Croesus and Atys · 3997 dagen geleden by Ad van den Ende
Herodotus I,34-45
De Greek text has been taken from the Bibliotheca Augustana.
Much English has been derived from the English Translation of G.C.Macaulay, London 1890
Didasko has given me much help.
XXXIV. [1] μετὰ δὲ Σόλωνα οἰχόμενον
After Solon had gone away
ἔλαβέ ἐκ θεοῦ νέμεσις μεγάλη Κροῖσον,
a great divine vengeance seized Croesus,
ὡς εἰκάσαι, ὅτι ἐνόμισε ἑωυτὸν εἶναι
it is likely because he thought himself to be
ἀνθρώπων ἁπάντων ὀλβιώτατον.
of all men the happiest.
αὐτίκα δέ οἱ εὕδοντι,
Immediately when he slept
ἐπέστη ὄνειρος
a dream surprised him
ὅς οἱ τὴν ἀληθείην ἔφαινε
which foreshowed him the truth
τῶν μελλόντων γενέσθαι κακῶν
of the bad things that were about to happen
κατὰ τὸν παῖδα.
with regard to his son.
[2] ἦσαν δὲ τῷ Κροίσῳ δύο παῖδες,
Croesus had two sons,
τῶν οὕτερος μὲν διέφθαρτο,
one with a great handicap,
ἦν γὰρ δὴ κωφός,
for he was deaf and dumb;
ὁ δὲ ἕτερος τῶν ἡλίκων
the other (was) of his comrades
μακρῷ τὰ πάντα πρῶτος·
by far in all things de first one;
οὔνομα δέ οἱ ἦν Ἄτυς.
the name of him was Atys.
τοῦτον δὴ ὦν τὸν Ἄτυν σημαίνει
with regard to this Atys announces
τῷ Κροίσῳ ὁ ὄνειρος,
the dream to Croesus
ὡς ἀπολέει μιν
that he would lose him,
αἰχμῇ σιδηρέῃ βληθέντα.
hit by an iron lance.
[3] ὃ δ᾽ ἐπείτε ἐξηγέρθη
And he, when he had awaked,
καὶ ἑωυτῷ λόγον ἔδωκε,
and himself had given reckoning,
καταρρωδήσας τὸν ὄνειρον
struck with fear on account of the dream
ἄγεται μὲν τῷ παιδὶ γυναῖκα,
took for his son a wife;
ἐωθότα δὲ
and whereas he (=his son) had been accustomed
στρατηγέειν μιν τῶν Λυδῶν
to command the Lydians,
οὐδαμῇ ἔτι
he now no longer anywhere
ἐπὶ τοιοῦτο πρῆγμα ἐξέπεμπε·
sent him forth on such business;
ἀκόντια δὲ καὶ δοράτια
and the spears and lances
καὶ τά τοιαῦτα πάντα
and all such things
τοῖσι χρέωνται ἐς πόλεμον ἄνθρωποι,
which men use for war
ἐκ τῶν ἀνδρεώνων ἐκκομίσας
having taken out of the men’s rooms
ἐς τοὺς θαλάμους συνένησε,
he piled them up in the store-rooms,
μή τί οἱ κρεμάμενον
for fear lest something hanging up
τῷ παιδὶ ἐμπέσῃ.
might fall down upon his son.
XXXV. [1] ἔχοντος δέ οἱ ἐν χερσὶ τοῦ παιδὸς τὸν γάμον,
Then while he was engaged about the marriage of his son,
ἀπικνέεται ἐς τὰς Σάρδις ἀνὴρ
there came to Sardis a man
συμφορῇ ἐχόμενος
by a misfortune stricken
καὶ οὐ καθαρὸς χεῖρας,
and not clean as to (his) hands,
ἐὼν Φρὺξ μὲν γενεῇ,
being a Phrygian by birth
γένεος δὲ τοῦ βασιληίου.
and of the royal descent.
