the history-第5章
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end： for oftentimes God gives men a gleam of happiness； and then plunges them into ruin。〃 Such was the speech which Solon addressed to Croesus； a speech which brought him neither largess nor honour。 The king saw him depart with much indifference； since he thought that a man must be an arrant fool who made no account of present good； but bade men always wait and mark the end。 After Solon had gone away a dreadful vengeance； sent of God； came upon Croesus； to punish him； it is likely； for deeming himself the happiest of men。 First he had a dream in the night； which foreshowed him truly the evils that were about to befall him in the person of his son。 For Croesus had two sons； one blasted by a natural defect； being deaf and dumb； the other； distinguished far above all his co…mates in every pursuit。 The name of the last was Atys。 It was this son concerning whom he dreamt a dream that he would die by the blow of an iron weapon。 When he woke； he considered earnestly with himself； and； greatly alarmed at the 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
