10–11
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.
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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.—
10
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.
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