παρελθὼν δὲ οὗτος ἐς τὰ Κροίσου οἰκία
This man, having come to the house of Crœsus,
κατὰ νόμους τοὺς ἐπιχωρίους
according to the native customs
καθαρσίου ἐδέετο κυρῆσαι,
asked to obtain cleansing;
Κροῖσος δέ μιν ἐκάθηρε.
and Crœsus cleansed him.
[2] ἔστι δὲ παραπλησίη ἡ κάθαρσις
Now the cleansing is almost the same
τοῖσι Λυδοῖσι καὶ τοῖσι Ἕλλησι.
for the Lydians and the Hellenes.
ἐπείτε δὲ τὰ νομιζόμενα ἐποίησε ὁ Κροῖσος,
After Crœsus had done that which was customary
ἐπυνθάνετο ὁκόθεν τε καὶ τίς εἴη,
he inquired whence and who he was,
λέγων τάδε·
saying this:
[3] «ὤνθρωπε, τίς τε ἐὼν
“Man, who being
καὶ κόθεν τῆς Φρυγίης ἥκων
and from where in Phrygia coming
ἐπίστιός μοι ἐγένεο;
you have become suppliant for me?
τίνα τε ἀνδρῶν ἢ γυναικῶν ἐφόνευσας;»
And whom of men or women did you kill?”
ὁ δὲ ἀμείβετο «ὦ βασιλεῦ,
And he replied: “O king,
Γορδίεω μὲν τοῦ Μίδεω εἰμὶ παῖς,
of Gordias, the son of Midas, I am the son,
ὀνομάζομαι δὲ Ἄδρηστος,
and I am called Adrastos;
φονεύσας δὲ ἀδελφεὸν ἐμεωυτοῦ ἀέκων
and having killed my own brother against my will,
πάρειμι ἐξεληλαμένος τε ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς
I am here, chased by my father
καὶ ἐστερημένος πάντων.»
and deprived of all.”
[4] Κροῖσος δέ μιν ἀμείβετο τοῖσιδε·
And Crœsus answered him in these (words):
«ἀνδρῶν τε φίλων τυγχάνεις ἔκγονος ἐὼν
“Of friendly men you happen to be a descendent,
καὶ ἐλήλυθας ἐς φίλους,
and you have come to friends,
ἔνθα ἀμηχανήσεις χρήματος οὐδενὸς
where you will have want of nothing,
μένων ἐν ἡμετέρου,
remaining in our (home);
συμφορήν τε ταύτην ὡς κουφότατα φέρων
and this misfortune as lightly as possible bearing
κερδανέεις πλεῖστον.»
you will have most profit.”
XXXVI. [1] ὃ μὲν δὴ δίαιταν εἶχε ἐν Κροίσου.
And he had his residence in (the palace) of Crœsus,
ἐν δὲ τῷ αὐτῷ χρόνῳ τούτῳ
In te same time
ἐν τῷ Μυσίῳ Ὀλύμπῳ ὑὸς χρῆμα γίνεται μέγα·
there was in the Mysian Olympos a big whopper of a boar.
ὁρμώμενος δὲ οὗτος ἐκ τοῦ ὄρεος τούτου τὰ τῶν Μυσῶν
This, coming down from that mountain of the Mysians,
ἔργα διαφθείρεσκε.
ravaged the fields ,
πολλάκις δὲ οἱ Μυσοὶ ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἐξελθόντες
and although often the Mysians went out against it ,
ποιέεσκον μὲν κακὸν οὐδέν,
yet they did it no hurt,
ἔπασχον δὲ πρὸς αὐτοῦ.
but received hurt from it;
[2] τέλος δὲ
so at length
ἀπικόμενοι παρὰ τὸν Κροῖσον τῶν Μυσῶν ἄγγελοι
messengers, having come to Crœsus from the Mysians
ἔλεγον τάδε. «ὦ βασιλεῦ,
said this: “O king,
ὑὸς χρῆμα μέγιστον
a very big whopper of a boar
ἀνεφάνη ἡμῖν ἐν τῇ χώρῃ,
has appeared to us in our land,
ὃς τὰ ἔργα διαφθείρει.
