The Power of Gold

Ben Jonson

1572 to 1637

Poem Image

Gold is a sutor, never tooke repulse,
It carries Palme with it, (where e're it goes)
Respect, and observation; it uncovers
The knottie heads of the most surly Groomes,
Enforcing yron doores to yeeld it way,
Were they as strong ram'd up as Aetna gates.
It bends the hams of Gossip Vigilance,
And makes her supple feete, as swift as winde.
It thawes the frostiest, and most stiffe disdaine:
Muffles the clearnesse of Election,
Straines fancie unto foule Apostacie,
And strikes the quickest-sighted Judgement blinde.
Then why should we dispaire? dispaire? Away:
Where Gold's the Motive, women have no Nay.