XLVII. NOT SO, LONG.

SOLOMON was the riddle of the world, being the richest and poorest of princes.

Richest, for once in three years the land of Ophir sailed to Jerusalem, and caused such plenty of gold therein.

Poorest, as appeareth by his imposing so intolerable taxes on his subjects, the refusal of the mitigation whereof caused the defection of the ten tribes from the house of David.

But how came Solomon to be so much behindhand? Some, I know, score it on the account of his building of the temple, as if so magnificent a structure had impaired and exhausted his estate.

But in very deed, it was his keeping of seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, and his concubines in all probability more expensive than his wives (as the thief in the candle wasteth more wax than the wick thereof). All these had their several courts, which must needs amount to a vast expense.

How cometh the great treasure of our land to be low, and the debts thereof so high? Surely it is not by building of churches; all the world will be her compurgators therein. It is rather because we maintain (and must for a time for our safety) such a numerous army of soldiers.

Well it had been both for the profit, credit, and conscience of Solomon, to have reduced his wives to a smaller number, as we hope in due time our standing army shall be epitomized to a more moderate proportion.