will go back a little。 With the help of what has been said before； the
account may now be brief； the Persians are said to number something
like one hundred and twenty thousand men： and of these no one is by
law debarred from honour or office。 On the contrary； every Persian is
entitled to send his children to the public schools of righteousness
and justice。 As a fact； all who can afford to bring up their children
without working do send them there： those who cannot must forego the
privilege。 A lad who has passed through a public school has a right to
go and take his place among the youths； but those who have not gone
through the first course may not join them。 In the same way the youths
who have fulfilled the duties of their class are entitled eventually
to rank with the men； and to share in office and honour： but they must
first spend their full time among the youths； if not； they go no
further。 Finally； those who as grown men have lived without reproach
may take their station at last among the elders。 Thus these elders
form a college； every member of which has passed through the full
circle of noble learning； and this is that Persian polity and that
Persian training which； in their belief； can win them the flower of
excellence。 ＇16＇ And even to this day signs are left bearing witness
to that ancient temperance of theirs and the ancient discipline that
preserved it。 To this day it is still considered shameful for a
Persian to spit in public； or wipe the nose； or show signs of wind； or
be seen going apart for his natural needs。 And they could not keep to
this standard unless they were accustomed to a temperate diet； and
were trained to exercise and toil； so that the humours of the body
were drawn off in other ways。 Hitherto we have spoken of the Persians
as a whole： we will now go back to our starting…point and recount the
deeds of Cyrus from his childhood。
＇C。3＇ Until he was twelve years old or more； Cyrus was brought up in
the manner we have described； and showed himself to be above all his
fellows in his aptitude for learning and in the noble and manly
performance of every duty。 But about this time； Astyages sent for his
daughter and her son； desiring greatly to see him because he had heard
how noble and fair he was。 So it fell out that Mandane came to
Astyages； bringing her son Cyrus with her。 ＇2＇ And as soon as they
met； the boy； when he heard that Astyages was his mother's father；
fell on his neck and kissed him without more ado； like the loving lad
nature had made him； as though he had been brought up at his
grandfather's side from the first and the two of them had been
playmates of old。 Then he looked closer and saw that the king's eyes
were stencilled and his cheeks painted； and that he wore false curls
after the fashion of the Medes in those days （for these adornments；
and the purple robes； the tunics； the necklaces； and the bracelets；
they are all Median first and last； not Persian； the Persian； as you
find him at home even now…a…days； still keeps to his plainer dress and
his plainer style of living。） The boy； seeing his grandfather's
splendour； kept his eyes fixed on him； and cried； 〃Oh； mother； how
beautiful my grandfather is！〃 Then his mother asked him which he
thought the handsomer； his father or his grandfather； and he answered
at once； 〃My father is the handsomest of all the Persians； but my
grandfather much the handsomest of all the Medes I ever set eyes on；
at home or abroad。〃 ＇3＇ At that Astyages drew the child to his heart；
and gave him a beautiful robe and bracelets and necklaces in sign of
honour； and when he rode out； the boy must ride beside him on a horse
with a golden bridle； just like King Astyages himself。 And Cyrus； who
had a soul as sensitive to beauty as to honour； was pleased with the
splendid robe； and overjoyed at learning to ride； for a horse is a
rare sight in Persia； a mountainous country； and one little suited to
the breed。
＇4＇ Now Cyrus and his mother sat at meat with the king； and Astyages；
wishing the lad to enjoy the feast and not regret his home； plied him
with dainties of every sort。 At that； so says the story； Cyrus burst
out； 〃Oh； grandfather； what trouble you must give yourself reaching
for all these dishes and tasting all these wonderful foods！〃 〃Ah；
but；〃 said Astyages； 〃is not this a far better meal than you ever had
in Persia？〃 Thereupon； as the tale runs； Cyrus answered； 〃Our way；
grandfather； is much shorter than yours； and much simpler。 We are
hungry and wish to be fed； and bread and meat brings us where we want
to be at once； but you Medes； for all your haste； take so many turns
and wind about so much it is a wonder if you ever find your way to the
goal that we have reached long ago。〃 ＇5＇ 〃Well； my lad；〃 said his
grandfather； 〃we are not at all averse to the length of the road：
taste the dishes for yourself and see how good they are。〃 〃One thing I
do see；〃 the boy said； 〃and that is that you do not quite like them
yourself。〃 And when Astyages asked him how he felt so sure of that；
Cyrus answered； 〃Because when you touch an honest bit of bread you
