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＇12＇ To this Croesus answered； 〃Suffer me then to tell what Lydians I
please that I have won your promise that the city shall not be sacked；
nor their women and children made away with。 ＇13＇ I promise you in
return that my men will bring you willingly everything that is costly
and beautiful in Sardis。 If I can announce such terms； I am certain
there is not one treasure belonging to man or woman that will not be
yours to…morrow。 Further； on this day year； the city will overflow
once more with wealth and beauty。 But if you sack it； you will destroy
the crafts in its ruin； and they； we know； are the well…spring of all
loveliness。 ＇14＇ Howbeit； you need not decide at once； wait and see
what is brought to you。 Send first；〃 he added； 〃to my own treasuries；
and let your guards take some of my own men with them。〃
To all this Cyrus consented； and then he said：
＇15＇ 〃And now； O Croesus； tell me one thing more。 How did matters go
between you and the oracle at Delphi？ It is said that you did much
reverence to Apollo and obeyed him in all things。〃
＇16＇ 〃I could wish it had been so；〃 said Croesus； 〃but； truth to say；
from the beginning I have acted in all things against him。〃 〃How can
that be？〃 said Cyrus。 〃Explain it to me： for your words seem strange
indeed。〃 ＇17＇ 〃Because；〃 he answered； 〃in the first place； instead of
asking the god for all I wanted I must needs put him to the test； to
see if he could speak the truth。 This；〃 he added； 〃no man of honour
could endure； let be the godhead。 Those who are doubted cannot love
their doubters。 ＇18＇ And yet he stood the test； for though the things
I did were strange； and I was many leagues from Delphi； he knew them
all。 And so I resolved to consult him about my children。 ＇19＇ At first
he would not so much as answer me； but I sent him many an offering；
some of gold and some of silver； and I propitiated him； as I deemed；
by countless sacrifices； and at last he answered me when I asked him
what I must do that sons might be born to me。 He said they should be
born。 ＇20＇ And so they were； in that he uttered no lie； but they
brought me no joy。 One of them was dumb his whole life long； and the
noblest perished in the flower of his youth。 And I； crushed by these
sorrows； sent again to the god and asked him how I could live in
happiness for the rest of my days； and he answered：
〃'Know thyself； O Croesus； and happiness shall be thine。'
〃And when I heard the oracle； I was comforted。 ＇21＇ I said to myself；
the god has laid the lightest of tasks upon me； and promised me
happiness in return。 Some of his neighbours a man may know and others
not： but every one can know himself。 ＇22＇ So I thought； and in truth
so long as I was at peace I had no fault to find with my lot after my
son's death； but when the Assyrian persuaded me to march against you I
encountered every danger。 Yet I was saved； I came to no harm。 Once
again； therefore； I have no charge to bring against the god： when I
/knew myself/ incapable of warring against you； he came to my help and
saved mine and me。 ＇23＇ But afterwards； intoxicated by my wealth；
cajoled by those who begged me to be their leader； tempted by the
gifts they showered on me； flattered by all who said that if I would
but lead them they would obey me to a man； and that I would be the
greatest ruler in all the world； and that all their kings had met
together and chosen me for their champion in the war； I undertook the
generalship as though I were born to be the monarch of the world； for
I did not /know myself/。 ＇24＇ I thought myself able to fight against
you； you who are sprung from the seed of the gods； born of a royal
line； trained in valour and virtue from your youth； while II believe
that the first of my ancestors to reign won his freedom and his crown
on the self…same day。 For this dull ignorance of mine I see I am
justly punished。 ＇25＇ But now at last； O Cyrus；〃 he cried； 〃now I
/know myself/。 And tell me； do you think the god will still speak
truth？ Do you think that； knowing myself； I can be happy now？ I ask
you； because you of all men have it in your power to answer best。
Happiness is yours to give。〃
＇26＇ Cyrus answered； 〃Give me time to deliberate； Croesus。 I bear in
mind your former happiness and I pity you。 I give you back at once
your wife and your daughters （for they tell me you have daughters）；
and your friends and your attendants； they are yours once more。 And
yours it is to sit at your own table as you used to live。 But battles
and wars I must put out of your power。〃
