and saw how they raced to attack the quarry and how their ambition
burned within them as they followed up the chase and let fly their
javelins. But above all he was overjoyed to see how his grandson could
not keep silence for sheer delight, calling upon his fellows by name
whenever he came up with the quarry, like a noble young hound, baying
from pure excitement. It gladdened the old man's heart to hear how
gleefully the boy would laugh at one of his comrades and how eagerly
he would applaud another without the slightest touch of jealousy. At
length it was time to turn, and home they went, laden with their
mighty trophies. And ever afterwards, so well pleased was the king
with the day's hunting, that whenever it was possible, out he must go
with his grandson, all his train behind him, and he never failed to
take the boys also, "to please Cyrus." Thus did Cyrus spend his early
life, sharing in and helping towards the happiness of all, and
bringing no sorrow to any man.

[16] But when he was about fifteen years of age, it chanced that the
young Prince of Assyria, who was about to marry a wife, planned a
hunting-party of his own, in honour of the bridal. And, having heard
that on the frontiers of Assyria and Media there was much game to be
got, untouched and unmolested because of the war, the prince chose
these marches for his hunting-ground. But for safety sake he took with
him a large escort of cavalry and targeteers, who were to drive the
beasts down from their lairs into the cultivated levels below where it
was easy to ride. He set out to the place where the Assyrian outposts
were planted and a garrison on duty, and there he and his men prepared
to take their supper, intending to begin the hunt with the morrow's
dawn. [17] And as evening had fallen, it happened that the night-
watch, a considerable body of horse and foot, arrived from the city to
relieve the garrison on guard. Thus the prince found that he had