who was much moved as well against the Athenians as against Harpalus prepared a Navy to make War in person immediately against them As he was busied about it he understood by secret Letters both how Harpalus had been in Athens and had corrupted with Money the chief of the City and also how afterwards by a Council of the People he was commanded to depart from thence and returning amongst the Greek Souldiers he was betrayed and slain by one of them These news greatly rejoyced Alexander whereby he had occasion to leave off his Journey into Europe but he sent commandment to all the Cities of Greece that they should receive all their banished men such only excepted as had committed any murder on their own Country-men Although the Greeks knâ—w this to be the breach of their Laws and Liberties yet as men that 〈◊〉 not disobey his Will they called home their banished men and restored to such of them their Goods who did remain Only the Athenians who evermore defended obstinately the Liberties of their Common-wealth and who had not been accustomed to live under the obedience of any King but under the Laws and Customs of their Country would not permit that such dregs of men should live amongst them but did drive them out of their bounds ready to suffer any thing rather than to receive such who sometime were the vomit of all their City and the refuse of the Outlaries The time was come that Alexander now intended to dismiss his old Souldiers and to send them home into their Country but he willed first thirteen thousand Footmen and two thousand Horsemen to be chosen out to remain still in Asia which he judged might be kept with a small Army because he thought the many Garisons he had planted and the Cities which he had newly builded and filled with Inhabitants would be able to awe such as should attempt any Rebellion But before he would distinguish who should depart and who should remain he caused a Proclamation to be made That all Souldiers should declare their debts wherewith he perceived many of them to be heavily burdened and though it did rise through their own excess yet he was determined to discharge every man But the Souldiers thinking it had been but a device to finde who were most prodigal delayed the time and brought not in their Declarations The King perceived shame to be the cause thereof and not disobedience or obstinacy and therefore he caused Tables to be set up through his Camp and ten thousand Talents to be brought forth of all which Treasure when their Debts were paid according to the just accompt there remained of Talents no more but an hundred and thirty Whereby it appeared That they who were the Conquerours of so many rich Nations brought out of Asia more Glory than Spoil After it was once known that some should be dismissed and some remain behinde they thought the King would have established his Kingdom perpetually in Asia Wherefore like madmen and unmindful of all Discipline of War they filled the Camp full of seditious words and came to the King more arrogantly and with greater violence than ever they did before and all with one voice required to be discharged shewing him the hoariness of their hair and their faces deformed with scars And herein they could not be staid either by chastisement of their Officers or by any reverence of their King but when he would have spoken unto them they would not suffer him to be heard but disturbed his Speech with their tumultuous cry and violent throng protesting That they would never move one foot forwards to any place except it were towards their own Country After some hours because they thought that Alexander would incline to their purpose they kept silence and stood in expectation what he would do Then Alexander spake thus unto them What meaneth this so sudden a consternation of your minde and this so petulant and so wilde an insolence I am afraid to speak unto you you have so 〈◊〉 broken your obedience towards me I am now become a King at the appointment of my People you have neither left me the libertie to speak unto you nor to know you nor to exhort you nor to behold you Being determined to send some into their Country and to bring the rest with me shortly after I see those who are to be dismissed to cry out and mutiny as well as those who I appoint to stay with me What is the meaning of this The cry is all alike everywhere although the Cause is divers I would fain know whether they complain that depart or they that are to tarry When he had spoken those words they cried all as it had been with one mouth All All All. Then he said Truly it cannot be so nor can I be perswaded that you should all be grieved for the cause you declare seeing it toucheth not the greatest part of you for I have appointed more to depart then to remain with me There must needs be something of worse consequence then appeareth that you should turn away from me When was it ever seen that a whole Army hath forsaken their King The Slaves run not from their Masters all at once but there is alwaies a shame in some to leave him when the rest forsake him But why do I forget that you are desperately mad why do I go about to cure those that are uncurable I condemn from henceforth all the good hope that ever I conceived of you and am determined to deal no more with you as with my Souldiers