Book 1
3.4
And then again, when Astyages dined withA Median dinner his daughter and Cyrus, he set before him dainty side-dishes and all sorts of sauces and meats, for he wished the boy to enjoy his dinner as much as possible, in order that he might be less likely to feel homesick. And Cyrus, they say, observed: How much trouble you have at your dinner, grandfather, if you have to reach out your hands to all these dishes and taste of all these different kinds of food! Why so? said Astyages. Really now, don’t you think this dinner much finer than your Persian dinners? No, grandfather, Cyrus replied to this; but the road to satiety is much more simple and direct in our country than with you; for bread and meat take us there; but you, though you make for the same goal as we, go wandering through many a maze, up and down, and only arrive at last at the point that we long since have reached.
3.5
But, my boy, said Astyages, we do not object to this wandering about; and you also, he added, if you taste, will see that it is pleasant. But, grandfather, said Cyrus, I observe that even you are disgusted with these viands. And by what, pray, do you judge, my boy, asked Astyages, that you say this?Because said he, I observe that when you touch bread, you do not wipe your hand on anything; but when you touch any of these other things you at once cleanse your hand upon your napkin, as if you were exceedingly displeased that it had become soiled with them.
3.6
Well then, my boy, Astyages replied to this, if that is your judgment, at least regale yourself with meat, that you may go back home a strong young man. And as he said this, he placed before him an abundance of meat of both wild and domestic animals.And when Cyrus saw that there was a great quantity of meat, he said: And do you really mean to give me all this meat, grandfather, to dispose of as I please? Yes, by Zeus, said he, I do.
