of the Golden City
2:00:42tomorrow each of these shall have gold
2:00:45the gold thou has so well earned by thy
2:00:47faithful services
2:00:49ten years from this night what can you
2:00:51tell about this gold
2:00:53if there be men among you who like no
2:00:56meser will use a portion of their gold
2:00:58to start for themselves in a state and
2:01:00be thenceforth wisely Guided by the
2:01:02wisdom of arcade 10 years from now it is
2:01:04a safe wager like the son of arcade they
2:01:07will be rich and respected among men
2:01:10our wise acts accompany us through life
2:01:12to please us and to help us
2:01:15just as surely our unwise acts follow us
2:01:18to plague and torment us
2:01:20alas they cannot be forgotten
2:01:23in the front rank of the torments that
2:01:25do follow us are the memories of the
2:01:27things we should have done of the
2:01:29opportunities which came to us and we
2:01:31took not
2:01:32Rich are the treasures of Babylon so
2:01:35rich no man can count their value in
2:01:37pieces of gold
2:01:39each year they grow richer and more
2:01:41valuable
2:01:42like the treasures of every land they
2:01:45are a reward a rich reward awaiting
2:01:47those men of purpose who determined to
2:01:49secure their just share
2:01:51in the strength of thine own desires is
2:01:54a magic power
2:01:55guide this power with thy knowledge of
2:01:57the Five Laws of gold and thou shall
2:02:00share the treasures of Babylon
2:02:04chapter 6.
2:02:06the gold lender of Babylon
2:02:0850 pieces of gold
2:02:11never before had rotten the spearmaker
2:02:14of old Babylon carried so much gold in
2:02:16his leather wallet
2:02:18happily down the King's Highway from the
2:02:20Palace of his most liberal Majesty he
2:02:22Strode
2:02:24cheerfully the gold clinked as the
2:02:26wallet at his belt swayed with each step
2:02:28the sweetest music he had ever heard
2:02:3150 pieces of gold
2:02:33all his
2:02:35he could hardly realize his good fortune
2:02:39what power in those clinking discs
2:02:42they could purchase anything he wanted a
2:02:44grand house land cattle camels horses
2:02:48chariots whatever he might desire
2:02:51what you should he make of it
2:02:54this evening as he turned into a side
2:02:56street towards the home of his sister he
2:02:58could think of nothing he would rather
2:03:00possess than those same glittering heavy
2:03:02pieces of gold is to keep
2:03:05it was upon an evening some days later
2:03:07that a perplexed rotten entered the shop
2:03:09of mathem the lender of golden dealer in
2:03:12jewels and rare Fabrics
2:03:14glancing neither to the right nor the
2:03:16left at the colorful articles artfully
2:03:18displayed he passed through to the
2:03:20living quarters at the rear
2:03:22here he found the genteel math and
2:03:24lounging upon a rug partaking of a meal
2:03:27served by a black slave
2:03:29I would counsel with thee for I know not
2:03:31what to do
2:03:32rodden stood solidly feet apart hairy
2:03:36breast exposed by the gaping front of
2:03:38his leather jacket
2:03:39mathon's narrow sallow face smiled a
2:03:42friendly greeting
2:03:44what indiscretions has thou done that
2:03:46thou shouldst seek the lender of gold
2:03:49has been unlucky at the gaming table
2:03:52or have some plumped aim in Tangled B
2:03:55for many years have I known thee yet
2:03:58never has thou sought me to Aid thee in
2:04:00their troubles
2:04:01no no
2:04:03not such as that
2:04:05I seek no gold
2:04:08instead I crave thy wise advice
2:04:11here
2:04:12here
2:04:14what this man doth say
2:04:16no one comes to the lender of gold for
2:04:19advice
2:04:20my years must play me false
2:04:23they listen true
2:04:25can this be so
2:04:27rotten the spearmaker doth display more
2:04:30cunning than all the rest for he comes
2:04:32to math and not for gold but for advice
2:04:35many men come to me for gold to pay for
2:04:38their Follies but as for advice they
2:04:40want it not
2:04:42yet who is more able to advise than the
2:04:44lender of gold to whom many men come in
2:04:46trouble
2:04:47Thou shalt eat with me rotten he
2:04:50continued
2:04:51Thou shalt be my guest for the evening
2:04:54and all he commanded of the black slave
2:04:57draw up a rag for my friend rotten the
2:05:00spearmaker who comes for advice
2:05:03he shall be mine honored guest
2:05:06bring to him much food and get for him
2:05:08my largest cup
2:05:10choose well of the best wine that he may
2:05:12have satisfaction in the drinking
2:05:14now tell me what troubles thee
2:05:17it is the King's gift
2:05:19the king's gift
2:05:21the king did make thee a gift and it
2:05:24gives thee trouble
2:05:25what manner of gift
2:05:27because he was much pleased with the
2:05:29design I did submit to him for a new
2:05:32point on the spears of the royal guard
2:05:33he did present me with 50 pieces of gold
2:05:36and now I am much perplexed
2:05:39I am besieged each hour the sun doth
2:05:42travel across the sky by those who would
2:05:44share it with me
2:05:45that is natural
2:05:47more men want gold than have it and
2:05:50would wish one who comes by it easily to
2:05:52divide
2:05:53but can you not say no
2:05:56is thy will not as strong as thy fist
2:05:59to many I can say no yet sometimes it
2:06:02would be easier to say yes
2:06:04can one refuse to share with one sister
2:06:06to whom he is deeply devoted
2:06:09surely thy own sister would not wish to
2:06:12deprive the oven join thy reward
2:06:15but it is for the sake of Airman her
2:06:17husband whom she wishes to see a rich
2:06:19Merchant
2:06:21she does feel that he has never had a
2:06:23chance and she beseeches me to loan to
2:06:25him this gold that he may become a
2:06:27prosperous Merchant and repay me from
2:06:28His prophets
2:06:30my friend resumed mathan tis a worthy
2:06:33subject thou bring us to discuss
2:06:36gold bringeth unto its possessor
2:06:38responsibility and a changed position
2:06:40with his fellow men
2:06:42it bringeth fear lest he lose it or it
2:06:44be tricked away from him
2:06:46it bringeth a feeling of power and
2:06:48ability to do good
2:06:50likewise it bringeth opportunities
2:06:53whereby his very good intentions may
2:06:55bring him into difficulties
2:06:57didst ever hear of the farmer of Nineveh
2:06:59who could understand the language of
2:07:01animals
2:07:02I what not for it is not the kind of
2:07:05tale men like to tell over the bronze
2:07:07Caster's Forge
2:07:09I will tell it to thee for thou shouldst
2:07:11know that to borrowing and lending there
2:07:13is more than the passing of gold from
2:07:15the hands of one to the hands of another
2:07:17this farmer who could understand what
2:07:19the animals said to each other did
2:07:21linger in the farmyard each evening just
2:07:24to listen to their words
2:07:26one evening he did hear the ox bemoaning
2:07:28to the ask the hardness of his lot I do
2:07:31labor pulling the plow for morning until
2:07:33night
2:07:34no matter how hot the day or how tired
2:07:37my legs or how the bow doth chafe my
2:07:39neck still must I work
2:07:42but you are a creature of leisure
2:07:45you are trapped with a colorful blanket
2:07:47and do nothing more than carry our
2:07:49Master about where he wishes to go
2:07:51when he goes nowhere you do rest and eat
2:07:54the green grass all the day
2:07:56now the ass in spite of his vicious
2:07:58heels was a goodly fellow and
2:08:00sympathized with the ox
2:08:03my good friend he replied you do work
2:08:06very hard and I would help ease your lot
2:08:09therefore will I tell you how you may
2:08:11have a day of rest
2:08:13in the morning when the slave comes to
2:08:15fetchy to the plow lie upon the ground
2:08:17in Bellow much that he may say you are
2:08:19sick and cannot work
2:08:21so the ox took the advice of the ass and
2:08:24the next morning the slave returned to
2:08:26the farmer and told him the ox was sick
2:08:28and could not pull the plow
2:08:30then said the farmer hitched the ass to
2:08:33the plow for the plowing Must Go On
2:08:35all that day the ass who had only
2:08:37intended to help his friend found
2:08:39himself compelled to do the ox's task
2:08:43when Knight came in he was released from
2:08:45the plow his heart was bitter and his
2:08:47legs were weary and his neck was sore
2:08:49where the bow had chafed it
2:08:51the farmer lingered in the barnyard to
2:08:53listen
2:08:54the ox began first
2:08:57you are my good friend
2:08:59because of your wise advice I have
2:09:01enjoyed a day of rest
2:09:03and I retorted the ass am like many
2:09:06another simple-hearted one who starts to
2:09:08help a friend and ends up by doing his
2:09:10task for him
2:09:12Hereafter you draw your own plow for I
2:09:14did hear the master tell the slave to
2:09:16send for the butcher were you sick again
2:09:19I wish he would for you are a lazy
2:09:21fellow
2:09:23thereafter they spoke to each other no
2:09:25more this ended their friendship
2:09:27canst thou tell the moral to this tale
2:09:30rotten
2:09:31tis a good tale responded rotten but I
2:09:34see not the mortal
2:09:36I thought not that you would
2:09:38but it is there in simple too
2:09:41just this if you desire to help thy
2:09:44friend do so in a way that will not
2:09:46bring thy friend's burdens upon thyself
2:09:49I had not thought of that
2:09:51it is a wise moral
2:09:53I wish not to assume the burdens of my
2:09:56sister's husband
2:09:58but tell me
2:09:59you lend to many
2:10:01do not the borrowers repay
2:10:04mathen smiled the smile of one whose
2:10:06soul is Rich with much experience
2:10:09could alone be well made if the borrower
2:10:11cannot repay
2:10:13must not the lender be wise and judge
2:10:15carefully whether his gold can perform a
2:10:18useful purpose to the borrower and
2:10:19return to him once more or whether it
2:10:21will be wasted by one unable to use it
2:10:24wisely and leave him without his
2:10:25treasure and leave the borrower with a
2:10:27debt he cannot repay
2:10:29I will show to thee the tokens in my
2:10:31token chest and let them tell thee some
2:10:33of their stories
2:10:35into the room he brought a chest as long
2:10:37as his arm covered with red pigskin and
2:10:40ornamented with bronze designs
2:10:42he placed it upon the floor and squatted
2:10:44before it both hands upon the lid
2:10:47from each person to whom I lend I do
2:10:50exact a token for my token chest to
2:10:53remain there until the loan is repaid
2:10:56when they repay I give back but if they
2:10:59never repay it will always remind me of
2:11:01one who was not faithful to my
2:11:03confidence
2:11:04the safest loans my token box tells me
2:11:07are to those whose possessions are of
2:11:09more value than the one they desire
2:11:12they own lands or Jewels or camels or
2:11:16other things which could be sold to
2:11:17repay the loan
2:11:19some of the tokens given to me are
2:11:21jewels of more value than the loan
2:11:24others are promises that if the loan be
2:11:26not repaid as agreed they will deliver
2:11:28to me certain property settlement
2:11:31on loans like those I am assured that my
2:11:33gold will be returned with the rental
2:11:35thereon for the loan is based on
2:11:37property
2:11:38in another class are those who have the
2:11:41capacity to earn
2:11:42they are such as you who labor or serve
2:11:45and are paid
2:11:47they have income and if they are honest
2:11:49and suffer no Misfortune I know that
2:11:51they also can repay the gold I loan them
2:11:53and the rental to which I am entitled
2:11:56such loans are based on human effort
2:11:59others are those who have neither
2:12:01property nor assured earning capacity
2:12:04life is hard and there will always be
2:12:06some who cannot adjust themselves to it
2:12:09alas for the loans I make them even
2:12:11though they be no larger than a pence my
2:12:14token box May censure me in the years to
2:12:16come unless they be guaranteed by good
2:12:18friends of the borrower who know him
2:12:20honorable
2:12:21mathon released the clasp and opened the
2:12:24lid
2:12:24rotten leaned forward eagerly
2:12:27at the top of the chest of bronze neck
2:12:29piece lay Upon A Scarlet cloth
2:12:32mathan picked up the piece and patted it
2:12:35affectionately
2:12:36this shall always remain in my token
2:12:38chest because the owner has passed on
2:12:40into the great Darkness
2:12:42I treasure it his token and I treasure
2:12:46his memory for he was my good friend
2:12:49we traded together with much success
2:12:51until out of the East he brought a woman
2:12:53to Wed beautiful but not like our women
2:12:56a dazzling creature
2:12:59he spent his gold lavishly to gratify
2:13:01her desires
2:13:03he came to me in distress when his gold
2:13:05was gone
2:13:07I counseled with him
2:13:09I told him I would help him to once more
2:13:11Master his own affairs
2:13:13he swore by the sign of the great bull
2:13:15that he would
2:13:17but it was not to be
2:13:19in a quarrel she thrust a knife into the
2:13:21heart he dared her to pierce
2:13:24and she questioned rotten
2:13:26yes of course this was hers
2:13:30he picked up the Scarlet cloth
2:13:32in bitter remorse she threw herself into
2:13:35the Euphrates
2:13:36these two loans will never be repaid
2:13:40the chest tells you rotten that humans
2:13:42in the throes of great emotions are not
2:13:45safe risks for the gold lender
2:13:47here
2:13:49now this is different
2:13:51he reached for a ring carved of oxbone
2:13:54this belongs to a farmer
2:13:57I buy the rugs of his women
2:13:59the locusts came and they had not food
2:14:02I helped him and when the new crop came
2:14:05he repaid me
2:14:06later he came again and told of strange
2:14:09goats in a distant land as described by
2:14:11a traveler
2:14:12they had long hair so fine and soft it
