bring from home the staple of their meal, dry bread with nasturtium
for a relish, and to slake their thirst they bring a drinking-cup, to
dip in the running stream. In addition, they are taught to shoot with
the bow and to fling the javelin.

The lads follow their studies till the age of sixteen or seventeen,
and then they take their places as young men.

[9] After that they spend their time as follows. For ten years they
are bound to sleep at night round the public buildings, as we said
before, and this for two reasons, to guard the community and to
practise self-restraint; because that season of life, the Persians
conceive, stands most in need of care. During the day they present
themselves before the governors for service to the state, and,
whenever necessary, they remain in a body round the public buildings.
Moreover, when the king goes out to hunt, which he will do several
times a month, he takes half the company with him, and each man must
carry bow and arrows, a sheathed dagger, or "sagaris," slung beside
the quiver, a light shield, and two javelins, one to hurl and the
other to use, if need be, at close quarters. [10] The reason of this
public sanction for the chase is not far to seek; the king leads just
as he does in war, hunting in person at the head of the field, and
making his men follow, because it is felt that the exercise itself is
the best possible training for the needs of war. It accustoms a man to
early rising; it hardens him to endure head and cold; it teaches him
to march and to run at the top of his speed; he must perforce learn to
let fly arrow and javelin the moment the quarry is across his path;
and, above all, the edge of his spirit must needs be sharpened by
encountering any of the mightier beasts: he must deal his stroke when
the creature closes, and stand on guard when it makes its rush: