and mountain sheep and wild asses were harmless enough。 And the
huntsman； they added； ought to be as careful about dangerous places as
about the beasts themselves： many a time horse and rider had gone
headlong down a precipice to death。 ＇8＇ The lad seemed to take all
their lessons to heart at the time： but then he saw a stag leap up；
and forgot all the wise cautions he had heard； giving chase forthwith；
noticing nothing except the beast ahead of him。 His horse； in its
furious plunge forward； slipped； and came down on its knees； all but
throwing the rider over its head。 As luck would have it the boy
managed to keep his seat； and the horse recovered its footing。 When
they reached the flat bottom； Cyrus let fly his javelin； and the stag
fell dead； a beautiful big creature。 The lad was still radiant with
delight when up rode the guard and took him severely to task。 Could he
not see the danger he had run？ They would certainly tell his
grandfather； that they would。 Cyrus； who had dismounted； stood quite
still and listened ruefully； hanging his head while they rated him。
But in the middle of it all he heard the view…halloo again： he sprang
to his horse as though frenzieda wild…boar was charging down on
them； and he charged to meet it； and drawing his bow with the surest
aim possible； struck the beast in the forehead； and laid him low。 ＇9＇
But now his uncle thought it was high time to scold his nephew
himself； the lad's boldness was too much。 Only； the more he scolded
the more Cyrus begged he would let him take back the spoil as a
present for his grandfather。 To which appeal； says the story； his
uncle made reply： 〃But if your grandfather finds out that you have
gone in chase yourself； he will not only scold you for going but me
for letting you go。〃 〃Well； let him whip me if he likes；〃 said the
boy； 〃when once I have given him my beasts： and you too； uncle；〃 he
went on； 〃punish me however you choose； only do not refuse me this。〃
So Cyaxares was forced to yield：〃Have it your own way then； you are
little less than our king already。〃 ＇10＇ Thus it was that Cyrus was
allowed to bring his trophies home； and in due course presented them
to his grandfather。 〃See； grandfather； here are some animals I have
shot for you。〃 But he did not show his weapons in triumph： he only
laid them down with the gore still on them where he hoped his
grandfather would see them。 It is easy to guess the answer Astyages
gave：〃I must needs accept with pleasure every gift you bring me；
only I want none of them at the risk of your own life。〃 And Cyrus
said； 〃If you really do not want them yourself； grandfather； will you
give them to me？ And I will divide them among the lads。〃 〃With all my
heart；〃 said the old man； 〃take them； or anything else you like；
bestow them where you will； and welcome。〃 ＇11＇ So Cyrus carried off
the spoil； and divided it with his comrades； saying all the while；
〃What foolery it was； when we used to hunt in the park！ It was no
better than hunting creatures tied by a string。 First of all； it was
such a little bit of a place； and then what scarecrows the poor beasts
were； one halt； and another maimed！ But those real animals on the
mountains and the plainswhat splendid beasts； so gigantic； so sleek
and glossy！ Why； the stags leapt up against the sky as though they had
wings； and the wild…boars came rushing to close quarters like warriors
in battle！ And thanks to their breadth and bulk one could not help
hitting them。 Why； even as they lie dead there；〃 cried he； 〃they look
finer than those poor walled…up creatures when alive！ But you；〃 he
added； 〃could not your fathers let you go out to hunt too？〃 〃Gladly
enough；〃 answered they； 〃if only the king gave the order。〃 ＇12＇
〃Well；〃 said Cyrus； 〃who will speak to Astyages for us？〃 〃Why；〃
answered they； 〃who so fit to persuade him as yourself？〃 〃No； by all
that's holy； not I！〃 cried Cyrus。 〃I cannot think what has come over
me： I cannot speak to my grandfather any more； I cannot look him
straight in the face。 If this fit grows on me； I am afraid I shall
become no better than an idiot。 And yet； when I was a little boy； they
tell me； I was sharp enough at talking。〃 To which the other lads
retorted； 〃Well； it is a bad business altogether： and if you cannot
bestir yourself for your friends； if you can do nothing for us in our
need； we must turn elsewhere。〃 ＇13＇ When Cyrus heard that he was stung
to the quick： he went away in silence and urged himself to put on a
bold face； and so went in to his grandfather； not； however； without
planning first how he could best bring in the matter。 Accordingly he
began thus： 〃Tell me； grandfather；〃 said he； 〃if one of your slaves
were to run away； and you caught him； what would you do to him？〃 〃What
else should I do；〃 the old man answered； 〃but clap irons on him and
set him to work in chains？〃 〃But if he came back of his own accord；
how would you treat him then？〃 〃Why； I would give him a whipping； as a
warning not to do it again； and then treat him as though nothing had
happened。〃 〃It is high time then；〃 said the boy； 〃that you began