2:14:15would weave into rugs more beautiful
2:14:17than any ever seen in Babylon
2:14:20he wanted a hurt but he had no money
2:14:23so I did lend him gold to make the
2:14:25journey and bring back goats
2:14:27now his heard has begun and next year I
2:14:30shall surprise the Lords of Babylon with
2:14:32the most expensive rugs it has been
2:14:34their Good Fortune to buy
2:14:36soon I must return his ring
2:14:39he doth insist on repaying promptly
2:14:42some borrowers do that queried rotten
2:14:45if they borrow for purposes that bring
2:14:48money back to them I find it so
2:14:51but if they borrow because of their
2:14:53indiscretions I warn thee to be cautious
2:14:55if thou wouldstever have thy gold back
2:14:57in hand again
2:14:59tell me about this requested rotten
2:15:01picking up a heavy gold bracelet inset
2:15:04with jewels in rare designs
2:15:06the women do appeal to my good friend
2:15:09bantert mathan
2:15:11I am still much younger than you
2:15:13retorted rotten
2:15:15I grant that but this time thou dot
2:15:17suspicion romance where it is not
2:15:20the owner of this is fat and wrinkled
2:15:22and Duff talks so much and say so little
2:15:24she drives me mad
2:15:26once they had much money and were good
2:15:29customers but ill times Came Upon them
2:15:32she has a son of whom she would make a
2:15:34merchant
2:15:35so she came to me and borrowed gold that
2:15:38he might become a partner of a caravan
2:15:40owner who travels with his camels
2:15:42bartering in one city what he buys in
2:15:44another
2:15:45this man proved a rascal for he left the
2:15:48poor boy in a distant City without money
2:15:50and without friends pulling out early
2:15:52while the youth slept
2:15:54perhaps when this youth has grown to
2:15:56manhood he will repay until then I get
2:15:59no rental for the loan only much talk
2:16:02but I do admit that Jules are worthy of
2:16:05the loan
2:16:06did this lady ask thy advice as to the
2:16:08wisdom of the loan
2:16:10quite otherwise
2:16:12she had pictured to herself this son of
2:16:14hers as a wealthy and powerful man of
2:16:17Babylon
2:16:18to suggest the contrary was to infuriate
2:16:21her
2:16:22a fair rebuke I had
2:16:24I knew the risk for this inexperienced
2:16:26boy but as she offered security I could
2:16:29not refuse her
2:16:30this continued mathon waving a bit of
2:16:34pack rope tied into a knot belongs to
2:16:36nebada the camel traitor
2:16:39when he would buy a herd larger than his
2:16:41funds he brings to me this knot and I
2:16:42lent to him according to his needs
2:16:45he is a wise Trader
2:16:47I have confidence in his good judgment
2:16:49and can lend him freely
2:16:52many other merchants of Babylon have my
2:16:54confidence because of their honorable
2:16:56Behavior
2:16:57their tokens come and go frequently in
2:17:00my token box
2:17:01good Merchants are an asset to our city
2:17:04and it profits me to Aid them to keep
2:17:06trade moving that Babylon be prosperous
2:17:09mathin picked out a beetle carved in
2:17:11turquoise and tossed it contentiously on
2:17:14the floor
2:17:15a bug from Egypt
2:17:17the lad who owns this does not care
2:17:19whether I ever receive back my gold
2:17:22when I reproach him he replies how can I
2:17:25repay when ill-fate pursues me
2:17:27you have plenty more
2:17:30what can I do
2:17:31the token is his father's a worthy man
2:17:34of small means who did pledge his land
2:17:36and heard to back his son's Enterprises
2:17:39the youth found success at first and
2:17:42then was overzealous to gain great
2:17:44wealth
2:17:45his knowledge was immature
2:17:47his Enterprises collapsed
2:17:50youth is ambitious
2:17:52youth would take shortcuts to wealth and
2:17:55the desirable things for which it stands
2:17:58to secure wealth quickly youth often
2:18:00borrows unwisely
2:18:02youth never having had experience cannot
2:18:05realize that hopeless debt is like a
2:18:07deep pit into which one may descend
2:18:09quickly and where one may struggle
2:18:11vainly for many days
2:18:13it is a pit of sorrow and regrets where
2:18:16the brightness of the sun is overcast
2:18:18and night is made unhappy by Restless
2:18:20sleeping
2:18:21yet I do not discourage borrowing gold
2:18:25I encourage it
2:18:27I recommend it if it be for a wise
2:18:29purpose
2:18:30I myself made my first real success as a
2:18:33merchant with borrowed gold
2:18:36yet what should the lender do in such a
2:18:38case
2:18:39the youth is in Despair and accomplishes
2:18:42nothing
2:18:43he is discouraged
2:18:45he makes no effort to repay
2:18:48my heart turns against depriving the
2:18:50father of his Land and Cattle
2:18:53you tell me much that I am interested to
2:18:55hear ventured rotten but I hear no
2:18:58answer to my question
2:19:00should I lend my 50 pieces of gold to my
2:19:03sister's husband
2:19:04they mean much to me
2:19:06my sister is a sterling woman whom I do
2:19:09much esteem
2:19:11should her husband come to me and ask to
2:19:13borrow 50 pieces of gold I should ask
2:19:15him for what purpose he would use it
2:19:18if he answered that he desired to become
2:19:20a merchant like myself and deal in
2:19:22jewels and Rich furnishings
2:19:25I would say what knowledge have you of
2:19:27the ways of trade
2:19:29do you know where you can buy at lowest
2:19:31cost
2:19:32do you know where you can sell at a fair
2:19:34price
2:19:35could he say yes to these questions
2:19:38no he could not rotten admitted
2:19:42he has helped me much in making Spears
2:19:44and he has helped some in the shops
2:19:47then what I say to him that his purpose
2:19:49was not wise
2:19:51Merchants must learn their trade
2:19:54his ambition though Worthy is Not
2:19:57Practical and I would not lend him any
2:19:59gold
2:20:00but supposing he could say yes I have
2:20:03helped Merchants much
2:20:05I know how to travel to Smyrna and to
2:20:08buy at low-cost the rugs the housewives
2:20:10weave
2:20:11I also know many of the rich people of
2:20:13Babylon to whom I can sell these at a
2:20:16large profit
2:20:17then I would say your purpose is wise
2:20:20and your ambition honorable
2:20:22I shall be glad to lend you the 50
2:20:24pieces of gold if you can give me
2:20:26security that they will be returned
2:20:28but would he say I have no security
2:20:31other than that I am an honored man and
2:20:33will pay you well for the loan
2:20:36then would I reply I treasure much each
2:20:38piece of gold
2:20:40were the robbers to take it from you as
2:20:42you journey to Smyrna or take the rugs
2:20:44from you as you returned then you would
2:20:46have no means of repaying me and my gold
2:20:48would be gone
2:20:50gold you see rotten is the merchandise
2:20:53of the lender of money
2:20:55it is easy to lend
2:20:57if it is Lent unwisely then it is
2:21:00difficult to get back
2:21:02the wise lender wishes not the risk of
2:21:04the undertaking but the guarantee of
2:21:06safe repayment
2:21:08tis well he continued to assist those
2:21:11that are in trouble it is well to help
2:21:13those upon whom Fate has laid a heavy
2:21:15hand
2:21:16tis well to help those who are starting
2:21:18that they may progress and become
2:21:20valuable citizens
2:21:22but help must be given wisely lest like
2:21:25the farmer's ass in our desire to help
2:21:27we but take upon ourselves the burden
2:21:29that belongs to another
2:21:31again I wondered for my question rotten
2:21:34but hear my answer keep thy 50 pieces of
2:21:37gold
2:21:38what thy labor earns for thee and what
2:21:41is given thee for reward is thine own
2:21:43and no man can put an obligation upon me
2:21:45to part with it unless it do be thy wish
2:21:48if the woods lend it so that it may earn
2:21:51the more gold then land with caution and
2:21:53in many places
2:21:55I like not idle gold even less I like
2:21:57too much of risk
2:21:59how many years has thou labored as a
2:22:02spearmaker
2:22:03fully three
2:22:05how much besides the king's gift has
2:22:07saved
2:22:09three gold pieces
2:22:11each year that thou Hast labored thou
2:22:13has denied thyself
2:22:15good things to say from thine earnings
2:22:17one piece of gold
2:22:19tis as you say
2:22:21then Midas save in 50 years of Labor 50
2:22:24pieces of gold by thy self-denial
2:22:27a lifetime of Labor it would be
2:22:30think as thou thy sister would wish to
2:22:32jeopardize the savings of 50 years of
2:22:35Labor over the bronze Melting Pot that
2:22:37her husband might experiment on being a
2:22:39merchant
2:22:40not if I spoke in your words
2:22:42then go to her and say three years I
2:22:45have labored each day except fast days
2:22:48from morning until night and I have
2:22:50denied myself many things that my heart
2:22:52craved
2:22:54for each year of Labor and self-denial I
2:22:56have to show one piece of gold
2:22:59Thou Art my favorite sister and I wish
2:23:01that thy husband May engage in business
2:23:03in which he will prosper greatly
2:23:06if he will submit to me a plan that
2:23:08seems wise and possible to my friend
2:23:10mathen then will I gladly lend to him my
2:23:13savings of an entire year that he may
2:23:15have an opportunity to prove that he can
2:23:17succeed
2:23:18do that I say and if he has within him
2:23:21the soul to succeed he can prove it
2:23:24if he fails he will not owe thee more
2:23:26than he can hope someday to repay
2:23:29I am a gold lender because I own more
2:23:31gold than I can use in my own trade
2:23:34I desire My Surplus gold to labor for
2:23:37others and thereby earn more gold
2:23:40I do not wish to take risk of losing my
2:23:42gold for I have labored much and denied
2:23:44myself much to secure it
2:23:47therefore I will no longer lend any of
2:23:49it where I am not confident that it is
2:23:51safe and will be returned to me
2:23:53neither will I lend it where I am not
2:23:55convinced that its earnings will be
2:23:57promptly paid to me
2:23:59I have told to thee rotten a few of the
2:24:01secrets of my token chest
2:24:04from them you may understand the
2:24:06weakness of men and their eagerness to
2:24:08borrow that which they have no certain
2:24:09means to repay
2:24:11from this you can see how often their
2:24:13high hopes of the great earnings they
2:24:15could make if they but had gold are but
2:24:18false hopes they have not the ability or
2:24:20training to fulfill
2:24:22thou rotten now have gold which thou
2:24:24shouldst put to earning more gold for
2:24:26thee
2:24:27Thou Art about to become even as I a
2:24:30gold lender
2:24:31if thou Dost safely preserve thy
2:24:33treasure it will produce liberal
2:24:35earnings for thee and be a rich source
2:24:37of pleasure and profit during all thy
2:24:39days
2:24:40but if thou Dost let it escape from thee
2:24:43it will be a source of constant sorrow
2:24:45and regret as long as thy memory doth
2:24:47last
2:24:48what desires thou most of his gold in
2:24:51thy wallet
2:24:52to keep it safe
2:24:54wisely spoken replied math and
2:24:57approvingly
2:24:58thy first desire is for safety
2:25:01thinkest thou that in the custody of thy
2:25:03sister's husband it would be truly safe
2:25:05from possible loss
2:25:07I fear not for he is not wise in
2:25:10guarding gold
2:25:11then be not swayed by foolish Sentiments
2:25:14of obligation to trust thy treasure to
2:25:16any person
2:25:18if thou wouldst help thy family or thy
2:25:20friends find other ways than risking the
2:25:22loss of thy treasure
2:25:24forget not that gold slippeth away in
2:25:27unexpected ways from those unskilled in
2:25:29guarding it
2:25:30as well waste thy treasure in
2:25:32extravagance as let others lose it for
2:25:34thee
2:25:35what next after safety dos desire of
2:25:38this Treasure of thine
2:25:40that it earned more gold
2:25:42again thou speakest with wisdom
2:25:45it should be made to earn and grow
2:25:47larger
2:25:48gold wisely lent may even double itself
2:25:51with its earnings before a man like you
2:25:53groweth old
2:25:54if you risk losing it you risk losing
2:25:57all that it would earn as well
2:25:59therefore be not swayed by the Fantastic
2:26:01plans of Impractical men who think they
2:26:04see ways to force thy gold to make
2:26:06earnings unusually large
2:26:08such plans are the creations of dreamers
2:26:11unskilled in the safe and dependable
2:26:13laws of trade
2:26:15be conservative in what thou expected to
2:26:17earn that thou mayest keep and enjoy thy
2:26:19treasure
2:26:20to hire it out with a promise of
2:26:22usurious returns is to invite loss
2:26:26seek to associate thyself with men in
2:26:28Enterprises whose success is established
2:26:31that thy treasure may earn liberally
2:26:32under their skillful use and be guarded
2:26:35safely by their wisdom and experience
2:26:38thus mayest thou avoid the misfortunes
2:26:40that follow most of the sons of men to
2:26:43whom the gods see fit to entrust gold
2:26:46when rotten would thank him for his wise
2:26:48advice he would not listen saying the
2:26:50king's gift shall teach thee much wisdom
2:26:53if Woods keep thy 50 pieces of gold thou
2:26:56must be discreet indeed
2:26:58many uses will tempt thee
2:27:00much advice will be spoken to thee
2:27:03numerous opportunities to make large
2:27:06profits will be offered thee
2:27:08the stories from my token box should
2:27:10warn the before thou let any piece of
2:27:13gold leave thy pouch to be sure that
2:27:15thou Hast a safe way to pull it back
2:27:17again
2:27:18should my further advice appeal to thee
2:27:20return again
2:27:22it is gladly given
2:27:24Heir thou goest read this which I have
2:27:26carved beneath the lid of my token box
2:27:29it applies equally to the borrower and
2:27:32the lender
2:27:33better a little Caution than a great
2:27:35regret
2:27:38chapter 7.
