Timon

But pray,

Hermes That is Cyrus, son of Cambyses, who transferred to the Persians the ancient empire of the Medes. He has lately conquered Assyria, and reduced Babylon; and now it looks as if he meditated an invasion of Lydia, to complete his dominion by the overthrow of Croesus.

Charon And whereabouts is Croesus?

Hermes Look over there. You see the great city with the triple wall? That is Sardis, And there, look, is Croesus himself, reclining on a golden couch, and conversing with Solon the Athenian. Shall we listen to what they are saying?

Charon Yes, let us.

Hermes

Stranger, you have now seen my stores of treasure, my heaps

Charon What will Solon say, I wonder?

Hermes Trust Solon; he will not disgrace himself.

Croesus Croesus, few men are happy. Of those whom I know, the happiest, I think, were Cleobis and Biton, the sons of the Argive priestess.

Charon Ah, he means those two who yoked themselves to a waggon, and drew their mother to the temple, and died the moment after. It was but the other day.

Croesus Ah. So they are first on the list. And who comes next?

Solon Tellus the Athenian, who lived a righteous life, and died for bis country.

Croesus And where do I come, reptile?

Solon That I am unable to say at present, Croesus; I must see you end your days first. Death is the sure test;—a happy end to a life of happiness.

Charon Bravo, Solon; you have not forgotten us! As you say, Charon’s ferry is the proper place for the decision of these questions.—

But who are these men whom Croesus is sending out? And what have they got on their shoulders?

Hermes Those are bars of gold; they are going to Delphi, to pay for an oracle, which oracle will presently be the ruin of Croesus. But oracles are a hobby of his.

Charon Oh, so that is gold, that glittering yellow stuff, with just a tinge of red init. I have often heard of gold, but never saw it before.

Hermes Yes, that is the stuff there isso much talking and squabbling about.

Charon Well now, I see no advantages about it, unless it is an advantage that it is heavy to carry.

Hermes Ah, you do not know what it has to answer for; the wars and plots and robberies, the perjuries and murders; for

Charon For this stuff? Why, it is not much different from copper. I know copper, of course, because I get a penny from each passenger.

Hermes Yes, but copper is plentiful, and therefore not much esteemed by men. Gold is found only in small quantities, and the miners have to go to a considerable depth for it. For the rest, it comes out of the earth, just the same as lead and other metals.

Charon What fools men must be, to be enamoured of an object of this sallow complexion; and of such a weight!

Hermes Well, Solon, at any rate, seems to have no great affection for it, See, he is making merry with Croesus and his outlandish magnificence. I think he is going to ask him a question. Listen.

Solon Croesus, will those bars be any use to Apollo, do you think?

Croesus Any use! Why there is nothing at Delphi to be compared to them.

Solon And that is all that is wanting to complete his happiness, eh?—some bar gold?

Croesus Undoubtedly.

Solon Then they must be very hard up in Heaven, if they have to send all the way to Lydia for their gold supply?

Croesus Where else is gold to be had in such abundance as with us?

Solon Now is any iron found in Lydia?

Croesus Not much.

Solon Ab; so you are lacking in the more valuable metal,

Croesus More valuable? Iron more valuable than gold?

Solon Bear with me, while I ask you a few questions, and I will convince you it is so.

Croesus Well?

Solon Of protector and protégé, which is the better man?

Croesus The protector, of course.

Solon Now in the event of Cyrus’s invading Lydia—there is some talk of it—shall you supply your men with golden swords? or will tron be required on the occasion?

Croesus Ob, iron.

Solon Iron accordingly you must have, or your gold would be led captive into Persia?

Croesus Blasphemer!

Solon Ob, we will hope for the best. But it is clear, on your own admission, that iron is better than gold.

Croesus And what would you have me do? Recall the gold, and offer the God bars of iron?

Solon He has no occasion for iron either. Your offering (be the metal what it may) will fall into other hands than his. It will be snapped up by the Phocians, or the Boeotians, or the God’s own priests; or by some tyrant or robber. Your goldsmiths have no interest for Apollo,

Croesus You are always having a stab at my wealth. It is all envy!