laced Gyges secretly in a
convenient place; but notwithstanding that precaution, the queen perceived
him when he retired, yet took no manner of notice of it. Judging, as the
historian represents it, that the most valuable treasure of a woman is her
modesty, she studied a signal revenge for the injury she had received;
and, to punish the fault of her husband, committed a still greater crime.
Possibly, a secret passion for Gyges had as great a share in that action,
as her resentment for the dishonour done her. Be that as it will, she sent
for Gyges, and obliged him to expiate his crime, either by his own death,
or the king's, at his own option. After some remonstrances to no purpose,
he resolved upon the latter, and by the murder of Candaules became master
of his queen and his throne.(M191) By this means the kingdom passed from
the family of the Heraclidae into that of the Mermnadae.

Archilochus, the poet, lived at this time, and, as Herodotus informs us,
spoke of this adventure of Gyges in his poems.

I cannot forbear mentioning in this place what is related by Herodotus,
that amongst the Lydians, and almost all other Barbarians, it was reckoned
shameful and infamous even for a man to appear naked. These footsteps of
modesty, which are met with amongst pagans, ought to be reckoned
valuable.(1091) We are assured, that among the Romans, a son, who was come
to the age of maturity, never went into the baths with his father, nor
even a son-in-law with his father-in-law; and this modesty and decency
were looked upon by them as enjoined by the law of nature, the violation
whereof was criminal. It is astonishing, that amongst us our magistrates
take no care to prevent this disorder, which, in the midst of Paris, at
the season of bathing, is openly committed with impunity; a disorder so
visibly contrary to the rules of common decency, so dangerous to young
persons of both sexes, and so severely condemned by paganism itself.

Plato relates the story of Gyges in a different manner from
Herodotus.(1092) He tells us that Gyges wore a ring, the stone of which,
when turned towards him, rendered him invisible; so that he had the
advantage of seeing others, without being seen himself; and that by means
of this ring, with the concurrence of the queen, he deprived Candaules of
his life and throne. This probably signifies, that in order to compass his
criminal design, he used all the tricks and stratagems, which the world
calls subtle and