The king was surprised at this answer, for he had made certain that Solon would name him himself; yet, for all that, the philosopher had named a perfectly obscure individual!
“Why do you say that?” asked Croesus.
“Because,” replied Solon, “the man of whom I speak has worked hard all his life, has been content with little, has reared fine children, has served his city honourably, and has achieved a noble reputation.”
When Croesus heard this he exclaimed:
“And do you reckon my happiness as nothing, and consider that I am not fit to be compared with the man of whom you speak?”
To which Solon replied:
“Often it befalls that a poor man is happier than a rich man. Call no man happy until he is dead.”
The king dismissed Solon, for he was not pleased at his words, and had no belief in him.
“A fig for melancholy!” he thought. “While a man lives he should live for pleasure.”
So he forgot about Solon entirely.
Not long afterwards the king’s son went hunting, but wounded himself by a mischance, and died of the wound. Next, it was told to Croesus that the powerful Emperor Cyrus was coming to make war upon him.
So Croesus went out against Cyrus with a great army, but the enemy proved the stronger, and, having won the battle and shattered Croesus’ forces, penetrated to the capital.