CH. 4.]

THE ASSYRIANS REPULSED.

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chase as soon as they should see them advancing. 22. Cyrus, notwithstanding, did not give over, but calling out to his uncle for joy, continued the pursuit, and, pressing on, put the enemy to an entire rout. Cyaxares followed, (perhaps being in awe of his father,) and the rest kept up behind, even those who would not have shown themselves very brave against men that had opposed them, being, on such an occasion, more than ordinarily eager in pursuing. Astyages, when he saw the one party so incautiously pursuing, and the enemy, in a close and regular body, marching to meet them; fearing for his son and for Cyrus, lest they, in disorder, should fall in with the enemy prepared to receive them, and suffer some harm, immediately advanced against the enemy. 23. The enemy, as soon as they saw the Medes move forward, halted, presenting some their javelins, and some their bows, in expectation that they would halt when they came within bowshot, as they generally had been accustomed to do; for within such a distance, when they approached nearest, they would ride towards one another, and frequently skirmish till evening. But when they saw their own men in full flight towards them, and those with Cyrus following close upon them, and Astyages, with his horse, advancing within bow-shot, they gave way and fed before the enemy, who pursued them at full speed, and killed several; they fell upon all that they overtook, whether man or horse, and whoever fell they killed. Nor did they stop till they came up with the Assyrian foot; but here, fearing lest some greater force than was seen might be lying in ambuscade, they desisted. 24. Astyages then led back his troops in much joy at this victory obtained by his cavalry, but knew not what to say to Cyrus, for he knew him to be the cause of the action, and saw him almost mad with excess of spirit; for while the rest were retiring home, he alone, by himself, did nothing but ride round and gaze upon those that had fallen in the action. And they who were sent for the purpose could with difficulty tear him away and bring him to Asyages, while he kept his conductors constantly before him, because he saw the countenance of his grandfather grow extremely stern at the sight of him.2

'That is, their nearest approach to each other was only within bow-shot.

· Ἐπὶ τῇ θέᾳ τῇ αὑτοῦ.] I have given these words the sense in

25. These things passed among the Medes, and not only all other people had Cyrus in their mouths, both in their conversation and songs, but Astyages, who before had a great esteem for him, was now struck with extraordinary admiration of him. Cambyses, the father of Cyrus, was pleased to hear these things of him; but when he heard that he was taking upon him the duties of a man, he recalled him home, that he might complete the customary education among the Persians. Cyrus is reported to have said on this occasion, "That he was desirous to return, lest his father should be dissatisfied and his country should blame him." It appeared necessary, therefore, for Astyages to send him home; and he accordingly let him depart, presenting him with such horses as he desired to have, and bestowing on him many other presents, both because he had a great affection for him, and because he entertained the strongest hopes that he would prove a man thoroughly able to do service to his friends, and give rouble to his enemies.

All the people waited upon Cyrus at his departure, both boys, youth, men, and those in years, on horseback; as did also Astyages himself; and they said that not one turned back without shedding tears. 26. It is said, too, that Cyrus himself shed many tears at parting; that he distributed nany presents among his companions and equals in age, out of the gifts which Astyages had given him; and that, at last, taking off the Median robe that he had on, he gave it to a certain youth, thus showing that he loved him the most of all. It is told that those who had taken and accepted of these preserts, returned them to Astyages, and that Astyages on receiving them, sent them to Cyrus, but that he sent them back again to the Medes, with a message to this effect: "O graidfather! if you would have me return hither again to you without shame, let every one keep what I have given him;" and that Astyages, hearing this, did as Cyrus had entreaed him to do.

27. But, if I may be allowed to relate an amusing occurrence, it is said, that when Cyrus was going away, and they were parting from one another, his relations took leave of which they are usually taken. Weiske and Bornemann think that they refer to Cyrus's contemplation of the dead bodies of the Assyians, just before mentioned.

CH. 4.]

CYRUS RETURNS TO PERSIA.

25

him with a kiss, according to the Persian custom; for the Persians retain the practice to this day; and that a certain Mede, a person of handsome figure and excellent character, stood for a long time astonished, as it were, at the beauty of Cyrus; and that, when he saw Cyrus's relations kiss him, he stayed behind, and when the rest were gone, accosted Cyrus, and said to him, "And am I, Cyrus, the only one of all your relations that you do not know?" "What!" said Cyrus, "and are you a relation?” Yes," said he. "This was the reason, then," said Cyrus, "that you used to gaze at me for I recollect that you frequently did so." "For I was very de