which destroys the fields;
τοῦτον προθυμεόμενοι ἑλεῖν οὐ δυνάμεθα.
desiring eagerly to seize it, we are not able;
νῦν ὦν προσδεόμεθά σευ τὸν παῖδα
now therefore we ask of you your son
καὶ λογάδας νεηνίας καὶ κύνας συμπέμψαι ἡμῖν,
to send with us, and well-chosen young men and dogs,
ὡς ἄν μιν ἐξέλωμεν ἐκ τῆς χώρης.»
that we may exterminate it out of the land.”
[3] οἳ μὲν δὴ τούτων ἐδέοντο,
They asked these things,
Κροῖσος δὲ μνημονεύων τοῦ ὀνείρου
and Crœsus, remembering the dream,
τὰ ἔπεα ἔλεγέ σφι τάδε.
said to them these words:
«παιδὸς μὲν πέρι τοῦ ἐμοῦ μὴ μνησθῆτε ἔτι·
“As to my son, make no further mention of him ;
οὐ γὰρ ἂν ὑμῖν συμπέμψαιμι·
for I will not send him with you,
νεόγαμός τε γὰρ ἐστὶ
because he is newly married
καὶ ταῦτά οἱ νῦν μέλει.
and is concerned now with that.
Λυδῶν μέντοι λογάδας
But chosen men of the Lydians
καὶ τὸ κυνηγέσιον πᾶν συμπέμψω,
and the whole pack hunting dogs I shall send with you,
καὶ διακελεύσομαι
and I will give command
τοῖσι ἰοῦσι εἶναι
to those who go to be
ὡς προθυμοτάτοισι
as zealous as possible
συνεξελεῖν ὑμῖν τὸ θηρίον
to exterminate the wild beast
ἐκ τῆς χώρης.» ταῦτα ἀμείψατο·
out of your land.” This he answered.
XXXVII.
[1] ἀποχρεωμένων δὲ τούτοισι τῶν Μυσῶν,
While the Mysians were contented with this,
ἐπεσέρχεται ὁ τοῦ Κροίσου παῖς
there came in also the son of Crœsus,
ἀκηκοὼς τῶν ἐδέοντο οἱ Μυσοί.
having heard of what asked the Mysians.
οὐ φαμένου δὲ τοῦ Κροίσου
And when Crœsus said not
τόν γε παῖδά σφι συμπέμψειν,
to send his son with them,
λέγει πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ νεηνίης τάδε.
said the young man this to him:
[2] «ὦ πάτερ, τὰ κάλλιστα πρότερον κοτὲ
“Father, in times past the fairest
καὶ γενναιότατα ἡμῖν ἦν
and most noble things for us were
ἔς τε πολέμους
to wars
καὶ ἐς ἄγρας φοιτέοντας
and to the chase going out continually
εὐδοκιμέειν·
have good repute;
νῦν δὲ ἀμφοτέρων με τούτων ἀποκληίσας ἔχεις,
but now from both of these you have excluded me ,
οὔτε τινὰ δειλίην μοι παριδὼν
although not observing in me any cowardice
οὔτε ἀθυμίην
or faint-hearted spirit.
νῦν τε τέοισί με χρὴ ὄμμασι ἔς τε ἀγορὴν
And now with what face must I to the market-place
καὶ ἐξ ἀγορῆς φοιτέοντα φαίνεσθαι;
or from the market-place going appear?
[3] κοῖος μέν τις τοῖσι πολιήτῃσι δόξω εἶναι,
What kind of a man shall I seem to be for the citizens,
κοῖος δέ τις τῇ νεογάμῳ γυναικί;
and what kind of a man for my newly-married wife?
κοίῳ δὲ ἐκείνη δόξει ἀνδρὶ συνοικέειν;
And with what kind of a man will she think to live together?
