(1) So Cyrus often chattered like this. At last his mother went away, but Cyrus stayed and was raised there. He quickly became involved with his agemates so that he became on familiar terms with them, and he quickly attached their fathers to him, both by visiting and by making it plain that he was affectionate toward their sons. Consequently, if they needed anything from the king, they used to bid their sons to ask Cyrus to accomplish it for them, and Cyrus, because of his benevolence and his ambition, was very concerned to accomplish whatever the boys asked of him. (2) And Astyages was not able to refuse to gratify Cyrus in whatever he asked of him, for when his grandfather was sick, Cyrus never left him and never ceased weeping, but he made it plain to all that he was extremely afraid that he might die. Also at night, if Astyages needed anything, Cyrus used to perceive it first and would leap up with the greatest alacrity of all in order to serve him in whatever way he thought would gratify him. He thus won Astyages over to the highest degree.
(3) He was perhaps too ready with words, partly through his education (because he was compelled by his teacher both to give an account of what he was doing when he issued judgments and to obtain an account from others). Moreover, because he loved to learn, he himself used to ask many questions of whomever was around about how things happened to be. Because he had such a sharp mind, he answered quickly whatever he himself was asked by others. As a result of all these things, his readiness with words developed. But just as in the case of the body, the youthfulness of those who grow large even while young nevertheless shines through and betrays their few years, so there appeared to be no boldness in Cyrus’ talkativeness, but simplicity and affection, so that one would desire to hear still more from him rather than to be with him when he was silent.
(4) But as time, with an increase of stature, brought him into the season in which one becomes a young man, he then used fewer words and a gentler voice. He was so filled with shame that he blushed whenever he encountered his elders, and his puppyish running up to all alike was no longer so prominent in him. Thus, he was gentler but altogether charming in his associations, for even where those of the same age often compete against each other, he did not challenge his associates where he knew that he was superior, but he began right where he knew quite well that he himself was inferior, professing that he would perform more nobly than they. He would begin at once, leaping up on his horse, intending either to shoot his bow or throw his spear from horseback, even though he was not yet firmly mounted. When defeated, he would laugh at himself most vigorously.
(5) He did not run from being defeated into the refuge of not doing that in which he had been defeated; rather, he immersed himself in trying to do better the next time. He therefore quickly became the equal of his agemates in horsemanship, quickly surpassed them because he loved37 the work, and quickly used up all the wild animals in the park, because he chased, threw at, and killed them. Consequently, Astyages was no longer able to collect wild animals for him. And Cyrus, perceiving that Astyages wished to provide him with many animals but was not able to, said to him, “Grandfather, why must you be bothered looking for wild animals? If you send me out on a hunt with my uncle, I will believe that you are raising for me whatever wild animals I see.” (6) But even though he vehemently desired to go out on a hunt, he was no longer able to implore his grandfather as he had done when he was a boy, but he approached him with greater hesitation. And as for what he previously used to blame in Sakas, that he did not admit him to his grandfather, he himself now became a Sakas to himself, for he did not approach without seeing whether it was opportune, and he begged Sakas by all means to indicate to him when it was allowable to approach and when it was opportune. Consequently, Sakas was now exceedingly friendly to him, as were all the others.
(7) Now when Astyages realized that he vehemently desired to go hunting outside the park, he sent him out with his uncle. He also sent along older guards on horseback, in order that they might protect him from dangerous places and in the event some fierce wild animal should appear. Therefore, Cyrus inquired enthusiastically of his attendants which wild animals one should not approach and which one should pursue boldly. They said that bears had already killed many of those who approached them, as had boars, lions, and leopards; but that deer, antelopes, wild pigs, and wild asses were harmless. They also said that one must guard against dangerous places no less than against wild animals, for many have been thrown from cliffs, horses and all. (8) So Cyrus was learning all these things with enthusiasm. But when he saw a deer leap out, he forgot everything he had heard and pursued it, seeing nothing but the way it went as it fled. His horse made a sort of leap, fell on his knees, and nearly threw Cyrus over his neck. Nevertheless, Cyrus somehow stayed mounted, though with difficulty, and the horse got back up. When he got to the open ground, he threw his spear and struck the deer down—a beautiful thing, and large. Now he, of course, was exceedingly delighted; but the guards, when they got near to ^m, reproached him and told him of the danger into which he had gone, and said that they would report him. So Cyrus stood there, dismounted, and was distressed by what he heard. But when he perceived a shout, he leaped up on his horse as would one possessed;38 and when he saw a boar bearing down upon them, he rushed straight toward it, poised [his spear], and with a good aim struck the boar in the forehead and brought it down. (9) Now, however, after seeing his boldness, his uncle reproached him. Even though his uncle was reproaching him, he nevertheless begged him to allow him to carry off whatever he himself had taken and to give it to his grandfather.
