the history-第4章

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dream；　instantly　made　his　son　take　a　wife；　and　whereas　in　former　years　the　youth　had　been　wont　to　command　the　Lydian　forces　in　the　field；　he　now　would　not　suffer　him　to　accompany　them。　All　the　spears　and　javelins；　and　weapons　used　in　the　wars；　he　removed　out　of　the　male　apartments；　and　laid　them　in　heaps　in　the　chambers　of　the　women；　fearing　lest　perhaps　one　of　the　weapons　that　hung　against　the　wall　might　fall　and　strike　him。　　　　　Now　it　chanced　that　while　he　was　making　arrangements　for　the　wedding；　there　came　to　Sardis　a　man　under　a　misfortune；　who　had　upon　him　the　stain　of　blood。　He　was　by　race　a　Phrygian；　and　belonged　to　the　family　of　the　king。　Presenting　himself　at　the　palace　of　Croesus；　he　prayed　to　be　admitted　to　purification　according　to　the　customs　of　the　country。　Now　the　Lydian　method　of　purifying　is　very　nearly　the　same　as　the　Greek。　Croesus　granted　the　request；　and　went　through　all　the　customary　rites；　after　which　he　asked　the　suppliant　of　his　birth　and　country；　addressing　him　as　follows：…　〃Who　art　thou；　stranger；　and　from　what　part　of　Phrygia　fleddest　thou　to　take　refuge　at　my　hearth？　And　whom；　moreover；　what　man　or　what　woman；　hast　thou　slain？〃　〃Oh！　king；〃　replied　the　Phrygian；　〃I　am　the　son　of　Gordias；　son　of　Midas。　I　am　named　Adrastus。　The　man　I　unintentionally　slew　was　my　own　brother。　For　this　my　father　drove　me　from　the　land；　and　I　lost　all。　Then　fled　I　here　to　thee。〃　〃Thou　art　the　offspring；〃　Croesus　rejoined；　〃of　a　house　friendly　to　mine；　and　thou　art　come　to　friends。　Thou　shalt　want　for　nothing　so　long　as　thou　abidest　in　my　dominions。　Bear　thy　misfortune　as　easily　as　thou　mayest；　so　will　it　go　best　with　thee。〃　Thenceforth　Adrastus　lived　in　the　palace　of　the　king。　　　　　It　chanced　that　at　this　very　same　time　there　was　in　the　Mysian　Olympus　a　huge　monster　of　a　boar；　which　went　forth　often　from　this　mountain　country；　and　wasted　the　corn…fields　of　the　Mysians。　Many　a　time　had　the　Mysians　collected　to　hunt　the　beast；　but　instead　of　doing　him　any　hurt；　they　came　off　always　with　some　loss　to　themselves。　At　length　they　sent　ambassadors　to　Croesus；　who　delivered　their　message　to　him　in　these　words：　〃Oh！　king；　a　mighty　monster　of　a　boar　has　appeared　in　our　parts；　and　destroys　the　labour　of　our　hands。　We　do　our　best　to　take　him；　but　in　vain。　Now　therefore　we　beseech　thee　to　let　thy　son　accompany　us　back；　with　some　chosen　youths　and　hounds；　that　we　may　rid　our　country　of　the　animal。〃　Such　was　the　tenor　of　their　prayer。　　　　　But　Croesus　bethought　him　of　his　dream；　and　answered；　〃Say　no　more　of　my　son　going　with　you；　that　may　not　be　in　any　wise。　He　is　but　just　joined　in　wedlock；　and　is　busy　enough　with　that。　I　will　grant　you　a　picked　band　of　Lydians；　and　all　my　huntsmen　and　hounds；　and　I　will　charge　those　whom　I　send　to　use　all　zeal　in　aiding　you　to　rid　your　country　of　the　brute。〃　　　　　With　this　reply　the　Mysians　were　content；　but　the　king's　son；　hearing　what　the　prayer　of　the　Mysians　was；　came　suddenly　in；　and　on　the　refusal　of　Croesus　to　let　him　go　with　them；　thus　addressed　his　father：　〃Formerly；　my　father；　it　was　deemed　the　noblest　and　most　suitable　thing　for　me　to　frequent　the　wars　and　hunting…parties；　and　win　myself　glory　in　them；　but　now　thou　keepest　me　away　from　both；　although　thou　hast　never　beheld　in　me　either　cowardice　or　lack　of　spirit。　What　face　meanwhile　must　I　wear　as　I　walk　to　the　forum　or　return　from　it？　What　must　the　citizens；　what　must　my　young　bride　think　of　me？　What　sort　of　man　will　she　suppose　her　husband　to　be？　Either；　therefore；　let　me　go　to　the　chase　of　this　boar；　or　give　me　a　reason　why　it　is　best　for　me　to　do　according　to　thy　wishes。