ἐμὲ ὦν σὺ ἢ μέτες ἰέναι ἐπὶ τὴν θήρην,
Therefore either let me go to the hunt,
ἢ λόγῳ ἀνάπεισον
or persuade me by reason
ὅκως μοι ἀμείνω ἐστὶ
that it is better for me
ταῦτα οὕτω ποιεόμενα.»
that these things in this way are done .”
XXXVIII. [1] ἀμείβεται Κροῖσος τοῖσιδε.
Crœsus answers with these words:
«ὦ παῖ, οὔτε δειλίην
“O son, neither cowardice
οὔτε ἄλλο οὐδὲν ἄχαρι παριδών,
nor any other ungracious thing having observed
τοι ποιέω ταῦτα,
do I these things for you;
ἀλλά μοι ὄψις ὀνείρου
but a vision of a dream,
ἐν τῷ ὕπνῳ ἐπιστᾶσα
in the sleep having come to me ,
ἔφη σε ὀλιγοχρόνιον ἔσεσθαι·
told me that you would be short-lived,
ὑπὸ γὰρ αἰχμῆς σιδηρέης ἀπολέεσθαι.
and that by a spear-point of iron you would perish.
[2] πρὸς ὧν τὴν ὄψιν ταύτην
With thought of this vision therefore
τόν τε γάμον τοι τοῦτον ἔσπευσα
I both urged on this marriage for you,
καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ παραλαμβανόμενα
and upon the matter which is being taken in hand,
οὐκ ἀποπέμπω,
I do not send (you),
φυλακὴν ἔχων,
keeping watch
εἴ κως δυναίμην
if by any means possible I could
ἐπὶ τῆς ἐμῆς σε ζόης
for the period of my own life
διακλέψαι.
steal you (from thy fate);
εἷς γὰρ μοι μοῦνος τυγχάνεις ἐὼν παῖς·
For my only son you happen to be,
τὸν γὰρ δὴ ἕτερον διεφθαρμένον τὴν ἀκοὴν
for the other, being deficient in hearing,
οὐκ εἶναί μοι λογίζομαι.»
I do not reckon to be one for me.”
XXXIX. [1] ἀμείβεται ὁ νεηνίης τοῖσιδε.
The young man answered with this:
«συγγνώμη μὲν ὦ πάτερ τοι,
“It may well be forgiven in you, father,
ἰδόντι γε ὄψιν τοιαύτην,
after having seen such a vision,
περὶ ἐμὲ φυλακὴν ἔχειν·
that you should have caution with me;
τὸ δὲ οὐ μανθάνεις
but what you do not understand,
ἀλλὰ λέληθέ σε τὸ ὄνειρον,
and in which (the meaning of) the dream has escaped you,
ἐμέ τοί δίκαιον ἐστί φράζειν.
it is right that I shall explain to you.
[2] φής τοι τὸ ὄνειρον
You sais the dream
ὑπὸ αἰχμῆς σιδηρέης φάναι
declared that by means of a spear-point of iron
ἐμὲ τελευτήσειν.
I should end my life;
ὑὸς δὲ κοῖαι μὲν εἰσὶ χεῖρες,
but what hands has a boar,
κοίη δὲ αἰχμὴ σιδηρέη τὴν σὺ φοβέαι;
and what spear-point of iron, of which you are afraid?
εἰ μὲν γὰρ ὑπὸ ὀδόντος τοι εἶπε
For if the dream had told you that by a tooth
τελευτήσειν με,
I should end my life,
ἢ ἄλλου τευ ὅ τι τούτῳ ἔοικε,
or any other thing which resembles that,
χρῆν δή σε
it would be necassary for you
ποιέειν τὰ ποιέεις·
to do what you are doing;
νῦν δὲ ὑπὸ αἰχμῆς.
but now ‘by a spear-point’.
ἐπείτε ὦν οὐ πρὸς ἄνδρας
Since therefore not with men
ἡμῖν γίνεται ἡ μάχη, μέτες με.»
our fight will be, let me go!”
