Thou knowest that
at last I became the friend of Cyrus, and that my son grew up at his
court, a free man at my side, having entirely regained the use of his
speech. Everything beautiful and good that I had heard, seen or thought
during my long life I treasured up now for him; he was my kingdom, my
crown, my treasure. Cyrus's days of care, his nights so reft of sleep,
reminded me with horror of my own former greatness, and from day to day
it became more evident to me that happiness has nothing to do with our
outward circumstances. Each man possesses the hidden germ in his own
heart. A contented, patient mind, rejoicing much in all that is great and
beautiful and yet despising not the day of small things; bearing sorrow
without a murmur and sweetening it by calling to remembrance former joy;
moderation in all things; a firm trust in the favor of the gods and a
conviction that, all things being subject to change, so with us too the
worst must pass in due season; all this helps to mature the germ of
happiness, and gives us power to smile, where the man undisciplined by
fate might yield to despair and fear."

Amasis listened attentively, drawing figures the while in the sand with
the golden flower on his staff. At last he spoke:

"Verily, Croesus, I the great god, the 'sun of righteousness,' 'the son
of Neith,' 'the lord of warlike glory,' as the Egyptians call me, am
tempted to envy thee, dethroned and plundered as thou art. I have been as
happy as thou art now. Once I was known through all Egypt, though only
the poor son of a captain, for my light heart, happy temper, fun and high
spirits. The common soldiers would do anything for me, my superior
officers could have found much fault, but in the mad Amasis, as they
called me, all was overlooked, and among my equals, (the other
under-officers) there could be no fun or merry-making unless I took a
share in it. My predecessor king Hophra sent us against Cyrene. Seized
with thirst in the desert, we refused to go on; and a suspicion that the
king intended to sacrifice us to the Greek mercenaries drove the army to
open mutiny. In my usual joking manner I called out to my friends: 'You
can never get on without a king, take me for your ruler; a merrier you
will never find!' The soldiers caught the words. 'Amasis will be our
king,' ran through the ranks from man to man, and, in a few hours more,
they came to me with shouts, and acclamations of 'The good, jovial Amasis
for our King!