[19] At first he would not so much as answer me, but I sent him many an offering, some of gold and some of silver, and I propitiated him, as I deemed, by countless sacrifices, and at last he answered me when I asked him what I must do that sons might be born to me.

He said they should be born.

[20] And so they were; in that he uttered no lie, but they brought me no joy.

One of them was dumb his whole life long, and the noblest perished in the flower of his youth.

And I, crushed by these sorrows, sent again to the god and asked him how I could live in happiness for the rest of my days, and he answered: "'Know thyself, O Croesus, and happiness shall be thine.' "And when I heard the oracle, I was comforted.