Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious gold? ... This yellow slave Will knit and break religions, bless th accursed, Make the hoar leprosy adored, place thieves, And give them title, knee and approbation With senators on the bench.
ATTRIBUTION:
William Shakespeare (15641616), British dramatist, poet. Timon, in Timon of Athens, act 4, sc. 3, l. 26, 34-8.
digging for roots to eat, Timon finds buried gold; place = place in office. The idea of a leper as white (hoary) may be derived from 1 Kings 5:27, a leper white as snow.