＇27＇ 〃Now by the gods above us；〃 cried Croesus； 〃you need take no
further thought about your answer： if you will do for me what you say；
I shall live the life that all men called the happiest of lives； and I
knew that they were right。〃 ＇28＇ 〃And who；〃 said Cyrus； 〃who was it
that lived that life of happiness？〃 〃My own wife；〃 said Croesus； 〃she
shared all my good things with me； my luxuries； my softest joys； but
in the cares on which those joys were based； in war and battle and
strife； she had no part or lot。 Methinks； you will provide for me as I
provided for her whom I loved beyond all others in the world； and I
must needs send to Apollo again； and send thank…offerings。〃
＇29＇ And as Cyrus listened he marvelled at the man's contentedness of
soul； and for the future wherever he went he took Croesus with him；
either because he thought he might be useful or perhaps because he
felt it was safer so。
＇C。3＇ So for that night they rested。 But the next day Cyrus called his
friends and generals together and told some to make an inventory of
their treasures and others to receive all the wealth that Croesus
brought in。 First they were to set aside for the gods all that the
Persian priests thought fit； and then store the rest in coffers；
weight them； and pack them on waggons； distributing the waggons by lot
to take with them on the march； so that they could receive their
proper share at any convenient time。 ＇2＇ So they set about the work。
Then Cyrus called some of his squires and said：
〃Tell me； have any of you seen Abradatas？ I wonder that he who used to
come to me so often is nowhere to be found。〃
＇3＇ Then one of the squires made answer； 〃My lord； he is dead： he fell
in the battle； charging straight into the Egyptian ranks： the rest；
all but his own companions； swerved before their close array。 ＇4＇ And
now；〃 he added； 〃we hear that his wife has found his body and laid it
in her own car； and has brought it here to the banks of the Pactolus。
＇5＇ Her chamberlains and her attendants are digging a grave for the
dead man upon a hill； and she； they say； has put her fairest raiment
on him and her jewels； and she is seated on the ground with his head
upon her knees。〃
＇6＇ Then Cyrus smote his hand upon his thigh and leapt up and sprang
to horse； galloping to the place of sorrow； with a thousand troopers
at his back。 ＇7＇ He bade Gadatas and Gobryas take what jewels they
could find to honour the dear friend and brave warrior who had fallen；
and follow with all speed： and he bade the keepers of the herds； the
cattle； and the horses drive up their flocks wherever they heard he
was； that he might sacrifice on the grave。
＇8＇ But when he saw Pantheia seated on the ground and the dead man
lying there； the tears ran down his cheeks and he cried：
〃O noble and loyal spirit； have you gone from us？〃
Then he took the dead man by the hand； but the hand came away with his
own： it had been hacked by an Egyptian blade。 ＇9＇ And when he saw
that； his sorrow grew； and Pantheia sobbed aloud and took the hand
from Cyrus and kissed it and laid it in its place； as best she could；
and said：
＇10＇ 〃It is all like that； Cyrus。 But why should you see it？〃 And
presently she said； 〃All this； I know； he suffered for my sake； and
for yours too； Cyrus； perhaps as much。 I was a fool： I urged him so to
bear himself as became a faithful friend of yours； and he； I know； he
never thought once of his own safety； but only of what he might do to
show his gratitude。 Now he has fallen； without a stain upon his
valour： and I； who urged him； I live on to sit beside his grave。〃
＇11＇ And Cyrus wept silently for a while； and then he said：
〃Lady； his end was the noblest and the fairest that could be： he died
in the hour of victory。 Take these gifts that I have brought and adorn
him。〃
For now Gobryas and Gadatas appeared with store of jewels and rich
apparel。 〃He shall not lack for honour；〃 Cyrus said； 〃many hands will
raise his monument： it shall be a royal one； and we will offer such
sacrifice as befits a hero。 ＇12＇ And you； lady；〃 he added； 〃you shall
not be left desolate。 I reverence your chastity and your nobleness；
and I will give you a guardian to lead you withersoever you choose； if
you will but tell me to whom you wish to go。〃
＇13＇ And Pantheia answered：
〃Be at rest； Cyrus； I will not hide from you to whom I long to go。〃
＇14＇ Therewith Cyrus took his leave of her and went； pitying from his
heart the woman who had lost so brave a husband； and the dead man in
his grave； taken from so sweet a wife； never to see her more。 Then
Pantheia bade her chamberlains stand aside 〃until；〃 she said； 〃I have
we