The histories of Herodotus;

37-40 ATYS AND ADRASTUS 1
request, came in ; and when Crcesus refused to send him with
them, the youth thus addressed him : " Father, in time past
I was permitted to signalize myself in the two most noble
and becoming exercises of war and hunting; but now you
keep me excluded from both, without having observed in me
either cowardice or want of spirit. How will men look on
me when I go or return from the forum ? What kind of man
shall I appear to my fellow-citizens ? What to my newly married
wife? What kind of man will she think she has for a
partner? Either suffer me then to go to this hunt, or convince
me that it is better for me to do as you would have me."
" My son," answered Crcesus, " I act thus, not because I have
seen any cowardice, or anything else unbecoming in you
but a vision in a dream appearing to me in my sleep warned
me that you would be short-lived, and would die by the point
of an iron weapon. On account of this vision therefore
I hastened your marriage, and now refuse to send you on this
expedition, taking care to preserve you, if by any means I
can, as long as I live, for you are my only son; the other,
who is deprived of his hearing, I consider as lost." The youth
answered : " You are not to blame, my father, if after such a
dream you take so much care of me; but it is right for me
to explain that which you do not comprehend, and which has
escaped your notice in the dream. You say the dream signified
that I should die by the point of an iron weapon. But
what hand, or what pointed iron weapon has a boar, to occasion
such fears in you? Had it said I should lose my life by
a tusk, or something of like nature, you ought then to have
done as you now do ; whereas it said by the point of a weapon
since then we have not to contend against men, let me go."
" You have surpassed me," replied Crcesus, " in explaining
therefore, being overcome by you,
the import of the dream ;
I change my resolution, and permit you to go to the chase."
Crcesus, having thus spoken, sent for the Phrygian Adrastus,
and, when he came, addressed him as follows : " Adrastus,
I purified you when smitten by a grievous misfortune,
which I do not upbraid you with, and have received you into
my house, and supplied you with everything necessary. Now
therefore (for it is your duty to requite me with kindness,
since I have first conferred a kindness on you) I beg you
would be my son's guardian, when he goes to the chase, and
take care that no skulking villains show themselves in the way
to do him harm. Besides, you ought to go for your own
sake, where you may signalize yourself by your exploits ; for
this was the glory of your ancestors, and you are besides in
5 ;