d the most
unhappy downfall."

It was not long before Croesus experienced the truth of what Solon had told
him.(1106) He had two sons, one of which, being dumb, was a perpetual
subject of affliction to him; the other, named Atys, was distinguished by
every good quality, and his great consolation and delight. The father one
night had a dream, which made a great impression upon his mind, that this
beloved son of his was to perish by iron. This became a new source of
anxiety and trouble, and care is taken to remove out of the young prince's
way every thing made of iron, as partisans, lances, javelins, &c. No
mention is made of armies, wars, or sieges, before him. But one day there
was to be an extraordinary hunting-match, for the killing of a wild boar,
which had committed great ravage in the neighbourhood. All the young lords
of the court were to be at this hunting. Atys very earnestly importuned
his father that he would give him leave to be present, at least as a
spectator. The king could not refuse him that request, but intrusted him
to the care of a discreet young prince, who had taken refuge in his court,
and was named Adrastus. And this very Adrastus, as he was aiming his
javelin at the boar, unfortunately killed Atys. It is impossible to
express either the affliction of the father, when he heard of this fatal
accident, or of the unhappy prince, the innocent author of the murder, who
expiated his fault with his blood, stabbing himself in the breast with his
own sword, upon the funeral pile of the unfortunate Atys.

Two years were spent on this occasion in deep mourning,(1107) the
afflicted father's thoughts being wholly taken up with the loss he had
sustained. But the growing reputation, and great qualities of Cyrus, who
began to make himself known, roused him out of his lethargy. He thought it
behoved him to put a stop to the power of the Persians, which was
enlarging itself every day. As he was very religious in his way, he would
never enter upon any enterprise without consulting the gods. But, that he
might not act blindly, and in order to be able to form a certain judgment
on the answers he should receive, he was willing to assure himself
beforehand of the truth of the oracles. For which purpose, he sent
messengers to all the most celebrated oracles both of Greece and Africa,
with orders to inquire, every one at his respective oracle, what Croesus
was doing on such a day, and such an hour, before agreed on. His o