Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database

7486

Lucian, Charon Or The Inspectors, 12
nan SO: Croesus, will those bars be any use to Apollo, do you think? CR: 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? CR: 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? CR: Where else is gold to be had in such abundance as with us? SOLON: Now is any iron found in Lydia? CR: Not much. SOLON: Ah; so you are lacking in the more valuable metal. CR: 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. CR: Well? SOLON: Of protector and protege, which is the better man? CR: 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 iron be required, on the occasion? CR: Oh, iron. SOLON: Iron accordingly you must have, or your gold would be led captive into Persia? CR: Blasphemer! SO: Oh, we will hope for the best. But it is clear, on your own admission, that iron is better than gold. CR: 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. CR: You are always having a stab at my wealth. It is all envy! HER: This blunt sincerity is not to the Lydian's taste. Thing
nan So. Croesus, will those bars be any use to Apollo, do you think?Cr. Any use! Why there is nothing at Delphi to be compared to them.So. And that is all that is wanting to complete his happiness, eh?— some bar gold?Cr. Undoubtedly.So. Then they must be very hard up in Heaven, if they have to send all the way to Lydia for their gold supply?Cr. Where else is gold to be had in such abundance as with us?So. Now is any iron found in Lydia?Cr. Not much.So. Ah; so you are lacking in the more valuable metal.Cr. More valuable? Iron more valuable than gold?So. Bear with me, while I ask you a few questions, and I will convince you it is so.Cr. Well?So. Of protector and protege, which is the better man?Cr. The protector, of course.So. 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 iron be required, on the occasion?Cr. Oh, iron.So. Iron accordingly you must have, or your gold would be led captive into Persia?Cr. Blasphemer!So. Oh, we will hope for the best. But it is clear, on your own admission, that iron is better than gold.Cr. And what would you have me do? Recall the gold, and offer the God bars of iron?So. 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. Yourgoldsmiths have no interest for Apollo.Cr. You are always having a stab at my wealth. It is all envy!

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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