第 11 节
作者:
孤独半圆 更新:2021-02-21 16:04 字数:9322
man coming; but under the pressure of his affliction; did not care to avoid the blow; not minding whether or no he died beneath the stroke。 Then this son of his; who was voiceless; beholding the Persian as he rushed towards Croesus; in the agony of his fear and grief burst into speech; and said; 〃Man; do not kill Croesus。〃 This was the first time that he had ever spoken a word; but afterwards he retained the power of speech for the remainder of his life。 Thus was Sardis taken by the Persians; and Croesus himself fell into their hands; after having reigned fourteen years; and been besieged in his capital fourteen days; thus too did Croesus fulfill the oracle; which said that he should destroy a mighty empire by destroying his own。 Then the Persians who had made Croesus prisoner brought him before Cyrus。 Now a vast pile had been raised by his orders; and Croesus; laden with fetters; was placed upon it; and with him twice seven of the sons of the Lydians。 I know not whether Cyrus was minded to make an offering of the to some god or other; or whether he had vowed a vow and was performing it; or whether; as may well be; he had heard that Croesus was a holy man; and so wished to see if any of the heavenly powers would appear to save him from being burnt alive。 However it might be; Cyrus was thus engaged; and Croesus was already on the pile; when it entered his mind in the depth of his woe that there was a divine warning in the words which had come to him from the lips of Solon; 〃No one while he lives is happy。〃 When this thought smote him he fetched a long breath; and breaking his deep silence; groaned out aloud; thrice uttering the name of Solon。 Cyrus caught the sounds; and bade the interpreters inquire of Croesus who it was he called on。 They drew near and asked him; but he held his peace; and for a long time made no answer to their questionings; until at length; forced to say something; he exclaimed; 〃One I would give much to see converse with every monarch。〃 Not knowing what he meant by this reply; the interpreters begged him to explain himself; and as they pressed for an answer; and grew to be troublesome; he told them how; a long time before; Solon; an Athenian; had come and seen all his splendour; and made light of it; and how whatever he had said to him had fallen out exactly as he foreshowed; although it was nothing that especially concerned him; but applied to all mankind alike; and most to those who seemed to themselves happy。 Meanwhile; as he thus spoke; the pile was lighted; and the outer portion began to blaze。 Then Cyrus; hearing from the interpreters what Croesus had said; relented; bethinking himself that he too was a man; and that it was a fellow…man; and one who had once been as blessed by fortune as himself; that he was burning alive; afraid; moreover; of retribution; and full of the thought that whatever is human is insecure。 So he bade them quench the blazing fire as quickly as they could; and take down Croesus and the other Lydians; which they tried to do; but the flames were not to be mastered。 Then; the Lydians say that Croesus; perceiving by the efforts made to quench the fire that Cyrus had relented; and seeing also that all was in vain; and that the men could not get the fire under; called with a loud voice upon the god Apollo; and prayed him; if he ever received at his hands any acceptable gift; to come to his aid; and deliver him from his present danger。 As thus with tears he besought the god; suddenly; though up to that time the sky had been clear and the day without a breath of wind; dark clouds gathered; and the storm burst over their heads with rain of such violence; that the flames were speedily extinguished。 Cyrus; convinced by this that Croesus was a good man and a favourite of heaven; asked him after he was taken off the pile; 〃Who it was that had persuaded him to lead an army into his country; and so become his foe rather than continue his friend?〃 to which Croesus made answer as follows: 〃What I did; oh! king; was to thy advantage and to my own loss。 If there be blame; it rests with the god of the Greeks; who encouraged me to begin the war。 No one is so foolish as to prefer war to peace; in which; instead of sons burying their fathers; fathers bury their sons。 But the gods willed it so。〃 Thus did Croesus speak。 Cyrus then ordered his fetters to be taken off; and made him sit down near himself; and paid him much respect; looking upon him; as did also the courtiers; with a sort of wonder。 Croesus; wrapped in thought; uttered no word。 