he grows ravenous I will say 'Wait a little： HE is with the ladies of
the court；' until I have plagued and tormented him as he torments me；
keeping me away from you； grandfather； when I want to come。〃 ＇12＇ Thus
the boy delighted his elders in the evening； and by day if he saw that
his grandfather or his uncle wanted anything； no one could forestall
him in getting it； indeed nothing seemed to give him greater pleasure
than to please them。
＇13＇ Now when Mandane began to think of going back to her husband；
Astyages begged her to leave the boy behind。 She answered that though
she wished to please her father in everything； it would be hard to
leave the boy against his will。 ＇14＇ Then the old man turned to Cyrus：
〃My boy； if you will stay with us； Sacas shall never stop you from
coming to me： you shall be free to come whenever you choose； and the
oftener you come the better it will please me。 You shall have horses
to ride； my own and as many others as you like； and when you leave us
you shall take them with you。 And at dinner you shall go your own away
and follow your own path to your own goal of temperance just as you
think right。 And I will make you a present of all the game in my parks
and paradises； and collect more for you； and as soon as you have
learnt to ride you shall hunt and shoot and hurl the javelin exactly
like a man。 And you shall have boys to play with and anything else you
wish for： you have only to ask me and it shall be yours。〃 ＇15＇ Then
his mother questioned the boy and asked him whether he would rather
stay with his grandfather in Media； or go back home with her： and he
said at once that he would rather stay。 And when she went on to ask
him the reason； he answered； so the story says； 〃Because at home I am
thought to be the best of the lads at shooting and hurling the
javelin； and so I think I am： but here I know I am the worst at
riding； and that you may be sure； mother； annoys me exceedingly。 Now
if you leave me here and I learn to ride； when I am back in Persia you
shall see； I promise you； that I will outdo all our gallant fellows on
foot； and when I come to Media again I will try and show my
grandfather that； for all his splendid cavalry； he will not have a
stouter horseman than his grandson to fight his battles for him。〃 ＇16＇
Then said his mother； 〃But justice and righteousness； my son； how can
you learn them here when your teachers are at home？〃 〃Oh；〃 said Cyrus；
〃I know all about them already。〃 〃How do you know that you do？〃 asked
Mandane。 〃Because；〃 answered the boy； 〃before I left home my master
thought I had learnt enough to decide the cases； and he set me to try
the suits。 Yes！ and I remember once； said he； 〃I got a whipping for
misjudgment。 ＇17＇ I will tell you about that case。 There were two
boys； a big boy and a little boy； and the big boy's coat was small and
the small boy's coat was huge。 So the big boy stripped the little boy
and gave him his own small coat； while he put on the big one himself。
Now in giving judgment I decided that it was better for both parties
that each should have the coat that fitted him best。 But I never got
any further in my sentence； because the master thrashed me here； and
said that the verdict would have been excellent if I had been
appointed to say what fitted and what did not； but I had been called
in to decide to whom the coat belonged； and the point to consider was；
who had a right to it： Was he who took a thing by violence to keep it；
or he who had had it made and bought it for his own？ And the master
taught me that what is lawful is just and what is in the teeth of law
is based on violence； and therefore； he said； the judge must always
see that his verdict tallies with the law。 So you see； mother； I have
the whole of justice at my fingers' ends already。 And if there should
be anything more I need to know； why； I have my grandfather beside me；
and he will always give me lessons。〃 ＇18＇ 〃But；〃 rejoined his mother；
〃what everyone takes to be just and righteous at your grandfather's
court is not thought to be so in Persia。 For instance； your own
grandfather has made himself master over all and sundry among the
Medes； but with the Persians equality is held to be an essential part
of justice： and first and foremost； your father himself must perform
his appointed services to the state and receive his appointed dues：
and the measure of these is not his own caprice but the law。 Have a
care then； or you may be scourged to death when you come home to
Persia； if you learn in your grandfather's school to love not kingship
but tyranny； and hold the tyrant's belief that he and he alone should
have more than all the rest。〃 〃Ah； but； mother；〃 said the boy； 〃my
grandfather is better at teaching people to have less than their
share； not more。 Cannot you see；〃 he cried； 〃how he has taught all the
Medes to have less than himself？ So set your mind at rest； mother； my
grandfather will never make me； or any one else； an adept in the art
of getting too much。〃
＇C。4＇ So the boy's tongue ran on。 But at last his mother went home；
