The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-09-03
The Youth ofCyrus the Great



his daughter Mundane to the king n
Persia, his neighbor and friend. A
this time the Kingdom Of Persia was not
as it nfterward became, vast and pow
crfnl empire; il was. on the contrary
quite small country, that one womb
consider fit for very little if if had 40,
been inhabited by a people robust and
courageous. Among the Persia, :.
was the custom to educate all a. ;,
rem, not excepting princes, i'm u rne cn,,n
schools. Here they were ~. P."'''
handle arms and use them ;I,r",neo 10
that which they were tau,h, 'u'.V mn
greatest care was dociltv, no', WIN INC
above all, temperance. MI ana
masters made the princ;nol .,.. ~ we
their lessons. because thov ,o..u, :: y,
led to all other virtues r,n o,,s"' "
order TO insure the Voting pors;onn oa,, T..
TO 1t thcy g"ve them for food only broad
water, and crosses, small bitter hcrb
that grows Near water-ccurscs.
Inc princess Mnndano. wife of tbo
KING OF Persia, had son IN whom she
gave the namc of Cvrrs. This child Mt
the earliest Age showed the hanpicst dis.
posi'loh, which Mundane. like eood
mother. did not fail tn cultivate. Shc
had him educated Mt tho public school
which the other small Persians attend
ed. We shall soon soc whether The
Young prince improved the lessons civ
en- him. CYRUS had attained the age q
twelve years, when Mandnnc took hin
to the home of his grandfather. Astv
ages The old king received him Will
/ 90, Il ..1- a.
find him so amiahle and so well educat
ed. CYRUS. on the contrary. was qnit
astonished 10 see his grnndfather's fac
painted with different figures. the eve
brows raised. the ewes colored and hi
head laden with hair that did not he
long TO him. Moreover the old mai
was clothed with necklaces and brace
lets. AT the sight of this ridiculous
dress. CYRUS. who had never seen an,
thing like il in his own country, fel
great surprise. but he was too 1iscrec
and respectful to show ANYTHING of i
before his grandfather.
His pretty savings and answers anus
ed the old king so much that he was
very DESTROYS of keeping the amiablc
child near him. In order TO retain him
as long as possible at his conrt, he offer.
cd him every day some new spectacle
some now amusement.
One day. during sumptuons feast
that Astyagcs had served for his little
grandson, Cyrus regarded with dsdain
the delicate food with which the table
was covered. The king asked him with
kindness if he had no appetite.
"My grandpapa." replied Cyrus, az
80 4. 4.
rcpasis. In my country when we are
hungry we satisfy ourselves with
bread and crosses
Astyagcs. delighted at the temperance
of the child, permitted him 10 distri-
buic to the officers present all the dishes
which covered the banquet table.
Cyrus did not wait for him 10 speak
twice, and without showing the least
regret, he gave the assistants the deli
cious viands, the greater part of which
were so delightful that they might well
tempt children of his age.
One officer, named Sacas, was the
only one who had no part in the larg-
ness of the little prince. Now this
Sacas was the cup-bearer of the king,
that is, he poured the wine for him to
drink. Astyagcs showed some uncasi-
moss at Cyrus that he had ailronted this
officer, for he believed that no person
was better suited than Sacas TO fill his
cup, and having valued his services for
n long time, he had conceived for him
quite paiicular affection.
"If that only is necessary" my father.
said Cyrus, Gin order to obtain your
good graccs will soon gain them, for !
undertake to serve you quite as well as
this officer that You love so much"
Immediately the little Cyrusis equip
ped like cup-bearer, and behold he adj
vanccs gravclv. and the towel upon his
sholders, handing very delicatelv upon
three fingers the royal cup, that he pre-
sents TO Astyages with a grace which
charms all the attendants. Cvrns skip.
ping with joy, cried, "Poor Sacas, !
have TO be cup-bearer in thv place"
when his grandfather called him near to
embrace him.
"Mv son, am satisfied with you,'
he said; lyon are n skillful cnp-bearer
but you lave forgotten an important
ceremony: it is to taste the wine before
you pour it for me-"
at was not forgctfulness," said
CYRUS; 81 feared the liquor was olson.
eds"
"Poisoned!" cried the king; "explair
this"
eyes, my father" answered Cyrus
"for it was not long since, at repas
you gave the mobiles of your court,
saw well that after drinking this rec
liquor the head of every guest was turn
ed. One clamored, another laughed, al
taxed at random. Your guests seemed
to have forgotten that you were theil
king, and You likewise that they were
your subjects. Finally you wished tC
dance, and your limbs refused to sus
tain YOU"
"Why" exclaimed Astyagcs, "havt
you never seen your father the same
condition."
"Never," replied the child.
"And why SOP"
at is this: when he had drunk he
ceased to be thirsty, and that is all that
happened TO him."
Astyagcs was charmed with the wis
dom of his little son, who thus gave tC
his courtiers and himself lesson oI
temperance which they talked of for ,
long time, but which they did not fai
to forget the first time they fount
themselves at the table with the goot
wine of Assyria. Little Cyrus remain
ed some time with his grandfather, il
order to perfect himself in horseman
| shin and SGT thp nl1nr OaOnln a worth,