2:27:40the walls of Babylon
2:27:42old banser Grim Warrior of another day
2:27:45stood guard at the passageway leading to
2:27:47the top of the ancient walls of Babylon
2:27:50up above Valiant Defenders were battling
2:27:53to hold the walls
2:27:55upon them depended the future existence
2:27:57of this great City with its hundreds of
2:27:59thousands of citizens
2:28:01over the walls came the Roar of the
2:28:03attacking armies the yelling of many men
2:28:06the trampling of thousands of Horses The
2:28:09deafening boom of the battering rams
2:28:10pounding the bronze Gates
2:28:13in the street behind the gate lounged
2:28:15the spearmen waiting to defend the
2:28:17entrance should the gates give way
2:28:19they weren't but few for the task
2:28:22the main armies of Babylon were with
2:28:25their King far away in the east on the
2:28:27Great Expedition against the elamites
2:28:30no attack upon the city having been
2:28:32anticipated during their absence the
2:28:35defending forces were small
2:28:37unexpectedly from the north bore down
2:28:40the mighty armies of the Assyrians
2:28:43and now the walls must hold or Babylon
2:28:46was doomed
2:28:47about banser were great crowds of
2:28:49citizens white-faced and terrified
2:28:51eagerly seeking news of the battle
2:28:54with hushed awe they viewed the stream
2:28:56of wounded and dead being carried or Led
2:28:59Out of the passageway
2:29:01here was The crucial point of attack
2:29:03after three days of circling about the
2:29:06city the enemy had suddenly thrown his
2:29:08great strength against this section and
2:29:10this gate
2:29:12The Defenders from the top of the wall
2:29:14fought off the climbing platforms and
2:29:16the scaling ladders of the attackers
2:29:17with arrows burning oil and if any
2:29:20reached the top Spears
2:29:22against the Defenders thousands of the
2:29:25enemies archers poured a deadly barrage
2:29:27of arrows
2:29:29old banzer had the vantage point for
2:29:31news
2:29:32he was closest to the conflict and first
2:29:35to hear of each fresh repulse of the
2:29:37frenzied attackers
2:29:39an elderly Merchant crowded close to him
2:29:41his palsied hands quivering
2:29:44tell me
2:29:45tell me he pleaded
2:29:48they cannot get in
2:29:50my sons are with the good King
2:29:52there is no one to protect my old wife
2:29:55my goods they will steal all
2:29:59my food they will leave nothing
2:30:02we are old too old to defend ourselves
2:30:04too old for slaves
2:30:07we shall starve
2:30:09we shall die
2:30:11tell me they cannot get in
2:30:13calm thyself good Merchant the guard
2:30:16responded
2:30:17the walls of Babylon are strong
2:30:20go back to the bazaar and tell your wife
2:30:22that the walls will protect you and all
2:30:25of your possessions as safely as they
2:30:26protect the rich Treasures of the king
2:30:29keep close to the walls lest the arrows
2:30:32flying over strike you
2:30:34a woman with a babe in arms took the old
2:30:36man's place as he withdrew
2:30:39Sergeant what news from the top
2:30:42tell me truly that I may reassure my
2:30:44poor husband
2:30:46he lies with fever from his terrible
2:30:48wounds yet insists upon his armor and
2:30:51his spear to protect me who am with
2:30:53child
2:30:54terrible he says will be the vengeful
2:30:56lust of our enemies should they break in
2:30:59be thou of good heart thou mother that
2:31:01is and is again to be the walls of
2:31:04Babylon will protect you and your babes
2:31:07they are high and strong
2:31:10hear ye not the yells of our Valiant
2:31:12Defenders as they empty the cauldrons of
2:31:14burning oil upon the ladder scalers
2:31:17yes that do I hear and also the Roar of
2:31:20the battering rams that do hammer at our
2:31:22gates
2:31:23back to thy husband
2:31:25tell him the gates are strong and
2:31:27withstand the Rams
2:31:29also that the scalers climb the walls
2:31:31but to receive the waiting spear thrust
2:31:34watch by way and hasten behind you
2:31:37buildings
2:31:39bandzer stepped aside to clear the
2:31:41passage for heavily armed reinforcements
2:31:44as with clanking bronze Shields and
2:31:46heavy tread they tramped by a small girl
2:31:49plucked at his girdle
2:31:51tell me please Soldier are we safe she
2:31:55pleaded
2:31:56I hear the awful noises
2:31:58I see the men all bleeding
2:32:01I am so frightened
2:32:03what will become of our family of my
2:32:06mother little brother and the baby
2:32:08the Grim old campaigner blinked his eyes
2:32:11and thrust forward his chin as he beheld
2:32:13the child
2:32:14Be not Afraid little one he reassured
2:32:17her
2:32:19the walls of Babylon will protect you
2:32:21and mother and little brother and the
2:32:23baby
2:32:24it was for the safety of such as you
2:32:26that the good Queen samiramis built them
2:32:28over a hundred years ago
2:32:30never have they been broken through
2:32:33go back and tell your mother and little
2:32:35brother and the baby that the walls of
2:32:37Babylon will protect them and they need
2:32:39have no fear
2:32:41day after day old banzer stood at his
2:32:43post and watched the reinforcements file
2:32:45up the passageway there to stay and
2:32:48fight until wounded or dead they came
2:32:50down once more
2:32:51around him unceasingly crowded the
2:32:54Thrones of frightened citizens eagerly
2:32:56seeking to learn if the walls would hold
2:32:59to all he gave his answer with the fine
2:33:01Dignity of an old Soldier the walls of
2:33:03Babylon will protect you
2:33:06for three weeks and five days the attack
2:33:08waged with scarcely ceasing violence
2:33:11harder and Grimmer set the jaw of Panzer
2:33:14as the passage behind wet with the blood
2:33:16of the many wounded was churned into mud
2:33:19by the never ceasing streams of men
2:33:21passing up and staggering down
2:33:24stay the slaughtered attackers piled up
2:33:26in heaps before the wall
2:33:28each night they were carried back and
2:33:31buried by their comrades
2:33:33upon the fifth night of the fourth week
2:33:35the clamor without diminished
2:33:38the first streaks of daylight
2:33:39Illuminating the plains disclosed great
2:33:42clouds of dust raised by the retreating
2:33:44armies
2:33:46a mighty shout went up from the
2:33:47Defenders
2:33:49there was no mistaking its meaning
2:33:52it was repeated by The Waiting troops
2:33:54Behind the Walls
2:33:55it was echoed by the citizens upon the
2:33:58streets
2:33:59it swept over the city with the violence
2:34:02of a storm
2:34:03people rushed from the houses
2:34:06the streets were jammed with a throbbing
2:34:08mob
2:34:09the pent-up fear of weeks found an
2:34:11outlet in the wild chorus of joy
2:34:14from the top of the high tower of the
2:34:16Temple of bell burst forth the Flames of
2:34:18victory
2:34:19Skyward floated the column of blue smoke
2:34:22to carry the message far and wide
2:34:25the walls of Babylon had once again
2:34:27repulsed a mighty in viscous vote
2:34:29determined to loot her rich treasures
2:34:31and to Ravish and enslave her citizens
2:34:34Babylon endured Century after Century
2:34:37because it was fully protected
2:34:39it could not afford to be otherwise
2:34:42the walls of Babylon were an outstanding
2:34:45example of man's need and desire for
2:34:47protection
2:34:49this desire is inherent in the human
2:34:51race
2:34:52it is just as strong today as it ever
2:34:55was but we have developed broader and
2:34:57better plans to accomplish the same
2:34:59purpose
2:35:00in this day behind the impregnable walls
2:35:03of insurance savings accounts and
2:35:05dependable Investments we can guard
2:35:07ourselves against the unexpected
2:35:09tragedies that may enter any door and
2:35:11seat themselves before any Fireside
2:35:15we cannot afford to be without adequate
2:35:17protection
2:35:20chapter 8.
2:35:22the camel Trader of Babylon
2:35:25the hungrier one becomes the clearer
2:35:27ones mind works also the more sensitive
2:35:30one becomes to the odors of food
2:35:33tarkad the son of azure certainly
2:35:35thought so
2:35:37for two whole days he had tasted no food
2:35:40except two small figs per loin from over
2:35:42the wall of a garden
2:35:44not another could he grab before the
2:35:46angry woman rushed forth and chased him
2:35:48down the street
2:35:50her shrill cries were still ringing in
2:35:52his ears as he walked through the
2:35:54marketplace
2:35:55they helped him to retrain his Restless
2:35:57fingers from snatching the tempting
2:35:59fruits from the baskets of the market
2:36:01women
2:36:02never before had he realized how much
2:36:04food was brought to the markets of
2:36:06Babylon and how could it smelled
2:36:09leaving the market he walked across to
2:36:11the inn and paced back and forth in
2:36:13front of the Eating House
2:36:15perhaps here he might meet someone he
2:36:17knew someone from whom he could borrow a
2:36:19copper that would gain him a smile from
2:36:21the unfriendly Keeper of the inn and
2:36:23with it a liberal helping
2:36:26without the copper he knew all too well
2:36:28how unwelcome he would be
2:36:30in his abstraction he unexpectedly found
2:36:33himself face to face with the one man he
2:36:35wished most to avoid the tall bony
2:36:38figure of Davison the camel traitor
2:36:41of all the friends and others from whom
2:36:43he had borrowed small sums dabasir made
2:36:45him feel the most uncomfortable because
2:36:47of his failure to keep his promises to
2:36:50repay promptly
2:36:52dabuser's face lighted up at the sight
2:36:54of him
2:36:55ha
2:36:56tis tarkat just the one I have been
2:36:59seeking that he might repay the two
2:37:00pieces of copper which I lent him a moon
2:37:02ago also the piece of silver which I
2:37:05lent to him before that
2:37:07we are well met
2:37:09I can make good use of the coins this
2:37:11very day
2:37:12what say boy
2:37:15what say
2:37:16tarkad stuttered and his face flushed
2:37:19he had not in his empty stomach to nerve
2:37:22him to argue with the outspoken Davison
2:37:25I am sorry very sorry he mumbled weakly
2:37:28but this day I have neither the copper
2:37:30or the silver with which I could repay
2:37:33then get it dabaser insisted
2:37:37surely thou can'tst get hold of a few
2:37:39coppers and a piece of silver to repay
2:37:41the generosity of an old friend of thy
2:37:43father who aided the ones that was in
2:37:45need
2:37:46tis because ill Fortune does pursue me
2:37:48that I cannot pay
2:37:50ill Fortune
2:37:52Woods blamed the gods for thine own
2:37:54weakness
2:37:55ill Fortune pursues every man who thinks
2:37:58more of borrowing than of repaying
2:38:01come with me boy while I eat
2:38:04I am hungry and I would tell the a tale
2:38:07Tark had flinched from the brutal
2:38:09frankness of dabbasu but here at least
2:38:11was an invitation to enter the coveted
2:38:13doorway of the Eating House
2:38:16dabaser pushed him to a far corner of
2:38:18the room where they seated themselves
2:38:20upon small rugs
2:38:22when cow score the proprietor appeared
2:38:25smiling dabasir addressed him with his
2:38:27usual Freedom fat lizard of the desert
2:38:30bring to me a leg of the goat brown with
2:38:32much juice and bread and all of the
2:38:35vegetables for I am hungry and want much
2:38:37food
2:38:38do not forget my friend here
2:38:41bring to him a jug of water
2:38:43have it cooled for the day is hot
2:38:46tarkat's heart sank
2:38:49must he sit here and drink water while
2:38:51he watched this man devour an entire
2:38:53goat leg
2:38:54he said nothing
2:38:56he thought of nothing he could say
2:38:59dabasir however knew no such thing as
2:39:02silence
2:39:03smiling and waving his hand
2:39:05good-naturedly to the other customers
2:39:07all of whom knew him he continued
2:39:11I did hear from a traveler just returned
2:39:13from where far of a certain rich man who
2:39:15has a piece of stone cut so thin that
2:39:17one can look through it
2:39:19he put it in the window of his house to
2:39:21keep out the reins
2:39:23it is yellow so this traveler does
2:39:25relate and he was permitted to look
2:39:27through it and all the outside world
2:39:29look strange and not like it really is
2:39:32what say you to that tarkat
2:39:35thinkist all the world could look to a
2:39:37man a different color from what it is
2:39:40I dare say responded to youth much more
2:39:43interested in the fat leg of goat placed
2:39:45before dabasu
2:39:47well I know it to be true for I myself
2:39:49have seen the world all of a different
2:39:51color from what it really is and the
2:39:53tale I am about to tell relates how I
2:39:55came to see it in its right color once
2:39:57more
2:39:58dabasir will tell a tale whispered a
2:40:01neighboring Diner to his neighbor and
2:40:03dragged his rug close
2:40:05other diners brought their food and
2:40:07crowded in a semi-circle
2:40:09they crunched noisily in the years of
2:40:11tarkat and brushed him with their meaty
2:40:13bones
2:40:15he alone was without food
2:40:17dabbasu did not offer to share with him
2:40:20nor even motion him to a small corner of
2:40:22the hard bread that was broken off and
2:40:24had fallen from the platter to the floor
2:40:27the tale that I am about to tell began
2:40:29davasu pausing to bite a goodly chunk
2:40:32from the goat leg relates to my early
2:40:34life and how I came to be a camel
2:40:36traitor
2:40:37did anyone know that I once was a slave
2:40:40in Syria
2:40:41a murmur of surprise ran through the
2:40:43audience to which dabaser listened with
2:40:46satisfaction
2:40:47when I was a young man continued dabiser
2:40:50after another vicious Onslaught on the
2:40:52goat leg I learned the trait of my
2:40:54father the making of saddles
2:40:57I worked with him in his shop and took
2:40:59to myself a wife
2:41:01being young and not greatly skilled I
2:41:03could earn but little just enough to
2:41:05support my excellent wife in a modest
2:41:07way
2:41:09I craved good things which I could not
2:41:11afford
2:41:12soon I found that the shopkeepers would
2:41:15trust me to pay later even though I
2:41:16could not pay at the time
2:41:18being young and without experience I did
2:41:21not know that he who spends more than he
2:41:23earns is sowing The Winds of needless
2:41:24self-indulgence from which he is sure to
2:41:27reap the whirlwinds of trouble and
2:41:28humiliation
2:41:30so I indulged my whims for fine raiment
2:41:32and bought luxuries For My Good Wife in
2:41:34our home beyond our means
2:41:37I paid as I could and for a while all
2:41:39went well
2:41:41but in time I discovered I could not use
2:41:43my earnings both to live upon and to pay
2:41:46my debts
2:41:47creditors began to pursue me to pay for
2:41:49my extravagant purchases and my life
2:41:51became miserable
2:41:53I borrowed from my friends but could not
2:41:56repay them either
2:41:58things went from bad to worse
2:42:00my wife returned to her father and I
2:42:02decided to leave Babylon and seek
2:42:04another city where a young man might
2:42:06have better chances
2:42:08for two years I had a restless and
2:42:10unsuccessful life working for Caravan
2:42:13Traders
2:42:14from this I fell in with a set of
2:42:16likable robbers who scoured the desert
2:42:18for unarmed Caravans
2:42:20such Deeds were Unworthy of the son of
2:42:23my father but I was seeing the world
2:42:25through a colored Stone and did not
2:42:27realize to what degradation I had fallen
2:42:30we met with success on our first trip
2:42:32capturing a rich hole of gold and silks
2:42:34invaluable merchandise
2:42:37this loot we took to China and
2:42:39squandered
2:42:40the second time we were not so fortunate
2:42:43just after we had made our capture we
2:42:46were attacked by the spears men of a
2:42:48native Chief to whom the Caravans paid
2:42:50for protection
2:42:51our two leaders were killed and the rest
2:42:54of us were taken to Damascus where we
2:42:56were stripped of our clothing and sold
2:42:58as slaves
2:42:59I was purchased for two pieces of silver
2:43:01by Assyrian desert chief
2:43:04with my hair shortened and but a