They say that his uncle said, “But if he perceives that you were giving chase, he will reproach not only you but also me, because I allowed you.”
“If he wishes,” it is said that he said, “let him beat me, but after I give him the game. And you too, uncle, take vengeance in whatever way you wish, but gratify me in this.”
And, of course, Cyaxares said at last, “Do what you wish, for it looks like you are now our king.”
(10) Thus Cyrus, carrying off the wild animals, gave them to his grandfather and said that he himself had hunted them for him. He did not show him the spears, but he put them, still bloody, where he thought his grandfather would see them.
Astyages said, “My child, I accept with pleasure what you give me, but I certainly do not need any of this game so much that you should run such risks for it.”
And Cyrus said, “Well, if you do not need it, grandfather, please give it to me, in order that I may distribute it to my agemates.”
“Take it, my child,” said Astyages, “and distribute to whomever you wish as much as you want of the rest as well.”
(11) And Cyrus, taking it, carried it off and gave it to the boys, and at the same time said, “Boys, what triflers we were when we hunted the wild animals in the park! At least to me, that seems the same as hunting animals that are tied up. For, in the first place, they were in a small space. Secondly, they were skinny and mangy, and one was lame, another maimed. But with the wild animals in the mountains and in the meadows, how beautiful, how large, how sleek they appeared! The deer leaped toward heaven as if they had wings, and the boars came on at close quarters just as they say courageous men do. Nor, owing to their bulk, could one fail to hit them. At least to me, these seem to be more beautiful even when dead than do those pent-up animals when alive. But would your fathers let you come on a hunt too?”
“Readily,” they said, “if Astyages should order it.”
And Cyrus said, “Then who could mention it to Astyages for us?”
(12) “Who would be more capable of persuading him than you?” they said.
“But, by Hera,”39 he said, “I do not know what sort of human being I have become! For neither am I up to speaking to my grandfather nor am I even capable of looking at him as I did before.40 If I advance in this direction, I fear that I may become a dolt and simpleton. Yet when I was a little boy, I seemed to be quite clever at small talk.”
“It is a bad problem,” the boys said, “if you are unable to act on our behalf when it is needed; but, rather, it will be necessary for us to ask someone else for you.”
(13) Cyrus was stung at hearing this, and going away in silence, he ordered himself to take the dare. After planning how he could speak to his grandfather with least pain and accomplish for himself and the boys what they wanted, he went in. He began, then, as follows: “Tell me, grandfather, if one of your servants runs away and you catch him, how do you treat him?”
“How else,” he said, “than by chaining him and compelling him to work.”
“And if he comes back again of his own accord,” he said, “what do you do?”
“What else,” he said, “except beat him, in order that he not do it again, and then treat him as before.”
“It is high time, then,” said Cyrus, “for you to get something ready to beat me with, since I am making plans about how to run away from you and take my agemates on a hunt.”
And Astyages said, “You acted nobly in telling me in advance, for I forbid you to stir from within. How charming it would be if I should let my daughter’s son stray off for a bit of meat!”
(14) On hearing this, Cyrus obeyed and stayed back, but he passed his time in silence, sulky and sullen-faced. When he realized that he was greatly distressed, Astyages of course wished to gratify him and led them out hunting. He assembled many infantry and cavalry troops along with the boys, chased the game onto the land suited for riding, and made a great hunt. He was himself present in kingly fashion41 and forbade anyone to throw before Cyrus had his fill of hunting. But Cyrus would not allow him to hinder the others and said, “Grandfather, if you wish me to hunt with pleasure, let all those with me give chase and compete, that each may do as well as he is able.”
(15) Of course, Astyages thereupon gave his permission, and, taking up a position, he watched them contending against the wild animals, striving for victory, giving chase, and throwing their spears. And he took pleasure in Cyrus, who, owing to his own pleasure, was not able to keep silent. Rather, like a well-bred puppy, crying out whenever he approached a wild animal, he called everyone on by name. And [Astyages] was delighted to see him laugh at one, while he perceived him praising another, not being envious in any way whatsoever. At last Astyages went away with many animals. So pleased was he with this hunt that in the future, whenever it was possible, he always went out with Cyrus and took along both many others and the boys, for Cyrus’ sake. So Cyrus spent most of his time like this, being for all a cause of pleasure and of some good, but of nothing bad.