seeing you will not be mine but as with men ungrateful and unmindful of my goodness The cause of this your madness is even the abundance of your prosperity whereby you forget your old estate from which you are delivered through my benefit You are men worthy to have spent your lives in your former beggery seeing you can better 〈◊〉 your adversitie than prosperous fortune Behold you who not long ago were Tributaries to the Illyrians and the Persians do now disdain Asia and the spoils of so many Nations You who under Philip did go half naked do now contemn Robes of Gold and Purple Your eyes cannot endure any longer to behold the light of Gold and Silver You desire again your Wooden Dishes your Targets made of Wicker and your Swords covered with rust I received you 〈◊〉 this gallant condition with five hundred 〈…〉 when all my Exchequer exceeded not the 〈…〉 Talents This was the Foundation of 〈…〉 with without envy be it spokeâ— I have 〈…〉 the greatest part of the World Are you weary of Asia which hath ministred unto you occasion of so much Glory that by the greatness of your Acts you are made equal unto the gods Do you all make such haste into Europe to forsake me that am your King The greater part of you should have lacked Money to bear you home if I had not paid your debts Are you not ashamed who have plundered
the dead Corpse But Perdiccas judging it to be a deceit contrived to entrap him drew back to the side of Euphrates lying on the furthest part of the Court. Then the Horsemen which consisted chiefly of the Nobility flocked about Perdiccas and Leonatus whose opinion was to depart out of the City and to take the Field but because Perdiccas was not without hope that the Footmen would have taken his part he therefore remained still within the City lest he might seem to be the cause that the Horsemen should divide themselves from the rest of the Army Meleager ceased not to beat into the Kings head That he could not establish himself surely in his Throne but by the death of Perdiccas whose ambitious minde and desire of Innovation was to be prevented in time He willed the King to remember what Perdiccas had deserved at his hands and that no man could be faithful to him whom he feared The King rather suffering than assenting to his counsel Meleager took his silence for a commandment and sent for Perdiccas in the Kings name they who were sent having Commission to kill him if he should make any delay to come with them Perdiccas hearing of their coming accompanied only with sixteen young Gentlemen accustomed to attend upon Alexanders Person met them as they would have entred into his Lodging and calling them Meleagers Slaves rebuked them with such a constancy both of minde and countenance that they returned back as men amazed Perdiccas willed such as were in his company to keep on Horseback and with a few of his Friends repaired unto Leonatus intending iâ— any violence were moved against him to repulse it with a greater force The next day the Macedons murmured and thought it unjust that Perdiccas should be brought in danger of death and therefore determined with force to revenge the rashness of Meleagers doings But he understanding of the Mutiny that was among the Souldiers gave place and they repaired to the King demanding of him If he had commanded Perdiccas to be taken He confessed the thing but it was done he said by Meleagers instigation for which they ought not to raise any tumult seeing that Perdiccas was alive The Assembly hereupon brake up and Meleager became so greatly afraid especially by the departing of the Horsemen that he knew not what to do for he saw the mischief which he a little before had intended against his Enemy to light upon himself and while he debated with himself on this and on that three whole days were consumed Howsoever the accustomed form and fashion of the Court did remain in the mean season for the Embassadors of divers Nations did address themselves unto the King the Captains of the Army were present and the Guard waited in Armour as they were accustomed But the great sadness that was there without any apparent cause signified some extreme despair There was such a suspition amongst themselves that men durst not converse one with another but had secret imaginations by themselves and by comparing the time present with the time past and the new King with the old they began to desire the King that was gone Then one enquired of another What was become of the King whose Fortune and Authority they had followed They found themselves abandoned amongst so many unquiet and unconquered Nations who were desirous upon any occasion that might befal to be revenged of the injuries they had received While they were troubled in these imaginations word was brought that the Horsemen who were under Perdiccas kept the Fields about Babylon and stayed all Victuals from coming to the City whereupon first began a scarcity and afterwards a famine therefore such as were within the City thought good either to make a reconciliation with Perdiccas or else to fight it out It so chanced that such as dwelled abroad in the Country fearing the spoil of the Villages repaired into the City and they within the City for want of Victuals departed into the Country so that every one thought themselves surer any where then where