2:43:06loincloth to wear I was not so different
2:43:09from the other slaves
2:43:11being a Reckless Youth I thought it
2:43:13merely an adventure until my master took
2:43:15me before his four wives and told them
2:43:17they could have me for a eunuch
2:43:19then indeed did I realize the
2:43:22hopelessness of my situation
2:43:24these men of the desert were Fierce and
2:43:27more like
2:43:28I was subject to their will without
2:43:30weapons or means of Escape
2:43:32fearful I stood as those four women
2:43:35looked me over
2:43:37I wondered if I could expect pity from
2:43:39them
2:43:40Sarah the first wife was older than the
2:43:43others
2:43:44her face was impassive as she looked
2:43:46upon me
2:43:48I turned from her with little
2:43:49consolation
2:43:51the next was a contemptuous Beauty who
2:43:53gazed at me as indifferently as if I had
2:43:55been a worm of the Earth
2:43:57the two younger ones tittered as though
2:43:59it were all an exciting joke
2:44:02it seemed an age that I stood waiting
2:44:04sentence
2:44:05each woman appeared willing for the
2:44:07others to decide
2:44:09finally Sarah spoke up in a cold voice
2:44:13of Unix we have plenty but of camel
2:44:15tenders we have few and they are a
2:44:17worthless laugh
2:44:19even this day I would visit my mother
2:44:21who is sick with the fever and there is
2:44:23no slave I would trust to lead my camel
2:44:26ask this slave if he can lead a camel
2:44:29my master there upon questioned me what
2:44:31no you of camels
2:44:34striving to conceal my eagerness I
2:44:36replied I can make the meal I can load
2:44:39them I can lead them on long trips
2:44:41without tiring
2:44:42if need be I can repair their trappings
2:44:46the slave speaks forward enough observe
2:44:49my master
2:44:50if thou so desire Sira take this man for
2:44:54thy camel tender
2:44:55so I was turned over to Sarah and that
2:44:58day I led her camel upon a long journey
2:45:00to her sick mother
2:45:02I took the occasion to thank her for her
2:45:04intercession and also to tell her that I
2:45:07was not a slave by birth but the son of
2:45:09a Freeman an honorable saddle maker of
2:45:11Babylon
2:45:13I also told her much of my story
2:45:16her comments were disconcerting to me
2:45:18and I pondered much afterwards on what
2:45:20she said
2:45:21how can you call yourself a free man
2:45:23when your weakness has brought you to
2:45:25this
2:45:26if a man has in
2:45:28himself the soul of a slave will he not
2:45:30become one no matter what his birth even
2:45:33as water seeks its level
2:45:35if a man has within him the soul of a
2:45:38free man will he not become respected
2:45:40and honored in his own City in spite of
2:45:42his misfortune
2:45:43for over a year I was a slave and lived
2:45:46with the slaves but I could not become
2:45:48as one of them
2:45:50one day Sarah asked me in the even time
2:45:53when the other slaves can mingle and
2:45:55enjoy the Society of each other why Dost
2:45:57thou sit in thy tent alone
2:45:59to which I responded I am pondering what
2:46:02you have said to me
2:46:04I wonder if I have the soul of a Slave
2:46:07I cannot join them so I must sit apart
2:46:10I too must sit apart she can fight it
2:46:15my Dowry was large and my Lord married
2:46:17me because of it
2:46:19yet he does not desire me
2:46:21what every woman Longs for is to be
2:46:24desired
2:46:25because of this and because I am Barren
2:46:27and have neither son nor daughter must I
2:46:29sit apart
2:46:31were I a man I would rather die than be
2:46:34such a slave but the conventions of our
2:46:36tribe make slaves of women
2:46:38what think thou of Me by this time
2:46:41I asked her suddenly have I the soul of
2:46:44a man or have I the soul of a Slave
2:46:46have you a desire to repay the just
2:46:49debts you owe in Babylon she carried
2:46:52yes I have the desire but I see no way
2:46:56if thou contentedly let the years slip
2:46:58by and make no effort to repay then thou
2:47:01Hast but the contemptible soul of a
2:47:03Slave
2:47:05no man is otherwise who cannot respect
2:47:07himself and no man can respect himself
2:47:09who does not repay honest debts
2:47:12but what can I do who I'm a slave in
2:47:15Syria
2:47:16stay a slave in Syria thou weakling
2:47:19I am not a weakling I denied hotly
2:47:23then prove it
2:47:24how
2:47:26does not thy great King fight his
2:47:28enemies in every way he can and with
2:47:30every Force he has
2:47:32thy debts are thy enemies
2:47:34they ran thee out of Babylon
2:47:37you left them alone and they grew too
2:47:39strong for thee
2:47:41Hast fought them as a man thou couldste
2:47:44have conquered them and been one honored
2:47:45among the town's people
2:47:47but thou had not the soul to fight them
2:47:50and behold thy pride has gone down until
2:47:52thou art a slave in Syria
2:47:54much I thought over her unkind
2:47:56accusations and many defensive phrases I
2:47:59worded to prove myself not a Slave at
2:48:01heart but I was not to have the chance
2:48:03to use them
2:48:05three days later the maid of Sarah took
2:48:07me to her mistress
2:48:09my mother is again very sick she said
2:48:13all the two best camels in my husband's
2:48:15herd
2:48:17tie on water skins and saddle bags for a
2:48:20long journey
2:48:21the maid will give the food at the
2:48:23kitchen tent
2:48:24I packed the camels wondering much at
2:48:27the quantity of Provisions the maid
2:48:29provided for the mother dwelt less than
2:48:31a Day's Journey away
2:48:33the maid rode the rear camel which
2:48:35followed and I led the camel of my
2:48:37mistress
2:48:38when we reached her mother's house it
2:48:40was just dark
2:48:42Sarah dismissed the maid and said to me
2:48:45dabasir hast thou the soul of a free man
2:48:48or the soul of a Slave
2:48:50the soul of a free man I insisted
2:48:53now is thy chance to prove it
2:48:56by Master hath imbibed deeply and his
2:48:59Chiefs are in a stupor
2:49:01take them these camels and make thy
2:49:03Escape
2:49:04here in this bag is raiment of thy
2:49:06Masters to disguise thee
2:49:08I will say thou stole the camels and ran
2:49:11away while I visited my sick mother
2:49:14thou Hast the soul of a queen I told her
2:49:17much do I wish that I might lead thee to
2:49:20happiness
2:49:21happiness she responded awaits not the
2:49:24runaway wife who seeks it in Far lands
2:49:26among strange people
2:49:28go thy own way and may the gods of the
2:49:31desert protect thee for the way is far
2:49:33and Barren of food or water
2:49:35I needed no further urging but thanked
2:49:38her warmly and was away Into the Night
2:49:41I knew not this strange country and had
2:49:43only a dim idea of the direction in
2:49:45which lay Babylon but struck out bravely
2:49:48across the desert toward the Hills
2:49:51one camel I rode and the other I led
2:49:54all that night I traveled and all the
2:49:56nest day berged on by the knowledge of
2:49:58the terrible fate that was meted out to
2:50:01Slaves who stole their masters property
2:50:03and tried to escape
2:50:05late that afternoon I reached a rough
2:50:07country as uninhabitable as the desert
2:50:10the sharp rocks bruised the feet of my
2:50:12faithful camels and soon they were
2:50:14picking their way slowly and painfully
2:50:16along
2:50:18I met neither man nor beast and could
2:50:20well understand why they shunned this
2:50:22inhospitable land
2:50:24it was such a journey from then on as
2:50:26few men lived to tell of
2:50:28day after day we plotted along
2:50:31food and water gave out
2:50:34the heat of the sun was merciless
2:50:37at the end of the ninth day I slid from
2:50:39the back of my mouth with the feeling
2:50:41that I was too weak to ever remount and
2:50:43I would surely die lost in this
2:50:45abandoned country
2:50:47I stretched out upon the ground and
2:50:49slept not waking until the first gleam
2:50:51of daylight
2:50:52I sat up and looked about me
2:50:55there was a coolness in the morning air
2:50:58my camels lay dejected not far away
2:51:01about me was a vast waste of broken
2:51:04country covered with Rock and Sand and
2:51:06thorny things no sign of water not to
2:51:09eat for man or camel
2:51:11could it be that in this peaceful quiet
2:51:13I faced my end
2:51:15my mind was clearer than it had ever
2:51:17been before
2:51:18my body now seemed of little importance
2:51:22my parched and bleeding lips my dry and
2:51:25swollen tongue my empty stomach all had
2:51:27lost their Supreme agonies of the day
2:51:29before
2:51:31I looked across into the uninviting
2:51:33distance and once again came to me the
2:51:35question have I the soul of a slave or
2:51:37the soul of a free man
2:51:39then with clearness I realized that if I
2:51:42had the soul of a slave I should give up
2:51:44lie down in the desert and die a fitting
2:51:47end for a runaway slave
2:51:49but if I had the soul of a free man what
2:51:52then
2:51:53surely I would force my way back to
2:51:55Babylon repay the people who had trusted
2:51:58me bring happiness to my wife who truly
2:52:00loved me and bring peace and contentment
2:52:03to my parents
2:52:04thy debts are thine enemies who have run
2:52:07the out of Babylon Sarah had said
2:52:10yes it was so
2:52:12why had I refused to Stand My Ground
2:52:14like a man
2:52:15why had I permitted my wife to go back
2:52:18to her father
2:52:19then a strange thing happened
2:52:22all the world seemed to be of a
2:52:24different color as though I had been
2:52:25looking at it through a colored Stone
2:52:27which had suddenly been removed
2:52:30at last I saw the True Values in life
2:52:33die in the desert
2:52:35not I
2:52:37with a new vision I saw the things that
2:52:39I must do
2:52:41first I would go back to Babylon and
2:52:43face every man to whom I owed an unpaid
2:52:45debt
2:52:47I should tell them that after years of
2:52:49wandering and Misfortune I had come back
2:52:51to pay my debts as fast as the gods
2:52:53would permit
2:52:54next I should make a home for my wife
2:52:57and become a citizen of who my parents
2:52:59should be proud
2:53:00my debts were my enemies but the men I
2:53:03owed were my friends for they had
2:53:04trusted me and believed in me
2:53:07I staggered weakly to my feet
2:53:09What mattered hunger
2:53:12What mattered thirst
2:53:14they were but incidents on the road to
2:53:16Babylon
2:53:17Within Me surged the soul of a free man
2:53:20going back to conquer his enemies and
2:53:22reward his friends
2:53:24I thrilled with the great resolve
2:53:27the glazed eyes of my camels brightened
2:53:29at the new note in my husky voice
2:53:32with great effort after
2:53:35many attempts they gained their feet
2:53:38with pitiful perseverance they pushed on
2:53:40toward the north where something within
2:53:42me said we would find Babylon
2:53:45we found water
2:53:47we passed into a more fertile country
2:53:49where were grass and fruit
2:53:51we found the trail to Babylon because
2:53:53the soul of a free man looks at Life as
2:53:56a series of problems to be solved and
2:53:58solves them while the soul of a slave
2:54:00whines what can I do who am but a Slave
2:54:04how about the tarkat
2:54:06does thy empty stomach make thy head
2:54:09exceedingly clear
2:54:10art ready to take the road that leads
2:54:12back to self-respect
2:54:14can't thou see the world in its true
2:54:17color
2:54:18hast thou the desire to pay thy honest
2:54:20debts however many they may be and once
2:54:23again be a man respected in Babylon
2:54:26moisture came to the eyes of the youth
2:54:29he rose eagerly to his knees
2:54:32thou has shown me a vision already I
2:54:34feel the soul of a free man search
2:54:36Within Me
2:54:38but how fared you upon your return
2:54:40questioned an interested listener
2:54:43where the determination is the way can
2:54:45be found dabbaser replied
2:54:48I now had the determination so I set out
2:54:50to find a way
2:54:52first I visited every man to whom I was
2:54:54indebted and begged his Indulgence until
2:54:57I could earn that with which to repay
2:54:59most of them met me gladly
2:55:02several reviled me but others offered to
2:55:04help me one indeed did give me the very
2:55:07help I needed
2:55:08it was mathem the gold lender
2:55:11learning that I had been a camel tender
2:55:13in Syria he sent me to Old nebader the
2:55:16camel traitor just commissioned by our
2:55:19good King to purchase many herds of
2:55:21sound camels for the Great Expedition
2:55:23with him my knowledge of camels I put to
2:55:26good use
2:55:28gradually I was able to repay every
2:55:30copper and every piece of silver
2:55:33then at last I could hold up my head and
2:55:35feel that I was an honorable man among
2:55:37men
2:55:38again Davison turned to his food
2:55:41cow score thou snail he called loudly to
2:55:44be heard in the kitchen the food is cold
2:55:48bring me more meat fresh from the
2:55:50roasting
2:55:51bring thou also a very large portion for
2:55:53tarkat the son of my old friend who is
2:55:56hungry and shall eat with me
2:55:59so ended the tale of Davison the camel
2:56:01traitor of old Babylon
2:56:03he found his own soul when he realized a
2:56:06great truth a truth that had been known
2:56:08and used by wise men long before his
2:56:11time
2:56:12it has led men of all ages out of
2:56:14difficulties and into success and it
2:56:16will continue to do so for those who
2:56:18have the wisdom to understand its magic
2:56:20power
2:56:21it is for any man to use who reads these
2:56:24lines
2:56:25where the determination is the way can
2:56:27be found
2:56:31chapter 9.
2:56:33the clay tablets from Babylon
2:56:35October 21 1934
2:56:39My Dear Professor
2:56:41the five clay tablets from your recent
2:56:43excavation in the ruins of Babylon
2:56:45arrived on the same boat with your
2:56:47letter
2:56:48I have been fascinated no end and have
2:56:51spent many Pleasant hours translating
2:56:53their inscriptions
2:56:55I should have answered your letter at
2:56:57once but delayed until I could complete
2:56:59the translations which are attached
2:57:01the tablets arrived without damage
2:57:04thanks to your careful use of
2:57:05preservatives and excellent packing
2:57:08you will be as astonished as we in the
2:57:10laboratory at the story they relate
2:57:13one expects the dim and distant past to
2:57:15speak of romance and adventure
2:57:18Arabian Nights sort of things you know
2:57:22when instead it discloses the problem of
2:57:24a person named Davison to pay off his
2:57:26debts one realizes that conditions upon
2:57:29this old world have not changed as much
2:57:31in 5000 years as one might expect
2:57:35it's odd you know but these old
2:57:37inscriptions rather ragged me as the
2:57:40students say
2:57:41being a college professor I am supposed
2:57:44to be a thinking human being possessing
2:57:46a working knowledge of most subjects
2:57:49yet here comes this old chap out of the
2:57:52dust-covered ruins of Babylon to offer a
2:57:54way I had never heard of to pay off my
2:57:56debts and at the same time acquire gold
2:57:59to Jingle in my wallet
2:58:01Pleasant thought I say an interesting to
2:58:04prove whether it will work as well
2:58:05nowadays as it did in Old Babylon
2:58:08Mrs Shrewsbury and myself are planning
2:58:11to try out his plan Upon Our Own Affairs
2:58:13which could be much improved
2:58:16wishing you the best of luck in your
2:58:18worthy undertaking and waiting eagerly
2:58:20another opportunity to assist I am
2:58:23yours sincerely Alfred H Shrewsbury
2:58:27Department of archeology
2:58:30tablet number one
2:58:32now when the moon becometh full Davison
2:58:35who am but recently returned from
2:58:37slavery in Syria with the determination
2:58:40to pay my many just debts and become a
2:58:42man of means worthy of respect in my
2:58:45native city of Babylon due here engrave
2:58:47upon the clay a permanent record of my
2:58:49Affairs to guide and assist me in
2:58:51carrying through my high desires
2:58:53under the wise advice of my good friend
2:58:56mathen the gold lender I am determined
