Chapter 6, The Gold Lender of Babylon Summary

Rodan has just been given fifty gold pieces by the king in exchange for his magnificent spears. As Rodan walks away from the palace he wonders to what end he should use his gold. Several days pass and Rodan is still uncertain about what to do with his gold. His sister has approached him and asked for a loan so that her husband can become a merchant. However, Rodan is not certain that this would be the best investment of his money and so decides to seek the advice of Mathon, the gold lender.

Mathon listens carefully to Rodan's problem and then offers up two different stories as means of an answer. The first story is about a farmer who can understand the speech of his animals. The farmer overhears the ass telling...