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4 2 HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUC1ANS.
put us all into such confusion. So it clearly appears, that
the depravation of men's souls by avarice, ambition, and
tyranny, hath occasioned the present inequality, and if it
be true, as we all confess it is, that the world is an inheri-
tance left to mankind by one father and mother, from
whom we are all descended like brethren, what justice is
it that men should not all have a brother's share ? What
greater disproportion can be imagined then that this world
should be such that some possess more than they can
govern, and others have not so much as they could govern 1
But that which doth infinitely aggravate this disorder is,
that usually vertuous men are beggars, whereas wicked and
ignorant people are wealthy. From the root of this
inequality it then ariseth, that the rich are injurious to the
poor, and that the poor envy the rich.
"Now, gentlemen, that I have discovered the malady unto
you, it is easie to apply the medicine. To reform the age
no better course can be taken then to divide the world
anew, allotting an equal part to everyone, and,
that we
may fall no more upon the like disorders, I advise, that,
for the future, all buying and selling be forbidden, to the
end that there may be established that parity of goods, the
mother of publick peace, which my
self and other law-
makers have formerly so much laboured to procure."
Solon's opinion suffered a long debate, and though it
was not only thought good but necessary by Bias, Periander,
and Pittacus, it was gainsaid by all the rest, and Seneca's
opinion prevailed, who with substantial reasons convinced
the assembly, that if they should come to a new division of
the world, one great disorder would necessarily follow ; that
too much would fall to the share of fools, and too little to
gallant men ; and that plague, famine, and war were not