Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database

7486

Lucian, Charon Or The Inspectors, 11
nan out? And what have they got on their shoulders? HERM: 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. CH: Oh, so that is gold, that glittering yellow stuff, with just a tinge of red in it. I have often heard of gold, but never saw it before. HERM: Yes, that is the stuff there is so much talking and squabbling about. CH: Well now, I see no advantages about it, unless it is an advantage that it is heavy to carry. HERM: Ah, you do not know what it has to answer for; the wars and plots and robberies, the perjuries and murders; for this men will endure slavery and imprisonment; for this they traffic and sail the seas. CH: For this stuff? Why, it is not much different from copper. I know copper, of course, because I get a penny from each passenger. HERM: Yes, but copper is plentiful, and therefore not much esteemed by men. Gold is found only in small quantities, and the miners have to go to a considerable depth for it. For the rest, it comes out of the earth, just the same as lead and other metals. CH: What fools men must be, to be enamoured of an object of this sallow complexion; and of such a weight! HER: Well, Solon, at any rate, seems to have no great affection for it. See, he is making merry with Croesus and his outlandish magnificence. I think he is going to ask him a question. Listen.
nan Her. 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.Ch. Oh, so that is gold, that glittering yellow stuff, with just a tinge of red in it. I have often heard of gold, but never saw it before.Her. Yes, that is the stuff there is so much talking and squabbling about.Ch. Well now, I see no advantages about it, unless it is an advantage that it is heavy to carry.Her. Ah, you do not know what it has to answer for; the wars and plots and robberies, the perjuries and murders; for this men will endure slavery and imprisonment; for this they traffic and sail the seas.Ch. For this stuff? Why, it is not much different from copper. I know copper, of course, because I get a penny from each passenger.Her. Yes, but copper is plentiful, and therefore not much esteemed by men. Gold is found only in small quantities, and the miners have to go to a considerable depth for it. For the rest, it comes out of the earth, just the same as lead and other metals.Ch. What fools men must be, to be enamoured of an object of this sallow complexion; and of such a weight!Her. Well, Solon, at any rate, seems to have no great affection for it. See, he is making merry with Croesus and his outlandish magnificence. I think he is going to ask him a question. Listen.

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Subjects of this text:

subject	book bibliographic info
herakles, herodotus, parody of	Alexiou and Cairns, Greek Laughter and Tears: Antiquity and After (2017) 68
heterotopias, comic	Alexiou and Cairns, Greek Laughter and Tears: Antiquity and After (2017) 68
homer, parody/pastiche	Alexiou and Cairns, Greek Laughter and Tears: Antiquity and After (2017) 68
laughter, contempt	Alexiou and Cairns, Greek Laughter and Tears: Antiquity and After (2017) 68
parody, of classical literature	Alexiou and Cairns, Greek Laughter and Tears: Antiquity and After (2017) 68
pepaideumenos	Alexiou and Cairns, Greek Laughter and Tears: Antiquity and After (2017) 68
satire'	Alexiou and Cairns, Greek Laughter and Tears: Antiquity and After (2017) 68