suppers use thine owne diet and take what course thou wilt unto that which thou thinkest to stand with moderate sobriety Moreover I bestow upon thee all wild beasts that now be in my Parke and others will I get together for thee of all kinds which so soone as ever thou hast learned to ride an horse perfectly thou shalt chace at thy pleasure and by shooting and darting overthrow like as tall and mighty men are wont to doe Furthermore I will appoint certaine young Gentlemen to bee thy play-feers And in one word whatsoeuer thy mind stands to say but the word to me and thou shalt not faile but have it After that Astyages had thus said to Cyrus his mother asked him whether he would stay or depart who without any study vpon the point answered readily That tarry he would And being demaunded againe of his mother wherefore This by report was his answer Because Mother at home as I am indeed so men repute me of all my companions for shooting and darting the very best But here I know full well that in riding I come short of all my fellowes which thing I would you knew Mother how it greeveth me not a little Now if you leave mee here behind you that I may learne the feare of Horse-manship when I am come among the Persians I suppose you thinke I shall soone surpasse them as good as they are in foot-man-ship and if I returne hither unto the Medians I shall endeavour being of many good horsemen the best my selfe and most excellent to aide my Grandfather in his warres Then replyed his mother But how my sonne shalt thou learne Iustice here seeing thy Preceptors be there in Persia Why Mother quoth Cyrus I am therein perfect enough already And how knowest thou that said Mandane Forsooth quoth Cyrus because my Schoole-Master taking me for one very well and throughly seene in Iustice appointed me to be a Iudge over others And verily in deciding one time a certaine controversie I was well beaten because I gaue not sentence aright And such a case it was as this A great boy having a little coat disrobed another boy who being but small had a large coat and when he had so done put upon that boy his owne coat and with the others clad himselfe I therefore sitting as Iudge upon this matter betweene them gave judgement in this wise That for both parties it was better to have either of them the garment that fitted them But my Master did whip me for my labour saying withall that if I were made a Iudge in question of that which is meet and fit for any person I ought to proceed in that sort But when I am to determine whose coat it is then I must consider which is the rightfull possession and whether it be reason for him to enjoy it who having taken it away by violence holdeth it so or rather for him who either caused it to be made for himselfe or else bought it with his owne money he added moreover and said That a thing was then just when it was lawfull and whatsoever was unlawfull the same also was to be reputed violent and finally hee concluded that a Iudge ought alwaies to give definitive sentence according to the law And even so Mother I say to you that in matters of Iustice I am perfect enough and sufficiently practised but if in any point I be defective my Grandsire here shall and will teach me and supply my wants But sonne quoth she The same things are not all deemed just by your Grandfather here which among the Persians be received so For here in Media he hath made himselfe the absolute Lord of all that the Medes have whereas among the Persians to keep equality is held to be just Againe your Father what prescript rules are ordained in the State receiveth the same and is the first himselfe that observeth them So that the rule and measure which he goeth by is not his owne lust and will but the Law Take heed therefore my child that thou be not skourged to death at home when thou art returned thither having learned of him here in stead of Princely government Lordly tyranny the very nature and property whereof is this To thinke it reason for to have and hold more than all others besides Never feare that good Mother quoth Cyrus The King your father here is very wise and skilfull that hee can teach one to have lesse rather then covet more For see you not how he hath brought even all the Medes to this passe as to hold lesse than himselfe Be sure therefore Mother that your Father will so schoole me that when he sendeth me away I shall be instructed as well as all the rest not to covet for to possesse more than others Many such speeches and discourses as these passed from Cyrus Well at the last Mandane his Mother tooke her leave and departed but Cyrus remained behind and had there his bringing up Quickly grew he into acquaintance with his companions so as hee became very inward with them Soone also did he wind himselfe into the love and favour of their fathers both by going unto them and also by shewing what affection he bare to their children in so much as if they themselves had any suit unto the King they would bid their children to request Cyrus to take upon him for to dispatch their businesse And Cyrus for his part such was his courtesy and desire of honour tooke no greater pleasure in the world when these children requested ought than to speed their suits Neither had Astyages the power to deny any request that Cyrus made but was ready to satisfie him therein For when it hapned that the King was sicke he would never depart from him nor give over weeping that every man might well perceive how exceedingly he feared lest his Grandfather should die And if Astyages called for any thing in the night whereof he stood in need Cyrus was the first that heard him start he would up and of all others make greatest haste to minister vnto him such things as he thought might please him whereby he wonne Astyages his heart and was every way gracious with him And Cyrus to say a truth was peradventure somwhat talkative and too ful of words partly by reason of his education For that he was enforced by his schoolemaster to render a reason of all his own doings and to require as much of others when he sat in Iudgement and in part because being as he was desirous of knowledge he would ever both himselfe be inquisitive asking many questions of them that were in place how the world went with them and also whatsoever others demaunded of him such was the quicknesse of his wit he had alwaies his answer ready for them So that considering all these causes he had gotten to himselfe an habit of loquacity and much prattle But like as in their bodies who being very young are shot up and growne to great
