The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [106]
31. He answered that he knew very well, and that whatever the king did was agreeable.
32. After this reply, he took with him such morsels of the flesh as were uneaten, and went home, intending to bury them.
33. Such was the manner in which Astyages punished Harpagus.
34. But Harpagus concealed in his heart his own desire for revenge on Astyages; and he waited until the time was ready.
Chapter 12
1. Astyages meanwhile, seeing that his grandson was a fine youth, but not wishing to have a Persian for an heir,
2. Decided to send him to his daughter Mandane and her husband, the real parents, thinking by this means to be rid of responsibility for him.
3. There in Persia Cyrus grew amain, and when Harpagus believed him to be ready, he sent him a letter concealed in the belly of a hare,
4. Telling him to rise against Astyages and take the empire of the Medes for his own.
5. ‘Whether Astyages appoint me his general, or some other noble Mede, does not signify;
6. ‘For we are all ready to revolt against his tyrannical rule, and see him overthrown,’ Harpagus wrote.
7. Cyrus considered with himself how he might best inspire the Persians to revolt against Astyages.
8. The idea he devised was as follows. He took a roll of paper, and called the Persians to an assembly.
9. Flourishing the roll aloft he said, ‘King Astyages has appointed me your general.
10. ‘I command each of you to go home and fetch your reaping-hook.’ He then dismissed the assembly.
11. Now the Persian nation is made up of many tribes. Those Cyrus assembled and persuaded to revolt from the Medes were the principal ones on which all the others are dependent.
12. They are the Pasargadae, the Maraphians and the Maspians, of whom the Pasargadae are the noblest.
13. The Achaemenidae, from which spring all the Perseid kings, is one of their clans.
14. The rest of the Persian tribes are the Panthialaeans, the Derusiaeans, the Germanians, who are engaged in husbandry;
15. The Daans, the Mardians, the Dropicans and the Sagartians, who are nomads.
16. When, in obedience to the orders they had received, the Persians came with their reaping-hooks,
17. Cyrus led them to a tract of ground, about twenty furlongs each way, covered with thorns, and ordered them to clear it before evening.
18. They accomplished their task; upon which he issued a second order to them, to take a bath the following day, and again come to him.
19. Meanwhile he collected together all his father’s flocks, both sheep and goats, and all his oxen,
20. And slaughtered them, and made ready to give a feast to the entire Persian army.
21. Wine, too, and bread of the choicest kinds were prepared for the occasion.
22. When the morrow came, and the Persians appeared, he bade them recline on the grass, and enjoy themselves.
23. After the feast was over, he requested them to tell him ‘which they liked best, today’s work, or yesterday’s?’
24. They answered that ‘The contrast was indeed strong: yesterday brought them nothing but what was laborious, today everything that was pleasant.’
25. Cyrus instantly seized on their reply, and explained his purpose in these words:
26. ‘Men of Persia, thus do matters stand with you. If you choose to listen to my words, you may enjoy these and ten thousand similar delights,
27. ‘And never condescend to any slavish toil; but if you will not listen, prepare yourselves for unnumbered toils as hard as yesterday’s.
28. ‘Now therefore follow my bidding, and be free. For myself I am ready to undertake your liberation;
29. ‘And you, I am sure, are no whit inferior to the Medes in anything, least of all courage.
30. ‘Revolt, therefore, from Astyages, without a moment’s delay.’
Chapter 13
1. The Persians, who had long been impatient of the Median yoke, now that they had found a leader, were delighted.
2. Meanwhile Astyages, informed of Cyrus’ doings, sent a messenger to summon him.
3. Cyrus replied, ‘Tell Astyages that I shall appear in his presence sooner than he will like.’
4. Astyages, when he received this message, instantly