getting a birch ready for your grandson： for I am planning to take my
comrades and run away on a hunting expedition。〃 〃Very kind of you to
tell me； beforehand；〃 said Astyages。 〃And now listen； I forbid you to
set foot outside the palace grounds。 A pretty thing；〃 he added； 〃if
for the sake of a day's hunting I should let my daughter's lamb get
lost。〃 ＇14＇ So Cyrus did as he was ordered and stayed at home； but he
spent his days in silence and his brow was clouded。 At last Astyages
saw how bitterly the lad felt it； and he made up his mind to please
him by leading out a hunting…party himself。 He held a great muster of
horse and foot； and the other lads were not forgotten： he had the
beasts driven down into the flat country where the horses could be
taken easily； and then the hunt began in splendid style。 After the
royal fashionfor he was present in person himselfhe gave orders
that no one was to shoot until Cyrus had hunted to his heart's
content。 But Cyrus would not hear of any such hindrance to the others：
〃Grandfather；〃 he cried； 〃if you wish me to enjoy myself； let my
friends hunt with me and each of us try our best。〃 ＇15＇ Thereupon
Astyages let them all go； while he stood still and watched the sight；
and saw how they raced to attack the quarry and how their ambition
burned within them as they followed up the chase and let fly their
javelins。 But above all he was overjoyed to see how his grandson could
not keep silence for sheer delight； calling upon his fellows by name
whenever he came up with the quarry； like a noble young hound； baying
from pure excitement。 It gladdened the old man's heart to hear how
gleefully the boy would laugh at one of his comrades and how eagerly
he would applaud another without the slightest touch of jealousy。 At
length it was time to turn； and home they went； laden with their
mighty trophies。 And ever afterwards； so well pleased was the king
with the day's hunting； that whenever it was possible； out he must go
with his grandson； all his train behind him； and he never failed to
take the boys also； 〃to please Cyrus。〃 Thus did Cyrus spend his early
life； sharing in and helping towards the happiness of all； and
bringing no sorrow to any man。
＇16＇ But when he was about fifteen years of age； it chanced that the
young Prince of Assyria； who was about to marry a wife； planned a
hunting…party of his own； in honour of the bridal。 And； having heard
that on the frontiers of Assyria and Media there was much game to be
got； untouched and unmolested because of the war； the prince chose
these marches for his hunting…ground。 But for safety sake he took with
him a large escort of cavalry and targeteers； who were to drive the
beasts down from their lairs into the cultivated levels below where it
was easy to ride。 He set out to the place where the Assyrian outposts
were planted and a garrison on duty； and there he and his men prepared
to take their supper； intending to begin the hunt with the morrow's
dawn。 ＇17＇ And as evening had fallen； it happened that the night…
watch； a considerable body of horse and foot； arrived from the city to
relieve the garrison on guard。 Thus the prince found that he had
something like a large army at his call： the two garrisons as well as
the troop of horse and foot for the hunt。 And then he asked himself
whether it would not be the best of plans to drive off booty from the
country of the Medes？ In this way more lustre would be given to the
chase； and there would be great store of beasts for sacrifice。 With
this intent he rose betimes and led his army out： the foot soldiers he
massed together on the frontier； while he himself； at the head of his
cavalry； rode up to the border fortresses of the Medes。 Here he halted
with the strongest and largest part of his company； to prevent the
garrisons from sallying out； and meanwhile he sent picked men forward
by detachments with orders to raid the country in every direction；
waylay everything they chanced upon； and drive the spoil back to him。
＇18＇ While this was going on news was brought to Astyages that the
enemy was across the border； and he hastened to the rescue at once；
himself at the head of his own body…guard； and his son with such
troopers as were ready to hand； leaving word for others to follow with
all despatch。 But when they were in sight of the Assyrians； and saw
their serried ranks； horse and foot； drawn up in order； compact and
motionless； they came to a halt themselves。 ＇19＇ Now Cyrus； seeing
that all the rest of the world was off to the rescue； boot and saddle；
must needs ride out too； and so put on his armour for the first time；
and could scarcely believe it was true； he had longed so often and so
ardently to wear it all。 And right beautiful it was； and right well it
fitted the lad； the armour that his grandsire had had made for him。 So
he put on the whole accoutrement； mounted his charger； and galloped to
the front。 And Astyages； though he wondered who had sent the boy； bade
him stay beside him； now that he had come。 Cyrus； as he looked at the
horsemen facing them； turned to his grandfather with the question；
〃Can tho