Lucian, Contemplantes, Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator), 12

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

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!

Contemplantes. Lucian. Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator). Medford, MA, USA. 2023-08-01.

Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Χάρων ἢ Ἐπισκοποῦντες Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 12 focus

Σόλων

εἰπέ μοι, ὦ Κροῖσε, οἴει γάρ τι δεῖσθαι τῶν πλίνθων τούτων τὸν Πύθιον;

Κροῖσος

νὴ Δίʼ· οὐ γάρ ἐστιν αὐτῷ ἐν Δελφοῖς ἀνάθημα οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον.

Σόλων

οὐκοῦν μακάριον οἴει τὸν θεὸν ἀποφανεῖν,¹ εἰ κτήσαιτο σὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις καὶ πλίνθους χρυσᾶς;

Κροῖσος

πῶς γὰρ οὔ;

Σόλων

πολλήν μοι λέγεις, ὦ Κροῖσε, πενίαν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, εἰ ἐκ Λυδίας μεταστέλλεσθαι τὸ χρυσίον δεήσει αὐτούς, ἢν ἐπιθυμήσωσι.

Κροῖσος

ποῦ γὰρ τοσοῦτος ἂν γίνοιτο χρυσὸς ὅσος παρʼ ἡμῖν;

Σόλων

εἰπέ μοι, σίδηρος δὲ φύεται ἐν Λυδίᾳ;

Κροῖσος

οὐ πάνυ τι.

Σόλων

τοῦ βελτίονος ἄρα ἐνδεεῖς ἐστε.

Κροῖσος

πῶς ἀμείνων ὁ σίδηρος χρυσίου;

Σόλων

ἢν ἀποκρίνῃ μηδὲν ἀγανακτῶν, μάθοις ἄν.

Κροῖσος

ἐρώτα, ὦ Σόλων.

Σόλων

πότεροι ἀμείνους, οἱ σώζοντές τινας ἢ οἱ σωζόμενοι πρὸς αὐτῶν;

Κροῖσος

οἱ σώζοντες δηλαδή.

Σόλων

ἆρʼ οὖν, ἢν Κῦρος, ὡς λογοποιοῦσι τινες, ἐπίῃ Λυδοῖς, χρυσᾶς μαχαίρας σὺ ποιήσῃ τῷ στρατῷ, ἢ ὁ σίδηρος ἀναγκαῖος τότε;

Κροῖσος

ὁ σίδηρος δῆλον ὅτι.

Σόλων

καὶ εἴ γε τοῦτον μὴ παρασκευάσαιο, οἴχοιτο ἄν σοι ὁ χρυσὸς ἐς Πέρσας αἰχμάλωτος.

Κροῖσος

εὐφήμει, ἄνθρωπε.

Σόλων

μὴ γένοιτο μὲν οὕτω ταῦτα· φαίνῃ δʼ οὖν ἀμείνω τοῦ χρυσοῦ τὸν σίδηρον ὁμολογῶν.

Κροῖσος

οὐκοῦν καὶ τῷ θεῷ σιδηρᾶς πλίνθους κελεύεις ἀνατιθέναι με, τὸν δὲ χρυσὸν ὀπίσω αὖθις ἀνακαλεῖν;

Σόλων

οὐδὲ σιδήρου ἐκεῖνός γε δεήσεται, ἀλλʼ ἤν τε χαλκὸν ἤν τε χρυσὸν ἀναθῇς, ἄλλοις μέν ποτε κτῆμα καὶ ἕρμαιον ἔσῃ ἀνατεθεικώς, Φωκεῦσιν ἢ Βοιωτοῖς ἢ Δελφοῖς αὐτοῖς ἤ τινι τυράννῳ ἢ λῃστῇ, τῷ δὲ θεῷ ὀλίγον μέλει τῶν σῶν χρυσοποιιῶν.

Κροῖσος

ἀεὶ σύ μου τῷ πλούτῳ προσπολεμεῖς καὶ φθονεῖς.

Translations (1)

Charon, or the Inspectors Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 12 focus

SOLON

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.

