his sword to cleave my skull--in an instant my poor dumb son had thrown
himself between his father and the murderer, and for the first time after
long years of silence, I heard him speak. Terror had loosened his
tongue; in that dreadful hour Gyges learnt once more to speak, and I, who
but the moment before had been cursing the gods, bowed down before their
power. I had commanded a slave to kill me the moment I should be taken
prisoner by the Persians, but now I deprived him of his sword. I was a
changed man, and by degrees learnt ever more and more to subdue the rage
and indignation which yet from time to time would boil up again within my
soul, rebellious against my fate and my noble enemies. 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: