Upon this Astyages said jokingly, “Cyrus, since you imitated Sakas in other respects, why did you not swallow some of the wine?”

“Because, by Zeus,” he said, “I was afraid there might have been some poison mixed in the cup, for when you entertained your friends on your birthday, I learned quite clearly that he had added poison for you all.”

“And how, my child,” he said, “did you come to know this?”

“Because, by Zeus, I saw you all making mistakes, both in your judgments and with your bodies, for in the first place, you yourselves were doing such things as you do not allow us boys to do, for you all shouted at the same time, and you did not comprehend each other at all. Then you sang very ridiculously, and even though you did not listen to the singer, you all swore that he sang most excellently. Then, after each spoke of his own strength, when you stood up to dance, far from dancing in time with the rhythm, you were not even able to stand up straight. You all forgot yourselves entirely, you that you were king, the others that you were their ruler. Then I learned for the first time that what you were practicing was that liberty of speech; at least you were never silent.”

And Astyages said, “My child, has not your father gotten drunk from drinking?”

“No, by Zeus,” he said.

“But what does he do?”

“He quenches his thirst and suffers no harm, for a Sakas, grandfather, certainly does not pour his wine.”

And his mother said, “But why ever, my child, do you make war on Sakas like this?”

“Because I hate him, by Zeus,” said Cyrus, “for often when I desire to run up to my grandfather, this most wretched fellow shuts me out. But I beg you, grandfather, give me three days to rule over him.”

And Astyages said, “And how would you rule him?”

And it is said that Cyrus said, “Standing at the entrance, just as he does, whenever he wished to come in for lunch, I would say that it is not possible to have lunch yet, ‘for he is busy with certain others.’ Then, when he came for supper, I would say, ‘He is washing.’ If he were very much in earnest to eat, I would say, ‘He is with his women.’ I would detain him so long, just as he detains me, keeping me from you.”

Such amusement did he afford them at meals. At other times of the day, if he perceived either his grandfather or his mother’s brother in need of anything, it was difficult for anyone else to take care of it before he did, for Cyrus was extremely delighted to gratify them in any way within his power.