|
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.
|
|