Thou appearest to me very rich, and king over many people; but the question thou askest I cannot resolve till I hear thou hast ended thy days happily: for he that hath much wealth is not happier than he that gets his bread from day to day, unless Providence continue those good things, and that he dieth well. Solon, after his discourse, not flattering Croesus, was dismissed, and accounted unwise that he neglected the present good out of regard to the future. Æsop, that wrote the fables, being then at Sardis, sent for thither by Croesus, and much in favour with him, was grieved to see Solon so unthankfully dismissed, and said to him, "Solon, we must either tell kings nothing at all or what may please them:" "No," saith Solon, "either nothing at all, or what is best for them." However it was not long ere Croesus was of another mind; for being taken prisoner by Cyrus, the founder of the Persian monarchy, and by his command fettered and put on a pile of wood to be burned, Croesus sighed deeply,[8] and cried, "O Solon! Solon!" Cyrus bid the interpreter ask on whom he called. He was silent; at last pressing him, answered, "Upon him who I desire above all wealth, would have spoken with all tyrants." This not understood, upon further importunity he told them, "Solon, an Athenian, who long since," says he, "came to me, and seeing my wealth, despised it; besides, what he told me is come to pass; nor did his counsel belong to me alone, but to all mankind, especially those that think themselves happy." Whilst Croesus said thus, the fire began to kindle and the outparts to be seized by the flame: Cyrus, informed of the interpreters what Croesus said, began to be troubled; and knowing himself to be a man, and that to use another, not inferior to himself in wealth, so severely, might one day be retaliated, instantly commanded the fire to be quenched, and Croesus and his friends to be brought off: whom ever after, as long as he lived, Cyrus had in great esteem. Thus Solon gained due praise, that of two kings his advice saved one and instructed the other. And as it was in Solon's time that tragical plays were first invented, so he was most severe against them; foreseeing the inconveniencies that followed upon the people's being affected with the novelty of pleasure. It is reported of him that he went himself to the play, and after it was ended he went to Thespis, the great actor, and asked him if he were not ashamed to tell so many lies in the face of so great an auditory. Thespis answered, as it is now usual, "There is no harm nor shame to act such things in jest." Solon, striking his staff hard upon the ground, replied, "But in a short time we who approve of this kind of jest shall use it in earnest in our common affairs and contracts." In fine, he absolutely forbade him to teach or act plays, conceiving them deceitful and unprofitable; diverting youth and tradesmen from more necessary and virtuous employments. He