something like a large army at his call: the two garrisons as well as
the troop of horse and foot for the hunt. And then he asked himself
whether it would not be the best of plans to drive off booty from the
country of the Medes? In this way more lustre would be given to the
chase, and there would be great store of beasts for sacrifice. With
this intent he rose betimes and led his army out: the foot soldiers he
massed together on the frontier, while he himself, at the head of his
cavalry, rode up to the border fortresses of the Medes. Here he halted
with the strongest and largest part of his company, to prevent the
garrisons from sallying out, and meanwhile he sent picked men forward
by detachments with orders to raid the country in every direction,
waylay everything they chanced upon, and drive the spoil back to him.

[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