11
Yes, but bronze is plentiful, so that they do not prize it very highly, while this is dug up by the miners at a great depth in small quantities. It comes from the earth, however, like lead and the rest of the metals.
11
Men are terribly stupid, by what you say, since they have such a passion for a yellow, heavy substance.
11
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.
12
Tell me, Croesus, do you really think that Apollo has any need of these ingots?
12
Good Heavens, yes! He has nothing to match them among the votive offerings at Delphi.
12
Then you expect to make the god happy if he adds ingots of gold to the rest of his possessions?
12
Why not?
12
They are very poor in Heaven from what you say, since they have to send and get gold from Lydia if they want it.
12
Why, where else can there be as much gold as there is in our country?
12
Tell me, is iron produced in Lydia?
12
Not to any great extent.
12
Then you are poor in the better metal.
12
In what way is iron better than gold?
12
If you will answer my questions without getting angry, you will find out.
12
Ask them, Solon.
12
Who is the better man, the one who saves a life or the one who is saved by him?
12
The one who saves a life of course.
12
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?
12
Iron, certainly.
12
Yes, and if you should not provide iron, your gold would go off to Persia in captivity.
12
Don’t speak of such a thing, man!
12
I pray it may not turn out that way; but you clearly admit that iron is better than gold.
12
Then would you have me offer ingots of iron to the god and call the gold back again?