〃　　　　　Then　Croesus　answered；　〃My　son；　it　is　not　because　I　have　seen　in　thee　either　cowardice　or　aught　else　which　has　displeased　me　that　I　keep　thee　back；　but　because　a　vision　which　came　before　me　in　a　dream　as　I　slept；　warned　me　that　thou　wert　doomed　to　die　young；　pierced　by　an　iron　weapon。　It　was　this　which　first　led　me　to　hasten　on　thy　wedding；　and　now　it　hinders　me　from　sending　thee　upon　this　enterprise。　Fain　would　I　keep　watch　over　thee；　if　by　any　means　I　may　cheat　fate　of　thee　during　my　own　lifetime。　For　thou　art　the　one　and　only　son　that　I　possess；　the　other；　whose　hearing　is　destroyed；　I　regard　as　if　he　were　not。〃　　　　　〃Ah！　father；〃　returned　the　youth；　〃I　blame　thee　not　for　keeping　watch　over　me　after　a　dream　so　terrible；　but　if　thou　mistakest；　if　thou　dost　not　apprehend　the　dream　aright；　'tis　no　blame　for　me　to　show　thee　wherein　thou　errest。　Now　the　dream；　thou　saidst　thyself；　foretold　that　I　should　die　stricken　by　an　iron　weapon。　But　what　hands　has　a　boar　to　strike　with？　What　iron　weapon　does　he　wield？　Yet　this　is　what　thou　fearest　for　me。　Had　the　dream　said　that　I　should　die　pierced　by　a　tusk；　then　thou　hadst　done　well　to　keep　me　away；　but　it　said　a　weapon。　Now　here　we　do　not　combat　men；　but　a　wild　animal。　I　pray　thee；　therefore；　let　me　go　with　them。〃　　　　　〃There　thou　hast　me；　my　son；〃　said　Croesus；　〃thy　interpretation　is　better　than　mine。　I　yield　to　it；　and　change　my　mind；　and　consent　to　let　thee　go。〃　　　　　Then　the　king　sent　for　Adrastus；　the　Phrygian；　and　said　to　him；　〃Adrastus；　when　thou　wert　smitten　with　the　rod　of　affliction…　no　reproach；　my　friend…　I　purified　thee；　and　have　taken　thee　to　live　with　me　in　my　palace；　and　have　been　at　every　charge。　Now；　therefore；　it　behoves　thee　to　requite　the　good　offices　which　thou　hast　received　at　my　hands　by　consenting　to　go　with　my　son　on　this　hunting　party；　and　to　watch　over　him；　if　perchance　you　should　be　attacked　upon　the　road　by　some　band　of　daring　robbers。　Even　apart　from　this；　it　were　right　for　thee　to　go　where　thou　mayest　make　thyself　famous　by　noble　deeds。　They　are　the　heritage　of　thy　family；　and　thou　too　art　so　stalwart　and　strong。〃　　　　　Adrastus　answered；　〃Except　for　thy　request；　Oh！　king；　I　would　rather　have　kept　away　from　this　hunt；　for　methinks　it　ill　beseems　a　man　under　a　misfortune　such　as　mine　to　consort　with　his　happier　compeers；　and　besides；　I　have　no　heart　to　it。　On　many　grounds　I　had　stayed　behind；　but；　as　thou　urgest　it；　and　I　am　bound　to　pleasure　thee　（for　truly　it　does　behove　me　to　requite　thy　good　offices）；　I　am　content　to　do　as　thou　wishest。　For　thy　son；　whom　thou　givest　into　my　charge；　be　sure　thou　shalt　receive　him　back　safe　and　sound；　so　far　as　depends　upon　a　guardian's　carefulness。〃　　　　　Thus　assured；　Croesus　let　them　depart；　accompanied　by　a　band　of　picked　youths；　and　well　provided　with　dogs　of　chase。　When　they　reached　Olympus；　they　scattered　in　quest　of　the　animal；　he　was　soon　found；　and　the　hunters；　drawing　round　him　in　a　circle；　hurled　their　weapons　at　him。　Then　the　stranger；　the　man　who　had　been　purified　of　blood；　whose　name　was　Adrastus；　he　also　hurled　his　spear　at　the　boar；　but　missed　his　aim；　and　struck　Atys。　Thus　was　the　son　of　Croesus　slain　by　the　point　of　an　iron　weapon；　and　the　warning　of　the　vision　was　fulfilled。　Then　one　ran　to　Sardis　to　bear　the　tidings　to　the　king；　and　he　came　and　informed　him　of　the　combat　and　of　the　fate　that　had　befallen　his　son。　　　　　If　it　was　a　heavy　blow　to　the　father　to　learn　that　his　child　was　dead；　it　yet　more　strongly　affected　him　to　think　that　the　very　man　whom　he　himself　once　purified　had　done　the　deed。　In　the　violence　of　his　grief　he　called　aloud　on　Jupiter　Catharsius　to　be　a　witness　of　what　he　had　suffered　at　the　stranger's　hands。　Afterwards　he　invoked　the　same　god　as　Jupiter　Ephistius　and　Hetaereus…　using　the　one　term　because　he　had　unwittingly　harboured　in　his　house　the　man　who　had　now　slain　his　son；　and　the　other；　because　the　stranger；　who　had　been　sent　as　his　child's　guardian；　had　turned　out　his　most　cruel　enemy。　　　　　