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 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