2:58:58to follow an exact plan that he does say
2:59:01will lead any honorable man out of debt
2:59:03into means and self-respect
2:59:05this plan included three purposes which
2:59:08Are My Hope and desire
2:59:10first the plan death provide for my
2:59:13future prosperity
2:59:15therefore one-tenth of all Iron shall be
2:59:17set aside as my own to keep
2:59:20for Math and speaketh wisely when he
2:59:22Seth
2:59:23that man who keepeth in his purse both
2:59:26gold and silver that he need not spend
2:59:28is good to his family and loyal to his
2:59:30King
2:59:31the man who hath but a few coppers in
2:59:34his purse is indifferent to his family
2:59:36and indifferent to his King
2:59:38but the man who hath not in his purse is
2:59:40unkind to his family and is disloyal to
2:59:43his King for his own heart is bitter
2:59:46therefore the man who wisheth to achieve
2:59:49must have coined that he may keep to
2:59:51Jingle in his purse that he have in his
2:59:53heart love for his family and loyalty to
2:59:55his King
2:59:57second the plan doth provide that I
3:00:00shall support and clothe My Good Wife
3:00:01who hath returned to me with loyalty
3:00:03from the house of her father
3:00:06for Math and doth say that to take good
3:00:08care of a faithful wife put itself
3:00:10respect into the heart of a man and add
3:00:12its strength and determination to his
3:00:14purposes
3:00:16therefore seven tenths of all Iron shall
3:00:18be used to provide a home clothes to
3:00:20wear and food to eat with a bit extra to
3:00:23spend that our lives be not lacking in
3:00:26pleasure and enjoyment
3:00:28but he does further enjoying the
3:00:29greatest care that we spend not greater
3:00:31than seven tenths of what I earned for
3:00:33these worthy purposes
3:00:36herein leaked the success of the plan
3:00:39I must live upon this portion and never
3:00:41use more nor by what I may not pay for
3:00:43out of this portion
3:00:45tablet number two
3:00:47third the plan does provide that out of
3:00:50my earnings my debts shall be paid
3:00:52therefore each time the moon is full two
3:00:55tenths of all I have earned shall be
3:00:57divided honorably and fairly among those
3:00:59who have trusted me and to whom I am
3:01:01indebted
3:01:02thus in due time will all my
3:01:04indebtedness be surely paid
3:01:06therefore do I hear engrave the name of
3:01:09every man to whom I am indebted and the
3:01:11honest amount of my debt
3:01:13faru the cloth Weaver two silver six
3:01:16copper
3:01:18sinjar the couch maker one silver
3:01:21ammar my friend free silver one copper
3:01:26Zanker my friend for silver seven copper
3:01:30ask Amir my friend one silver free
3:01:33copper
3:01:34Harin sir the jewel maker six silver two
3:01:38copper
3:01:39Dyer Beaker my father's friend for
3:01:42silver one copper
3:01:44alcohol the house owner 14 silver
3:01:48mathon the gold lender nine silver
3:01:52biojic the farmer one silver seven
3:01:55copper
3:01:57from here on disintegrated
3:01:59cannot be deciphered
3:02:02tablet number three
3:02:04to these creditors do I owe in total 119
3:02:07pieces of silver and 141 pieces of
3:02:10copper
3:02:12because I did owe these sums and saw no
3:02:14way to repay in my Folly I did permit my
3:02:17wife to return to her father and ditz
3:02:19leave my native City and seek easy
3:02:21wealth elsewhere only to find disaster
3:02:23and to see myself sold into the
3:02:25degradation of slavery
3:02:27now that math and doth show me how I can
3:02:30repay my debts in small sums of my
3:02:32earnings do I realize the great extent
3:02:34of my Folly in running away from the
3:02:36results of my extravagances
3:02:39therefore have I visited my creditors
3:02:41and explained to them that I have no
3:02:43Resources with which to pay except my
3:02:45ability to earn and that I intend to
3:02:47apply two tenths of all I earn upon my
3:02:49indebtedness evenly and honestly
3:02:52this much can I pay but no more
3:02:55therefore if they be patient in time my
3:02:58obligations will be paid in full
3:03:00ammar whom I thought my best friend
3:03:03reviled me bitterly and I left him in
3:03:05humiliation
3:03:07biojic the farmer pleaded that I pay him
3:03:10first as he ditched badly need help
3:03:13alcahed the house owner was indeed
3:03:16disagreeable and insisted that he would
3:03:18make me trouble unless I did soon settle
3:03:20in full with him
3:03:22all the rest willingly accepted my
3:03:24proposal
3:03:25therefore am I more determined than ever
3:03:27to carry through being convinced that it
3:03:30is easier to pay one's just debts than
3:03:32to avoid them
3:03:34even though I cannot meet the needs and
3:03:36demands of a few of my creditors I will
3:03:38deal in partially with all
3:03:40tablet number four
3:03:42again the moon shines full
3:03:45I have worked hard with a free mind
3:03:48my good wife have supported my
3:03:50intentions to pay my creditors
3:03:53because of our wise determination I have
3:03:56earned during the past Moon buying
3:03:58camels of sound wind and good legs for
3:04:00nebader the sum of 19 pieces of silver
3:04:04this I have divided according to the
3:04:06plan
3:04:07one-tenth have I set aside to keep as my
3:04:09own seven tenths have I divided with my
3:04:12good wife to pay for our living
3:04:14two tenths have I divided among my
3:04:16creditors as evenly as could be done in
3:04:19Coppers
3:04:20I did not see ahmar but left it with his
3:04:23wife
3:04:24was so pleased he would kiss my hand
3:04:27old alcohol was grouchy and said I must
3:04:30pay faster
3:04:32to which I replied that if I were
3:04:34permitted to be well fed and not worried
3:04:36that alone would enable me to pay faster
3:04:40all the others thanked me and spoke well
3:04:42of my efforts
3:04:43therefore at the end of one Moon my
3:04:46indebtedness is reduced by almost four
3:04:48pieces of silver and I possess almost
3:04:51two pieces of silver besides upon which
3:04:53no man hath claim
3:04:55my heart is lighter than it hath been
3:04:57for a long time
3:04:59again the moon shines full
3:05:02I have worked hard but with poor success
3:05:05few camels have I been able to buy
3:05:08only 11 pieces of silver have I earned
3:05:12nevertheless my good wife and I have
3:05:14stood by the plan even though we have
3:05:16bought no new raiment and eaten little
3:05:18but herbs
3:05:19again I paid ourselves one tenth of the
3:05:2211 pieces while we lived upon seven
3:05:24tenths
3:05:26I was surprised when ahmar commended my
3:05:28payment even though small
3:05:30so did biochic
3:05:32alcohol flew into a rage but when told
3:05:35to give back his portion if he did not
3:05:37wish it he became reconciled
3:05:40the others as before were content
3:05:43again the moon shines full and I am
3:05:46greatly rejoiced
3:05:48I intercepted a fine herd of camels and
3:05:50bought many sound ones therefore my
3:05:53earnings were 42 pieces of silver
3:05:55this Moon my wife and myself have bought
3:05:58much needed sandals and Raymond also we
3:06:00have dined well on meat and foul
3:06:03more than eight pieces of silver we have
3:06:05paid to our creditors
3:06:07even alcohol did not protest
3:06:10great is the plan for atletus out of
3:06:13debt and giveth us wealth which is ours
3:06:15to keep
3:06:16three times the moon had been full since
3:06:18I last carved upon this clay
3:06:21each time I paid to myself one tenth of
3:06:24all I earned
3:06:25each time my good wife and I have lived
3:06:27upon seven tenths even though at times
3:06:29it was difficult
3:06:31each time have I paid to my creditors
3:06:33two tenths
3:06:35in my purse I now have 21 pieces of
3:06:38silver that are mine
3:06:40it mocketh my head to stand straight
3:06:42upon my shoulders and mocketh me proud
3:06:44to walk among my friends
3:06:46my wife keepeth well our home and is
3:06:49becomingly gown
3:06:50we are happy to live together
3:06:53the plan is of Untold value
3:06:56has it not made an honorable man of an
3:06:58ex-slave
3:07:00tablet number five
3:07:02again the moon shines full and I
3:07:04remember that it is long since I carved
3:07:06upon the clay
3:07:0712 moons in truth have come and gone
3:07:11but this day I will not neglect my
3:07:13record because upon this day I have paid
3:07:15the last of my debts
3:07:17this is the day upon which my good wife
3:07:20and my thankful self celebrate with
3:07:22great feasting that our determination
3:07:23hath been achieved
3:07:25many things occurred upon my final visit
3:07:28to my creditors that I shall long
3:07:30remember
3:07:31Almar begged my forgiveness for his
3:07:33unkind words and said that I was one of
3:07:35all others he most desired for a friend
3:07:38old alcahed is not so bad after all for
3:07:42he said Thou Art once a piece of soft
3:07:44clay to be pressed and molded by any
3:07:46hand that touched thee but now thou art
3:07:48a piece of bronze capable of holding an
3:07:51edge
3:07:52if thou needs silver or gold at any time
3:07:54come to me
3:07:56nor is he the only one who holdeth me in
3:07:59high regard
3:08:00many others speak deferentially to me
3:08:03My Good Wife lucath upon me with a light
3:08:06in her eyes that doth make a man have
3:08:08confidence in himself
3:08:10yet it is the plan that hath made my
3:08:12success
3:08:14it hath enabled me to pay all my debts
3:08:16and to Jingle both gold and silver in my
3:08:19purse
3:08:20I do commend it to all who wish to get
3:08:22ahead
3:08:23for truly if it will enable an ex-slave
3:08:26to pay his debts and have gold in his
3:08:28purse will it not Aid any man to find
3:08:30Independence
3:08:32nor am I myself finished with it for I
3:08:35am convinced that if I follow it further
3:08:37it will make me Rich among men
3:08:40since within's College
3:08:42Nottingham University newer content
3:08:45Nottingham
3:08:46Professor Franklin Caldwell
3:08:48care of British scientific Expedition
3:08:51Hilla Mesopotamia
3:08:53November 7 1936
3:08:57My Dear Professor
3:08:59if in your further digging into those
3:09:01ruins of Babylon you encounter the ghost
3:09:04of a former resident an old camel Trader
3:09:06named dabaser do me a favor
3:09:09tell him that his scribbling upon those
3:09:11clay tablets so long ago has earned for
3:09:14him the lifelong gratitude of a couple
3:09:16of college folks back here in England
3:09:19you will possibly remember my writing a
3:09:21year ago that Mrs Shrewsbury and myself
3:09:23intended to try his plan for getting out
3:09:26of debt and at the same time having gold
3:09:28to Jingle
3:09:29you may have guessed even though we
3:09:31tried to keep it from our friends our
3:09:33desperate Straits
3:09:35we were frightfully humiliated for years
3:09:38by a lot of old debts and worried sick
3:09:40for fear some of the trades people might
3:09:42start a scandal that would force me out
3:09:44of the college
3:09:45we paid and paid every Shilling we could
3:09:48squeeze out of income but it was hardly
3:09:50enough to hold things even
3:09:52besides we were forced to do all our
3:09:54buying where we could get further credit
3:09:56regardless of higher costs
3:09:59it developed into one of those vicious
3:10:01circles that grow worse instead of
3:10:03better
3:10:04our struggles were getting hopeless
3:10:06we could not move to less costly rooms
3:10:09because we owed the landlord
3:10:11there did not appear to be anything we
3:10:13could do to improve our situation
3:10:16then here comes your acquaintance the
3:10:19old camel Trader from Babylon with a
3:10:21plan to do just what we wish to
3:10:23accomplish
3:10:24he Jolly well stirred us up to follow
3:10:27his system
3:10:28we made a list of all our debts and I
3:10:30took it around and showed it to everyone
3:10:32we owed
3:10:33I explained how it was simply impossible
3:10:36for me to ever pay them the way things
3:10:38were going along
3:10:39they could readily see this themselves
3:10:41from the figures
3:10:43then I explained that the only way I saw
3:10:46to pay in full was to set aside 20 of my
3:10:49income each month to be divided Pro rata
3:10:51which would pay them in full in a little
3:10:53over two years
3:10:55that in the meantime we would go on a
3:10:58cash basis and give them the further
3:11:00benefit of our cash purchases
3:11:02they were really quite decent
3:11:05our green grocer a wise old chap put it
3:11:08in a way that helped to bring around the
3:11:10rest
3:11:11if you pay for all you buy and then pay
3:11:13someone what you owe that is better than
3:11:15you have done for ye ain't paid down the
3:11:18account none in three years
3:11:20finally I secured all their names to an
3:11:23agreement binding them not to molest us
3:11:25as long as the 20 of income was paid
3:11:27regularly
3:11:28then we began scheming on how to live
3:11:31upon 70 percent
3:11:33we were determined to keep that extra 10
3:11:35to Jingle
3:11:37the thought of silver and possibly gold
3:11:39was most alluring
3:11:41it was like having an adventure to make
3:11:43the change
3:11:45we enjoyed figuring this way and that to
3:11:48live comfortably upon that remaining 70
3:11:50percent
3:11:51we started with rent and managed to
3:11:53secure a fair reduction
3:11:55next we put our favorite brands of tea
3:11:58and such Under Suspicion and were
3:12:00agreeably surprised how often we could
3:12:02purchase Superior qualities at less cost
3:12:05it is too long a story for a letter but
3:12:07anyhow it did not prove difficult
3:12:10we managed and write cheerfully at that
3:12:13what a relief it proved to have our
3:12:15Affairs in such a shape we were no
3:12:17longer persecuted by past due accounts
3:12:20I must not neglect however to tell you
3:12:23about that extra 10 we were supposed to
3:12:25Jingle
3:12:26well we did jingle it for some time
3:12:30now don't laugh too soon
3:12:32you see that is the sporty part
3:12:35it is the real fun to start accumulating
3:12:38money that you do not want to spend
3:12:41there is more pleasure in running up
3:12:43such a surplus than there could be in
3:12:45spending it
3:12:46after we had jingle to our hearts
3:12:48content we found a more profitable use
3:12:50for it
3:12:51we took up an investment upon which we
3:12:54could pay that 10 each month
3:12:56this is proving to be the most
3:12:58satisfying part of our regeneration
3:13:01it is the first thing we pay out of my
3:13:03check
3:13:04there is a most gratifying sense of
3:13:07security to know our investment is
3:13:09growing steadily
3:13:10by the time my teaching days are over it
3:13:13should be a snug sum large enough so the
3:13:15income will take care of us from then on
3:13:18all this out of my same old check
3:13:21difficult to believe yet absolutely true
3:13:25all our debts being gradually paid and
3:13:28at the same time are investment
3:13:29increasing
3:13:31besides we get along financially even
3:13:34better than before
3:13:35who would believe there could be such a
3:13:37difference in results between following
3:13:39a financial plan and just drifting along
3:13:43at the end of the next year when all our
3:13:45old bills shall have been paid we will
3:13:47have more to pay upon our investment
3:13:49besides some extra for travel
3:13:52we are determined never again to permit
3:13:54our living expenses to exceed 70 of our
3:13:57income
3:13:58now you can understand why we would like
3:14:00to extend our personal thanks to that
3:14:02old chap whose plan saved us from our
3:14:05hell on Earth
3:14:06he knew
3:14:08he had been through it all
3:14:10he wanted others to benefit from his own
3:14:12bitter experiences
3:14:14that is why he spent tedious hours
3:14:17carving his message upon the clay
3:14:19he had a real message for fellow
3:14:22sufferers a message so important that
3:14:24after five thousand years it has risen
3:14:26out of the ruins of Babylon just as true
3:14:28and just as vital as the day it was
3:14:30buried
3:14:32yours sincerely Alfred H Shrewsbury
3:14:35Department of archeology
3:14:40chapter 10.
