The histories of Herodotus;

50 HERODOTUS—BOOK I, CLIO [120-123
issued in a trifling event, we ourselves take courage, and advise
you to do the like, and to send the boy out of your sight to his
parents in Persia." When, therefore, Astyages heard this he
was delighted, and, having called for Cyrus, said to him
" Child, I have been unjust to you, by reason of a vain dream
but you survive by your own destiny. Now go in happiness
to Persia, and I will send an escort to attend you : when you
arrive there you will find a father and mother very different
from the herdsman Mitradates and his wife."
Astyages, having spoken thus, sent Cyrus away, and,
upon his arrival at the house of Cambyses, his parents welcomed
him ; and having received him, when they heard
who he was they embraced him with the greatest tenderness,
having been assured that he had died immediately
after his birth ; and they inquired of him by what means
his life had been preserved. He told them, saying, that before
he knew not, but that on the road he had heard the
whole case ; for that till that time he believed he was the
son of Astyages's herdsman. He related that he had been
brought up by the herdsman's wife ; and he went on constantly
praising her; and Cyno was the chief subject of his
talk. His parents having taken up this name (in order that
the Persians might suppose that the child was somewhat
miraculously preserved for them), spread about a report that
a bitch had nourished him when exposed : hence this report
was propagated. When Cyrus had reached man's estate, and
proved the most manly and beloved of his equals in age, Harpagus
paid great court to him, sending him presents, from his
desire to be avenged on Astyages; for he did not see that
he himself, who was but a private man, could be able to take
vengeance on Astyages. Perceiving, therefore, that Cyrus
was growing up to be his avenger, he contracted a friendship
with him, comparing the sufferings of Cyrus with his own.
And before this he had made the following preparations : seeing
Astyages severe in his treatment of the Medes, Harpagus,
holding intercourse with the chief persons of the nation, one
after another, persuaded them that they ought to place him
at their head, and depose Astyages. When he had effected
his purpose in this respect, and all was ready, Harpagus, wishing
to discover his designs to Cyrus, who resided in Persia,
and having no other way left, because the roads were all
guarded, contrived the following artifice: having cunningly
contrived a hare, by opening its belly, and tearing off none
of the hair, he put a letter, containing what he thought necessary
to write, into the body; and having sewed up the belly
: ;