XL. [1] ἀμείβεται Κροῖσος
Crœsus anwered:
«ὦ παῖ, ἔστι τῇ με νικᾷς
“Boy, in this respect you gain the victory over me
γνώμην ἀποφαίνων περὶ τοῦ ἐνυπνίου.
by declaring your judgment about the dream;
ὡς ὦν νενικημένος ὑπὸ σέο μεταγινώσκω,
therefore, having been conquered by you,
μεταγινώσκω,
I change my mind,
μετίημί τε σὲ ἰέναι ἐπὶ τὴν ἄγρην.»
and allow you to go to the chase.”
XLI. [1] εἴπας δὲ ταῦτα
Having said this
ὁ Κροῖσος μεταπέμπεται τὸν Φρύγα Ἄδρηστον,
Crœsus summoned Adrastos the Phrygian;
ἀπικομένῳ δέ οἱ λέγει τάδε.
and when he had come, he said him this:
«Ἄδρηστε, ἐγώ σε
“Adrastos, I have you,
συμφορῇ πεπληγμένον ἀχάρι,
when you was struck with a grievous misfortune
τήν τοι οὐκ ὀνειδίζω,
(with which I do not reproach you),
ἐκάθηρα καὶ οἰκίοισι ὑποδεξάμενος ἔχω,
cleansed, and into my house I have received you,
παρέχων πᾶσαν δαπάνην.
supplying all your expenses.
[2] νῦν ὤν (ὀφείλεις γὰρ,
Now therefore, (for you are bound,
ἐμοῦ προποιήσαντος χρηστὰ ἐς σὲ,
since I have first done good things to you,
χρηστοῖσί με ἀμείβεσθαι)
with good things to answer me.),
φύλακα παιδός σε τοῦ ἐμοῦ χρηίζω γενέσθαι
the protector of my son I want you to be,
ἐς ἄγρην ὁρμωμένου,
who makes his way to the chase,
μή τινες κατ᾽ ὁδὸν κλῶπες κακοῦργοι
that not on the way any criminal robbers,
ἐπὶ δηλήσι φανέωσι ὑμῖν.
to do you harm, will appear you.
[3]
πρὸς δὲ τούτῳ καὶ σέ τοι χρεόν ἐστι ἰέναι
And besides this you too ought to go
ἔνθα ἀπολαμπρυνέαι τοῖσι ὲργοις.
where you may become famous by your deeds,
χρεόν πατρώιόν τε γάρ τοι ἐστὶ
for it is proper to your descent,
καὶ προσέτι ῥώμη ὑπάρχει.»
and moreover strength is present.”
XLII. [1] ἀμείβεται ὁ Ἄδρηστος
Adrastos answered:
«ὦ βασιλεῦ, ἄλλως μὲν
“O king, in different circonstances
ἔγωγε ἂν οὐκ ἤια ἐς ἄεθλον τοιόνδε·
I should not go to such an undertaking;
οὔτε γὰρ συμφορῇ τοιῇδε κεχρημένον οἰκός ἐστι
for nor it is natural, having suffered such a misfortune,
ἐς ὁμήλικας εὖ πρήσσοντας ἰέναι,
to go to comrades who are in good state,
οὔτε τὸ βούλεσθαι πάρα,
neither the wish is present;
πολλαχῇ τε ἂν ἶσχον ἐμεωυτόν.
and for many reasons I should retrain myself.
[2] νῦν δέ, ἐπείτε σὺ σπεύδεις
But now, since you insist on it,,
καὶ δεῖ τοί χαρίζεσθαι
and I ought to gratify you,
(ὀφείλω γάρ σε ἀμείβεσθαι χρηστοῖσι),
(for I am bound to aswer you with good things),
ποιέειν εἰμὶ ἕτοιμος ταῦτα,
I am ready to do this:
παῖδα τε σόν,
you may expect that your son,
τὸν διακελεύεαι φυλάσσειν,
whom you command me to protect,
ἀπήμονα τοῦ φυλάσσοντος εἵνεκεν
unhurt, as far as depends on the guard,
προσδόκα τοι ἀπονοστήσειν.»
will return home to you.”