two Iauelins the one to launce afar off the other to vse if need be close at hand-fight Now why they practise hunting in publike and wherefore the King in person is their Leader as in time of warre for he both hunteth himselfe and also taketh order that others also should hunt the reason is because this exercise seemeth to bee an exercise that most truly doth resemble warfare For it inureth them to rise early in the morning and to endure both heate and cold it traineth them to travell on foote in their march yea and to run Againe of necessity they must shoot and dart at the wilde beast wheresoeuer he hapneth to encounter them yea and oftentimes in hunting their courage can not chuse but be quickned and whetted namely when any of these fell beasts shall be presented vnto them For when the same approacheth neere strike they must and withall in any wise avoid such as violently make head So that all things considered there cannot lightly be any feat in warre which is not seene in this wilde chase When these goe forth on hunting they haue for their dinner a larger allowance somewhat as good reason is than the Boyes have howbeit in other respects alike During the time that they be hunting dine they may not and say it fall out so that they must stay long for the game or that they will for their pleasure otherwise continue the chase and tarry by it still with this their dinners allowance they make their supper and the morrow after hunt all day vntill supper-time and so these two dayes they reckon but for one because they spend but one dayes proportion * Or of bread of food Which they doe of purpose to accustome themselues that if the like occasion should happen in warre they might bee able to performe the same And looke what venison they of this age and growth get that have they for * Or pittance Cates to their bread but if they speed not they must take vp with bare * besides bread Cresses Now if any man thinke they haue no pleasure in feeding thus because Cresses be their onely Cates to their bread and as little in drinking for that they drinke nothing but sheere water let him remember how savory is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some take it for meale with water and oyle others for thick gruell of meale and milke others alâ—o for bisket bread barly meale and dry bread to him that is hungry and how sweet it is to drink sheere water when a man is dry As for these companies which remaine at home among other exercises that they practised when they were boyes they give themselues to the feate of shooting and darting In making matches also continually and striuing one to excell another they spend the time There be also certain publique games for these masteries and prizes withall proposed for the winners And in what Tribe there proue to bee the greatest number of most skilfull hardy and trusty persons in this kinde their Provost not onely for the time being but hee also who trained them vp in their boyes age is highly praised and honoured of the people therefore Moreover these young men who tarry at home the Magistrates still employ in case there be need of any guard or of serch for the finding out of malefactors likewise of heui-and cry for the intercepting or apprehension of theeves and in one word about the execution of any service that requireth either maine strength or speedy expedition Thus much of young men and their imployments Now after they haue passed these ten yeeres in this wise they come to be reckoned men of perfect age and so for the space of fiue and twenty yeeres from this their youth forward they spend after this manner At the first they give attendance as the young men did vpon the Magistrates what need soeuer the Common-wealth hath of such service especially as is to be performed by those that are both for wisdome and knowledge and also for courage and strength yet sufficient And if they must vpon some occasion goe to the warres these men who have thus farre proceeded vse no more either bowes and arrowes or darts and javelins to be launted from them but such weapons and armour as be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. meet for close fight to wit wearing a cuirace for the defence of the brest bearing in their left hand a light * Or shield of wicker Targuate such as the Persians be portrayed with in their pictures but in the right hand a sword or Cymiter And of this ranke consist all the Rulers except the * Or masters and teachers Preceptors of the boyes abouesaid Who by the time that they have spent these twenty five yeeres may well be somewhat above fifty yeeres of age and therefore then they be accompted of their ranke and number who both indeed are and also bee called * Or Elders Seniours These Auncients goe now no more to warre out of their owne countrey but remaine still at home imploied in deciding and dispatching of all causes as well publike as priuate These likewise determine iudicially matters of life and death They have the election also of all Rulers and Magistrates And if any one of the younger sort or of the middle and settled age be slacke in observing the lawes him whomsoeuer he be the Tribunes or Presidents of each Tribe and company or any other person else that will doe present And these Elders when they haue heard the cause displace the said party who being thus removed out of his ranke leadeth all the rest of his life in disgrace and infamy But to the end that the whole Common-wealth of the Persians and the forme thereof may more evidently appeare now will I returne and ascend a little higher For by reason of that discourse which hath already beene made I shall be able to declare the same very briefely The Persians are said to be in number about one hundred and twenty thousand and none of them all by law vncapable of honourable dignities and Offices of State Yea and lawfull it is for all the Persians to send their children to the common schooles of Iustice Howbeit they onely doe send who are able to keepe them otherwise in ease and doing nothing but such as cannot so doe never send them thither And verily these * Or boyes Children who haue had their Institution by the publike Schoole-masters may lawfully among the young men passe their youth forward But such as haue not bin so taught may not once come amongst them They also who haue conversed with other young men and performed their parts as the law requireth of them are allowed to step higher vnto the fellowship of those men that are come to full age to be partakers also with them in Magistracies and dignities But such as have not liued and continued out their time among the boyes or young persons abovesaid
