There is something else you wanted to say?" "No," said the Mede, "it
is only such a long, long while since we met." "Such a little, little
while you mean, my kinsman," answered Cyrus. "A little while!"
repeated the other. "How can you say that? Cannot you understand that
the time it takes to wink is a whole eternity if it severs me from the
beauty of your face?"

Then Cyrus burst out laughing in spite of his own tears, and bade the
unfortunate man take heart of grace and be gone. "I shall soon be back
with you again, and then you can stare at me to your heart's content,
and never wink at all."

[C.5] Thus Cyrus left his grandfather's court and came home to Persia,
and there, so it is said, he spent one year more as a boy among boys.
At first the lads were disposed to laugh at him, thinking he must have
learnt luxurious ways in Media, but when they saw that he could take
the simple Persian food as happily as themselves, and how, whenever
they made good cheer at a festival, far from asking for any more
himself he was ready to give his own share of the dainties away, when
they saw and felt in this and in other things his inborn nobleness and
superiority to themselves, then the tide turned and once more they
were at his feet.

And when this part of his training was over, and the time was come for
him to join the younger men, it was the same tale once more. Once more
he outdid all his fellows, alike in the fulfilment of his duty, in the
endurance of hardship, in the reverence he showed to age, and the
obedience he paid to authority.

[2] Now in the fullness of time Astyages died in Media, and Cyaxares