Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/145

Rh I could not help hating that man, because I thought he stole my son's heart away from me. My son admired him more than he did myself." "Well," said Cyrus, "that was a natural weakness of yours, and your son must now forgive you." The introduction of this incident, in obvious allusion to the treatment of Socrates by the "fathers" of Athens, is very characteristic of the manner of the 'Cyropædeia.'

Perhaps the most famous episode which the book contains is the tale of Abradâtes and Panthea. In one of Cyrus's battles with the Assyrians, the enemy's camp was stormed, and a great prize, both in spoil and prisoners, was taken. Among the captives was Panthea, a lady of Susa, the wife of Abradâtes, an Assyrian prince, who was himself absent, having been sent on a mission to Bactria. The Median officers, in disposing of the booty, set aside this lady as a complimentary offering to Cyrus. He, learning what had been arranged, requested Araspes, for whom he had had a sort of friendship from boyhood, to take charge of the lady. Araspes, on receiving the order, asked, "But have you seen the person whom you wish me to take charge of?" Cyrus replied that he had not. On which the other said, "I have seen her, though, and she is simply the most beautiful creature that was ever born of mortals throughout the whole of Asia. Even when she was sitting on the ground, covered with a veil, there was something about her that distinguished her from the other women. But when she stood up, still veiled and weeping, she was not only divinely tall, but had an indescribable grace and tragic