按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 ans