stature above their age there appeareth neverthelesse a certaine vigorous youthfulnesse that bewraies their tender yeeres even so out of all the lavish language that Cyrus used there was seene no audaciousnesse but simplicity and loving behaviour So as any man would haue desired still to heare him speake more and more rather than to be with him when he held his peace Howbeit when in processe of time Cyrus was growen both in body and yeeres toward a young mans estate he not onely used fewer words and shorter speech but tooke himselfe also to a more still and lower voice So bashfull likewise he was that he would blush whensoever he met with any elderly persons That overmuch forwardnesse also of his in fawning upon every man and preasing into all companies like unto wanton whelps he shewed nothing so much now as before whereby he became more stayed by farre and neverthelesse in all meetings right lovely and passing well accepted For truly what games and exercises soever companions are wont many times to practise one against another looke in which hee knew himselfe better than other young Gentlemen his fellowes therein he never chalenged them but wherein he wist full well that he was the weaker he would be sure to begin first and give out withall that he would performe the same better than they Yea he assayed first before all others to vault and mount on horsebacke to shoot also and dart from his horse Went he any time away with the worse very pleasant he was and laughed at himselfe most of all By reason therefore that when hee had once the foyle hee would not shrinke and give over cleane but still assay and practise eftsoones to doe better and better those feats wherein he was inferiour in short time he became as good a rider as his fellowes within a while also such was his fervent affection to the thing he outwent and excelled them all To conclude within a little space what with chacing shooting and killing those beasts which were in the parke he made such havocke that he destroyed them all insomuch as Astyages could not get together for him more game Cyrus then perceiuing that his Grandsire was not able would he never so faine to furnish him with beasts alive many times said thus unto him What need you Grandfather to trouble your selfe so much as you doe in seeking wild beasts If you will send me forth on hunting with mine Vnkle * His mothers brother Cyaxares I will suppose that every beast which I shall see you keep up and nourish for me And in very truth exceeding desirous though he was to goe abroad into the forrest yet could he not now any more be so bold and forward as before-time when he was a child but held off and tooke good leasure to come unto his Grandfather for to get leave So that wherein heretofore he complained of Sacas for not suffering him to go unto his Grandfather he was therein become a Sacas to controll himselfe For hee would not venture to presse in unlesse he foresaw that the time served thereto yea he would not sticke to desire Sacas to doe him the favour as alwayes to signifie unto him when he might have the opportunity of accesse and when not And therefore this Sacas now loved him passing well like as all others did Now when Astyages knew once that Cyrus had such an ardent desire to hunting abroad in the Chace he sent him forth together with his said Vnkle and appointed a guard of certaine auncient Gentlemen of the Court who also were on horsebacke with speciall charge to keepe him out of daungerous places and to save him from savage beasts if haply any of them should be put up Cyrus therefore was very inquisitive of these warders that attended upon him what kind of beasts they were which he might not approach nor meddle with as also which hee might be bold to hunt Who told him that Beares Lions wild Boares and Libards had slaine already many a man adventuring to come over nigh unto them But Harts and Hinds Bucks and Does wild Sheep and wild Asses said they be nothing daungerous to be dealt withall They added moreover and said that the difficulties of some places were to be taken heed of no lesse than the very beasts For many men horse and all said they have heretofore fallen downe headlong from steep rocks and so perished Cyrus gave good care and willingly conceived all these advertisements Howbeit no sooner had he espied an Hind on foot but forgetting all that he had heard hee made after her looking to nothing in the world else but whither she made way and fled In so much as his horse under him leaping forward I wot not how fell upon his knees and went very neere to have cast him over his necke neverthelesse Cyrus made meanes though it were with much adoe to sit him still and so the horse recovered But so soone as he was come into the open field he picked his dart and overthrew the Hinde a goodly faire beast I assure you and a large whereat himselfe verily rejoyced exceeding much but his Governours and those of the guard aforesaid came riding to him apace all to rated and rebuked him shewing to what perill he had exposed himselfe and saying withall that they would tell his Grandfather of him Cyrus therefore who by this time was alighted from his horse stood still as one much grieved and troubled in his mind to heare such words But when he heard the cry he leapt presently on horsebacke againe as one beside himselfe and in a fanaticall fit and so soone as ever he saw a wild Bore affronting him he ran against it launced his jav'lin and tooke his aime so right that he struck him in the forehead astonied the beast overthrew him and gat the upper hand of him Then his Vnkle also seeing his adventurous rashnesse reproved him who notwithstanding his rebukes and checks requested him that he might with his good leave carry whatsoever himselfe had gotten unto his Grandfather and present him therewith But his Vnkle made as they say this answer Your Grandfather if he should know that you chaced these Beasts in proper person would not only chide you but reprove me also for suffering you let him skourge me too and spare not quoth he againe if it be his pleasure when I have once bestowed them vpon him And even you Vnkle may likewise chastice me if you will and as you list so you gratifie me first in this my request Well quoth Cyaxares then at length doe as you will your selfe for now already you seeme to be a King over us So Cyrus presented the beasts and gave them to his Grandfather saying withall that he had hunted the said venison for his sake As for his darts hee shewed them not openly unto him howbeit all bloody as they were he bestowed them in such a place where he thought his Grandfather should see them Then said Astyages