Cyrus answered, "What, are
you my kinsman too?" "Yes, assuredly," the other answered, and the lad
rejoined, "Ah, then, that is why you looked at me so earnestly; and I
have seen you look at me like that, I think, more than once before."
"Yes," answered the Mede, "I have often longed to approach you, but as
often, heaven knows, my heart failed me." "But why should that be," said
Cyrus, "seeing you are my kinsman?" And with the word, he leant forward
and kissed him on the lips. [28] Then the Mede, emboldened by the kiss,
took heart and said, "So in Persia it is really the custom for relatives
to kiss?" "Truly yes," answered Cyrus, "when we see each other after a
long absence, or when we part for a journey." "Then the time has come,"
said the other, "to give me a second kiss, for I must leave you now."
With that Cyrus kissed him again and so they parted. But the travellers
were not far on their way when suddenly the Mede came galloping after
them, his charger covered with foam. Cyrus caught sight of him:--"You
have forgotten something? 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,