and Cyrus stayed behind and was brought up in Media。 He soon made
friends with his companions and found his way to their hearts； and
soon won their parents by the charm of his address and the true
affection he bore their sons； so much so that when they wanted a
favour from the king they bade their children ask Cyrus to arrange the
matter for them。 And whatever it might be； the kindliness of the lad's
heart and the eagerness of his ambition made him set the greatest
store on getting it done。 ＇2＇ On his side； Astyages could not bring
himself to refuse his grandson's lightest wish。 For once； when he was
sick； nothing would induce the boy to leave his side； he could not
keep back his tears； and his terror at the thought that his
grandfather might die was plain for every one to see。 If the old man
needed anything during the night Cyrus was the first to notice it； it
was he who sprang up first to wait upon him； and bring him what he
thought would please him。 Thus the old king's heart was his。
＇3＇ During these early days； it must be allowed； the boy was something
too much of a talker； in part； may be； because of his bringing…up。 He
had been trained by his master； whenever he sat in judgment； to give a
reason for what he did； and to look for the like reason from others。
And moreover； his curiosity and thirst for knowledge were such that he
must needs inquire from every one he met the explanation of this；
that； and the other； and his own wits were so lively that he was ever
ready with an answer himself for any question put to him； so that
talkativeness had become； as it were； his second nature。 But； just as
in the body when a boy is overgrown； some touch of youthfulness is
sure to show itself and tell the secret of his age； so for all the
lad's loquacity； the impression left on the listener was not of
arrogance； but of simplicity and warm…heartedness； and one would
gladly have heard his chatter to the end rather than have sat beside
him and found him dumb。
＇4＇ However； as he grew in stature and the years led him to the time
when childhood passes into youth he became more chary of his words and
quieter in his tone： at times； indeed； he was so shy that he would
blush in the presence of his elders； and there was little sign left of
the old forwardness； the impulsiveness of the puppy who will jump up
on every one； master and stranger alike。 Thus he grew more sedate； but
his company was still most fascinating； and little wonder： for
whenever it came to a trial of skill between himself and his comrades
he would never challenge his mates to those feats in which he himself
excelled： he would start precisely one where he felt his own
inferiority； averring that he would outdo them all；indeed； he would
spring to horse in order to shoot or hurl the javelin before he had
got a firm seatand then； when he was worsted； he would be the first
to laugh at his own discomfiture。 ＇5＇ He had no desire to escape
defeat by giving up the effort； but took glory in the resolution to do
better another time； and thus he soon found himself as good a horseman
as his peers； and presently； such was his ardour； he surpassed them
all； and at last the thinning of the game in the king's preserves
began to show what he could do。 What with the chasing and the shooting
and the spearing； the stock of animals ran so low that Astyages was
hard put to it to collect enough for him。 Then Cyrus； seeing that his
grandfather for all his goodwill could never furnish him with enough；
came to him one day and said； 〃Grandfather； why should you take so
much trouble in finding game for me？ If only you would let me go out
to hunt with my uncle； I could fancy every beast we came across had
been reared for my particular delight！〃 ＇6＇ But however anxious the
lad might be to go out to the chase； he had somehow lost the old
childish art of winning what he wanted by coaxing： and he hesitated a
long time before approaching the king again。 If in the old days he had
quarrelled with Sacas for not letting him in； now he began to play the
part of Sacas against himself； and could not summon courage to intrude
until he thought the right moment had come： indeed； he implored the
real Sacas to let him know when he might venture。 So that the old
butler's heart was won； and he； like the rest of the world； was
completely in love with the young prince。
＇7＇ At last when Astyages saw that the lad's heart was really set on
hunting in the open country； he gave him leave to go out with his
uncle； taking care at the same time to send an escort of mounted
veterans at his heels； whose business it was to keep watch and ward
over him in any dangerous place or against any savage beast。 Cyrus
plied his retinue with questions about the creatures they came across；
which must he avoid and which might he hunt？ They told him he must be
on his guard against bears and wild…boars and lions and leopards： many
a man had found himself at too close quarters with these dangerous
creatures； and been torn to pieces： but antelopes； they said； and deer
and mountain sheep and wild asses were harmless enough。 And the
huntsman； they added； ou