The histories of Herodotus;

no-112] THE BIRTH OF CYRUS 45
shouldst save the child, thou shalt die by the most cruel death
and I am appointed to see the child exposed." The herdsman,
having heard these words, took the infant, returned back
by the same way, and reached his cottage. It so happened
that his wife, whose confinement had been daily expected,
was brought to bed while he was absent in the city. And
each had been in a state of anxiety for the other; he being
alarmed about his wife's delivery, and the woman because
Harpagus, who had not been accustomed to do so, had sent
for her husband. When he returned and came up to her, she
seeing him thus unexpectedly, first asked him why Harpagus
had sent for him in such haste. " Wife," said he, " when I
reached the city, I saw and heard what I wish I had never
seen, nor had ever befallen our masters. The whole house
of Harpagus was filled with lamentations ; I, greatly alarmed,
went in, and as soon as I entered I saw an infant lying before
me, panting and crying, dressed in gold and a robe of various
colours. When Harpagus saw me, he ordered me to take
up the child directty, and carry him away, and expose him
in the part of the mountain most frequented by wild beasts
telling me at the same time that it was Astyages who imposed
this task on me, and threatening the severest punishment if
I should fail to do it. I took up the infant and carried him
away, supposing him to belong to one of the servants ; for I
had then no suspicion whence he came ; though I was astonished
at seeing him dressed in gold and fine apparel ; and
also at the sorrow which evidently prevailed in the house of
Harpagus. But soon after, on my way home, I learned the
whole truth from a servant who accompanied me out of the
city and delivered the child into my hands ; that he was born
of Mandane, Astyages's daughter, and of Cambyses, son of
Cyrus, and that Astyages had commanded him to be put to
death."
As the herdsman uttered these last words, he uncovered
the child and showed it to his wife ; she seeing that the child
was large and of a beautiful form, embraced the knees of her
husband, and with tears besought him by no means to expose
it. He said that it was impossible to do otherwise; for that
spies would come from Harpagus to see the thing done, and
he must himself die the most cruel death if he should fail to
do it. The woman, finding she could not persuade her husband,
again addressed him as follows : " Since, then, I can
not persuade you not to expose the child, do this at least, if
it is absolutely necessary that he should be seen exposed : now
I too have been delivered, and delivered of a still-born child,
;