THE FORTUNE OF CRSUS., 79

become one of the great kingdoms of the earth.
Such wealth came to Croesus as a result of his con-
quests and unchanging good fortune that he became
accounted the richest monarch upon the earth,
while Sardis grew marvellous for its splendor and
prosperity. At an earlier date there had come
thither another of the seven wise men of Greece,
Solon, the law-giver of Athens. What passed be-
tween this farseeing visitor and the proud monarch
of Lydia we have already told.

The misfortunes which ‘Solon told the king were
liable to come upon any man befell Creesus during
the remainder of his life. Herodotus, the historian,
tells us the romantic story of how the gods sent
misery to him who had boasted overmuch of his
happiness. We give briefly this interesting account.

Croesus had two sons, one of whom was deaf and
dumb, the other, Atys by name, gifted with the
highest qualities which nature has to bestow. The
king loved his bright and handsome son as dearly as
he loved his wealth, and when a dream came to him
that Atys would die by the blow of an iron weapon,
he was deeply disturbed in his mind.

How should he prevent such a misfortune? In
alarm, he forbade his son to take part in military
forays, to which he had before encouraged him; and,
to solace him for this deprivation, bade him to take a
wife. Then, lest any of the warlike weapons which
hung upon the walls of his apartments might fall and
wound him, the king had them all removed, and stored
away in the part of the palace devoted to the women.

But fate had decreed that all such precautions