Lives and Anecdotes of Misers (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1850. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER I. AVARICE DESCRIBED AND EXEMPLIFIED. Description of this Passion by Ancient Writers --Dion the Philosopher--Euripides--Aristotle --Plato--Anecdote of Alcibiades-- Boethius--Sir George Mackenzie on this Passion--Anecdote from Horace--Avarice in a Cardinal and in a Pope--The Miser described by Old Burton; by Dryden; by Goldsmith; by Robert Pollok--Avarice in History--Analogy between Avarice and Prodigality--A Curious Anecdote--Avarice in the Great and Noble--The Great Duke of Marlborough--Another Ducal Miser of a more Modern Day--A Little Rustic and a Great Duke--The Insatiableness of Acquisitiveness--Jemmy Wood of Gloucester--Osterval and Danden both starved to Death--Strength and Durability of the Passion of Avarice-- Virtue not quite Extinct--Benevolence and Parsimony often displayed by the same Individual--Guyot, a reputed Miser of Marseilles; his singular Will--An unexpected Contribution to a good Work, &c. &c. Aithough a passion so common to mankind, there is none that has received such scorn and contempt, as that of avarice. Philosophers and poets of all ages, and of every nation, have exerted their wit and satire, to denounce, and expose, the evils of this ungodly lust. Moralists have declared this passion for gold and silver the most unpardonable, because the most detestable, of all passions. There are men, exclaims an ancient j: 14 AVARICE DESCRIBED satirist, who do not profit to live, but who seem to live, for no other purpose than to gain. The denunciations of classic eloquence have been hurled against it. Heathens regarded it as a sin, the possession of which would exclude them from the favor of the gods. Avarice, says Dion, the philosopher, is the source of all wickedness. It was the opinion of the highminded Euripides that an avar...