(16) When [Cyrus] was about fifteen or sixteen years old, the son of the king of the Assyrians, who was about to get married, desired to have a hunt of his own at this time. So, hearing that there was a great deal of game in the borderlands between themselves and the Medians, and that it had not been hunted because of the war, he desired to go out to this spot. Now in order that he might hunt safely, he took along many cavalry and targeteers,42 who were to drive the game out of the bushes into places that were cultivated and good for the chase. When he arrived where their forts and garrison were, he had his dinner, intending to go hunting early on the next day (17) When evening came, a garrison of cavalry and infantry arrived from the city to relieve its predecessor, so it seemed to him that a great army was now on hand, for there were two garrisons of guards together, and he himself had come with many cavalry and infantry troops. He thus deliberated that it would be very good to take plunder from the Median territory, and he believed both that this deed would appear more brilliant than the hunt and that there would be a great abundance of victims for sacrifice. Getting up very early, therefore, he led his army out. He left the infantry collected on the borderlands, but he himself pressed on with his cavalry to the Median forts. And keeping the best and the greatest number with himself, he stayed there so that the Median guards would not try to help out against those who were overrunning the country. Such as were suited to the purpose he dispatched in groups, some to overrun one place and some another, and he ordered that they surround and seize whatever they chanced upon and bring it to him.43 So this is what they were doing.
(18) But when it was reported to Astyages that there were enemies in the country, he went out in aid, both he himself toward the borders with his guard and his son similarly with such cavalry as happened to be at hand, and he signaled to all the others to come help. But when they saw the many Assyrians44 drawn up in order, with their horses standing still, the Medes also came to a halt. Cyrus, seeing others going in a rush to help, also went to help. And then he himself put on armor for the first time, though he had thought he never would, so much had he desired to be clad in it. His armor was very beautiful and fitted him, for his grandfather had had it made to suit his body. Having thus put on his armor, he set out on his horse. And when Astyages saw him, he wondered by whose order he came, but he nevertheless told him to remain near him.
(19) When he saw many knights45 in front of him, Cyrus said, “Grandfather, are they enemies who are sitting quietly on their horses?”
“Of course they are enemies,” he said.
“And those too who are riding in pursuit?”
“They also, of course,” he said.
“By Zeus, then, Grandfather,” he said, “though they seem to be worthless fellows mounted on worthless horses, they are plundering our things, so some of us must charge against them.”
“But do you not see, my child,” he said, “what a mass of cavalry. stands there in close order? If we charge against the others, they in turn will cut us off. Our full strength is not yet present.”
“But,” said Cyrus, “if you stay here and join with those who are coming up to help us, those [of the enemy who are in close order] will be afraid and will not move, while the plunderers will immediately drop their booty when they see others charging against them.”
(20) When he said this, it seemed to Astyages that he had a point; and while wondering at how prudent and alert he was, he ordered his son to take a detachment of horses and charge those who were taking the booty. “I,” he said, “will charge these [men in close order] if they move against you, so that they will be compelled to pay attention to us.”
Accordingly, Cyaxares took some of the strongest horses and men, and attacked. And when Cyrus saw them starting out, he started out; and quickly becoming the first, it was he who led them at a rapid pace, and Cyaxares followed after, and the others did not fall behind. When the plunderers saw them approaching, they promptly dropped the booty and took flight. (21) Cyrus and his followers cut them off, and whomever they overtook they promptly struck down; and Cyrus was the first to do so. They also pursued those who had turned aside to elude them, and they did not slacken but took some of them. Just as a well-bred but inexperienced dog rushes without forethought against a boar, so also rushed Cyrus, seeing only that he struck whomever he caught, with forethought for nothing else. When the enemy saw their own troops in distress, they moved their main mass forward, expecting that the attackers would cease their pursuit as soon as they saw them move forward. (22) None the more did Cyrus slacken, but in his battle joy called out to his uncle and continued the pursuit; and pressing on, he made the enemies’ rout complete. And Cyaxares followed, of course, perhaps also being ashamed before his father; and the others followed as well, being in such circumstances more than ordinarily enthusiastic to pursue, even those who may not have been very stout against the opposition.