never wipe your hands； but if you take one of these fine kickshaws you
turn to your napkin at once； as if you were angry to find your fingers
soiled。〃 ＇6＇ 〃Well and good； my lad； well and good；〃 said the king；
〃only feast away yourself and make good cheer； and we shall send you
back to Persia a fine strong fellow。〃 And with the word he had dishes
of meat and game set before his grandson。 The boy was taken aback by
their profusion； and exclaimed； 〃Grandfather； do you give me all this
for myself； to do what I like with it？〃 〃Certainly I do；〃 said the
king。 ＇7＇ Whereupon； without more ado； the boy Cyrus took first one
dish and then another and gave them to the attendants who stood about
his grandfather； and with each gift he made a little speech： 〃That is
for you； for so kindly teaching me to ride；〃 〃And that is for you； in
return for the javelin you gave me； I have got it still；〃 〃And this is
for you； because you wait on my grandfather so prettily；〃 〃And this
for you； sir； because you honour my mother。〃 And so on until he had
got rid of all the meat he had been given。 ＇8＇ 〃But you do not give a
single piece to Sacas； my butler；〃 quoth the grandfather； 〃and I
honour him more than all the rest。〃 Now this Sacas； as one may guess；
was a handsome fellow； and he had the right to bring before the king
all who desired audience； to keep them back if he thought the time
unseasonable。 But Cyrus； in answer to his grandfather's question
retorted eagerly； like a lad who did not know what fear meant； 〃And
why should you honour him so much； grandfather？〃 Then Astyages laughed
and said； 〃Can you not see how prettily he mixes the cup； and with
what a grace he serves the wine？〃 And indeed； these royal cup…bearers
are neat…handed at their task； mixing the bowl with infinite elegance；
and pouring the wine into the beakers without spilling a drop； and
when they hand the goblet they poise it deftly between thumb and
finger for the banqueter to take。 ＇9＇ 〃Now； grandfather；〃 said the
boy； 〃tell Sacas to give me the bowl； and let me pour out the wine as
prettily as he if I can； and win your favour。〃 So the king bade the
butler hand him the bowl； and Cyrus took it and mixed the wine just as
he had seen Sacas do； and then； showing the utmost gravity and the
greatest deftness and grace； he brought the goblet to his grandfather
and offered it with such an air that his mother and Astyages； too；
laughed outright； and then Cyrus burst out laughing also； and flung
his arms round his grandfather and kissed him； crying； 〃Sacas； your
day is done！ I shall oust you from your office； you may be sure。 I
shall make just as pretty a cup…bearer as youand not drink the wine
myself！〃 For it is the fact that the king's butler when he offers the
wine is bound to dip a ladle in the cup first； and pour a little in
the hollow of his hand and sip it； so that if he has mixed poison in
the bowl it will do him no good himself。 ＇10＇ Accordingly； Astyages；
to carry on the jest； asked the little lad why he had forgotten to
taste the wine though he had imitated Sacas in everything else。 And
the boy answered； 〃Truly； I was afraid there might be poison in the
bowl。 For when you gave your birthday feast to your friends I could
see quite plainly that Sacas had put in poison for you all。〃 〃And how
did you discover that； my boy？〃 asked the king。 〃Because I saw how
your wits reeled and how you staggered； and you all began doing what
you will not let us children doyou talked at the top of your voices；
and none of you understood a single word the others said； and then you
began singing in a way to make us laugh； and though you would not
listen to the singer you swore that it was right nobly sung； and then
each of you boasted of his own strength； and yet as soon as you got up
to dance； so far from keeping time to the measure； you could barely
keep your legs。 And you seemed quite to have forgotten； grandfather；
that you were king； and your subjects that you were their sovereign。
Then at last I understood that you must be celebrating that 'free
speech' we hear of； at any rate； you were never silent for an
instant。〃 ＇11＇ 〃Well； but； boy；〃 said Astyages； 〃does your father
never lose his head when he drinks？〃 〃Certainly not；〃 said the boy。
〃What happens then？〃 asked the king。 〃He quenches his thirst；〃
answered Cyrus； 〃and that is all。 No harm follows。 You see； he has no
Sacas to mix his wine for him。〃 〃But； Cyrus；〃 put in his mother； 〃why
are you so unkind to Sacas？〃 〃Because I do so hate him；〃 answered the
boy。 〃Time after time when I have wanted to go to my grandfather this
old villain has stopped me。 Do please； grandfather； let me manage him
for three days。〃 〃And how would you set about it？〃 Astyages asked。
〃Why；〃 said the boy； 〃I will plant myself in the doorway just as he
does； and then when he wants to go in to breakfast I will say 'You
cannot have breakfast yet： HE is busy with some people；' and when he
comes for dinner I will say 'No dinner yet： HE is in his bath；' and as
he grows ravenous I will say 'Wait a little： HE is with the ladies of
the court；' until I h