Source edition
Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a satirical dialogue that explores the universal question of whether wealth or poverty brings true happiness. Micyllus, a poor cobbler, is furious when his golden dream of becoming rich is interrupted by the crowing of his rooster, but he is astonished when the bird begins to speak in a human voice, revealing itself to be a reincarnated soul who was once the philosopher Pythagoras and various rulers. As they debate the value of wealth, the rooster uses his past lives to explain that behind their glamorous exteriors, the rich and powerful live lives filled with anxiety, conspiracy, and misery. To prove his point, the rooster provides Micyllus with a magical feather that grants invisibility, allowing them to spy on the private lives of wealthy citizens. Witnessing the ugly realities and sleepless nights of the rich, Micyllus ultimately recognizes the true value of his own impoverished yet peaceful life as a craftsman.