Fighting on, but in heart despairing, I and my people were forced to yield.

A Persian raised 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.