rince, by
whom he was very kindly entertained. He was concerned at the unhandsome
treatment Solon received, and said to him by way of advice: "Solon, we
must either not come near princes at all, or speak things that are
agreeable to them." "Say rather," replied Solon, "that we should either
never come near them at all, or else speak such things as may be for their
good."(1104)

In Plutarch's time some of the learned were of opinion, that this
interview between Solon and Croesus did not agree with the dates of
chronology. But as those dates are very uncertain, that judicious author
did not think this objection ought to prevail against the authority of
several credible writers, by whom this story is attested.

What we have now related of Croesus is a very natural picture of the
behaviour of kings and great men, who for the most part are seduced by
flattery; and shows us at the same time the two sources from whence that
blindness generally proceeds. The one is, a secret inclination which all
men have, but especially the great, of receiving praise without any
precaution, and of judging favourably of all that admire them, and show an
unlimited submission and complaisance to their humours. The other is, the
great resemblance there is between flattery and a sincere affection, or a
reasonable respect; which is sometimes counterfeited so exactly, that the
wisest may be deceived, if they are not very much upon their guard.

Croesus, if we judge of him by the character he bears in history, was a
very good prince, and worthy of esteem in many respects. He had a great
deal of good-nature, affability, and humanity. His palace was a receptacle
for men of wit and learning, which shows that he himself was a person of
learning, and had a taste for the sciences. His weakness was, that he laid
too great stress upon riches and magnificence, thought himself great and
happy in proportion to his possessions, mistook regal pomp and splendour
for true and solid greatness, and fed his vanity with the excessive
submissions of those that stood in a kind of adoration before him.

Those learned men, those wits and other courtiers, that surrounded this
prince, ate at his table, partook of his pleasures, shared his confidence,
and enriched themselves by his bounty and liberality, took care not to
thwart the prince's taste, and never thought of undeceiving him with
respect to his errors or false ideas. On the contrary, they made it their
business to