Lucian of Samosata, Contemplantes, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 10

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CROESUS

My friend from Athens, as you have seen my riches, my treasuries, all the bullion that I have and the rest of my splendor, tell me whom do you consider the most fortunate man in the world?

CHARON

What will Solon say to that?

HERMES

Never fear; nothing ignoble, Charon.

SOLON

Fortunate men are few, Croesus, but I consider that of all the men I know, the most fortunate are Cleobis and Biton, the sons of the priestess at Argos, who died together the other day when they had harnessed themselves and drawn their mother to the temple on the wagon.¹

CROESUS

Very well, let them have the first rank in good fortune. But who would be the second?:

SOLON

Tellus of Athens, who lived happily and died for his country.

CROESUS

But what about me, knave? Don’t you think I am fortunate?

SOLON

I do not know, Croesus, and shall not until you come to the close of your life. Death is a sure test in such matters, that and a fortunate life right up to the end.

CHARON

Thank you kindly, Solon, for not forgetting us,² but demanding the decision of such matters to be made right at the ferry.

Contemplantes. Lucian of Samosata. Austin Morris Harmon (Translator). United States. Perseus 5.0.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Charon, or the Inspectors (English) (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.)

Editions (1)

Χάρων ἢ Ἐπισκοποῦντες Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 10 focus

Κροῖσος

ὦ ξένε Ἀθηναῖε, εἶδες γάρ μου τὸν πλοῦτον καὶ τοὺς θησαυροὺς καὶ ὅσος ἄσημος¹ χρυσός ἐστιν ἡμῖν καὶ τὴν ἄλλην πολυτέλειαν, εἰπέ μοι, τίνα ἡγῇ τῶν ἁπάντων ἀνθρώπων εὐδαιμονέστατον εἶναι.

Χάρων

τί ἄρα ὁ Σόλων ἐρεῖ;

Ἑρμῆς

θάρρει· οὐδὲν ἀγεννές, ὦ Χάρων.

Σόλων

ὦ Κροῖσε, ὀλίγοι μὲν οἱ εὐδαίμονες· ἐγὼ δὲ ὧν οἶδα Κλέοβιν καὶ Βίτωνα ἡγοῦμαι εὐδαιμονεστάτους γενέσθαι, τοὺς τῆς ἱερείας παῖδας τῆς Ἀργόθεν, τοὺς ἅμα πρῴην ἀποθανόντας, ἐπεὶ τὴν μητέρα ὑποδύντες εἵλκυσαν ἐπὶ τῆς ἀπήνης ἄχρι πρὸς τὸ ἱερόν.

Κροῖσος

ἔστω· ἐχέτωσαν ἐκεῖνοι τὰ πρῶτα τῆς εὐδαιμονίας. ὁ δεύτερος δὲ τίς ἂν εἴη;

Σόλων

Τέλλος ὁ Ἀθηναῖος, ὃς εὖ τʼ ἐβίω καὶ ἀπέθανεν ὑπὲρ τῆς πατρίδος.

Κροῖσος

ἐγὼ δέ, ὦ κάθαρμα, οὔ σοι δοκῶ εὐδαίμων εἶναι;

Σόλων

οὐδέπω οἶδα, ὦ Κροῖσε, ἢν μὴ πρὸς τὸ τέλος ἀφίκῃ τοῦ βίου· ὁ γὰρ θάνατος ἀκριβὴς ἔλεγχος τῶν τοιούτων καὶ τὸ ἄχρι πρὸς τὸ τέρμα εὐδαιμόνως διαβιῶναι.

Χάρων

κάλλιστα, ὦ Σόλων, ὅτι ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐπιλέλησαι, ἀλλὰ παρὰ τὸ πορθμεῖον αὐτὸ ἀξιοῖς γίγνεσθαι τὴν περὶ τῶν τοιούτων κρίσιν.

Translations (1)

Charon Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 1. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 10 focus

Croesus

Stranger, you have now seen my stores of treasure, my heaps of bullion, and all my riches. Tell me therefore, whom do you account the happiest of mankind?

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.—

Notes on the current edition

Charon, or the Inspectors

1. In Herodotus Tellus gets the first place.

2. Himself and Pluto.

Lucian of Samosata Contemplantes 10

Austin Morris Harmon (Translator)

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CROESUS

My friend from Athens, as you have seen my riches, my treasuries, all the bullion that I have and the rest of my splendor, tell me whom do you consider the most fortunate man in the world?

CHARON

What will Solon say to that?

HERMES

Never fear; nothing ignoble, Charon.

SOLON

Fortunate men are few, Croesus, but I consider that of all the men I know, the most fortunate are Cleobis and Biton, the sons of the priestess at Argos, who died together the other day when they had harnessed themselves and drawn their mother to the temple on the wagon.¹

CROESUS

Very well, let them have the first rank in good fortune. But who would be the second?:

SOLON

Tellus of Athens, who lived happily and died for his country.

CROESUS

But what about me, knave? Don’t you think I am fortunate?

SOLON

I do not know, Croesus, and shall not until you come to the close of your life. Death is a sure test in such matters, that and a fortunate life right up to the end.

CHARON

Thank you kindly, Solon, for not forgetting us,² but demanding the decision of such matters to be made right at the ferry.

Current edition Perseus

Χάρων

τί ἄρα ὁ Σόλων ἐρεῖ;

Ἑρμῆς

θάρρει· οὐδὲν ἀγεννές, ὦ Χάρων.

