§1.85.1κατʼ αὐτὸν δὲ Κροῖσον τάδε ἐγίνετο.
As for Croesus himself, the following happened.
ἦν οἱ παῖς, τοῦ καὶ πρότερον ἐπεμνήσθην, τὰ μὲν ἄλλα ἐπιεικής, ἄφωνος δέ.
He had a son, whom I have mentioned before, who was in other respects capable, but mute.
ἐν τῇ ὦν παρελθούσῃ εὐεστοῖ ὁ Κροῖσος τὸ πᾶν ἐς αὐτὸν ἐπεποιήκεε, ἄλλα τε ἐπιφραζόμενος, καὶ δὴ καὶ ἐς Δελφοὺς περὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπεπόμφεε χρησομένους.
Therefore, in his past prosperity, Croesus had done everything possible for him, not only devising other measures, but in particular, he had sent messengers to Delphi to consult the oracle about him.
§1.85.2ἡ δὲ Πυθίη οἱ εἶπε τάδε. "
Λυδὲ γένος, πολλῶν βασιλεῦ, μέγα νήπιε Κροῖσε,
μὴ βούλου πολύευκτον ἰὴν ἀνὰ δώματʼ ἀκούειν
παιδὸς φθεγγομένου.
And the Pythia spoke to him as follows: "Lydian by race, king of many, great fool Croesus, do not wish to hear within your halls the much-prayed-for voice of your son speaking.
τὸ δέ σοι πολὺ λώιον ἀμφὶς
ἔμμεναι· αὐδήσει γὰρ ἐν ἤματι πρῶτον ἀνόλβῳ. " §1.85.3ἁλισκομένου δὴ τοῦ τείχεος, ἤιε γὰρ τῶν τις Περσέων ἀλλογνώσας Κροῖσον ὡς ἀποκτενέων, Κροῖσος μέν νυν ὁρέων ἐπιόντα ὑπὸ τῆς παρεούσης συμφορῆς παρημελήκεε, οὐδὲ τί οἱ διέφερε πληγέντι ἀποθανεῖν·
It is much better for you that this remain far off; for he will speak first on an unhappy day." Indeed, while the wall was being taken, a certain Persian came toward him, not recognizing Croesus, intending to kill him.
§1.85.4ὁ δὲ παῖς οὗτος ὁ ἄφωνος ὡς εἶδε ἐπιόντα τὸν Πέρσην, ὑπὸ δέους τε καὶ κακοῦ ἔρρηξε φωνήν, εἶπε δὲ
ὤνθρώπε, μὴ κτεῖνε Κροῖσον. οὗτος μὲν δὴ τοῦτο πρῶτον ἐφθέγξατο, μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο ἤδη ἐφώνεε τὸν πάντα χρόνον τῆς ζόης.
Now Croesus, seeing him approach, was heedless of him because of the present misfortune, and it made no difference to him if he should be struck and die; but this mute boy, when he saw the Persian coming on, broke into speech through fear and distress, and said: "Man, do not kill Croesus!" This was the first word he ever spoke, and after this he continued to speak for the rest of his life.