SOLON
Tell me, Croesus, do you really think that Apollo has any need of these ingots?
Tell me, Croesus, do you really think that Apollo has any need of these ingots?
CROEUS
Good Heavens, yes! He has nothing to match them among the votive offerings at Delphi.
Good Heavens, yes! He has nothing to match them among the votive offerings at Delphi.
SOLON
Then you expect to make the god happy if he adds ingots of gold to the rest of his possessions?
Then you expect to make the god happy if he adds ingots of gold to the rest of his possessions?
CROESUS
Why not?
Why not?
SOLON
They are very poor in Heaven from what you say, since they have to send and get gold from Lydia if they want it.
They are very poor in Heaven from what you say, since they have to send and get gold from Lydia if they want it.
CROESUS
Why, where else can there be as much gold as there is in our country?
Why, where else can there be as much gold as there is in our country?
SOLON
Tell me, is iron produced in Lydia?
Tell me, is iron produced in Lydia?
CROESUS
Not to any great extent.
Not to any great extent.
SOLON
Then you are poor in the better metal.
Then you are poor in the better metal.
CROESUS
In what way is iron better than gold?
In what way is iron better than gold?
SOLON
If you will answer my questions without getting angry, you will find out.
If you will answer my questions without getting angry, you will find out.
CROESUS
Ask them, Solon.
Ask them, Solon.
SOLON
Who is the better man, the one who saves a life or the one who is saved by him?
Who is the better man, the one who saves a life or the one who is saved by him?
CROESUS
The one who saves a life of course.
The one who saves a life of course.
SOLON
Then if Cyrus attacks the Lydians, as rumour has it that he will, shall you get swords of gold made for your army, or will iron be necessary in that case?
Then if Cyrus attacks the Lydians, as rumour has it that he will, shall you get swords of gold made for your army, or will iron be necessary in that case?
CROESUS
Iron, certainly.
Iron, certainly.
SOLON
Yes, and if you should not provide iron, your gold would go off to Persia in captivity.
Yes, and if you should not provide iron, your gold would go off to Persia in captivity.
CROESUS
Don’t speak of such a thing, man!
Don’t speak of such a thing, man!
SOLON
I pray it may not turn out that way; but you clearly admit that iron is better than gold.
I pray it may not turn out that way; but you clearly admit that iron is better than gold.
CROESUS
Then would you have me offer ingots of iron to the god and call the gold back again?
Then would you have me offer ingots of iron to the god and call the gold back again?
SOLON
He will have no need of iron either, not he! Whether you offer bronze or gold, your offering will be a boon and a blessing to ethers than he—to the Phocians or the Boeotians or the Delphians themselves, or else to some tyrant or freebooter; but the god takes little interest in your gold-work.
He will have no need of iron either, not he! Whether you offer bronze or gold, your offering will be a boon and a blessing to ethers than he—to the Phocians or the Boeotians or the Delphians themselves, or else to some tyrant or freebooter; but the god takes little interest in your gold-work.
CROESUS
You are always at war with my wealth and begrudge me it.
You are always at war with my wealth and begrudge me it.
Contemplantes. Lucian of Samosata. Austin Morris Harmon (Translator). United States. Perseus 5.0.
Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.