XLIII. [1] τοιούτοισι ἐπείτε οὗτος ἀμείψατο Κροῖσον,
When he had answered Crœsus in these words
ἤισαν μετὰ ταῦτα
they afterwards went
ἐξηρτυμένοι λογάσι τε νεηνίῃσι καὶ κυσί.
provided with chosen young men and with dogs.
ἀπικόμενοι δὲ ἐς τὸν Ὄλυμπον τὸ ὄρος
Having come to Mount Olympos
ἐζήτεον τὸ θηρίον,
they sought for the wild animal,
εὑρόντες δὲ
and having found it
καὶ περιστάντες αὐτὸ κύκλῳ
and taken their stand round in a circle
ἐσηκόντιζον.
they threw against it their spears.
[2] ἔνθα δὴ ὁ ξεῖνος,
Then the guest,
οὗτος δὴ ὁ καθαρθεὶς τὸν φόνον,
he who had been cleansed of murder,
καλεόμενος δὲ Ἄδρηστος,
whose name was Adrastos,
ἀκοντίζων τὸν ὗν
hurling a spear at the wild boar
τοῦ μὲν ἁμαρτάνει,
missed it,
τυγχάνει δὲ τοῦ Κροίσου παιδός.
and hit the son of Crœsus.
[3] ὃ μὲν δὴ βληθεὶς τῇ αἰχμῇ
So he being hit by the spear-point
ἐξέπλησε τοῦ ὀνείρου τὴν φήμην,
fulfilled the saying of the dream.
ἔθεε δέ τις
And one ran
ἀπικόμενος δὲ ἐς τὰς Σάρδις
and, having come to Sardis,
ἀγγελέων τῷ Κροίσῳ τὸ γεγονός,
to report to Crœsus that which had happened,
τὴν τε μάχην
the combat
καὶ τὸν τοῦ παιδὸς μόρον ἐσήμηνέ οἱ.
and the fate of his son he announced him.
XLIV. [1] ὁ δὲ Κροῖσος
And Crœsus,
τῳ θανάτῳ τοῦ παιδὸς συντεταραγμένος
by the death of his son very greatly disturbed,
μᾶλλον τι ἐδεινολογέετο
was much the more moved to complaining (by this),
ὅτι μιν ἀπέκτεινε
namely that he had killed him
τὸν αὐτὸς φόνου ἐκάθηρε·
whom he had himself cleansed of murder.
[2] περιημεκτέων δὲ τῇ συμφορῇ δεινῶς
And being grievously troubled by the misfortune
ἐκάλεε μὲν Δία καθάρσιον
he called upon Zeus the Cleanser,
μαρτυρόμενος τὰ ὑπὸ τοῦ ξείνου πεπονθὼς εἴη
protesting that which he from his guest had suffered ,
ἐκάλεε δὲ ἐπίστιόν
and he called upon the Protector of the Household
τε καὶ ἑταιρήιον,
and of the Friendship,
τὸν αὐτὸν τοῦτον ὀνομάζων θεόν,
naming still the same god,
τὸν μὲν ἐπίστιον καλέων,
and calling upon him as the Protector of Suppliants,
διότι δὴ οἰκίοισι ὑποδεξάμενος τὸν ξεῖνον
because, having received into his house the guest,
φονέα τοῦ παιδὸς ἐλάνθανε βόσκων,
he had the murderer of his son ignorantly nourished,
τὸν δὲ ἑταιρήιον,
and as the Guardian of Friendship
ὡς φύλακα συμπέμψας αὐτὸν
because having sent him as a protector
εὑρήκοι πολεμιώτατον.
he had found him the greatest enemy..
