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behaviour was strange； he could not forbear riding round alone to look
into the faces of the slain； and those whose duty it was could hardly
drag him away to lead him to Astyages： indeed； the youth was glad
enough to keep them as a screen between himself and the king； for he
saw that the countenance of his grandfather grew stern at the sight of
him。
＇25＇ So matters passed in Media： and more and more the name of Cyrus
was on the lip of every man； in song and story everywhere； and
Astyages； who had always loved him； was astonished beyond all measure
at the lad。 Meanwhile his father； Cambyses； rejoiced to hear such
tidings of his son； but； when he heard that he was already acting like
a man of years； he thought it full time to call him home again that he
might complete his training in the discipline of his fatherland。 The
story tells how Cyrus answered the summons； saying he would rather
return home at once so that his father might not be vexed or his
country blame him。 And Astyages； too； thought it his plain duty to
send the boy back； but he must needs give him horses to take with him；
as many as he would care to choose； and other gifts beside； not only
for the love he bore him but for the high hopes he had that the boy
would one day prove a man of mark； a blessing to his friends； and a
terror to his foes。 And when the time came for Cyrus to go； the whole
world poured out to speed him on his journeylittle children and lads
of his own age； and grown men and greybeards on their steeds； and
Astyages the king。 And； so says the chronicle； the eyes of none were
dry when they turned home again。 ＇26＇ Cyrus himself； they tell us；
rode away in tears。 He heaped gifts on all his comrades； sharing with
them what Astyages had given to himself； and at last he took off the
splendid Median cloak he wore and gave it to one of them； to tell him；
plainer than words could say； how his heart clung to him above the
rest。 And his friends； they say； took the gifts he gave them； but they
brought them all back to Astyages； who sent them to Cyrus again。 But
once more Cyrus sent them back to Media with this prayer to his
grandfather：〃If you would have me hold my head up when I come back
to you again； let my friends keep the gifts I gave them。〃 And Astyages
did as the boy asked。
＇27＇ And here； if a tale of boyish love is not out of place； we might
tell how； when Cyrus was just about to depart and the last good…byes
were being said； each of his kinsmen in the Persian fashionand to
this day the custom holds in Persiakissed him on the lips as they
bade him god…speed。 Now there was a certain Mede； as beautiful and
brave a man as ever lived； who had been enamoured of Cyrus for many a
long day； and； when he saw the kiss； he stayed behind； and after the
others had withdrawn he went up to Cyrus and said； 〃Me； and me alone；
of all your kindred； Cyrus； you refuse to recognize？〃 And Cyrus
answered； 〃What； are you my kinsman too？〃 〃Yes； assuredly；〃 the other
answered； and the lad rejoined； 〃Ah； then； that is why you looked at
me so earnestly； and I have seen you look at me like that； I think；
more than once before。〃 〃Yes；〃 answered the Mede； 〃I have often longed
to approach you； but as often； heaven knows； my heart failed me。〃 〃But
why should that be；〃 said Cyrus； 〃seeing you are my kinsman？〃 And with
the word； he leant forward and kissed him on the lips。 ＇28＇ Then the
Mede； emboldened by the kiss； took heart and said； 〃So in Persia it is
really the custom for relatives to kiss？〃 〃Truly yes；〃 answered Cyrus；
〃when we see each other after a long absence； or when we part for a
journey。〃 〃Then the time has come；〃 said the other； 〃to give me a
second kiss； for I must leave you now。〃 With that Cyrus kissed him
again and so they parted。 But the travellers were not far on their way
when suddenly the Mede came galloping after them； his charger covered
with foam。 Cyrus caught sight of him：〃You have forgotten something？
There is something else you wanted to say？〃 〃No；〃 said the Mede； 〃it
is only such a long； long while since we met。〃 〃Such a little； little
while you mean； my kinsman；〃 answered Cyrus。 〃A little while！〃
repeated the other。 〃How can you say that？ Cannot you understand that
the time it takes to wink is a whole eternity if it severs me from the
beauty of your face？〃
Then Cyrus burst out laughing in spite of his own tears； and bade the
unfortunate man take heart of grace and be gone。 〃I shall soon be back
with you again； and then you can stare at me to your heart's content；
and never wink at all。〃