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sirous," said he, "to salute you, but, by the gods, was always ashamed to do it." "But," said Cyrus, “ 'you, that are a relation, ought not to have been so," and at the same time went up to him and kissed him. 28. The Mede having received the kiss, is said to have asked this question: "And is it a custom also among the Persians to kiss relations?" "It is," said Cyrus, "when they see one another after some length of time, or are going away from one another." "It must be certainly time, then," said the Mede, "for you to kiss me again; for, as you see, I am going away." So Cyrus, kissing him again, took leave of him, and went his way. They had not gone very far before the Mede came up with him again, with his horse in a sweat; and Cyrus, observing him, said, "Have you forgotten anything that you intended to say to me?" "No, by Jove!" said he, "but I am returning after some length of time." "Dear kinsman," said he, "it is certainly a very short length." "How a short one?" said the Mede: "do you not know, Cyrus," added he, "that the very time I am winking appears to me extremely long, because I do not then see you, who are so lovely?" Here Cyrus, from being before in tears, burst out into laughter, and bade him go his way cheerfully, as in a short time he would be with them again; so that he would be at liberty to look at him, if he pleased, without winking.

CHAPTER V.

Cyrus, on returning to Persia, continues another year in the class of boys. His conduct in the class of youth. His superiority over his companions. His appointment to command against the Assyrians. His troops assembled. His address to his officers.

1. CYRUS, returning thus into Persia, is said to have continued a year longer amongst the boys. At first they made jests upon him, as if he had returned to them after learning to be luxurious among the Medes. But when they saw that he dressed as they did; that he drank as they did, and with pleasure; and observed that whenever, at a festival, there were any delicacies, he was more ready to give part of his share away than to wish for any addition to it, and perceived him also in other respects superior to themselves, they then, such as were of his own age, paid him great deference. And when he had passed through the discipline of these years, and entered the class of youth, he appeared among them again superior to the rest, both in practising what was fit, in steady perseverance, in respect to his elders, and in obedience to his governors.

1

2. In process of time, Astyages died in Media, and his son Cyaxares, brother to Cyrus's mother, succeeded to the throne of the Medes. The king of Assyria, at the same time, having overthrown all the Syrians, a numerous nation, and having made the king of the Arabians his subject, having also the Hyrcanians under his dominion, and being employed in reducing the Bactrians, considered that, if he could break the power of the Medes, he should easily obtain the dominion of all the people around; for the Medes seemed to be the strongest of all the neighbouring nations. 3. He accordingly sent to all those that were subject to him, to Croesus king of Lydia, to the king of Cappadocia, to both the Phrygians, to the Paphlagonians, Indians, Carians, and Cilicians, not only loading the Medes and Persians with reproach, but saying how great, how powerful, and how united in interest,

1 He is called Aragdus, ii. 1. 5.

2 It seems necessary to insert with Bornemann rà dè kai before Aéywv in this passage; the words are found in one manuscript, as

CH. 5.]

CYRUS CHOSEN TO COMMAND.

27

these two nations were, and how they had made intermarriages with each other, and were likely, if he did not prevent them and break their power, to subdue all the neighbouring nations by attacking them one after another. Some, being persuaded by these arguments, entered into an alliance with him; and others were prevailed upon by money and presents; for of these he had abundance.

4. Cyaxares, the son of Astyages, when he became aware of this design, and the preparations of those uniting against him, immediately made the utmost preparations that he was able, to oppose them. He sent to the Persians, both to the public council, and to Cambyses who was married to his sister, and was king of Persia; and he sent likewise to Cyrus, desiring him to endeavour to come as commander of the forces, if the public council of the Persians should send any; for Cyrus, by this time, had completed ten years amongst the youth, and was now ranked among the full-grown men.

5. As Cyrus was willing to undertake the charge, the elders, in council, chose him commander of the expedition into Media. They gave him power to choose two hundred from amongst the Equals-in-honour; and to each of these two hundred they gave power to choose four of their own order. These altogether made a thousand; and to each of these thousand they gave permission to choose, from amongst the common people of Persia, ten peltasts, ten slingers, and ten archers. Thus there were ten thousand archers, ten thousand peltasts, and ten thousand slingers; and there were the thousand besides. So great was the army that was given to Cyrus. 6. But as soon as he was chosen, he began by addressing himself to the gods; and, having sacrificed with good omen, he then chose the two hundred; and, when these had afterwards chosen each their four, he assembled them together, and spoke to them, for the first time, to the following effect:

7. "Friends, I have chosen you, not as having now first Fischer observes. Το make οἱ δὲ καὶ δώροις the apodosis to τὰ μὲν διαβάλλων, when οἱ μέν intervenes, seems much too forced.

1 Τῶν ὁμοτίμων.] The ὁμότιμοι were sons of the higher class of Persians, who could afford to have their children well educated; they are opposed here to ὁ δῆμος τῶν Περσῶν. Xenophon, when he adopted this term, seems to have had in his mind (as Schneider observes ad Hellen. iii. 3. 5) the Lacedæmonian oμotot.