XLV. [1] παρῆσαν δὲ μετὰ τοῦτο οἱ Λυδοὶ
After this came the Lydians,
φέροντες τὸν νεκρόν,
bearing the corpse,
ὄπισθε δὲ εἵπετό οἱ ὁ φονεύς.
and behind it followed the murderer,
στὰς δὲ οὗτος πρὸ τοῦ νεκροῦ
and he, taking his stand before the corpse,
παρεδίδου ἑωυτὸν Κροίσῳ
delivered himself up to Crœsus,
προτείνων τὰς χεῖρας,
stretching out his hands
ἐπικατασφάξαι μιν κελεύων τῷ νεκρῷ,
and bidding the king to kill him by the corpse,
λέγων τήν τε προτέρην ἑωυτοῦ συμφορήν,
speaking of his earlier misfortune,
καὶ ὡς ἐπ᾽ ἐκείνῃ
and (saying) that in addition to this
τὸν καθήραντα ἀπολωλεκὼς εἴη,
he had destroyed the man who had cleansed (him),
οὐδέ οἱ εἴη βιώσιμον.
and that life for him was no more worth living.
XLIII. [1] τοιούτοισι ἐπείτε οὗτος ἀμείψατο Κροῖσον,
When he had answered Crœsus in these words
ἤισαν μετὰ ταῦτα
they afterwards went
ἐξηρτυμένοι λογάσι τε νεηνίῃσι καὶ κυσί.
provided with chosen young men and with dogs.
ἀπικόμενοι δὲ ἐς τὸν Ὄλυμπον τὸ ὄρος
Having come to Mount Olympos
ἐζήτεον τὸ θηρίον,
they sought for the wild animal,
εὑρόντες δὲ
and having found it
καὶ περιστάντες αὐτὸ κύκλῳ
and taken their stand round in a circle
ἐσηκόντιζον.
they threw against it their spears.
[2] ἔνθα δὴ ὁ ξεῖνος,
Then the guest,
οὗτος δὴ ὁ καθαρθεὶς τὸν φόνον,
he who had been cleansed of murder,
καλεόμενος δὲ Ἄδρηστος,
whose name was Adrastos,
ἀκοντίζων τὸν ὗν
hurling a spear at the wild boar
τοῦ μὲν ἁμαρτάνει,
missed it,
τυγχάνει δὲ τοῦ Κροίσου παιδός.
and hit the son of Crœsus.
[3] ὃ μὲν δὴ βληθεὶς τῇ αἰχμῇ
So he being hit by the spear-point
ἐξέπλησε τοῦ ὀνείρου τὴν φήμην,
fulfilled the saying of the dream.
ἔθεε δέ τις
And one ran
ἀπικόμενος δὲ ἐς τὰς Σάρδις
and, having come to Sardis,
ἀγγελέων τῷ Κροίσῳ τὸ γεγονός,
to report to Crœsus that which had happened,
τὴν τε μάχην
the combat
καὶ τὸν τοῦ παιδὸς μόρον ἐσήμηνέ οἱ.
and the fate of his son he announced him.
XLIV. [1] ὁ δὲ Κροῖσος
And Crœsus,
τῳ θανάτῳ τοῦ παιδὸς συντεταραγμένος
by the death of his son very greatly disturbed,
μᾶλλον τι ἐδεινολογέετο
was much the more moved to complaining (by this),
ὅτι μιν ἀπέκτεινε
namely that he had killed him
τὸν αὐτὸς φόνου ἐκάθηρε·
whom he had himself cleansed of murder.
[2] περιημεκτέων δὲ τῇ συμφορῇ δεινῶς
And being grievously troubled by the misfortune
ἐκάλεε μὲν Δία καθάρσιον
he called upon Zeus the Cleanser,
μαρτυρόμενος τὰ ὑπὸ τοῦ ξείνου πεπονθὼς εἴη
protesting that which he from his guest had suffered ,
ἐκάλεε δὲ ἐπίστιόν
and he called upon the Protector of the Household
τε καὶ ἑταιρήιον,
and of the Friendship,
τὸν αὐτὸν τοῦτον ὀνομάζων θεόν,
naming still the same god,
τὸν μὲν ἐπίστιον καλέων,
and calling upon him as the Protector of Suppliants,
διότι δὴ οἰκίοισι ὑποδεξάμενος τὸν ξεῖνον
because, having received into his house the guest,
φονέα τοῦ παιδὸς ἐλάνθανε βόσκων,
he had the murderer of his son ignorantly nourished,
τὸν δὲ ἑταιρήιον,
and as the Guardian of Friendship
ὡς φύλακα συμπέμψας αὐτὸν
because having sent him as a protector
εὑρήκοι πολεμιώτατον.
he had found him the greatest enemy..
