With Usura

[ZOBOLI]

With Usura
By Ezra Pound, 1885-1972


Canto LXV

With usura hath no man a house of good stone
each block cut smooth and well fitting
that delight might cover their face,

with usura

hath no man a painted paradise on his church wall
harpes et luthes
or where virgin receiveth message
and halo projects from incision,

with usura

seeth no man Gonzaga his heirs and his concubines
no picture is made to endure nor to live with
but it is made to sell and sell quickly

with usura, sin against nature,
is thy bread ever more of stale rags
is thy bread dry as paper,
with no mountain wheat, no strong flour

with usura the line grows thick

with usura is no clear demarcation
and no man can find site for his dwelling
Stone cutter is kept from his stone
weaver is kept from his loom

WITH USURA

wool comes not to market
sheep bringeth no gain with usura
Usura is a murrain, usura
blunteth the needle in the the maid's hand
and stoppeth the spinner's cunning. Pietro Lombardo
came not by usura
Duccio came not by usura
nor Pier della Francesca; Zuan Bellin' not by usura
nor was "La Callunia" painted.
Came not by usura Angelico; came not Ambrogio Praedis,
No church of cut stone signed: Adamo me fecit.
Not by usura St. Trophime

Not by usura St. Hilaire,

Usura rusteth the chisel
It rusteth the craft and the craftsman
It gnaweth the thread in the loom
None learneth to weave gold in her pattern;
Azure hath a canker by usura; cramoisi is unbroidered
Emerald findeth no Memling

Usura slayeth the child in the womb
It stayeth the young man's courting
It hath brought palsey to bed, lyeth
between the young bride and her bridegroom

CONTRA NATURAM

They have brought whores for Eleusis
Corpses are set to banquet

at behest of usura.

[ZOBOLI]

"When money is lent on a contract to receive not only the principal sum again, but also an increase by way of compensation for the use, the increase is called interest by those who think it lawful, and usury by those who do not" (Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, p. 1336).

[mrg]

Thank you.

[ZOBOLI]

You are welcome mrg.

[ZOBOLI]

Usury
Product ID: BEM5075
Description: Here is Hilaire Belloc's devastating essay that demonstrates the profound evil and irrationality of the modern financial system.

This booklet broaches an issue that has slipped out of the common mind, and yet is one which affects every aspect of our life. The point Belloc makes in his short essay is that usury, contrary to the now common understanding of the term, is not the charging of exorbitant interest on a money loan. Rather, it is the charging of any interest whatsoever on a loan which is not "productive" (i.e., on a loan which does not yield financial profits for the borrower). We have become so used to thinking of usury as the charging of high rates of interest, that we have forgotten that usury has nothing to do with the rate of interest charged at all.

What Belloc points out is that there are two types of loans which could be made. The first is a loan the money from which the borrower invests to make a profit for himself. In this case, whether it was Aristotle or St. Thomas or Roman Law, no one objected to the loaner reaping a certain percentage of the profit which was the direct result of his loan. This type of loan Belloc refers to as a "productive loan." The "unproductive" loan, however, is one in which no profit is made from the loan (e.g., mortgages). In this case, the borrower does not take money out of his profit to pay the lender more than he has borrowed, rather he must take money out of his basic livelihood to pay the lender "interest" on the money borrowed. [Text taken from Dr. Peter Chojnowski's review.]

In this indespensible essay, discover:
· the evils of modern economics and why it is leading to "the destruction of every vestige of civilization that still remains"
· what usury means in simple terms
· how personal, family, and business debt always increase
· why more buys less
· the lie that usury helps us flourish
· four ways you can fight usury and free yourself from debt.
Hilaire Belloc. 20 pages. Softcover. Published by Angelus Press.

[Codee]

Originally Posted by ZOBOLI

"When money is lent on a contract to receive not only the principal sum again, but also an increase by way of compensation for the use, the increase is called interest by those who think it lawful, and usury by those who do not" (Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, p. 1336).

I have pointed out how "Use" is used in the California Codes. I discuss it in my right to travel thread.

When property is your own it is rightfully "Enjoyed" by its owner.

[ZOBOLI]

Originally Posted by Codee

I have pointed out how "Use" is used in the California Codes. I discuss it in my right to travel thread.

When property is your own it is rightfully "Enjoyed" by its owner.

Codee, so trafficking versus traveling has to do with rightful
ownership and freely traveling? Also, please explain how the craft of usury interferes with your right to travel thread.

[joseph sugarman]

zoboli,

Your analysis of anyone else's writing about productive or unproductive loans is wanting. Money borrowed by someone from anyone else is the borrowing of someone else's property. There is no difference, to the owner of the property, what the borrower does with it: the owner is entitled to a return on the rent of the money.

You have negelected to take into account several factors about borrowing for a mortgage, whether from a public or a private source. When the borrower uses the money to purchase a real property for himself, he is probably raising his standard of living by being in a better living condition. While not readily quantifiable, this is a profit. Additionally, the property, over time, may increase in value; thereby rendering the borrower a profit at the time of sale, or allowing the option of borrowing more money on the increased value of the property.

It might help you to consider the same property and the consequences of renting it or owning it. When rented, the person pays a small amount each month to the owner of the property. That small amount includes reimbursement to the owner for building cost and any loan associated with the building, upkeep, taxes, and profit on the use of the money. The owner may receive an additional amount of new value upon the sale of the rental. When purchased with a loan, the buyer takes on the responsibility of the upkeep and taxes, but pays the lender a small amount each month for the money and the use of the money. The lender does not share in any gain on the property when this owner sells.

Why would anyone, public or private, lend money to anyone else, ever, if there was not a return or rent for lending the money?

However, on the off chance you see it correctly; please PM me with the information on how to reach you. I need several hundred thousand dollars to build my dream house.

Joseph Sugarman, design@dream-home.com

[ZOBOLI]

Joseph Sugarman,
What is it that you want to borrow?

[joseph sugarman]

zoboli,

I can tell, right off, this question is a trap. I don't use the correct term, or I say the wrong thing some other way; and I can forget about borrowing anything, at no interest, from you. Just forget the whole thing. I'll keep looking at my dream home on paper. Have a nice sleep.

Joseph Sugarman, design@dream-home.com