After a while; happening to turn and perceive the Persian soldiers engaged in plundering the town; he said to Cyrus; 〃May I now tell thee; oh! king; what I have in my mind; or is silence best?〃 Cyrus bade him speak his mind boldly。 Then he put this question: 〃What is it; oh! Cyrus; which those men yonder are doing so busily?〃 〃Plundering thy city;〃 Cyrus answered; 〃and carrying off thy riches。〃 〃Not my city;〃 rejoined the other; 〃nor my riches。 They are not mine any more。 It is thy wealth which they are pillaging。〃 Cyrus; struck by what Croesus had said; bade all the court to withdraw; and then asked Croesus what he thought it best for him to do as regarded the plundering。 Croesus answered; 〃Now that the gods have made me thy slave; oh! Cyrus; it seems to me that it is my part; if I see anything to thy advantage; to show it to thee。 Thy subjects; the Persians; are a poor people with a proud spirit。 If then thou lettest them pillage and possess themselves of great wealth; I will tell thee what thou hast to expect at their hands。 The man who gets the most; look to having him rebel against thee。 Now then; if my words please thee; do thus; oh! king:… Let some of thy bodyguards be placed as sentinels at each of the city gates; and let them take their booty from the soldiers as they leave the town; and tell them that they do so because the tenths are due to Jupiter。 So wilt thou escape the hatred they would feel if the plunder were taken away from them by force; and they; seeing that what is proposed is just; will do it willingly。〃 Cyrus was beyond measure pleased with this advice; so excellent did it seem to him。 He praised Croesus highly; and gave orders to his bodyguard to do as he had suggested。 Then; turning to Croesus; he said; 〃Oh! Croesus; I see that thou are resolved both in speech and act to show thyself a virtuous prince: ask me; therefore; whatever thou wilt as a gift at this moment。〃 Croesus replied; 〃Oh! my lord; if thou wilt suffer me to send these fetters to the god of the Greeks; whom I once honoured above all other gods; and ask him if it is his wont to deceive his benefactors… that will be the highest favour thou canst confer on me。〃 Cyrus upon this inquired what charge he had to make against the god。 Then Croesus gave him a full account of all his projects; and of the answers of the oracle; and of the offerings which he had sent; on which he dwelt especially; and told him how it was the encouragement given him by the oracle which had led him to make war upon Persia。 All this he related; and at the end again besought permission to reproach the god with his behaviour。 Cyrus answered with a laugh; 〃This I readily grant thee; and whatever else thou shalt at any time ask at my hands。〃 Croesus; finding his request allowed; sent certain Lydians to Delphi; enjoining them to lay his fetters upon the threshold of the temple; and ask the god; 〃If he were not ashamed of having encouraged him; as the destined destroyer of the empire of Cyrus; to begin a war with Persia; of which such were the first…fruits?〃 As they said this they were to point to the fetters… and further they were to inquire; 〃If it was the wont of the Greek gods to be ungrateful?〃 The Lydians went to Delphi and delivered their message; on which the Pythoness is said to have replied… 〃It is not possible even for a god to escape the decree of destiny。 Croesus has been punished for the sin of his fifth ancestor; who; when he was one of the bodyguard of the Heraclides; joined in a woman's fraud; and; slaying his master; wrongfully seized the throne。 Apollo was anxious that the fall of Sardis should not happen in the lifetime of Croesus; but be delayed to his son's days; he could not; however; persuade the Fates。 All that they were willing to allow he took and gave to Croesus。 Let Croesus know that Apollo delayed the taking of Sardis three full years; and that he is thus a prisoner three years later than was his destiny。 Moreover it was Apollo who saved him from the burning pile。 Nor has Croesus any right to complain with respect to the oracular answer which he received。 For when the god told him that; if he attacked the Persians; he would destroy a mighty empire; he ought; if he had been wise; to have sent again and inquired which empire was meant; that of Cyrus or his own; but if he neither understood what was said; nor took the trouble to seek for enlightenment; he has only himself to blame for the result。 Besides; he had misunderstood the last answer which had been given him about the mule。 Cyrus was that mule。 For the parents of Cyrus were of different races; and of different conditions… his mother a Median princess; daughter of King Astyages; and his father a Persian and a subject; w