Page 11 - Viva Real English 4 : Ebook

1 The Boy and the Robbers

In Persia, when Cyrus the Great was king, boys were taught to tell the truth. This
was one of their first lessons at home and at school.

‘None but a coward will tell a falsehood,’ said the father of young Otanes.

‘Truth is beautiful. Always love it,’ said his mother.

When Otanes was twelve years old, his parents wished to send him to study in a
famous school in a distant city. It would be a long journey and a dangerous one.
So it was arranged that the boy should travel with a small company of merchants
who were going to the same place.

‘Goodbye, Otanes! Be always brave and truthful,’ said his father.

‘Farewell, my child! Love that which is beautiful. Despise that which is base,’ said
his mother.

The little company began its
long journey. Some of the
men rode on camels, some on

horses. They went but slowly,
for the sun was hot and the
way was rough.

Suddenly, towards evening, a
band of robbers swooped down
upon them. The merchants
were not fighting men. They

could do nothing but give up
all their goods and money.

Persia : the former name of Iran despise : feel a strong dislike for

coward : a person without courage something or someone
merchants : wholesale traders base : not having morals
swooped down : made a rapid

surprise attack
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