“Man,” he said, “if, indeed, man you are, why sit you here apart, hiding these piles of wealth, and keeping them from being rightly used by men?”
“Truly,” answered the man, “you are bold and careless of yourself thus to trouble me. Know that I am the god of this world, the greatest god under heaven, Mammon by name. From me come riches and renown, powers and honours, and all things which men covet upon earth. Know, then, that if you will serve me, all these mountains of riches shall be yours; and if these do not content you, I will give you tenfold more.”
“Mammon,” answered the knight, “in vain do you boast your godhead; in vain do you offer me your gifts. Keep them for such as covet such idle things, and look for a more fitting servant. I am of those who regard honour and strive for kingdoms; fair shields and steeds gaily bedight and shining arms are pleasant to my eyes.”
“Do you not perceive,” answered Mammon, “O foolish knight, that money can furnish all these things in which you delight? Shields, and steeds, and arms it can provide in the twinkling of an eye; ay, and crowns and kingdoms also. I can throw down into the dust him that sits upon the throne, and I can lift up to the throne him that lies in the dust.”
“But I,” said Sir Guyon, “have other thoughts of riches; that infinite mischiefs spring from them—strife and debate and bloodshed. No crowns nor kingdoms are yours, but you turn loyal truth to treason; you break the sacred diadem in pieces, and rend the purple robe of kingship. It is of you that castles are surprised, great cities sacked and burned, and kingdoms overthrown!”
Then Mammon waxed wroth and cried: “Why, then, are men so eager to obtain a thing so evil? Why do they so complain when they have it not, and when they lose it, so upbraid?”
And when the knight answered these questions by telling of how in the old time man was content without riches, and how he had been corrupted by the lust of gold and silver, Mammon replied: “Nay, my son, let be these stories of ancient days. You who live in these latter times must be content to take your wage for the work you do. Come now, you shall have what you will of these riches; and if you like them not, then you are free to refuse. Only, if you refuse, blame me not afterwards.”
Then said the knight, for, being but mortal man, he was touched by the sight of great riches: “I would not take aught that is offered me unless I know that it has been rightly got. How can I be assured that you have not taken these things unlawfully from the rightful owner?”
“Nay,” cried Mammon, “that is but idle talk. Never did eye behold these things, never did hand handle them. I have kept them secret both from heaven and from earth.”
“But,” said the knight, “what place is large enough to hold such store, or safe enough to keep it from robbery?”