＇C。5＇ Thus Cyrus left his grandfather's court and came home to Persia；
and there； so it is said； he spent one year more as a boy among boys。
At first the lads were disposed to laugh at him； thinking he must have
learnt luxurious ways in Media； but when they saw that he could take
the simple Persian food as happily as themselves； and how； whenever
they made good cheer at a festival； far from asking for any more
himself he was ready to give his own share of the dainties away； when
they saw and felt in this and in other things his inborn nobleness and
superiority to themselves； then the tide turned and once more they
were at his feet。
And when this part of his training was over； and the time was come for
him to join the younger men； it was the same tale once more。 Once more
he outdid all his fellows； alike in the fulfilment of his duty； in the
endurance of hardship； in the reverence he showed to age； and the
obedience he paid to authority。
＇2＇ Now in the fullness of time Astyages died in Media； and Cyaxares
his son； the brother of Cyrus' mother； took the kingdom in his stead。
By this time the king of Assyria had subdued all the tribes of Syria；
subjugated the king of Arabia； brought the Hyrcanians under his rule；
and was holding the Bactrians in siege。 Therefore he came to think
that； if he could but weaken the power of the Medes； it would be easy
for him to extend his empire over all the nations round him； since the
Medes were； without doubt； the strongest of them all。 ＇3＇ Accordingly
he sent his messengers to every part of his dominions： to Croesus；
king of Lydia； to the king of Cappadocia； to both the Phrygias； to the
Paphlagonians and the Indians； to the Carians and the Cilicians。 And
he bade them spread slanders abroad against the Persians and the
Medes； and say moreover that these were great and mighty kingdoms
which had come together and made alliance by marriage with one
another； and unless a man should be beforehand with them and bring
down their power it could not be but that they would fall on each of
their neighbours in turn and subdue them one by one。 So the nations
listened to the messengers and made alliance with the king of Assyria：
some were persuaded by what he said and others were won over by gifts
and gold； for the riches of the Assyrian were great。 ＇4＇ Now Cyaxares；
the son of Astyages； was aware of these plots and preparations； and he
made ready on his side； so far as in him lay； sending word to the
Persian state and to Cambyses the king； who had his sister to wife。
And he sent to Cyrus also； begging him to come with all speed at the
head of any force that might be furnished； if so be the Council of
Persia would give him men…at…arms。 For by this time Cyrus had
accomplished his ten years among the youths and was now enrolled with
the grown men。 ＇5＇ He was right willing to go； and the Council of
Elders appointed him to command the force for Media。 They bade him
choose two hundred men among the Peers； each of them to choose four
others from their fellows。 Thus was formed a body of a thousand Peers：
and each of the thousand had orders to raise thirty men from the
commonsten targeteers； ten slingers； and ten archersand thus three
regiments were levied； 10；000 archers； 10；000 slingers； and 10；000
targeteers； over and above the thousand Peers。 The whole force was to
be put under the command of Cyrus。 ＇6＇ As soon as he was appointed；
his first act had been to offer sacrifice； and when the omens were
favourable he had chosen his two hundred Peers； and each of them had
chosen their four comrades。 Then he called the whole body together；
and for the first time spoke to them as follows：
＇7＇ 〃My friends； I have chosen you for this work； but this is not the
first time that I have formed my opinion of your worth： from my
boyhood I have watched your zeal for all that our country holds to be
honourable and your abhorrence for all that she counts base。 And I
wish to tell you plainly why I accepted this office myself and why I
ask your help。 ＇8＇ I have long felt sure that our forefathers were in
their time as good men as we。 For their lives were one long effort
towards the self…same deeds of valour as are held in honour now； and
still； for all their worth； I fail to see what good they gained either
for the state or for themselves。 ＇9＇ Yet I cannot bring myself to
believe that there is a single virtue practised among mankind merely
in order that the brave and good should fare no better than the base
ones of the earth。 Men do not forego the pleasures of the moment to
say good…bye to all joy for evermoreno； this self…control is a
training； so