their own Habitations were Then the Macedons doubting some great inconvenience that might proceed from this fear assembled together in the Court and declared their Opinions It was agreed amongst them that Embassadours should be sent to the Horsemen for the surâ—â—asing of all strife and division Pasas a Thessalian Amissas a Megapolitan and Perelaus were sent from the King who declaring their Commission received answer that the Horsemen would not lay down their Arms till the Authors of that Sedition were delivered into their hands When they were returned and their answer known the Souldiers without any appointment put on their Armour and made such a Tumult that the King was inforced to come forth of the Court and said unto them If we shall be at strife among our selves our Enemies that are at quiet shall enjoy the fruits of our Contention Remember that the Quarrel is with your own Countrymen with whom if you rashly break the hope of Reconcilement you shall be the beginners of a Civil War Let us prove if they may be mitigated by another Embassie I am of belief that because the Body of Alexander remaineth yet unburied they will gladly come together to perform the Obsequies unto the Dead And for my part I had rather surrender up again this Dignity then that any bloud should be shed amongst my Country-men for if no â—â—ther hope of Concord doth remain I desire and beseech you to make a better Choice Tears then falling from his eyes he took the Diadem from his head and holding the same forth with his hand he was ready to have delivered it to any man who would profess himself to be more worthy then he The moderation that he used both in his words and behaviour caused them all to conceive a great good hope of his Noble Nature which till that time was obscured by the height of his Brothers Fame They therefore incouraged and importuned him to go forwards as he had devised whereupon he sent again the same Embassadours that went before who had Commission to desire that Meleager might be the third Ruler of the Men of War That demand was not much stuck at for Perdiccas was desirous to remove Meleager from the King and conceived that the King being alone the King would not be able to match with Leonatus and himself Upon this Meleager marched out of the City with the Footmen and Perdiccas met him in the Fields riding before the Bands of the Horsemen There both Battels saluting one another Concord and Peace as it was thought was confirmed betwixt them for ever But it was decreed that Civil Wars should arise amongst the Macedons for Government is impatient of Partners and the Kingdom was coveted by many At first they gathered and afterwards dispersed their Forces for when the Body was burthened with more Heads then it could bear the other Members began to fail So the Empire of the Macedons which under one Head
him When they had committed this act they thought it expedient to disperse themselves in their flying and so Nabarzanes took his way to Hircania and Bessus to Bactria with a few Horsemen that each of them had in their Company When their Souldiers were thus forsaken of their Captains they were scattered here and there as their fear did lead them There were only five hundred Horsemen who assembled themselves together and stood in a doubt whether it were better to resist or to fly Alexander understanding the fear his Enemies were in sent Nicanor before with part of his Horsemen to keep them on work and he with the rest followed after There were slain to the number of three thousand of such as stood on their defence and the rest were driven in flocks like beasts from killing of whom Alexander commanded his men to abstain Amongst all the prisoners there was none that was able to shew the Cart that carried Darius for every one was so desirous to finde him that as they saw any Cart they sought him therein and yet they could not perceive by any means what was become of him Alexander made such haste that scarcely three thousand Horsemen followed him of all his Cavalry but great numbers of the Persians fell into their Laps that followed behinde It is scarcely to be believed that there should be more prisoners taken then there were men to take them But Fortune in that fear had so taken away their sense that they could not consider their own multitude nor the small number of their Enemies In the mean season the Beasts which drew Darius Waggon having no man to govern them were swerved out of the high-way and wandring here and there had drawn Darius four furlongs from the place where he was wounded into a Valley where they fainted by reason of their heat and their hurts There was a Spring at hand which certain that knew the Country had shewed to Polistratus a Macedon that was overcome with thirst and while he was drinking the water out of his Helmet he espied the Beasts that were thrust in with Darts and marvelling that they were not rather carried away then hurt after that manner he looked and found in the Waggon the body of a man half alive and at length perceived it was Darius that lay there sore wounded and drawing his last breath Then Polistratus brought to him a Persian whom he had taken prisoner whom when Darius knew by his voice to be of his Country he said That he took it for some comfort in his present fortune that he