bestir yourself for your friends, if you can do nothing for us in our
need, we must turn elsewhere." [13] When Cyrus heard that he was stung
to the quick: he went away in silence and urged himself to put on a
bold face, and so went in to his grandfather, not, however, without
planning first how he could best bring in the matter. Accordingly he
began thus: "Tell me, grandfather," said he, "if one of your slaves
were to run away, and you caught him, what would you do to him?" "What
else should I do," the old man answered, "but clap irons on him and
set him to work in chains?" "But if he came back of his own accord,
how would you treat him then?" "Why, I would give him a whipping, as a
warning not to do it again, and then treat him as though nothing had
happened." "It is high time then," said the boy, "that you began
getting a birch ready for your grandson: for I am planning to take my
comrades and run away on a hunting expedition." "Very kind of you to
tell me, beforehand," said Astyages. "And now listen, I forbid you to
set foot outside the palace grounds. A pretty thing," he added, "if
for the sake of a day's hunting I should let my daughter's lamb get
lost." [14] So Cyrus did as he was ordered and stayed at home, but he
spent his days in silence and his brow was clouded. At last Astyages
saw how bitterly the lad felt it, and he made up his mind to please
him by leading out a hunting-party himself. He held a great muster of
horse and foot, and the other lads were not forgotten: he had the
beasts driven down into the flat country where the horses could be
taken easily, and then the hunt began in splendid style. After the
royal fashion--for he was present in person himself--he gave orders
that no one was to shoot until Cyrus had hunted to his heart's
content. But Cyrus would not hear of any such hindrance to the others:
"Grandfather," he cried, "if you wish me to enjoy myself, let my
friends hunt with me and each of us try our best." [15] Thereupon
Astyages let them all go, while he stood still and watched the sight,