3:14:42the luckiest man in Babylon
3:14:45at the head of his Caravan proudly rode
3:14:47sharonata the merchant Prince of Babylon
3:14:51he liked fine cloth and wore rich and
3:14:53becoming robes
3:14:55he liked fine animals and sat easily
3:14:58upon his spirited Arabian stallion
3:15:00to look at him one would hardly have
3:15:02guessed his Advanced years
3:15:04certainly they would not have suspected
3:15:07that he was inwardly troubled
3:15:09the journey from Damascus is long and
3:15:11the hardships of the desert many
3:15:14these he minded not
3:15:16the Arab tribes are Fierce and eager to
3:15:19loot Rich Caravans
3:15:21these he feared not for his many
3:15:23fleet-mounted guards were a safe
3:15:24protection
3:15:26about the youth at his side whom he was
3:15:28bringing from Damascus was he Disturbed
3:15:32this was Hayden Gula the grandson of his
3:15:34partner of other years Arad Gula to whom
3:15:38he felt he owed a debt of gratitude
3:15:39which could never be repaid
3:15:42he would like to do something for this
3:15:44grandson but the more he considered this
3:15:46the more difficult it seemed because of
3:15:48the youth himself
3:15:50eyeing the young man's rings and
3:15:52earrings he thought to himself he thinks
3:15:55Jewels are for men still he has his
3:15:57grandfather's strong face
3:15:59but his grandfather wore no such gaudy
3:16:02robes
3:16:03yet I sought him to come hoping I might
3:16:06help him get a start for himself and get
3:16:08away from the wreck his father has made
3:16:10of their inheritance
3:16:11Hayden Gula broken upon his thoughts why
3:16:14Dost thou work so hard writing always
3:16:17with thy Caravan upon its long Journeys
3:16:20thus thou never take time to enjoy life
3:16:23Sharon NADA smiled
3:16:26to enjoy life he repeated
3:16:29what what's thou do to enjoy life if
3:16:31Thou Art sharanada
3:16:33if I had wealth equal to thine I would
3:16:36live like a prince
3:16:37never across the hot desert would I ride
3:16:41I would spend the shekels as fast as
3:16:43they came to my purse
3:16:45I would wear the richest of robes and
3:16:48the rarest of jewels
3:16:49that would be a life to my liking a life
3:16:52worth living
3:16:54both men laughed
3:16:56my grandfather wore no jewels
3:16:59sharonata spoke before he thought then
3:17:01continued jokingly which thou leave no
3:17:04time for work
3:17:06work was made for slaves Hayden Gula
3:17:08responded
3:17:10sharanada bit his lip but made no reply
3:17:13writing in silence until the trail LED
3:17:15them to the slope
3:17:17here he reigned his Mountain pointing to
3:17:19the Green Valley far away see there is
3:17:22the valley
3:17:23look far down and thou canst faintly see
3:17:26the walls of Babylon
3:17:28the tower is the Temple of Bell
3:17:31if thine eyes are sharp thou mayest even
3:17:34see the smoke from the Eternal fire upon
3:17:36its crest
3:17:37so that is Babylon
3:17:40always have I longed to see the
3:17:42wealthiest city in all the world Hayden
3:17:44Gula commented
3:17:46Babylon where my grandfather started his
3:17:48fortune
3:17:49would he were still alive
3:17:52we would not be so sorely pressed
3:17:55why wish his Spirit to linger on Earth
3:17:57Beyond its allotted time
3:18:00thou and thy father can well carry on
3:18:02his good work
3:18:03alas of us neither has his gift
3:18:07father and myself know not his secret
3:18:09for attracting the golden shekels
3:18:12sharonata did not reply but gave rain to
3:18:15his Mount and rode thoughtfully down the
3:18:17trail to the valley
3:18:19behind them followed the Caravan in a
3:18:21cloud of reddish dust
3:18:23some time later they reached the King's
3:18:26Highway and turned South through the
3:18:27irrigated Farms
3:18:29three old men plowing a field caught
3:18:32sharonata's attention
3:18:34they seem strangely familiar
3:18:37how ridiculous
3:18:39one does not pass a field after 40 years
3:18:41and find the same men plowing there
3:18:44yet something within him said they were
3:18:47the same
3:18:48one with an uncertain grip held the plow
3:18:52the others laboriously plotted beside
3:18:54the oxen in effectually beating them
3:18:56with their Barrel staves to keep them
3:18:58pulling
3:18:5940 years ago he had envied these men
3:19:03how gladly he would have exchanged
3:19:05places
3:19:06but what a difference now
3:19:08with pride he looked back at his
3:19:10trailing Caravan well chosen camels and
3:19:13donkeys loaded high with valuable goods
3:19:16from Damascus
3:19:18all this was but one of his possessions
3:19:21he pointed to the plowers saying still
3:19:24plowing the same field where they were
3:19:2640 years ago
3:19:27they look it but why think is thou they
3:19:30are the same
3:19:31I saw them there sharonata replied
3:19:35Recollections were racing rapidly
3:19:37through his mind
3:19:39why could he not bury the past and live
3:19:41in the present
3:19:42then he saw as in a picture the smiling
3:19:45face of Arad gula
3:19:48the barrier between himself and the
3:19:50cynical youth beside him dissolved
3:19:52but how could he help such a superior
3:19:55youth with his spendthrift ideas and
3:19:57Bejeweled hands
3:19:58work he could offer him plenty to
3:20:00willing workers but not for men who
3:20:03considered themselves too good for work
3:20:05yet he owed it to Arad Gula to do
3:20:08something not a half-hearted attempt
3:20:11he and Arad Gula had never done things
3:20:13that way
3:20:15they were not that sort of men
3:20:17a plan came almost in a Flash
3:20:20there were objections
3:20:22he must consider his own family and his
3:20:25own standing
3:20:27it would be cruel it would hurt
3:20:29being a man of quick decisions he waived
3:20:32objections and decided to act
3:20:35would thou be interested in hearing how
3:20:37thy worthy grandfather and myself joined
3:20:40in the partnership which proved so
3:20:41profitable he questioned
3:20:44why not just tell me how thou madeest
3:20:46the golden shekels
3:20:48that is all I need to know the young man
3:20:50buried
3:20:52sharonata ignored the reply and
3:20:54continued we start with those men
3:20:56plowing
3:20:57I was no older than thou
3:21:00as the column of men in which I marched
3:21:02approached good old megiddo the farmer
3:21:05scoffed at the slip shot way in which
3:21:07they plowed
3:21:09megiddo was chained next to me
3:21:12look at the lazy fellows he protested
3:21:14the plow holder makes no effort to plow
3:21:17deep nor do the beaters keep the oxen in
3:21:19the furrow
3:21:21how can they expect to raise a good crop
3:21:23with poor plowing
3:21:25tits thou say megiddo was chained to
3:21:27thee
3:21:28Hayden Gula asked in Surprise
3:21:31yes with bronze collars about our necks
3:21:34and a length of heavy chain between us
3:21:37next to him was zabadu the Sheep Thief
3:21:40I have known him in Haroon
3:21:43at the end was a man we called pirate
3:21:45because he told us not his name
3:21:48we judged him as a sailor as he had
3:21:50entwined serpents tattooed upon his
3:21:52chest in Sailor fashion
3:21:54the column was made up thus so the men
3:21:56could walk in force
3:21:58thou work chained as a slave
3:22:01Hayden Gula asked incredulously
3:22:04did not thy grandfather tell the I was
3:22:06once a Slave
3:22:08he often spoke of thee but never hinted
3:22:11of this
3:22:12he was a man thou Cuts trust with
3:22:14innermost secrets
3:22:16thou too are a man I may trust am I not
3:22:20right
3:22:21sharonata looked him squarely in the eye
3:22:24thou mayest rely upon my silence but I
3:22:27am amazed
3:22:29tell me how ditz Thou come to be a Slave
3:22:32sharonata Shrugged his shoulders any man
3:22:35may find himself a Slave
3:22:37it was a gaming house and barley beer
3:22:40that brought me disaster
3:22:42I was the victim of my brother's
3:22:43indiscretions
3:22:45in a brawl he killed his friend
3:22:48I was bonded to the Widow by my fattier
3:22:50desperate to keep my brother from being
3:22:52prosecuted under the law
3:22:55when my father could not raise the
3:22:56silver to free me she and anger sold me
3:22:59to the slave dealer
3:23:01what a shame and Injustice
3:23:04Hayden Gula protested
3:23:06but tell me how did thou regain freedom
3:23:10we shall come to that but not yet
3:23:13let us continue my Tale
3:23:15as we passed the plowers jeered at us
3:23:19one did off his ragged hat in Bow Low
3:23:22calling out welcome to Babylon guests of
3:23:25the king
3:23:26he waits for thee on the city walls
3:23:28where the banquet is spread mud bricks
3:23:31and onion soup
3:23:32with that they laughed uproariously
3:23:35pirate flew into a rage and cursed them
3:23:38roundly
3:23:39what do those men mean by the king
3:23:41awaiting us on the walls
3:23:43I asked him
3:23:45to the city walls you marched to carry
3:23:47bricks until the back breaks
3:23:50maybe they beat thee to death before it
3:23:52breaks
3:23:53they won't beat me
3:23:55ill Kill Em
3:23:57then megiddo spoke up it doesn't make
3:24:00sense to me to talk of Masters beating
3:24:02willing hard-working slaves to death
3:24:05Masters like good slaves and treat them
3:24:07well
3:24:08who wants to work hard commented zabadu
3:24:12those plowers are wise fellows
3:24:15they're not breaking their backs
3:24:18just letting on as if they be
3:24:20thou can't get ahead by shirking
3:24:22megiddle protested
3:24:25if thou plow a hectare that's a good
3:24:27day's work in any Master knows it
3:24:30but when now plow only a half that's
3:24:32shirking
3:24:34I don't shirk
3:24:35I like to work and I like to do good
3:24:37work for work is the best friend I've
3:24:40ever known
3:24:41it has brought me all the good things
3:24:43I've had my farm and cows and crops
3:24:46everything
3:24:47yeah and we'll be these things now
3:24:49scoffs abadoo
3:24:51I figure it pays better to be smart and
3:24:54get by without working
3:24:56you watch sabado if we're sold to the
3:24:58walls he'll be carrying the water bag or
3:25:01some easy job when thou who like to work
3:25:03will be breaking my back carrying bricks
3:25:07he laughed his silly laugh
3:25:09Tara gripped me that night
3:25:12I could not sleep
3:25:14I crowded close to the guard rope and
3:25:16when the others
3:25:18slept I attracted the attention of
3:25:20godosso who was doing the first guard
3:25:22watch
3:25:23he was one of those brigand Arabs the
3:25:26sort of Rogue who if he robbed thee of
3:25:28thy purse would think he must also cut
3:25:30thigh
3:25:31throat
3:25:33tell me godoso I whispered when we get
3:25:36to Babylon will we be sold to the walls
3:25:39why want to know he questioned
3:25:41cautiously
3:25:43can't thou not understand
3:25:45I pleaded
3:25:47I am Young
3:25:49I want to live
3:25:51I don't want to be worked or beaten to
3:25:53death on the walls
3:25:55is there any chance for me to get a good
3:25:57master
3:25:58he whispered back I tell something
3:26:01about Goodfellow give godosso no trouble
3:26:05most times we go first to slave market
3:26:08listen now
3:26:10When Buyers come tell em you good worker
3:26:13like to work hard for good master
3:26:16make em want to buy
3:26:18you not make M by next day you carry
3:26:21brick
3:26:22Mighty hard work
3:26:24after he walked away I lay in the warm
3:26:27sand looking up at the stars and
3:26:29thinking about work
3:26:31what megiddo had said about it being his
3:26:33best friend made me wonder if it would
3:26:35be my best friend
3:26:37certainly it would be if it helped me
3:26:39out of this
3:26:40when megiddo awoke I whispered my good
3:26:43news to him
3:26:44it was our one Ray of Hope as we marched
3:26:47toward Babylon
3:26:48late in the afternoon we approached the
3:26:51walls and could see the lines of men
3:26:52like black ants climbing up and down the
3:26:55Steep diagonal paths
3:26:57as we drew closer we were amazed at the
3:27:00thousands of men working some were
3:27:02digging in the moat others mixed the
3:27:04dirt into mud bricks
3:27:07the greatest number were carrying the
3:27:09bricks in large baskets up those steep
3:27:11trails to the Masons asterisk
3:27:14overseers cursed the laggards and
3:27:16cracked Bullock whips over the backs of
3:27:18those who failed to keep in line
3:27:20poor worn out fellows were seen to
3:27:23stagger and fall beneath their heavy
3:27:25baskets unable to rise again
3:27:28if the Lash failed to bring them to
3:27:30their feet they were pushed to the side
3:27:32of the paths and left writhing in agony
3:27:35soon they would be dragged down to join
3:27:37other Craven bodies beside the roadway
3:27:39to await unsanctified Graves
3:27:42as I beheld the ghastly site I shuddered
3:27:46so this was what awaited my Father's son
3:27:48if he failed at the slave market
3:27:51godosso had been right
3:27:53we were taken through the gates of the
3:27:55city to the slave prison and next
3:27:57morning marched to the pens in the
3:27:59market
3:28:00hear the rest of the men huddled in fear
3:28:02and only the whips of our guard could
3:28:04keep them moving so the buyers could
3:28:06examine them
3:28:07megiddo and myself eagerly talked to
3:28:10every man who permitted us to address
3:28:12him
3:28:13the slave dealer brought soldiers from
3:28:15The kingsguard Who Shackled pirate and
3:28:17brutally beat him when he protested
3:28:20as they led him away I felt sorry for
3:28:23him
3:28:24megiddo felt that we would soon part
3:28:27when no buyers were near he talked to me
3:28:29earnestly to impress upon me how
3:28:31valuable work would be to me in the
3:28:33future some men hate it
3:28:35they make it their enemy
3:28:38better to treat it like a friend make
3:28:40thyself like it
3:28:41don't mind because it is hard
3:28:44if thou thinkest about what a good house
3:28:46thou build then who cares if the beams
3:28:49are heavy and it is far from the well to
3:28:51carry the water for the plaster
3:28:54promise me boy if thou get a master work
3:28:57for him as hard as thou canst
3:29:00if he does not appreciate all thou do
3:29:02never mind
3:29:04remember Work Well Done does good to the
3:29:07man who does it
3:29:09it makes him a better man
3:29:11he stopped as a Burly farmer came to the
3:29:13enclosure and looked at us critically
3:29:16megiddo asked about his farm and crops
3:29:19soon convincing him that he would be a
3:29:21valuable man
3:29:22after violent bargaining with the slave
3:29:24dealer the farmer drew a fat purse from
3:29:27beneath his robe and soon megiddo had
3:29:29followed his new master out of sight
3:29:32a few other men were sold during the
3:29:34morning
3:29:35at noon godosso confided to me that the
3:29:38dealer was disgusted and would not stay
3:29:40over another night but would take all
3:29:42who remained at sundown to the king's
3:29:44bio
3:29:45I was becoming desperate when a fat
3:29:47good-natured man walked up to the wall
3:29:50and inquired if there was a baker Among
3:29:52Us
3:29:53I approached him saying why should a
3:29:55good Baker like thyself seek another
3:29:57Baker of inferior ways
3:30:00would it not be easier to teach a
3:30:02willing man like myself thy skilled ways
3:30:05look at me I am young strong and like to
3:30:08work
3:30:09give me a chance and I will do my best
3:30:11to earn gold and silver for thy purse
3:30:15he was impressed by my willingness and
3:30:17began bargaining with the dealer who had
3:30:19never noticed me since he had bought me
3:30:21but now waxed eloquent on my abilities
3:30:23good health and good disposition
3:30:26I felt like a fat Ox being sold to a
3:30:29butcher
3:30:30at last much to my joy the deal was
3:30:33closed
3:30:34I followed my new master away thinking I
3:30:37was the luckiest man in Babylon
3:30:40my new home was much to my liking
3:30:43man and Aid my master taught me how to
3:30:46grind the barley in the stone bowl that
3:30:48stood in a courtyard how to build the
3:30:50fire in the oven and then how to grind
3:30:52very fine the Sesame flour for the Honey
3:30:54Cakes
3:30:55I had a couch in the shed where his
3:30:57grain was stored
3:30:59the old slave housekeeper Spacey fed me
3:31:02well and was pleased at the way I helped
3:31:04her with the heavy tasks
3:31:07here was the chance I had longed for to
3:31:09make myself valuable to my master and I
3:31:12hoped to find a way to earn my freedom
3:31:15I asked Nana made to show me how to
3:31:17knead the bread and to bake
3:31:19this he did much pleased at my
3:31:22willingness
3:31:23later when I could do this well I asked
3:31:26him to show me how to make the Honey
3:31:27Cakes and soon I was doing all the
3:31:29baking
3:31:31my master was glad to be idle but swissy
3:31:33shook her head in disapproval no work to
3:31:36do is bad for any man she declared
3:31:39I felt it was time for me to think of a
3:31:41way by which I might start to earn coins
3:31:44to buy my freedom
3:31:45as the baking was finished at noon I
3:31:48thought man and Aid would approve if I
3:31:50found profitable employment for the
3:31:52afternoons and might share my earnings
3:31:54with me
3:31:55then the thought came to me why not bake
3:31:57more of the Honey Cakes and peddle them
3:31:59to Hungry men upon the streets of the
3:32:01city
3:32:02I presented my plan to Nana nade this
3:32:05way if I can use my afternoons after the
3:32:07baking is finished to earn for the coins
3:32:10would it be only fair for thee to share
3:32:12my earnings with me that I might have
3:32:13money of my own to spend for those
3:32:15things which every man desires and needs
3:32:18fair enough fair enough he admitted
3:32:22when I told him of my plan to Pedal our
3:32:24Honey Cakes he was well pleased
3:32:27here is what we will do he suggested
