cyropaedia-第5章

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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　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　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