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＇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 other gifts beside； not only
for the love he bore him but for the high hopes he had that the boy
would one day prove a man of mark； a blessing to his friends； and a
terror to his foes。 And when the time came for Cyrus to go； the whole
world poured out to speed him on his journeylittle children and lads
of his own age； and grown men and greybeards on their steeds； and
Astyages the king。 And； so says the chronicle； the eyes of none were
dry when they turned home again。 ＇26＇ Cyrus himself； they tell us；
rode away in tears。 He heaped gifts on all his comrades； sharing with
them what Astyages had given to himself； and at last he took off the
splendid Median cloak he wore and gave it to one of them； to tell him；
plainer than words could say； how his heart clung to him above the
rest。 And his friends； they say； took the gifts he gave them； but they
brought them all back to Astyages； who sent them to Cyrus again。 But
once more Cyrus sent them back to Media with this prayer to his
gra