"Because I saw how your wits reeled and how you staggered; and you all began doing what you will not let us children do--you talked at the top of your voices, and none of you understood a single word the others said, and then you began singing in a way to make us laugh, and though you would not listen to the singer you swore that it was right nobly sung, and then each of you boasted of his own strength, and yet as soon as you got up to dance, so far from keeping time to the measure, you could barely keep your legs.
And you seemed quite to have forgotten, grandfather, that you were king, and your subjects that you were their sovereign.

Then at last I understood that you must be celebrating that 'free speech' we hear of; at any rate, you were never silent for an instant." [11] "Well, but, boy," said Astyages, "does your father never lose his head when he drinks ?" "Certainly not," said the boy.

"What happens then ?" asked the king.

"He quenches his thirst," answered Cyrus, "and that is all.

No harm follows.