herodotus

touching my son, make no further mention of him in this matter; for Iwill not send him with you, seeing that he is newly married and isconcerned now with the affairs of his marriage: but I will send withyou chosen men of the Lydians and the whole number of my hunting dogs,and I will give command to those who go, to be as zealous as may be inhelping you to destroy the wild beast out of your land."37. Thus he made reply, and while the Mysians were being contentedwith this answer, there came in also the son of Crœsus, having heardof the request made by the Mysians: and when Crœsus said that he wouldnot send his son with them, the young man spoke as follows: "Myfather, in times past the fairest and most noble part was allotted tous, to go out continually to wars and to the chase and so have goodrepute; but now thou hast debarred me from both of these, althoughthou hast not observed in me any cowardly or faint-hearted spirit. Andnow with what face must I appear when I go to and from the marketplaceof the city? What kind of a man shall I be esteemed by thecitizens, and what kind of a man shall I be esteemed by my newlymarriedwife? With what kind of a husband will she think that she ismated? Therefore either let me go to the hunt, or persuade me byreason that these things are better for me done as now they are." 38.And Crœsus made answer thus: "My son, not because I have observed inthee any spirit of cowardice or any other ungracious thing, do I actthus; but a vision of a dream came and stood by me in my sleep andtold me that thou shouldest be short-lived, and that thou shouldestperish by a spear-point of iron. With thought of this vision thereforeI both urged on this marriage for thee, and I refuse now to send theeupon the matter which is being taken in hand, having a care of theethat I may steal thee from thy fate at least for the period of my ownlife, if by any means possible for me to do so. For thou art, as itchances, my only son: the other I do not reckon as one, seeing that heis deficient in hearing." 39. The young man made answer thus: "It maywell be forgiven in thee, O my father, that thou shouldest have a careof me after having seen such a vision; but that which thou dost notunderstand, and in which the meaning of the dream has escaped thee, itis right that I should expound to thee. Thou sayest the dream declaredthat I should end my life by means of a spear-point of iron: but whathands has a boar, or what spear-point of iron, of which thou artafraid? If the dream had told thee that I should end my life by atusk, or any other thing which resembles that, it would be right forthee doubtless to do as thou art doing; but it said 'by a spearpoint.'Since therefore our fight will not be with men, let me nowgo." 40. Crœsus made answer: "My son, thou dost partly prevail with meby declaring thy judgment about the dream; therefore, having beenprevailed upon by thee, I change my resolution and allow thee to go tothe chase."