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When Cyrus, on his way to Agbatana, received these tidings, he
returned to Croesus and said, "Where will all this end, Croesus,
thinkest thou? It seemeth that these Lydians will not cease to cause
trouble both to themselves and others. I doubt me if it were not best
to sell them all for slaves. Methinks what I have now done is as if a
man were to 'kill the father and then spare the child.' Thou, who
wert something more than a father to thy people, I have seized and
carried off, and to that people I have entrusted their city. Can I
then feel surprise at their rebellion?" Thus did Cyrus open to
Croesus his thoughts; whereat the latter, full of alarm lest Cyrus
should lay Sardis in ruins, replied as follows: "Oh! my king, thy
words are reasonable; but do not, I beseech thee, give full vent to
thy anger, nor doom to destruction an ancient city, guiltless alike of
the past and of the present trouble. I caused the one, and in my own
person now pay the forfeit. Pactyas has caused the other, he to whom
thou gavest Sardis in charge; let him bear the punishment. Grant,
then, forgiveness to the Lydians, and to make sure of their never
rebelling against thee, or alarming thee more, send and forbid them to
keep any weapons of war, command them to wear tunics under their
cloaks, and to put buskins upon their legs, and make them bring up
their sons to cithern-playing, harping, and shop-keeping. So wilt
thou soon see them become women instead of men, and there will be no
more fear of their revolting from thee."
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