Plutarch's Romane Questions · Plutarch
42.
_What is the cause that they make the temple of_ Saturne, _the chamber of the citie, for to keepe therein the publicke treasure of gold and silver: as also their arches, for the custodie of all their writings, rolles, contracts and evidences whatsoever_. IS it by occasion of that opinion so commonly received, and the speech so universally currant in every mans mouth, that during the raigne of _Saturne_, there was no avarice nor injustice in the world; but loialtie, truth, faith, and righteousnesse caried the whole sway among men. Or for that he was the god who found out fruits, brought in agriculture, and taught husbandry first; for the hooke or sickle in his hand signifieth so much, and not as _Antimachus_ wrote, following therein and beleeving _Hesiodus_: _Rough_ Saturne _with his hairy skinne, against all law and right, Of_ Aemons _sonne, sir_ Ouranus, _or_ Cœlus _sometime hight, Those privy members which him gat, with hooke a-slant off-cut. And then anon in fathers place of reigne, himselfe did put._
Now the abundance of the fruits which the earth yeeldeth, and the vent or disposition of them, is the very mother that bringeth foorth plentie of monie: and therefore it is that this same god they make the author and mainteiner of their felicitie: in testimonie whereof, those assemblies which are holden every ninth day in the cõmon place of the city, called _Nundinæ_, that is to say, Faires or markets, they esteeme consecrated to _Saturne_: for the store & foison of fruits is that which openeth the trade & comerce of buying and selling. Or, because these reasons seeme to be very antique; what and if we say that the first man who made (of _Saturns_ temple at _Rome_) the treasurie or chamber of the citie was _Valerius Poplicola_, after that the kings were driven out of _Rome_, and it seemeth to stand to good reason that he made choise thereof, because he thought it a safe and secure place, eminent and conspicuous in all mens eies, and by consequence hard to be surprised and forced.
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