Presently　the　Lydians　arrived；　bearing　the　body　of　the　youth；　and　behind　them　followed　the　homicide。　He　took　his　stand　in　front　of　the　corse；　and；　stretching　forth　his　hands　to　Croesus；　delivered　himself　into　his　power　with　earnest　entreaties　that　he　would　sacrifice　him　upon　the　body　of　his　son…　〃his　former　misfortune　was　burthen　enough；　now　that　he　had　added　to　it　a　second；　and　had　brought　ruin　on　the　man　who　purified　him；　he　could　not　bear　to　live。〃　Then　Croesus；　when　he　heard　these　words；　was　moved　with　pity　towards　Adrastus；　notwithstanding　the　bitterness　of　his　own　calamity；　and　so　he　answered；　〃Enough；　my　friend；　I　have　all　the　revenge　that　I　require；　since　thou　givest　sentence　of　death　against　thyself。　But　in　sooth　it　is　not　thou　who　hast　injured　me；　except　so　far　as　thou　hast　unwittingly　dealt　the　blow。　Some　god　is　the　author　of　my　misfortune；　and　I　was　forewarned　of　it　a　long　time　ago。〃　Croesus　after　this　buried　the　body　of　his　son；　with　such　honours　as　befitted　the　occasion。　Adrastus；　son　of　Gordias；　son　of　Midas；　the　destroyer　of　his　brother　in　time　past；　the　destroyer　now　of　his　purifier；　regarding　himself　as　the　most　unfortunate　wretch　whom　he　had　ever　known；　so　soon　as　all　was　quiet　about　the　place；　slew　himself　upon　the　tomb。　Croesus；　bereft　of　his　son；　gave　himself　up　to　mourning　for　two　full　years。　　　　　At　the　end　of　this　time　the　grief　of　Croesus　was　interrupted　by　intelligence　from　abroad。　He　learnt　that　Cyrus；　the　son　of　Cambyses；　had　destroyed　the　empire　of　Astyages；　the　son　of　Cyaxares；　and　that　the　Persians　were　becoming　daily　more　powerful。　This　led　him　to　consider　with　himself　whether　it　were　possible　to　check　the　growing　power　of　that　people　before　it　came　to　a　head。　With　this　design　he　resolved　to　make　instant　trial　of　the　several　oracles　in　Greece；　and　of　the　one　in　Libya。　So　he　sent　his　messengers　in　different　directions；　some　to　Delphi；　some　to　Abae　in　Phocis；　and　some　to　Dodona；　others　to　the　oracle　of　Amphiaraus；　others　to　that　of　Trophonius；　others；　again；　to　Branchidae　in　Milesia。　These　were　the　Greek　oracles　which　he　consulted。　To　Libya　he　sent　another　embassy；　to　consult　the　oracle　of　Ammon。　These　messengers　were　sent　to　test　the　knowledge　of　the　oracles；　that；　if　they　were　found　really　to　return　true　answers；　he　might　send　a　second　time；　and　inquire　if　he　ought　to　attack　the　Persians。　　　　　The　messengers　who　were　despatched　to　make　trial　of　the　oracles　were　given　the　following　instructions：　they　were　to　keep　count　of　the　days　from　the　time　of　their　leaving　Sardis；　and；　reckoning　from　that　date；　on　the　hundredth　day　they　were　to　consult　the　oracles；　and　to　inquire　of　them　what　Croesus　the　son　of　Alyattes；　king　of　Lydia；　was　doing　at　that　moment。　The　answers　given　them　were　to　be　taken　down　in　writing；　and　brought　back　to　him。　None　of　the　replies　remain　on　record　except　that　of　the　oracle　at　Delphi。　There；　the　moment　that　the　Lydians　entered　the　sanctuary；　and　before　they　put　their　questions；　the　Pythoness　thus　answered　them　in　hexameter　verse：…

　　　　I　can　count　the　sands；　and　I　can　measure　the　ocean；　　　　　I　have　ears　for　the　silent；　and　know　what　the　dumb　man　meaneth；　　　　　Lo！　on　my　sense　there　striketh　the　smell　of　a　shell…covered　　　　　　　tortoise；　　　　　Boiling　now　on　a　fire；　with　the　flesh　of　a　lamb；　in　a　cauldron…　　　　　Brass　is　the　vessel　below；　and　brass　the　cover　above　it。

　　　　These　words　the　Lydians　wrote　down　at　the　mouth　of　the　Pythoness　as　she　prophesied；　and　then　set　off　on　their　return　to　Sardis。　When　all　the　messengers　had　come　back　with　the　answers　which　they　had　received；　Croesus　undid　the　rolls；　and　read　what　was　written　in　each。　Only　one　approved　itself　to　him；　that　of　the　Delphic　oracle。　This　he　had　no　soo