Κροῖσος

ἔστω· ἐχέτωσαν ἐκεῖνοι τὰ πρῶτα τῆς εὐδαιμονίας. ὁ δεύτερος δὲ τίς ἂν εἴη;

Σόλων

Τέλλος ὁ Ἀθηναῖος, ὃς εὖ τʼ ἐβίω καὶ ἀπέθανεν ὑπὲρ τῆς πατρίδος.

Κροῖσος

ἐγὼ δέ, ὦ κάθαρμα, οὔ σοι δοκῶ εὐδαίμων εἶναι;

Χάρων

κάλλιστα, ὦ Σόλων, ὅτι ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐπιλέλησαι, ἀλλὰ παρὰ τὸ πορθμεῖον αὐτὸ ἀξιοῖς γίγνεσθαι τὴν περὶ τῶν τοιούτων κρίσιν.

Croesus

Stranger, you have now seen my stores of treasure, my heaps of bullion, and all my riches. Tell me therefore, whom do you account the happiest of mankind?

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.—

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

CROESUS My friend from Athens, as you have seen my riches, my treasuries, all the bullion that I have and the rest of my splendor, tell me whom do you consider the most fortunate man in the world?

CHARON What will Solon say to that?

HERMES Never fear; nothing ignoble, Charon.

SOLON Fortunate men are few, Croesus, but I consider that of all the men I know, the most fortunate are Cleobis and Biton, the sons of the priestess at Argos, who died together the other day when they had harnessed themselves and drawn their mother to the temple on the wagon. 1

CROESUS Very well, let them have the first rank in good fortune. But who would be the second?:

SOLON Tellus of Athens, who lived happily and died for his country.

CROESUS But what about me, knave? Don’t you think I am fortunate?

SOLON I do not know, Croesus, and shall not until you come to the close of your life. Death is a sure test in such matters, that and a fortunate life right up to the end.

CHARON Thank you kindly, Solon, for not forgetting us, 2 but demanding the decision of such matters to be made right at the ferry.

Current edition Perseus

Χάρων τί ἄρα ὁ Σόλων ἐρεῖ;

Ἑρμῆς θάρρει· οὐδὲν ἀγεννές, ὦ Χάρων.

Κροῖσος ἔστω· ἐχέτωσαν ἐκεῖνοι τὰ πρῶτα τῆς εὐδαιμονίας. ὁ δεύτερος δὲ τίς ἂν εἴη;

Σόλων Τέλλος ὁ Ἀθηναῖος, ὃς εὖ τʼ ἐβίω καὶ ἀπέθανεν ὑπὲρ τῆς πατρίδος.

Κροῖσος ἐγὼ δέ, ὦ κάθαρμα, οὔ σοι δοκῶ εὐδαίμων εἶναι;

Χάρων κάλλιστα, ὦ Σόλων, ὅτι ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐπιλέλησαι, ἀλλὰ παρὰ τὸ πορθμεῖον αὐτὸ ἀξιοῖς γίγνεσθαι τὴν περὶ τῶν τοιούτων κρίσιν.

Croesus Stranger, you have now seen my stores of treasure, my heaps of bullion, and all my riches. Tell me therefore, whom do you account the happiest of mankind?

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.—

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

CROESUS

My friend from Athens, as you have seen my riches, my treasuries, all the bullion that I have and the rest of my splendor, tell me whom do you consider the most fortunate man in the world?

CHARON

What will Solon say to that?

HERMES

Never fear; nothing ignoble, Charon.

SOLON

Fortunate men are few, Croesus, but I consider that of all the men I know, the most fortunate are Cleobis and Biton, the sons of the priestess at Argos, who died together the other day when they had harnessed themselves and drawn their mother to the temple on the wagon.¹

CROESUS

Very well, let them have the first rank in good fortune. But who would be the second?:

SOLON

Tellus of Athens, who lived happily and died for his country.

CROESUS

But what about me, knave? Don’t you think I am fortunate?

SOLON

I do not know, Croesus, and shall not until you come to the close of your life. Death is a sure test in such matters, that and a fortunate life right up to the end.

CHARON

Thank you kindly, Solon, for not forgetting us,² but demanding the decision of such matters to be made right at the ferry.

Χάρων

τί ἄρα ὁ Σόλων ἐρεῖ;

Ἑρμῆς

θάρρει· οὐδὲν ἀγεννές, ὦ Χάρων.

Κροῖσος

ἔστω· ἐχέτωσαν ἐκεῖνοι τὰ πρῶτα τῆς εὐδαιμονίας. ὁ δεύτερος δὲ τίς ἂν εἴη;

Σόλων

Τέλλος ὁ Ἀθηναῖος, ὃς εὖ τʼ ἐβίω καὶ ἀπέθανεν ὑπὲρ τῆς πατρίδος.

Κροῖσος

ἐγὼ δέ, ὦ κάθαρμα, οὔ σοι δοκῶ εὐδαίμων εἶναι;

Χάρων

κάλλιστα, ὦ Σόλων, ὅτι ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐπιλέλησαι, ἀλλὰ παρὰ τὸ πορθμεῖον αὐτὸ ἀξιοῖς γίγνεσθαι τὴν περὶ τῶν τοιούτων κρίσιν.

Croesus

Stranger, you have now seen my stores of treasure, my heaps of bullion, and all my riches. Tell me therefore, whom do you account the happiest of mankind?

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.—