XLV. [1] παρῆσαν δὲ μετὰ τοῦτο οἱ Λυδοὶ
After this came the Lydians,
φέροντες τὸν νεκρόν,
bearing the corpse,
ὄπισθε δὲ εἵπετό οἱ ὁ φονεύς.
and behind it followed the murderer,
στὰς δὲ οὗτος πρὸ τοῦ νεκροῦ
and he, taking his stand before the corpse,
παρεδίδου ἑωυτὸν Κροίσῳ
delivered himself up to Crœsus,
προτείνων τὰς χεῖρας,
stretching out his hands
ἐπικατασφάξαι μιν κελεύων τῷ νεκρῷ,
and bidding the king to kill him by the corpse,
λέγων τήν τε προτέρην ἑωυτοῦ συμφορήν,
speaking of his earlier misfortune,
καὶ ὡς ἐπ᾽ ἐκείνῃ
and (saying) that in addition to this
τὸν καθήραντα ἀπολωλεκὼς εἴη,
he had destroyed the man who had cleansed (him ),
οὐδέ οἱ εἴη βιώσιμον.
and that life for him was no more worth living.
[2] Κροῖσος δὲ τούτων ἀκούσας
But Crœsus, having heard this,
τόν τε Ἄδρηστον κατοικτείρει,
pitied Adrastos,
καίπερ ἐὼν ἐν κακῷ οἰκηίῳ τοσούτῳ
although being in his own so great a misery,
καὶ λέγει πρὸς αὐτόν
and said to him:
«ἔχω ὦ ξεῖνε παρὰ σεῦ πᾶσαν τὴν δίκην,
“Guest, I have from you all the satisfaction (that is due),
ἐπειδὴ σεωυτοῦ καταδικάζ εις θάνατον.
because you condemn yourself to death;
εἶς δὲ οὐ σύ μοι τοῦδε τοῦ κακοῦ αἴτιος,
and not you are for me guilty of this evil,
εἰ μὴ ὅσον
except in so far
ἀέκων ἐξεργάσαο,
as you against your own will have done it,
ἀλλὰ θεῶν κού τις,
but someone of the gods, as I suppose,
ὅς μοι καὶ πάλαι προεσήμαινε
who for a long time announced before to me
τὰ μέλλοντα ἔσεσθαι.»
that which was about to be.”
[3] Κροῖσος μέν νυν ἔθαψε
Crœsus buried
ὡς οἰκὸς ἦν τὸν ἑωυτοῦ παῖδα·
as was proper his own son;
Ἄδρηστος δὲ ὁ Γορδίεω τοῦ Μίδεω,
but Adrastos, the son of Gordias, the son of Midas,
οὗτος δὴ ὁ φονεὺς μὲν τοῦ ἑωυτοῦ ἀδελφεοῦ
he, the murderer of his own brother,
γενόμενος φονεὺς
who had become the murderer
δὲ τοῦ καθήραντος
of the man who had cleansed him,
ἐπείτε ἡσυχίη τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐγένετο
when there was loneliness of all men
περὶ τὸ σῆμα,
round the tomb,
συγγινωσκόμενος ἀνθρώπων εἶναι
recognising to be of (all) men
τῶν αὐτὸς ᾔδεε
whom he knew
βαρυσυμφορώτατος,
the most oppressed by misfortune,
ἐπικατασφάζει τῷ τύμβῳ ἑωυτόν.
he did kill himself upon the grave.
