The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [271]
27. ‘And he only who lives virtuously and harmoniously until his end, we call happy;
28. ‘To salute as happy one that is still in the midst of life and hazard, we think as little safe and conclusive as to crown and proclaim as victorious the wrestler that is still in the ring.’
29. After this, he was dismissed, having given Croesus some pain, but no instruction.
30. Aesop, who wrote the fables, being then at Sardis at Croesus’ invitation, and very much esteemed,
31. Was concerned that Solon was so ill received, and gave him this advice:
32. ‘Solon, let your converse with kings be either short or seasonable.’
33. ‘Nay, rather,’ replied Solon, ‘either short or reasonable.’
34. So at this time Croesus despised Solon; but when he was overthrown by Cyrus,
35. Had lost his city, was taken alive, condemned to be burnt, and laid bound on the pyre before all the Persians and Cyrus himself,
36. He cried out as loud as possibly he could three times, ‘O Solon!’
37. And Cyrus, being surprised, and asking who or what this Solon was, whom alone he invoked in this extremity,
38. Croesus told him the whole story, saying, ‘He was one of the wise men of Greece, whom I sent for,
39. ‘Not to be instructed, or to learn anything that I wanted, but that he should see and be a witness of my happiness;
40. ‘The loss of which was, it seems, to be a greater evil than the enjoyment was a good;
41. ‘For when I had them they were goods only in opinion, but now the loss of them has brought upon me intolerable and real evils.
42. ‘And he, conjecturing from what then was, this that now is, bade me look to the end of my life, and not rely and grow proud upon uncertainties.’
43. When this was told, Cyrus, who was a wiser man than Croesus, and saw in the present example Solon’s maxim confirmed,
44. Not only freed Croesus from punishment, but honoured him as long as he lived;
45. And Solon had the glory, by the same saying, to save one king and instruct another.
Chapter 26
1. While Solon was gone the citizens of Athens began to quarrel among themselves again.
2. One named Lycurgus led the Plain; Megacles, the son of Alcmaeon, led the Seaside;
3. And Pisistratus led the Hill, the area of the poorest people, and greatest enemies to the rich;
4. So though the city still used Solon’s new laws, yet all desired a change of government,
5. Hoping that a change would be better for them, and put them above the other factions.
6. Affairs standing thus, Solon returned, and was reverenced by all, and honoured;
7. But his old age would not permit him to be as active as formerly;
8. Yet, by privately conferring with the heads of the factions, he endeavoured to compose the differences, Pisistratus appearing the most tractable;
9. For he was extremely smooth and engaging in his language, a great friend to the poor, and moderate in his resentments;
10. And what nature had not given him, he had the skill to imitate; so that he was trusted more than the others,
11. Being accounted a prudent and orderly man, one that loved equality, and would be an enemy to any that moved against the present settlement.
12. Thus Pisistratus deceived the majority of people; but Solon knew his character, and understood his intentions, better than anyone else;
13. Yet did not hate him for this, but endeavoured to tame his ambition, and often told him and others,
14. That if anyone could cure him of his desire of absolute power, none would make a more virtuous man or excellent citizen.
15. Thespis was at this time beginning to act tragedies, and because this was a new thing it much captivated the multitude.
16. Solon, being by nature fond of hearing and learning something new,
17. And now, in his old age, living idly and enjoying himself with music and wine, went to see Thespis act;
18. And after the play was done, addressed him, and asked him if he was not ashamed to tell so many lies before such a number of people;
19. And Thespis replying that it was no harm to say or do so in play, Solon vehemently