FIFTH PART.

yet my defense found a place among few, so much so that, in the common way, by which the credulity of men is accustomed to believe bad things more easily and willingly than good ones, the Farnerian lies found more faith among most people than the Glauberian Truth, which, accepted in such a way, could not confront such great iniquity or impede it. Since, therefore, I had sufficient cause at that time, had I wished to return evil for evil, to publish nothing more for the benefit of the Fatherland in the future; nevertheless, being little troubled by their most iniquitous wickedness, I added the Second, Third, and Fourth Parts of the Prosperity of the Fatherland to the First, in which, in order to serve the benefit and safety of the Fatherland, I revealed the search for and acquisition of great Metallic treasures. Yet all is held in mockery by the greater part of men, and perhaps for this reason, that they, pricking up the ass's ears of Midas, have hitherto judged badly, as listeners and auditors, between the Lyre of Orpheus and the pastoral pipe of Pan. What then is the advice? Truly, nothing remains other than that, the Lyre having once more been accommodated to the due concert, the melody of Orpheus and Pan should be shown to Jupiter, the player of the musical instrument of both parts, for his hearing and judgment. For there is no doubt that, having heard the song of both, that most just judge Jupiter, with a better and more just judgment, and a more equitable sentence, is going to decide this lawsuit, III and is perhaps going to place IIII the ass's ears of Midas on one, and the laurel crown on Orpheus.