446 LUC I AN
awake and find only coals. Yet truly it is gold coin, reddish, heavy, and in appearance perfectly exquisite.
Ο gold, the fairest blessing by mortal men possessed!
Thou strik'st the eye both night and day, just like a flaming fire.
Come, dearest and most lovely being ! Now, indeed, I can believe that even Zeus once upon a time turned into gold. For what maiden would not welcome with open arms so fair a lover, though he dropped down through the roof?^ Ο Midas and Croesus, and ye votive offerings in Delphi,^ how utterly insignificant, after all, were ye in comparison with Timon and Timon's wealth, to whom, in fact, not even the king of the Persians is equal ! Ο mattock and dearest leathern frock, it will be a graceful thing to dedicate you to Pan here. As for myself I '11 purchase at once all the land on the border and build a little tower o'er my treasure, big enough for me to live in by myself ; and I think when I die, I Ί1 have the same as my tomb also. Be this irrevocably decreed and ordained by law for the rest of my life — no in- tercourse or acquaintance with anybody, and contempt for all. Be friend, guest, companion, or Mercy's altar an utter absurdity : and to pity one in tears, or help one in need, shall be held a transgression of law and a breach of manners. My mode of life shall be solitary, just like that of wolves, and Timon my only friend. Let all others be regarded as enemies and plotters. It shall be defilement even to hold intercourse with any of them ; and if I merely catch sight of a man, it shall be a day of ill omen. In a word, let men be to me just the same as statues of marble or of bronze. I shall receive no messenger from them and make no
1 Cf. the story of Danae. See the extract from Simonides, p. 70.
2 I. e. at the Pythian oracle.
