Herodotus - The Histories.pdf

The Histories–Book One V 35
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