When Astyages saw the one side pursuing without forethought, while the enemy, close together and in good order, marched to meet them, he was afraid that his son and Cyrus might suffer some harm from falling in disorder on others who were prepared to meet them. He thus immediately advanced against the enemy. (23) Now when the enemy saw the Medes move forward, they stood still, some with spears poised, others with bows drawn, in the expectation that [the Medes] would halt when they came within bowshot, as for the most part it was their habit to do, for they used to chase each other only to this point, even when they were at their closest, and they often skirmished at long range until evening. But when they saw their own troops coming toward them in flight, and Cyrus and his followers pressing close behind them, and Astyages with his cavalry being already within bowshot, they gave way and fled. Those pursuing at close range and with all vigor took many, and what they captured they struck, both horses and men, and what fell they killed. Nor did they stop until they came up with the Assyrian infantry. Here, however, fearing that an even greater force might lie in ambush, they halted. (24) Astyages then led his troops back, rejoicing greatly over the cavalry victory. As for Cyrus, Astyages did not know what to say about him, for he knew that he was the cause of the deed but also recognized that he was mad with daring. Even then when they were going home, in fact, he alone, apart from the others, did nothing but ride around and gaze at46 the fallen, and it was with difficulty that those who were ordered to do so dragged him away and led him to Astyages. As he came he kept his escort very much in front, because he saw that his grandfather’s face was angry at sight of him.
(25) So these things happened in Media. And not only did everyone else have Cyrus on his lips, both in speech and in song, but Astyages, who had honored47 him even before, was then quite astonished by him. Cyrus’ father, Cambyses, was pleased to learn these things; but when he heard that Cyrus was already performing a man’s deeds, he recalled him in order that he might fulfill what was customary among the Persians. It is reported that Cyrus said on this occasion that he wished to return, in order that his father not be at all annoyed with him and that his city not blame him. It also seemed necessary to Astyages to send him away. So giving him the horses that he himself desired to take and furnishing him with many other things of all sorts, both because he loved him and at the same time because he had great hopes that he would be a man competent to help his friends and bring his enemies to grief, he sent him off. Everyone—children, his agemates, men, and elders—escorted Cyrus on horseback as he left, as did Astyages himself; and they said that there was no one who turned back without tears.
(26) It is said that Cyrus himself shed many tears when he departed. They also say that of the gifts that Asytages had given to him, he gave out many to his agemates, and that at last, taking off the Median robe he was wearing, he gave even this to someone, showing that he liked especially. It is said that those who received and accepted the gifts carried them off to Astyages, that Astyages on receiving them sent them off to Cyrus, and that he again sent them back to the Medians saying, “If you wish, grandfather, for me to come back again to you with pleasure and without being ashamed, let everyone to whom I have given something keep it.” When Astyages heard this, he is said to have done just as Cyrus had enjoined.
(27) If one must make mention also of an account about a boyfriend,48 it is said49 that when Cyrus was going away and they were taking leave of each other, his relatives sent him off with a Persian custom, kissing him on the mouth, for the Persians still do this even now. One of the Medes who was a very noble and good man50 had been struck for quite a long time by Cyrus’ beauty; and when he saw [Cyrus’] relatives kissing him, he stayed behind. After the others went away, he came up to Cyrus and said, “Am I the only one of your relatives that you do not recognize, Cyrus?”
“What!” Cyrus said. “Are you a relative as well?”
“Certainly,” he said.
“Then this is why,” Cyrus said, “you used to stare at me, for I think that I often recognized you doing this.”
“I always wished to approach you,” he said, “but, by the gods, I was ashamed.”
“But you ought not have been so,” Cyrus said, “at least since you are a relative.” He then went up to him and kissed him.
(28) Upon being kissed, the Mede asked, “So among the Persians is it a custom to kiss one’s relatives?”
“Certainly,” he said, “at least when they see each other after a length of time or when they are going away.”
“It would be high time,” said the Mede, “that you kiss me again, for, as you see, I am now going away.”
Kissing him again, Cyrus dismissed him and went away. They had not yet gone far when the Mede arrived again with his horse in a sweat. On seeing him, Cyrus said, “Did you forget something you wished to say?”
“No, by Zeus,” he said, “but I am returning after a length of time.”
And Cyrus said, “Yes, by Zeus, cousin, a short one indeed.”
“What do you mean, ‘short’?” the Mede said. “Do you not know, Cyrus, that even so long as it takes me to blink seems to me to be an extremely long time, because I then do not see you, such as you are.” Here it is said that Cyrus, in tears just before, laughed and told him to go away cheerfully because he would be with them again in a short time, so that it would be possible for him to look at him, if he wished, without blinking.