Some thousands of years ago there lived in Asia a king whose name was
Crœsus. The country over which he ruled was not very large, but its
people were prosperous and famed for their wealth. Crœsus himself was
said to be the richest man in the world; and so well known is his name
that, to this day, it is not uncommon to say of a very wealthy person
that he is “as rich as Crœsus.”
King Crœsus had everything that could make him happy--lands and houses
and slaves, fine clothing to wear, and beautiful things to look at. He
could not think of anything that he needed to make him more comfortable
or contented. “I am the happiest man in the world,” he said.
It happened one summer that a great man from across the sea was
travelling in Asia. The name of this man was Solon, and he was the
lawmaker of Athens in Greece. He was noted for his wisdom; and,
centuries after his death, the highest praise that could be given to a
learned man was to say, “He is as wise as Solon.”
Solon had heard of Crœsus, and so one day he visited him in his
beautiful palace. Crœsus was now happier and prouder than ever before,
for the wisest man in the world was his guest. He led Solon through
his palace and showed him the grand rooms, the fine carpets, the soft
couches, the rich furniture, the pictures, the books. Then he invited
him out to see his gardens and his orchards and his stables; and he
showed him thousands of rare and beautiful things that he had collected
from all parts of the world.
In the evening as the wisest of men and the richest of men were dining
together, the king said to his guest, “Tell me now, O Solon, who do you
think is the happiest of all men?” He expected that Solon would say
“Crœsus.”
The wise man was silent for a minute, and then he said, “I have in mind
a poor man who once lived in Athens and whose name was Tellus. He, I
doubt not, is the happiest of all men.”
This was not the answer that Crœsus wished; but he hid his
disappointment and asked, “Why do you think so?”
“Because,” answered his guest, “Tellus was an honest man who labored
hard for many years to bring up his children and to give them a good
education; and when they were grown and able to do for themselves,
he joined the Athenian army and gave his life bravely in the defence
of his country. Can you think of any one who is more deserving of
happiness?”
“Perhaps not,” answered Crœsus, half choking with disappointment. “But
who do you think ranks next to Tellus in happiness?” He was quite sure
now that Solon would say “Crœsus.”
“I have in mind,” said Solon, “two young men whom I knew in Greece.
Their father died when they were mere children, and they were very
poor. But they worked manfully to keep the house together and to
support their mother, who was in feeble health. Year after year they
toiled, nor thought of anything but their mother’s comfort. When at
length she died, they gave all their love to Athens, their native city,
and nobly served her as long as they lived.”
Then Crœsus was angry. “Why is it,” he asked, “that you make me of
no account and think that my wealth and power are nothing? Why is it
that you place these poor working people above the richest king in the
world?”
“O king,” said Solon, “no man can say whether you are happy or not
until you die. For no man knows what misfortunes may overtake you, or
what misery may be yours in place of all this splendor.”
Many years after this there arose in Asia a powerful king whose name
was Cyrus. At the head of a great army he marched from one country to
another, overthrowing many a kingdom and attaching it to his great
empire of Babylon. King Crœsus with all his wealth was not able to
stand against this mighty warrior. He resisted as long as he could.
Then his city was taken, his beautiful palace was burned, his orchards
and gardens were destroyed, his treasures were carried away, and he
himself was made prisoner.
“The stubbornness of this man Crœsus,” said King Cyrus, “has caused us
much trouble and the loss of many good soldiers. Take him and make an
example of him for other petty kings who may dare to stand in our way.”
Thereupon the soldiers seized Crœsus and dragged him to the
market-place, handling him roughly all the time. Then they built up a
great pile of dry sticks and timber taken from the ruins of his once
beautiful palace. When this was finished, they tied the unhappy king in
the midst of it, and one ran for a torch to set it on fire.
“Now we shall have a merry blaze,” said the savage fellows. “What good
can all his wealth do him now?”
As poor Crœsus, bruised and bleeding, lay upon the pyre without a
friend to soothe his misery, he thought of the words which Solon had
spoken to him years before: “No man can say whether you are happy or
not until you die,” and he moaned, “O Solon! O Solon! Solon!”
It so happened that Cyrus was riding by at that very moment and heard
his moans. “What does he say?” he asked of the soldiers.
“He says, ‘Solon, Solon, Solon!’” answered one.
Then the king rode nearer and asked Crœsus, “Why do you call on the
name of Solon?”
Crœsus was silent at first; but after Cyrus had repeated his question
kindly, he told all about Solon’s visit at his palace and what he had
said.
The story affected Cyrus deeply. He thought of the words, “No man
knows what misfortunes may overtake you, or what misery may be yours
in place of all this splendor.” And he wondered if some time he, too,
would lose all his power and be helpless in the hands of his enemies.
“After all,” said he, “ought not men to be merciful and kind to those
who are in distress? I shall do to Crœsus as I would have others do to
me.” And he caused Crœsus to be given his freedom; and ever afterwards
treated him as one of his most honored friends.
--JAMES BALDWIN.
_From “Thirty More Famous Stories,” by permission of the American Book
Company._