11–12
HERMES
Well, at any rate Solon yonder does not seem to love it, Charon, as you see, for he is laughing at Croesus and his barbarian boastfulness, and to my mind he wants to ask him a question. Let us listen, then.
10
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?
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.
5
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?
10
SOLON
If you will answer my questions without getting angry, you will find out.
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?
15
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.
