He wanted a herd but he had no money. So I did lend him gold to make the journey and bring back goats. Now his herd is begun and next year I shall surprise the lords of Babylon with the most expensive rugs it has been their good fortune to buy. Soon I must return his ring. He doth insist on repaying promptly.”
“Some borrowers do that?’ queried Rodan.
“If they borrow for purposes that bring money back to them, I find it so. But if they borrow because of their indiscretions, I warn thee to be cautious if thou wouldst ever have thy gold back in hand again.”
“Tell me about this,” requested Rodan, picking up a heavy gold bracelet inset with jewels in rare designs.
“The women do appeal to my good friend,” bantered Mathon.
“I am still much younger than you,” retorted Rodan.
“I grant that, but this time thou doth suspicion romance where it is not. The owner of this is fat and wrinkled and doth talk so much and say so little she drives me mad. Once they had much money and were good customers, but ill times came upon them. She has a son of whom she would make a merchant. So she came to me and borrowed gold that he might become a partner of a caravan owner who travels with his camels bartering in one city what he buys in another.
“This man proved a rascal for he left the poor boy in a distant city without money and without friends, pulling out early while the youth slept. Perhaps when this youth has grown to manhood, he will repay; until then I get no rental for the loan — only much talk. But I do admit the jewels are worthy of the loan.”
“Did this lady ask thy advice as to the wisdom of the loan?”
“Quite otherwise. She had pictured to herself this son of hers as a wealthy and powerful man of Babylon. To suggest the contrary was to infuriate her. A fair rebuke I had. I knew the risk for this inexperienced boy, but as she offered security I could not refuse her.
“This,” continued Mathon, waving a bit of pack rope tied into a knot, “belongs to Nebatur, the camel trader. When he would buy a herd larger than his funds he brings to me this knot and I lend to him according to his needs. He is a wise trader. I have confidence in his good judgment and can lend him freely. Many other merchants of Babylon have my confidence because of their honorable behavior. Their tokens come and go frequently in my token box. Good merchants are an asset to our city and it profits me to aid them to keep trade moving that Babylon be prosperous.”
Mathon picked out a beetle carved in turquoise and tossed it contemptuously on the floor. “A bug from Egypt. The lad who owns this does not care whether I ever receive back my gold. When I reproach him he replies, ‘How can I repay when ill fate pursues me? You have plenty more.’ What can I do? The token is his father’s — a worthy man of small means who did pledge his land and herd to back his son’s enterprises. The youth found success at first and then was over-zealous to gain great wealth. His knowledge was immature. His enterprises collapsed. “Youth is ambitious. Youth would take short cuts to wealth and the desirable things for which it stands. To secure wealth quickly youth often borrows unwisely.
Youth, never having had experience, cannot realize that hopeless debt is like a deep pit into which one may descend quickly and where one may struggle vainly for many days. It is a pit of sorrow and regrets where the brightness of the sun is overcast and night is made unhappy by restless sleeping. Yet, I do not discourage borrowing gold. I encourage it. I recommend it if it be for a wise purpose. I myself made my first real success as a merchant with borrowed gold.
“Yet, what should the lender do in such a case? The youth is in despair and accomplishes nothing. He is discouraged. He makes no effort to repay. My heart turns against depriving the father of his land and cattle.”
“You tell me much that I am interested to hear,” ventured Rodan, “but, I hear no answer to my question. Should I lend my fifty pieces of gold to my sister’s husband? They mean much to me.”
“Thy sister is a sterling woman whom I do much esteem. Should her husband come to me and ask to borrow fifty pieces of gold I should ask him for what purpose he would use it.
“If he answered that he desired to become a merchant like myself and deal in jewels and rich furnishings. I would say, ‘What knowledge have you of the ways of trade? Do you know where you can buy at lowest cost? Do you know where you can sell at a fair price? Could he say ‘Yes’ to these questions?”
“No, he could not,” Rodan admitted. “He has helped me much in making spears and he has helped some in the shops.”
“Then, would I say to him that his purpose was not wise. Merchants must learn their trade. His ambition, though worthy, is not practical and I would not lend him any gold.
“But, supposing he could say: ‘Yes, I have helped merchants much. I know how to travel to Smyrna and to buy at low cost the rugs the housewives weave. I also know many of the rich people of Babylon to whom I can sell these at a large profit.’ Then I would say: ‘Your purpose is wise and your ambition honorable. I shall be glad to lend you the fifty pieces of gold if you can give me security that they will be returned.” But would he say, ‘I have no security other than that I am an honored man and will pay you well for the loan.’ Then would I reply, ‘I treasure much each piece of gold. Were the robbers to take it from you as you journeyed to Smyrna or take the rugs from you as you returned, then you would have no means of repaying me and my gold would be gone.’
“Gold, you see, Rodan, is the merchandise of the lender of money. It is easy to lend. If it is lent unwisely then it is difficult to get back. The wise lender wishes not the risk of the undertaking but the guarantee of safe repayment.
“‘Tis well,” he continued, “to assist those that are in trouble, ‘tis well to help those upon whom fate has laid a heavy hand. ‘Tis well to help those who are starting that they may progress and become valuable citizens. But help must be given wisely, lest, like the farmer’s ass, in our desire to help we but take upon ourselves the burden that belongs to another.
“Again I wandered from thy question, Rodan, but hear my answer: Keep thy fifty pieces of gold. What thy labor earns for thee and what is given thee for reward is thine own and no man can put an obligation upon thee to part with it unless it do be thy wish. If thee wouldst lend it so that it may earn thee more gold, then lend with caution and in many places. I like not idle gold, even less I like too much of risk.
“How many years hast thou labored as a spearmaker?”
“Fully three.”
“How much besides the King’s gift hast saved?”
“Three gold pieces.”
“Each year that thou hast labored thou has denied thyself good things to save from thine earnings one piece of gold?”
“‘Tis as you say.”
“Then mightest save in fifty years of labor fifty pieces of gold by thy self-denial?”
“A lifetime of labor it would be.”
“Thinkest thou thy sister would wish to jeopardize the savings of fifty years of labor over the bronze melting pot that her husband might experiment on being a merchant?”
“Not if I spoke in your words.”
“Then go to her and say: ‘Three years I have labored each day except fast days, from morning until night, and I have
