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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 those men yonder be our enemies； grandfather； those who are
standing so quietly beside their horses？〃 〃Enemies they are too for
all that；〃 said the king。 〃And are those enemies too？〃 the boy asked；
〃those who are riding over there？〃 〃Yes； to be sure。〃 〃Well；
grandfather； a sorry set they look； and sorry jades they ride to
ravage our lands！ It would be well for some of us to charge them！〃
〃Not yet； my boy；〃 answered his grandfather； 〃look at the mass of
horsemen there。 If we were to charge the others now； these friends of
theirs would charge us； for our full strength is not yet on the
field。〃 〃Yes； but；〃 suggested the boy； 〃if you stay here yourself；
ready to receive our supporters； those fellows will be afraid to stir
either； and the cattle…lifters will drop their booty quick enough； as
soon as they find they are attacked。〃
＇20＇ Astyages felt there was much in what the boy said； and thinking
all the while what wonderful sense he showed and how wide…awake he
was； gave orders for his son to take a squadron of horse and charge
the raiders。 〃If the main body move to attack；〃 he added； 〃I will
charge myself and give them enough to do here。〃 Accordingly Cyaxares
took a detachment of horse and galloped to the field。 Cyrus seeing the
charge； darted forward himself； and swept to the van； leading it with
Cyaxares close at his heels and the rest close behind them。 As soon as
the plunderers saw them； they left their booty and took to flight。
＇21＇ The troopers； with Cyrus at their head； dashed in to cut them
off； and some they overtook at once and hewed down then and there；
others slipped past； and then they followed in hot pursuit； and caught
some of them too。 And Cyrus was ever in the front； like a young hound；
untrained as yet but bred from a gallant stock； charging a wild…boar
recklessly； forward he swept； without eyes or thought for anything but
the quarry to be captured and the blow to be struck。 But when the
Assyrian army saw their friends in trouble they pushed forward； rank
on rank； saying to themselves the pursuit would stop when their own
movement was seen。 ＇22＇ But Cyrus never slackened his pace a whit： in
a transport of joy he called on his uncle by name as he pressed
forward； hanging hot…foot on the fugitives； while Cyaxares still clung
to his heels； thinking maybe what his father Astyages would say if he
hung back； and the others still followed close behind them； even the
faint…hearted changed into heroes for the nonce。
Now Astyages； watching their furious onslaught； and seeing the enemy
move steadily forward in close array to meet them； decided to advance
without a moment's delay himself； for fear that his son and Cyrus
might come to harm； crashing in disorder against the solid battalions
of the foe。 ＇23＇ The Assyrians saw the movement of the king and came
to a halt； spears levelled and bows bent； expecting that； when their
assailants came within range； they would halt likewise as they had
usually done before。 For hitherto； whenever the armies met； they would
only charge up to a certain distance； and there take flying shots； and
so keep up the skirmish until evening fell。 But now the Assyrians saw
their own men borne down on them in rout； with Cyrus and his comrades
at their heels in full career； while Astyages and his cavalry were
already within bowshot。 It was more than they could face； and they
turned and fled。 After them swept the Medes in full pursuit； and those
they caught they mowed down； horse and man； and those that fell they
slew。 There was no pause until they came up with the Assyrian foot。
＇24＇ Here at last they drew rein in fear of some hidden ambuscade； and
Astyages led his army off。 The exploit of his cavalry pleased him
beyond measure； but he did not know what he could say to Cyrus。 It was
he to whom the engagement was due； and the victory； but the boy's
daring was on the verge of madness。 Even during the return home his
behaviour was strange； he could not forbear riding round alone to look
into the faces of t