Par.

 1 15|      than to be it, as not to be gold may be better than to be
 2 15|         may be better than to be gold. For it is better for man
 3 15|         better for man not to be gold, than to be gold; although
 4 15|       not to be gold, than to be gold; although it might be better
 5 15|       better for something to be gold, than not to be gold --
 6 15|          be gold, than not to be gold -- lead, for instance. For
 7 15|     namely, man and lead are not gold, man is something as much
 8 15|    something as much better than gold, as he would be of inferior
 9 15|         inferior nature, were he gold; while lead is something
10 15| something as much more base than gold, as it would be more precious,
11 15|        be more precious, were it gold.~But, from the fact that