ZOPYRION.
All strangers would have fled our gold-cursed shore,
Till we had bound our wealthy king, that he
Might leave the green and fertile earth unchanged;—
Then in deep misery he would have shook
His golden chains & starved.
Enter Lacon.
LACON.
Sluggards, how now I
Have you not been to gaze upon the sight?
To see the noble king cast off the gift
Which he erewhile so earnestly did crave[?]
ASPHALION.
I am so tired with the weight of gold
I bore to-day I could not budge a foot
To see the finest sight Jove could display.
But tell us, Lacon, what he did and said.
LACON.
Although he’d fain have run[,] his golden dress
And heavy sandals made the poor king limp
As leaning upon mine and the high priest’s arm,
He hastened to Pactolus. When he saw
The stream—“Thanks to the Gods!” he cried aloud
In joy; then having cast aside his robes
He leaped into the waves, and with his palm
Throwing the waters high—“This is not gold,”
He cried, “I’m free, I have got rid of gold.”
And then he drank, and seizing with delight
A little leaf that floated down the stream,
“Thou art not gold,” he said—
ZOPYRION.
But all this time—
Did you behold?—Did he take off his crown?—
LACON.
No:—It was strange to see him as he plunged
Hold tight his crown with his left hand the while.
ZOPYRION.
(aside) Alas, my fate! I thought they had been seen.
LACON.
He ordered garments to the river side
Of coarsest texture;—those that erst he wore
He would not touch, for they were trimmed with gold.
ZOPYRION.
And yet he did not throw away his crown?