178 A MEASURE AND A CAUSE OF VALUE.
tion of 2 commodity in which a definite por-
tion of it was embodied *.
All that is really meant by a measure of
value we have already seen, and what is im-
plied by a cause of value will be examined in
the following chapter. The object of the pre-
ceding brief discussion is not to consider the
nature of either, but merely to show the es-
sential distinction between the ideas which they
involve.

* There was a further reason, namely, that the real object
which he contemplated in a measure of value was to ascer-
tain by it the changes which commodities wight undergo
in regard to the quantity of labour required to produce
them. Now to use labour itself as a measure implies this
object to be already accomplished. Sce Note I.