And when the time came for Cyrus to go, the whole world poured out to speed him on his journey--little children and lads of his own age, and grown men and greybeards on their steeds, and Astyages the king.

And, so says the chronicle, the eyes of none were dry when they turned home again.

[26] Cyrus himself, they tell us, rode away in tears.

He heaped gifts on all his comrades, sharing with them what Astyages had given to himself; and at last he took off the splendid Median cloak he wore and gave it to one of them, to tell him, plainer than words could say, how his heart clung to him above the rest.

And his friends, they say, took the gifts he gave them, but they brought them all back to Astyages, who sent them to Cyrus again.