This is a metaphor about me, a metaphor about love.

In this metaphor, I used characters from the book, The Richest Man in Babylon, by George S. Clason. Characters retain their roles but the Metaphor has no correlation with the content of the book in any sense.

However, when you’re done reading, drop your comment. What do you think of the artistry? Can you interpret the elements in the Metaphor? Can you interpret the Metaphor?

Give it a shot.

THE METAPHOR

Let me tell you a story.

In the ancient Babylon there was a man called Arkad, he was a businessman, one of the Richest men in Babylon. Manthon, the Gold lender belonged, too.

Arkad started as a poor man until one fateful morning that he decided to change his story. He said to himself, “Poor me, I wish I could be among the rich men in this country and, as well, respected by the men therein. I will, therefore, go to Manthon, the gold trader and lender, and ask him to loan me some gold.”

Arkad stood up and advanced to Manthon’s shop. There he met him, cleaning his chest, where he stored his gold. He had loaned some gold out the previous day and he was cleaning the gold chest that morning, preparing the day for his debtors to come and redeem their loan with the appropriate interest. Manthon was a very generous man, though he was a businessman.

Arkad said to him, “Oh, Manthon, the Richest dealer and gold lender in Babylon. Have you woken up this day with a sound sleep in your eyes?” Manthon replied to him saying, “My friend, I would be lying if I said the sleep was sound in my eyes, however, I’m grateful I’m awake to continue being a gold lender, and the richest dealer in Babylon. What do I owe your visit so early this day, even as rossy morning the child of dawn is barely setting out on its journey across Gaia?”

“Forgive me”, Arkad said, “I have come to you this day to seek that you may lend me some gold and prevent me from starving to death and become very rich in this city of Babylon. Even as the ancients say, hope exists with life. Please listen this day to me and save me for the sake of your generous mind. Lend me 20 pieces of gold. I promise to return with interest according to the time you shall fairly set.”

Manthon smiled and said to him, “Arkad, you’re a poor man. Should you fail to pay me back in due time, what do you have for a collateral? Moreover, what do you intend to do with the gold you ask me to lend you?”

Arkad said in reply, “I neither have a possession for collateral nor anything to do with it as I speak. I just want to be rich, too. I want to have money—a lot of it. It’s prestigious to do so. I see men—young men—do the same. Moreover, I love the smell of gold and its beauty in your hand, O Manthon. Trust me, I will re-pay you.”

Manthon smiled again, and this time very brightly, “Trust? I do not manage my business to this greatness based on trust alone. Many a man have I trusted but have failed to pay me back.” He continued, “You know nothing about gold, Arkad. Neither do you know its value nor how you will multiply my gold. For in the hand of a man without the knowledge of gold and its value, it lays waste. And how shall I receive my gold back with the interest?”

Arkad shuddered and retorted as soon as the last word fell from Manthon’s mouth into the invisible air, “True, I know nothing. Teach me how!” He cried, “How do I gain your gold? How do I multiply it? How do I find collateral?”
Then Manthon said to him, “Prove to me that you are capable of my gold. Go, work and gain some penny for yourself. If in six months, the pennies you have gained amount into a few Coppers, come back to me. And if they meet my eyes, I will open my chest and lend to you some gold. For by then, you will have learnt to value my gold and multiply it. Even so shall we become partners in business.”

The words of Manthon fell on a good ground in the heart of Arkad and he left after he had thanked him for his time and tip. Arkad went back to Manthon when the time was right. Manthon was pleased and he lent his gold to Arkad from his chest. And of the same gold pieces, Arkad multiplied and emerged among the Richest in Babylon whose reputation will meet no end. They both became great partners in business for they were skilled in the matters of gold.

———–

What do you think of the artistry? Can you interpret the elements in the Metaphor? Can you interpret the Metaphor as a whole?

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