SOLON

Then you expect to make the god happy if he adds ingots of gold to the rest of his possessions?

CROESUS

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.

CROESUS

Why, where else can there be as much gold as there is in our country?

SOLON

Tell me, is iron produced in Lydia?

CROESUS

Not to any great extent.

SOLON

Then you are poor in the better metal.

CROESUS

In what way is iron better than gold?

SOLON

If you will answer my questions without getting angry, you will find out.

CROESUS

Ask them, Solon.

SOLON

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.

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?

CROESUS

Iron, certainly.

SOLON

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!

SOLON

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?

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.

CROESUS

You are always at war with my wealth and begrudge me it.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

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!

Current edition Perseus

Σόλων εἰπέ μοι, ὦ Κροῖσε, οἴει γάρ τι δεῖσθαι τῶν πλίνθων τούτων τὸν Πύθιον;

Κροῖσος νὴ Δίʼ· οὐ γάρ ἐστιν αὐτῷ ἐν Δελφοῖς ἀνάθημα οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον.

Σόλων οὐκοῦν μακάριον οἴει τὸν θεὸν ἀποφανεῖν, 1 εἰ κτήσαιτο σὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις καὶ πλίνθους χρυσᾶς;

Κροῖσος πῶς γὰρ οὔ;

Σόλων πολλήν μοι λέγεις, ὦ Κροῖσε, πενίαν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, εἰ ἐκ Λυδίας μεταστέλλεσθαι τὸ χρυσίον δεήσει αὐτούς, ἢν ἐπιθυμήσωσι.

Κροῖσος ποῦ γὰρ τοσοῦτος ἂν γίνοιτο χρυσὸς ὅσος παρʼ ἡμῖν;

Σόλων εἰπέ μοι, σίδηρος δὲ φύεται ἐν Λυδίᾳ;

Κροῖσος οὐ πάνυ τι.

Σόλων τοῦ βελτίονος ἄρα ἐνδεεῖς ἐστε.

Κροῖσος πῶς ἀμείνων ὁ σίδηρος χρυσίου;

Σόλων ἢν ἀποκρίνῃ μηδὲν ἀγανακτῶν, μάθοις ἄν.

Κροῖσος ἐρώτα, ὦ Σόλων.

Σόλων πότεροι ἀμείνους, οἱ σώζοντές τινας ἢ οἱ σωζόμενοι πρὸς αὐτῶν;

Κροῖσος οἱ σώζοντες δηλαδή.

Σόλων ἆρʼ οὖν, ἢν Κῦρος, ὡς λογοποιοῦσι τινες, ἐπίῃ Λυδοῖς, χρυσᾶς μαχαίρας σὺ ποιήσῃ τῷ στρατῷ, ἢ ὁ σίδηρος ἀναγκαῖος τότε;

Κροῖσος ὁ σίδηρος δῆλον ὅτι.

Σόλων καὶ εἴ γε τοῦτον μὴ παρασκευάσαιο, οἴχοιτο ἄν σοι ὁ χρυσὸς ἐς Πέρσας αἰχμάλωτος.

Κροῖσος εὐφήμει, ἄνθρωπε.

Σόλων μὴ γένοιτο μὲν οὕτω ταῦτα· φαίνῃ δʼ οὖν ἀμείνω τοῦ χρυσοῦ τὸν σίδηρον ὁμολογῶν.

Κροῖσος οὐκοῦν καὶ τῷ θεῷ σιδηρᾶς πλίνθους κελεύεις ἀνατιθέναι με, τὸν δὲ χρυσὸν ὀπίσω αὖθις ἀνακαλεῖν;

Κροῖσος ἀεὶ σύ μου τῷ πλούτῳ προσπολεμεῖς καὶ φθονεῖς.

SOLON 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.

SOLON Then you expect to make the god happy if he adds ingots of gold to the rest of his possessions?

CROESUS 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.

CROESUS Why, where else can there be as much gold as there is in our country?

SOLON Tell me, is iron produced in Lydia?

CROESUS Not to any great extent.

SOLON Then you are poor in the better metal.

CROESUS In what way is iron better than gold?

