|
Harpagus, on hearing this, made obeisance, and went home rejoicing
to find that his disobedience had turned out so fortunately, and that,
instead of being punished, he was invited to a banquet given in honour
of the happy occasion. The moment he reached home he called for his
son, a youth of about thirteen, the only child of his parents, and
bade him go to the palace, and do whatever Astyages should direct.
Then, in the gladness of his heart, he went to his wife and told her
all that had happened. Astyages, meanwhile, took the son of
Harpagus, and slew him, after which he cut him in pieces, and
roasted some portions before the fire, and boiled others; and when all
were duly prepared, he kept them ready for use. The hour for the
banquet came, and Harpagus appeared, and with him the other guests,
and all sat down to the feast. Astyages and the rest of the guests had
joints of meat served up to them; but on the table of Harpagus,
nothing was placed except the flesh of his own son. This was all put
before him, except the hands and feet and head, which were laid by
themselves in a covered basket. When Harpagus seemed to have eaten
his fill, Astyages called out to him to know how he had enjoyed the
repast. On his reply that he had enjoyed it excessively, they whose
business it was brought him the basket, in which were the hands and
feet and head of his son, and bade him open it, and take out what he
pleased. Harpagus accordingly uncovered the basket, and saw within it
the remains of his son. The sight, however, did not scare him, or
rob him of his self-possession. Being asked by Astyages if he knew
what beast's flesh it was that he had been eating, he answered that he
knew very well, and that whatever the king did was agreeable. After
this reply, he took with him such morsels of the flesh as were
uneaten, and went home, intending, as I conceive, to collect the
remains and bury them.
|
|