22 THE HISTORY OF HERODOTUS.

who ran home with the news of the victory ; while a single Spartan, raising himself up from amongst a heap of dead, remained in possession of the field and set up a trophy. So the result was considered indeci- sive, and the main armies fell to fighting, and the Spartans conquered. Then the Argives shore their hair, which they formerly wore long, and bound them- selves under a curse not to let it grow again till they had recovered Thyrea, and forbade their women to wear gold ornaments a prohibition probably more difficult to enforce. The Spartans, in retaliation, made a contrary vow, to let their hair grow, having worn it cropped before. The survivor of their three hundred was said to have slain himself for shame. In the mean time Croesus was a lost man. The citadel of Sardis had been scaled by the Persians at a point where a king of old had omitted to carry round a lion, which was to operate as a charm to prevent its being taken. It has been mentioned that Croesus had a son who was deaf and dumb. His father had tried in vain all means to cure him of his affliction, and given up the attempt in despair. But now, when Sardis was taken, a soldier approached Croesus, not knowing who he was, to slay him ; and Croesus, in his deep grief, did not care to hinder him, which he might have done by giving his name, since Cyrus had issued express orders to his army that the king of Lydia was to be taken alive. Then suddenly the tongue of the youth was loosed, and when he saw the Persian approaching, he cried out " Fellow, do not kill Croesus ! " and having made this beginning, he continued able to speak for the rest of his life. Thus Crcesus was taken prisoner, after a reign of fourteen years, and Cyrus, in the cruel spirit of