3:32:30thou sellest them at two for a penny
3:32:33then half of the pennies will be mine to
3:32:35pay for the flour and the honey and the
3:32:37wood to bake them
3:32:39of the rest I shall take half and thou
3:32:41shall keep half
3:32:43I was much pleased by his generous offer
3:32:45that I might keep for myself one-fourth
3:32:48of my sales
3:32:49that night I worked late to make a tray
3:32:52upon which to display them
3:32:54man and Aid gave me one of his worn
3:32:56robes that I might look well and swissy
3:32:58helped me patch it and wash it clean
3:33:01the next day I baked an extra supply of
3:33:04Honey Cakes
3:33:05they looked Brown and tempting upon the
3:33:08tray as I went along the street loudly
3:33:10calling my Wares
3:33:12at first no one seemed interested and I
3:33:15became discouraged
3:33:16I kept on and later in the afternoon as
3:33:19men became hungry the cakes began to
3:33:21sell and soon my tray was empty
3:33:24man and Aid was well pleased with my
3:33:26success and gladly paid me my share
3:33:29I was delighted to own pennies
3:33:32megiddo had been right when he set a
3:33:34master appreciated good work from his
3:33:36slaves
3:33:38that night I was so excited over my
3:33:40success I could hardly sleep and try to
3:33:42figure how much I could earn in a year
3:33:44and how many years would be required to
3:33:46buy my freedom
3:33:48as I went forth with my tray of cakes
3:33:50every day I soon found regular customers
3:33:54one of these was none other than thy
3:33:56grandfather Arad gula
3:33:58he was a rug merchant and sold to the
3:34:01housewives going from one end of the
3:34:03city the other accompanied by a donkey
3:34:05loaded high with rugs and a black slave
3:34:07to tend it
3:34:09he would buy two cakes for himself and
3:34:11two for his slave always tearing to talk
3:34:13with me while they ate them
3:34:16my grandfather said something to me one
3:34:18day that I shall always remember
3:34:21I like Thy cakes boy but better still I
3:34:24like the fine Enterprise with which thou
3:34:26offers them
3:34:27such Spirit can carry thee far on the
3:34:30road to success
3:34:32but how canst thou understand Hayden
3:34:34Bula what such words of encouragement
3:34:36could mean to a slave boy Lonesome in a
3:34:39great City struggling with all he had in
3:34:41him to find a way out of his humiliation
3:34:44as the months went by I continued to add
3:34:47pennies to my purse
3:34:49it began to have a comforting weight
3:34:51upon my belt
3:34:52work was proving to be my best friend
3:34:54just as megiddo had said
3:34:57I was happy but swisty was worried
3:35:00thy master I fear to have him spend so
3:35:03much time at the gaming houses she
3:35:05protested
3:35:07I was overjoyed one day to meet my
3:35:09friend megiddo upon the street
3:35:11he was leading three donkeys loaded with
3:35:14vegetables to the market
3:35:16I am doing Mighty well he said
3:35:19my master does appreciate my good work
3:35:21for now I am a foreman
3:35:23see he does trust the marketing to me
3:35:26and also he is sending for my family
3:35:29work is helping me to recover from my
3:35:31great trouble
3:35:33someday it will help me to buy my
3:35:35freedom and once more own a farm of my
3:35:37own
3:35:38time went on and Nana made became more
3:35:40and more anxious for me to return from
3:35:42selling
3:35:44he would be waiting when I returned and
3:35:46would eagerly count and divide our money
3:35:49he would also urge me to seek further
3:35:51markets and increase my sales
3:35:54often I went outside the city gates to
3:35:56solicit the overseers of the slaves
3:35:58building the walls
3:36:00I hated to return to the disagreeable
3:36:02sites but found the overseers liberal
3:36:05buyers
3:36:06one day I was surprised to see zabadu
3:36:09waiting in line to fill his basket with
3:36:11bricks
3:36:12he was gaunt and bent and his back was
3:36:15covered with welts and sores from the
3:36:17whips of the overseers
3:36:19I was sorry for him and handed him a
3:36:21cake which he crushed into his mouth
3:36:23like a hungry animal
3:36:25seeing the greedy look in his eyes I ran
3:36:28before he could grab my tray
3:36:30why does thou work so hard
3:36:33Gula said to me one day
3:36:36almost the same question now asked of me
3:36:38today Dost thou remember
3:36:40I told him what megiddo had said about
3:36:43work and how it was proving to be my
3:36:45best friend
3:36:46I showed him with pride my wallet of
3:36:48pennies and explained how I was saving
3:36:50them to buy my freedom
3:36:52when thou art free What wilt thou do he
3:36:55inquired
3:36:56then I answered I intend to become a
3:36:59merchant
3:37:00at that he can fight it in me
3:37:03something I had never suspected
3:37:06thou knowest not that I also am a slave
3:37:10I am in partnership with my master
3:37:13stop demanded Hayden gula
3:37:16I will not listen to lies to faming my
3:37:19grandfather
3:37:20he was no slave
3:37:22his eyes blazed in anger
3:37:25sharonata remained calm
3:37:28I honor him for Rising above his
3:37:30Misfortune and becoming a leading
3:37:32citizen of Damascus
3:37:34art thou his grandson cast of the same
3:37:37mold
3:37:38art thou man enough to face true facts
3:37:40or Dost thou prefer to live under false
3:37:43illusions
3:37:44Hayden gulat straightened in his saddle
3:37:47in a voice suppressed with deep emotion
3:37:49he replied my grandfather was beloved by
3:37:52all
3:37:53countless were his Good Deeds
3:37:56when the famine came did not his Gold by
3:37:59grain in Egypt and did not his Caravan
3:38:01bring it to Damascus and distribute it
3:38:03to the people so none would starve
3:38:05now thou sayest he was but a despised
3:38:08slave in Babylon
3:38:10had he remained a slave in Babylon then
3:38:12he might well have been despised but
3:38:15when through his own efforts he became a
3:38:17great man in Damascus the gods indeed
3:38:20condoned his misfortunes and honored him
3:38:22with their respect Sharon NADA replied
3:38:25after telling me that he was a slave
3:38:27Sharon NADA continued he explained how
3:38:30anxious he had been to earn his freedom
3:38:33now that he had enough money to buy this
3:38:35he was much Disturbed as to what he
3:38:37should do
3:38:38he was no longer making good sales and
3:38:41feared to leave the support of his
3:38:42master
3:38:43I protested his indecision cling no
3:38:46longer to thy master
3:38:48get once again the feeling of being a
3:38:50free man
3:38:52act like a free man and succeed like one
3:38:55decide what thou desirest to accomplish
3:38:58and then work will Aid to achieve it
3:39:01he went on his way saying he was glad I
3:39:03had shamed him for his cowardice
3:39:05asterisk
3:39:06one day I went outside the gates again
3:39:09and was surprised to find a great crowd
3:39:11Gathering there
3:39:12when I asked a man for an explanation he
3:39:15replied hast thou not heard
3:39:18an escaped slave who murdered one of the
3:39:20king's guards has been brought to
3:39:21Justice and will this day be flogged to
3:39:24death for his crime
3:39:25even the king himself is to be here
3:39:29so dance was the crowd about the
3:39:31flogging post I feared to go near lest
3:39:33my tray of Honey Cakes be upset
3:39:36therefore I climbed up the unfinished
3:39:39wall to see over the heads of the people
3:39:41I was fortunate in having a view of
3:39:43Nebuchadnezzar himself as he rode by in
3:39:46his golden chariot
3:39:48never had I beheld such Grandeur such
3:39:50robes and hangings of gold cloth and
3:39:52velvet
3:39:54I could not see the flogging though I
3:39:56could hear the shrieks of the poor slave
3:39:58I wondered how one so Noble as our
3:40:01handsome king could endure to see such
3:40:03suffering yet when I saw he was laughing
3:40:05and joking with his Nobles I knew he was
3:40:08cruel and understood why such inhuman
3:40:10tasks were demanded of the slaves
3:40:12building the walls
3:40:14after the slave was dead his body was
3:40:16hung upon a pole by a rope attached to
3:40:19his leg so all might see
3:40:21as the crowd began to thin I went close
3:40:25on the hairy chest I saw tattooed two
3:40:28entwined serpents
3:40:30it was pirate
3:40:32the next time I met Arad Gula he was a
3:40:34changed man
3:40:36full of enthusiasm he greeted me behold
3:40:39the slave thou newest is now a free man
3:40:42there was magic in my works
3:40:45already my sales and my profits are
3:40:48increasing
3:40:49my wife is overjoyed
3:40:51she was a free woman Denise of my master
3:40:55she much desires that we move to a
3:40:57strange city where no man shall know I
3:41:00was once a Slave
3:41:01thus our children shall be above
3:41:03reproach for their father's misfortune
3:41:06work has become my best helper
3:41:09it has enabled me to recapture my
3:41:11confidence and my skill to sell
3:41:14I was overjoyed that I had been able
3:41:16even in a small way to repay him for the
3:41:19encouragement he had given me
3:41:21one evening swissy came to me in deep
3:41:24distress thy Master is in trouble
3:41:27I fear for him
3:41:29some months ago he lost much at the
3:41:31gaming tables
3:41:33he pays not the farmer for his grain or
3:41:36his honey
3:41:37he pays not the money lender
3:41:39they are angry and threaten him
3:41:42why should we worry over his folly
3:41:45we are not his Keepers I replied
3:41:47thoughtlessly
3:41:49foolish youth thou understandeth not
3:41:52to the money lender didsty give thy
3:41:55title to secure alone
3:41:57under the law he can claim thee and sell
3:41:59thee
3:42:00I know not what to do
3:42:03he is a good master
3:42:05why
3:42:06oh why should such trouble come upon him
3:42:10not where Swiss these fears groundless
3:42:13while I was doing the baking next
3:42:15morning the money lender returned with a
3:42:17man he called sassy
3:42:19this man looked me over and said I would
3:42:22do
3:42:23the money lender waited not for my
3:42:25master to return but told swissy to tell
3:42:27him he had taken me
3:42:29with only the robe on my back and the
3:42:31purse of pennies hanging safely from my
3:42:33belt I was hurried away from the
3:42:35unfinished baking
3:42:37I was Whirled away from my dearest hopes
3:42:39as the hurricane snatches the tree from
3:42:41the forest and casts it into the surging
3:42:43sea
3:42:45again a gaming house and barley beer had
3:42:47caused me disaster
3:42:49was a blunt Gruff man
3:42:52as he led me across the city I told him
3:42:55of the good work I had been doing for
3:42:57Nan and Aid and said I hope to do good
3:42:59work for him
3:43:00his reply offered no encouragement
3:43:03I like not this work
3:43:06my master likes it not
3:43:08the King has told him to send me to
3:43:10build a section of the Grand Canal
3:43:13Master tells sussie to buy more slaves
3:43:15work hard and finish quick
3:43:18ba How can any man finish a big job
3:43:21quick
3:43:22picture a desert with not a tree just
3:43:25low shrubs and a sunburning with such
3:43:27Fury the water in our barrels became so
3:43:29hot we could scarcely drink it
3:43:31then picture Rose of men going down into
3:43:34the deep excavation and lugging heavy
3:43:36baskets of dirt up soft Dusty trails
3:43:39from daylight Until Dark
3:43:41picture food served in open troughs from
3:43:44which we helped ourselves like swine
3:43:46we had no tense no straw for beds
3:43:50that was the situation in which I found
3:43:52myself
3:43:54I buried my wallet in a marked spot
3:43:56wondering if I would ever dig it up
3:43:58again
3:43:59at first I worked with Goodwill but as
3:44:02the months dragged on I felt my spirit
3:44:04breaking
3:44:05then the heat fever took hold of my
3:44:08weary body
3:44:09I lost my appetite and could scarcely
3:44:12eat the mutton and vegetables
3:44:14at night I would toss in unhappy
3:44:16wakefulness
3:44:18in my misery I wondered if zabadoo had
3:44:20not the best plan to Shirk and keep his
3:44:23back from being broken in work
3:44:25then I recalled my last sight of him and
3:44:28knew his plan was not good
3:44:30I thought of pirate with his bitterness
3:44:32and wondered if it might be just as well
3:44:34to fight and kill
3:44:36the memory of his bleeding body reminded
3:44:39me that his plan was also useless
3:44:42then I remembered my last sight of
3:44:44megiddo
3:44:45his hands were deeply calloused from
3:44:47hard work but his heart was light and
3:44:49there was happiness on his face
3:44:51his was the best plan
3:44:54yet I was just as willing to work as
3:44:56megiddo he could not have worked harder
3:44:58than I
3:44:59why did not my work bring me happiness
3:45:01and success
3:45:03was it work that brought me ditto
3:45:05happiness or was happiness and success
3:45:07merely in the laps of the Gods
3:45:10was I to work the rest of my life
3:45:12without gaining my desires without
3:45:14happiness and success
3:45:16all of these questions were jumbled in
3:45:18my mind and I had not an answer
3:45:21indeed I was sorely confused
3:45:24several days later when it seemed that I
3:45:27was at the end of my endurance and my
3:45:28question still unanswered Ceci sent for
3:45:31me
3:45:32a messenger had come from my master to
3:45:34take me back to Babylon
3:45:36I dug up my precious wallet wrapped
3:45:39myself in the tattered remnants of my
3:45:41robe and was on my way
3:45:43as we rode the same thoughts of a
3:45:45hurricane whirling me hi hither and
3:45:47either kept racing through my feverish
3:45:49brain
3:45:50I seem to be living the weird words of a
3:45:52chant from my native town of Haroon
3:45:55besetting a man like a whirlwind driving
3:45:57him like a storm
3:45:59whose course no one can foliate whose
3:46:02Destiny no one can foretell
3:46:04was I destined to be ever thus punished
3:46:07for I knew not what
3:46:08what new miseries and disappointments
3:46:10awaited me
3:46:12when we rode to the Courtyard of my
3:46:14Master's house imagine my surprise when
3:46:16I saw Arad Gula awaiting me
3:46:19he helped me down and hugged me like a
3:46:22long lost brother
3:46:23as we went our way I would have followed
3:46:25him as a slave should follow his master
3:46:28but he would not permit me
3:46:30he put his arm about me saying I hunted
3:46:33everywhere for thee
3:46:35when I had almost given up hope I did
3:46:37meet swissy who told me of the money
3:46:39lender who directed me to thy Noble
3:46:42owner
3:46:43a hard bargain he did drive and made me
3:46:45pay an outrageous price but Thou Art
3:46:48worth it
3:46:49by philosophy and I Enterprise have been
3:46:51my inspiration to this new success
3:46:54megiddo's philosophy not mine I
3:46:57interrupted
3:46:59megiddos and nine
3:47:01thanks to thee both we are going to
3:47:03Damascus and I need thee for my partner
3:47:06see he exclaimed in one moment that will
3:47:09be a free man
3:47:11so saying he drew from beneath his Rogue
3:47:14to Clay tablet carrying my title
3:47:16this he raised above his head and hurled
3:47:19it to break in a hundred pieces upon the
3:47:21cobblestones
3:47:22with Glee he stamped upon the fragments
3:47:25until they were but dust
3:47:27tears of gratitude filled my eyes
3:47:30I knew I was the luckiest man in Babylon
3:47:34work thou see by this in the time of my
3:47:37greatest distress didst proved to be my
3:47:40best friend
3:47:41my willingness to work enabled me to
3:47:44escape from being sold to join the slave
3:47:46gangs upon the walls
3:47:48it also so impressed thy grandfather he
3:47:51selected me for his partner
3:47:53then Hayden Gula questioned was work my
3:47:56grandfather's secret key to the golden
3:47:58shekels
3:47:59it was the only key he had when I first
3:48:02knew him sharonata replied
3:48:05thy grandfather enjoyed working
3:48:07the gods appreciated his efforts and
3:48:10rewarded him liberally
3:48:12I begin to see Hayden Gula was speaking
3:48:15thoughtfully
3:48:16work attracted his many friends who
3:48:18admired his industry and the success it
3:48:20brought
3:48:21work brought him the honors he enjoyed
3:48:23so much in Damascus
3:48:26work brought him all those things I have
3:48:28approved
3:48:29and I thought work was fit only for
3:48:31slaves
3:48:32life is Rich with many Pleasures for men
3:48:35to enjoy sharonada commented
3:48:38each has its place
3:48:40I am glad that work is not reserved for
3:48:43slaves
3:48:44without the case I would be deprived of
3:48:46my greatest pleasure
3:48:48many things do I enjoy but nothing takes
3:48:51the place of work
3:48:53sharonata and Hayden Gula wrote In the
3:48:55Shadows of the Towering walls up to the
3:48:57massive bronze Gates of Babylon
3:49:00at their approach the gate guards jumped
3:49:03to attention and respectfully saluted
3:49:05and honored citizen
3:49:06with head held high sharonata led the
3:49:09long Caravan through the gates and up
3:49:11the streets of the city
3:49:13I have always hoped to be a man like my
3:49:15grandfather Hayden Gula confided to him
3:49:19never before did I realize just what
3:49:21kind of man he was
3:49:23this thou Hast shown me
3:49:25now that I understand I do admire him
3:49:28all the more and feel more determined to
3:49:30be like him
3:49:31I fear I can never repay thee for giving
3:49:34me the true key to his success
3:49:37from this day forth I shall use his key
3:49:40I shall start humbly as he started which
3:49:43befits my true station far better than
3:49:45jewels and fine robes
3:49:47so saying Hayden Gula pulled the jewel
3:49:50baubles from his ears and the Rings from
3:49:52his fingers
3:49:54then reigning his horse he dropped back
3:49:56and rode with deep respect behind the
3:49:58leader of the Caravan
3:50:02chapter 11.
