He Marks Out a Grave Before a Greedy Man

On one occasion he spoke directly to one of his courtiers: “How far, my friend, are we to carry our excessive desires?” Then, tracing the outline of a human figure with a spear he happened to have in his hand, he went on: “Even if you could gain all the wealth of this world, yes, the whole world itself, you will take with you in the end no more than this little plot I have marked out, if indeed even that is yours.” Such were the words and actions of this blessed prince. And though at the time he did not turn anyone from their evil ways, the course of events nevertheless gave clear proof that his warnings were more like divine prophecies than mere words. [a]