SOLON If you will answer my questions without getting angry, you will find out.

CROESUS Ask them, Solon.

SOLON 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.

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?

CROESUS Iron, certainly.

SOLON 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!

SOLON 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?

CROESUS You are always at war with my wealth and begrudge me it.

Stable identifiers

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!

Σόλων

εἰπέ μοι, ὦ Κροῖσε, οἴει γάρ τι δεῖσθαι τῶν πλίνθων τούτων τὸν Πύθιον;

Κροῖσος

νὴ Δίʼ· οὐ γάρ ἐστιν αὐτῷ ἐν Δελφοῖς ἀνάθημα οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον.

Σόλων

οὐκοῦν μακάριον οἴει τὸν θεὸν ἀποφανεῖν,¹ εἰ κτήσαιτο σὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις καὶ πλίνθους χρυσᾶς;

Κροῖσος

πῶς γὰρ οὔ;

Σόλων

πολλήν μοι λέγεις, ὦ Κροῖσε, πενίαν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, εἰ ἐκ Λυδίας μεταστέλλεσθαι τὸ χρυσίον δεήσει αὐτούς, ἢν ἐπιθυμήσωσι.

Κροῖσος

ποῦ γὰρ τοσοῦτος ἂν γίνοιτο χρυσὸς ὅσος παρʼ ἡμῖν;

Σόλων

εἰπέ μοι, σίδηρος δὲ φύεται ἐν Λυδίᾳ;

Κροῖσος

οὐ πάνυ τι.

Σόλων

τοῦ βελτίονος ἄρα ἐνδεεῖς ἐστε.

Κροῖσος

πῶς ἀμείνων ὁ σίδηρος χρυσίου;

Σόλων

ἢν ἀποκρίνῃ μηδὲν ἀγανακτῶν, μάθοις ἄν.

Κροῖσος

ἐρώτα, ὦ Σόλων.

Σόλων

πότεροι ἀμείνους, οἱ σώζοντές τινας ἢ οἱ σωζόμενοι πρὸς αὐτῶν;

Κροῖσος

οἱ σώζοντες δηλαδή.

Σόλων

ἆρʼ οὖν, ἢν Κῦρος, ὡς λογοποιοῦσι τινες, ἐπίῃ Λυδοῖς, χρυσᾶς μαχαίρας σὺ ποιήσῃ τῷ στρατῷ, ἢ ὁ σίδηρος ἀναγκαῖος τότε;

Κροῖσος

ὁ σίδηρος δῆλον ὅτι.

Σόλων

καὶ εἴ γε τοῦτον μὴ παρασκευάσαιο, οἴχοιτο ἄν σοι ὁ χρυσὸς ἐς Πέρσας αἰχμάλωτος.

Κροῖσος

εὐφήμει, ἄνθρωπε.

Σόλων

μὴ γένοιτο μὲν οὕτω ταῦτα· φαίνῃ δʼ οὖν ἀμείνω τοῦ χρυσοῦ τὸν σίδηρον ὁμολογῶν.

Κροῖσος

οὐκοῦν καὶ τῷ θεῷ σιδηρᾶς πλίνθους κελεύεις ἀνατιθέναι με, τὸν δὲ χρυσὸν ὀπίσω αὖθις ἀνακαλεῖν;

Κροῖσος

ἀεὶ σύ μου τῷ πλούτῳ προσπολεμεῖς καὶ φθονεῖς.

SOLON

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.

SOLON

Then you expect to make the god happy if he adds ingots of gold to the rest of his possessions?

CROESUS

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.

CROESUS

Why, where else can there be as much gold as there is in our country?

SOLON

Tell me, is iron produced in Lydia?

CROESUS

Not to any great extent.

SOLON

Then you are poor in the better metal.

CROESUS

In what way is iron better than gold?

SOLON

If you will answer my questions without getting angry, you will find out.

CROESUS

Ask them, Solon.

SOLON

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.

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?

CROESUS

Iron, certainly.

SOLON

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!

SOLON

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?

CROESUS

You are always at war with my wealth and begrudge me it.