FOUR FAMOUS MEN OF
ATHENS,

In the days of Croesus, the wealthiest of ancient
kings, a citizen of Athens, Alemxon by name, kindly
lent his aid to the messengers sent by the Lydian
monarch to consult the Delphian oracle, before his
war with King Cyrus of Persia, This generous aid
was richly rewarded by Creesus, who sent for Alc-
meon to visit him at Sardis, richly entertained him,
and when ready to depart made him a present of as
much gold as he could carry from the treasury.

This offer the visitor, who seemed to possess his fair
share of the perennial thirst for gold, determined to
make the most of. He went to the treasure-chamber
dressed in his loosest tunic and wearing on his feet
wide-legged buskins, both of which he filled bursting
full with gold. Not yet satisfied, he powdered his
hair thickly with gold-dust, and filled his mouth with
this precious but indigestible food. Thus laden, he
waddled as well as he could from the chamber, pre-
senting so ludicrous a spectacle that the good-
natured monarch burst into a loud laugh on seeing
him.

Creesus not only let him keep all he had taken,
but doubled its value by other presents, so that

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