3:50:04an historical sketch of Babylon
3:50:07in the pages of History There lives no
3:50:09City more glamorous than Babylon
3:50:12its very name conjures visions of wealth
3:50:14and splendor
3:50:16its Treasures of gold and jewels were
3:50:18fabulous
3:50:20one naturally picture such a wealthy
3:50:22city as located in a suitable setting of
3:50:25tropical luxury surrounded by Rich
3:50:27natural resources of forests and mines
3:50:30such was not the case
3:50:33it was located beside the Euphrates
3:50:35river in a flat arid Valley
3:50:38it had no forests no mines not even
3:50:42stone for building
3:50:43it was not even located upon a natural
3:50:46trade route
3:50:47the rainfall was insufficient to raise
3:50:50crops
3:50:51Babylon is an outstanding example of
3:50:54man's ability to achieve great
3:50:55objectives using whatever means are at
3:50:58his disposal
3:51:00all of the resources supporting this
3:51:02large city were man developed
3:51:04all of its riches were man-made
3:51:07Babylon possessed just two natural
3:51:09resources a fertile soil and water in
3:51:12the river
3:51:13with one of the greatest engineering
3:51:16accomplishments of this or any other day
3:51:18Babylonian Engineers diverted The Waters
3:51:21from the river by means of dams and
3:51:23immense irrigation canals
3:51:25far out across that arid Valley went
3:51:27these canals to pour the life-giving
3:51:29waters over the fertile soil
3:51:32this ranks among the first engineering
3:51:34Feats known to history
3:51:36such abundant crops as were the reward
3:51:38of this irrigation system the world had
3:51:41never seen before
3:51:43fortunately during its long existence
3:51:45Babylon was ruled by successive lines of
3:51:48Kings to whom conquest and plunder were
3:51:50but incidental
3:51:52while it engaged in many wars most of
3:51:55these were local or defensive against
3:51:56ambitious conquerors from other
3:51:58countries who coveted The Fabulous
3:52:00Treasures of Babylon
3:52:02the outstanding rulers of Babylon live
3:52:04in history because of their wisdom
3:52:06Enterprise and justice
3:52:09Babylon produced no strutting monarchs
3:52:12who sought to conquer the known world
3:52:13that all nations might pay homage to
3:52:15their egotism
3:52:17as a city Babylon exists no more
3:52:20when those energizing human forces that
3:52:23built and maintained the city for
3:52:24thousands of years were withdrawn it
3:52:27soon became a deserted ruin
3:52:29the site of the city is in Asia about
3:52:32600 miles east of the Suez Canal just
3:52:35north of the Persian Gulf
3:52:37the latitude is about 30 degrees above
3:52:40the equator practically the same as that
3:52:42of Yuma Arizona
3:52:44it possessed a climate similar to that
3:52:46of this American city hot and dry
3:52:49today this Valley of the Euphrates once
3:52:52a populist irrigated farming district is
3:52:55again a Windswept arid waste
3:52:58scant grass and desert shrubs strive for
3:53:00existence against the wind-blown sands
3:53:03gone are the fertile Fields the mammoth
3:53:06cities and the long Caravans of Rich
3:53:08merchandise
3:53:10nomadic bands of Arabs securing a scant
3:53:13living by tending small herds are the
3:53:16only inhabitants
3:53:18such it has been since about the
3:53:19beginning of the Christian era
3:53:21dotting this Valley are Earthen Hills
3:53:24for centuries they were considered by
3:53:27travelers to be nothing else
3:53:29the attention of archaeologists were
3:53:32finally attracted to them because of
3:53:33broken pieces of pottery and brick
3:53:35washed down by the occasional rainstorms
3:53:39Expeditions financed by European and
3:53:42American museums were sent here to
3:53:44excavate and see what could be found
3:53:46kicks and shovels soon proved these
3:53:49Hills to be ancient cities
3:53:51City Graves they might well be called
3:53:54Babylon was one of these
3:53:57over it for something like 20 centuries
3:53:59the winds had scattered the desert dust
3:54:02built originally of brick all exposed
3:54:05walls had disintegrated and gone back to
3:54:08earth once more
3:54:10such is Babylon the wealthy City today
3:54:13a heap of dirt so long abandoned that no
3:54:16living person even knew its name until
3:54:18it was discovered by carefully removing
3:54:20the refuse of centuries from the streets
3:54:22and the Fallen wreckage of its Noble
3:54:24temples and palaces
3:54:26many scientists consider the
3:54:28civilization of Babylon and other cities
3:54:30in this Valley to be the oldest of which
3:54:33there is a definite record
3:54:35positive dates have been proved reaching
3:54:37back 8 000 years
3:54:39an interesting fact in this connection
3:54:41is the means used to determine these
3:54:43dates
3:54:45uncovered in the ruins of Babylon were
3:54:47descriptions of an eclipse of the Sun
3:54:50modern astronomers readily computed the
3:54:52time when such an eclipse visible in
3:54:55Babylon occurred and thus established a
3:54:57known relationship between their
3:54:59calendar and our own
3:55:01in this way we have proved that 8 000
3:55:04years ago the summarites who inhabited
3:55:06Babylonia were living in Walled cities
3:55:10one can only conjecture for how many
3:55:12centuries previous such cities had
3:55:14existed
3:55:15their inhabitants were Not Mere
3:55:17barbarians living within protecting
3:55:19walls
3:55:20they were an educated and enlightened
3:55:23people
3:55:24so far as written history goes they were
3:55:27the first Engineers the first
3:55:28astronomers the first mathematicians the
3:55:31first financiers and the first people to
3:55:34have a written language
3:55:36mention has already been made of the
3:55:38irrigation systems which transformed the
3:55:40Arid Valley into an agricultural
3:55:42Paradise
3:55:43the remains of these canals can still be
3:55:46traced although they are mostly filled
3:55:48with accumulated sand
3:55:50some of them were of such size that when
3:55:53empty of water a dozen horses could be
3:55:55ridden abreast along their bottoms
3:55:58in size they compare favorably with the
3:56:01largest canals in Colorado and Utah
3:56:04in addition to irrigating the valley
3:56:06lands Babylonian Engineers completed
3:56:09another project of similar magnitude
3:56:12by means of an elaborate drainage system
3:56:14they reclaimed an immense area of swamp
3:56:16land at the mouths of the Euphrates and
3:56:18Tigris Rivers and put this also under
3:56:20cultivation
3:56:22Herodotus the Greek traveler and
3:56:24historian visited Babylon while it was
3:56:27in its prime and has given us the only
3:56:29known description by an outsider
3:56:31his writings give a graphic description
3:56:33of the city and some of the unusual
3:56:35customs of its people
3:56:37he mentions the remarkable fertility of
3:56:40the soil and the Bountiful Harvest of
3:56:42Wheat and barley which they produced
3:56:45the glory of Babylon has faded but its
3:56:48wisdom has been preserved for us
3:56:50for this we are indebted to their form
3:56:52of Records
3:56:54in that distant day the use of paper had
3:56:56not been invented
3:56:58instead they laboriously engraved their
3:57:01writing upon tablets of moist clay
3:57:04when completed these were baked and
3:57:06became hardtile
3:57:08in size they were about six by eight
3:57:11inches and an inch in thickness
3:57:13these clay tablets as they are commonly
3:57:16called were used much as we use modern
3:57:18forms of writing
3:57:20upon them were engraved Legends poetry
3:57:23history transcriptions of Royal decrees
3:57:26the laws of the Land Titles to property
3:57:28promissory notes and even letters which
3:57:31were dispatched by Messengers to distant
3:57:33cities
3:57:34from these clay tablets we are permitted
3:57:37an insight into the intimate personal
3:57:39affairs of the people
3:57:41for example one tablet evidently from
3:57:44the records of a country store keeper
3:57:46relates that upon the given date a
3:57:48certain named customer brought in a cow
3:57:50and exchanged it for seven sacks of
3:57:52wheat three being delivered at the time
3:57:54and the other four to await the
3:57:56customer's pleasure
3:57:58safely buried in erect cities
3:58:00archaeologists have recovered entire
3:58:02libraries of these tablets hundreds of
3:58:04thousands of them
3:58:06one of the outstanding wonders of
3:58:08Babylon was the immense walls
3:58:10surrounding the city
3:58:12the Ancients ranked them with the Great
3:58:14Pyramid of Egypt as belonging to the
3:58:16seven wonders of the world
3:58:18Queen samiramis is credited with having
3:58:20erected the first walls during the early
3:58:23history of the city
3:58:25modern excavators have been unable to
3:58:27find any trace of the original walls
3:58:30nor is there exact height known
3:58:33for mention made by early writers it is
3:58:36estimated they were about 50 to 60 feet
3:58:38high faced on the outer side with burnt
3:58:40brick and further protected by a deep
3:58:42mode of water
3:58:44the later and more famous walls were
3:58:46started about 600 years before the time
3:58:48of Christ by King nabo palacer
3:58:51upon such a gigantic scale did he plan
3:58:54the rebuilding he did not live to see
3:58:56the work finished
3:58:58this was left to his son Nebuchadnezzar
3:59:01whose name is familiar in Biblical
3:59:03history
3:59:04the height and length of these later
3:59:06walls staggers belief
3:59:08they are reported upon reliable
3:59:10authority to have been about 160 feet
3:59:13high the equivalent of the height of a
3:59:15modern 15-story office building
3:59:18the total length is estimated as between
3:59:209 and 11 miles
3:59:23so wide was the top that a six-horse
3:59:25chariot could be driven around them
3:59:28of this tremendous structure little now
3:59:30remains except portions of the
3:59:32foundations and the moat
3:59:34in addition to the ravages of the
3:59:36elements the Arabs completed the
3:59:38destruction by quarrying the brick for
3:59:40building purposes elsewhere
3:59:42against the walls of Babylon marched in
3:59:45turn the Victorious armies of almost
3:59:48every conqueror of that age of Wars of
3:59:50Conquest
3:59:51a host of Kings laid Siege to Babylon
3:59:54but always in vain
3:59:57invading armies of that day were not to
3:59:59be considered lightly
4:00:01historians speak of such units as 10 000
4:00:04Horsemen 25 000 chariots
4:00:071200 regiments of foot soldiers with one
4:00:10thousand men to the regiment
4:00:12often two or three years of preparation
4:00:15would be required to assemble War
4:00:17materials and Depots of food along the
4:00:19proposed line of March
4:00:21the city of Babylon was organized much
4:00:24like a modern city
4:00:26there were streets and shops
4:00:28Peddlers offered their Wares through
4:00:30residential districts
4:00:32priests officiated in magnificent
4:00:34temples
4:00:36within the city was an inner enclosure
4:00:38for the Royal palaces
4:00:40the walls about this were said to have
4:00:42been higher than those about the city
4:00:45the Babylonians were skilled in the arks
4:00:48these included sculpture painting
4:00:51weaving gold working in the manufacture
4:00:53of metal weapons and agricultural
4:00:55implements
4:00:57their Jewelers created most artistic
4:00:59jewelry
4:01:00many samples have been recovered from
4:01:03the graves of its wealthy citizens and
4:01:05are now on exhibition in the leading
4:01:06museums of the world
4:01:08at a very early period when the rest of
4:01:11the world was still hacking at trees
4:01:13with stone-headed axes or hunting and
4:01:15fighting with flint-pointed Spears and
4:01:17arrows the Babylonians were using axes
4:01:20Spears and arrows with metal heads
4:01:23the Babylonians were clever financiers
4:01:26and traitors
4:01:27so far as we know they were the original
4:01:30inventors of money as a means of
4:01:32exchange of promissory notes and written
4:01:34titles to property
4:01:36Babylon was never entered by hostile
4:01:39armies until about 540 years before the
4:01:42birth of Christ
4:01:43even then the walls were not captured
4:01:47the story of the fall of Babylon is most
4:01:49unusual
4:01:51Cyrus one of the great conquerors of
4:01:54that period intended to attack the city
4:01:56and hope to take its impregnable walls
4:01:59advisors of nabanidus the king of
4:02:02Babylon persuaded him to go forth to
4:02:04meet Cyrus and give him battle without
4:02:06waiting for the city to be besieged
4:02:09in the succeeding defeat to the
4:02:11Babylonian Army it fled away from the
4:02:13city
4:02:14Cyrus thereupon entered the open Gates
4:02:17and took possession without resistance
4:02:20thereafter the power and Prestige of the
4:02:23city gradually waned until in the course
4:02:25of a few hundred years it was eventually
4:02:27abandoned deserted left for the winds
4:02:30and storms to level once again to that
4:02:32desert Earth from which its Grandeur had
4:02:34originally been built
4:02:36Babylon had fallen never to rise again
4:02:39but to its civilization owes much
4:02:42the Ians of time have crumbled to dust
4:02:44the proud walls of its temples but the
4:02:47wisdom of Babylon endures
4:02:49money is the medium by which Earthly
4:02:51success is measured
4:02:54money makes possible the enjoyment of
4:02:56the best the Earth affords
4:02:58money is plentiful for those who
4:03:00understand the simple laws which govern
4:03:02its acquisition
4:03:04money is governed today by the same laws
4:03:07which controlled it when prosperous men
4:03:09thrown the streets of Babylon six
4:03:11thousand years ago

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