_Ch_. Ah, he means those two who yoked themselves to a waggon, and drew their mother to the temple, and died the moment after. It was but the other day. _Cr_. _Ah. So they are first on the list. And who comes next_? _So_. _Tellus the Athenian, who lived a righteous life, and died for his country_. _Cr_. _And where do I come, reptile_? _So_. _That I am unable to say at present, Croesus; I must see you end your days first. Death is the sure test;—a happy end to a life of happiness_. _Ch_. Bravo, Solon; _you_ have not forgotten us! As you say, Charon's ferry is the proper place for the decision of these questions.—But who are these men whom Croesus is sending out? And what have they got on their shoulders? _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. _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._