should speak before he died to one that understood him and not utter his last words in vain He required him to declare unto Alexander that though he had never deserved any thing at his hands yet it was his chance to die greatly his Debtor and had thanks to give him for the favour and goodness that he had shewed towards his Mother his Wife and his Children to whom he had not only granted life but also the Reverence due to their former Estate and Dignity whereas he of his own Kinsmen and Friends to whom he had given both Life and Lands was now by them bereaved of all He prayed therefore that he might always be Conquerour and that the Empire of the whole world might come into his hands requiring that he would not neglect to take revenge of so foul an act not only for his cause but for an example and for the honour of other Princes which should be a thing worthy of him and profitable to his Successors in time to come When he had spoke these words he fainted and calling for water after he had drunk said to Polistratus that presented it unto him Whatsoever thou art this is unto me the last misery in all my adverse chance that I am not able to requite this benefit but Alexander shall reward thee and the gods shâ—ll requite him for his great Humanity and Clemency shewed towards mine unto whom thou shalt give my hands as a Pledge of a Kings Promise Having spoken these words and given Polistratus his hand he died When his sayings were reported to Alexander he repaired where the dead Corpse lay and with tears lamented that it was his chance to die a death so unworthy of so great a personage and taking off his own Cloak to cover the dead body he adorned the same with all things that pertained to a King and sent it to his Mother Sisigambis to be buried in such sort as the Country manner was to bury Kings and to be laid amongst the rest of his Predecessoâ—rs THE SIXTH BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon A great part of the Sixth Book is defective wherein was contained the Cause of the War betwixt the Lacedemonians and Macedons with the preparation of both Nations to the Battel that was fought betwixt Antipater Alexanders Lieutenant in Macedonia and the Kings of the Lacedemonians HE pressed forwards where the fight was most dangerous and put the greater part of his Enemies to flight Then such as were Conquerours before began to fly till they had drawn their Enemies greedily following them out of the streight into a more plain ground In the Retreat many of them were slain but when they had once recovered such a ground where they might stay and fall in order the Battels joyned equal on both sides Amongst them all the King of the Lacedemonians appeared most notable in all mens eyes not so much by the beauty of his Armour and goodly Personage as through the greatness of his courage wherein only he could not be overcome He was assailed at on all parts both near at hand and afar off Yet for all that he endured long in Arms against his Enemies avoiding their strokes part with his Target and part with his Body till such time as he was thrust through both Thighs with a Spear when by great â—â—â—usion of blood he was not able any longer to endure the fight Then the Esquires of his body took him up upon his Target and carried him into their Camp when with great pain he indured the stirring of his wounds The Lacedemonians for all their Kings departure gave not over the fight but as soon as they could recover any ground of advantage they rallied themselves and received stoutly their Enemies that came full upon them There is not sound in any memory of a Battel more vehemently fought then that where the Armies of two Nations that were most excellent in the Wars contended together for the Victory not yet inclining to any part The Lacedemonians called to minde their Ancient Manhood and Prowess and the Macedons considered their present estimation they had in the world The Lacedemonians strived for their liberty and the Macedons for the Soveraignty the one part lacked a Captain and the other room to fight in The manifold adventures and chances that fell that day encreased both the hope and fear of both
Carts were brought laden and when every one stood waiting and musing what he would command them to do he caused the Beasts to be removed first out of the way and then set his own Fardels on fire and after all the rest Whilest these things were burning the Owners were on fire themselves to see them so consumed for the saving of which they had often quenched the flames in the Cities of their Enemies Yet no man durst lament the price of his own blood seeing they saw the fire consume the Kings Riches as well as their own and the rather to pacifie them the King did mitigate their dolour with a brief Oration Whereupon they that were ever apt for the Wars and ready to do all things began to be joyful that with the loss of their Baggage they had preserved their Discipline accustomed in the Wars As they were setting forward towards Bactria Nicanor the Son of Parmenio died suddenly whom every man greatly lamented but chiefly the King who desired to have stayed to celebrate his Funeral but that want of Victuals caused him to haste forward Philotas therefore was left behinde with two thousand six hundred Souldiers to perform the Ceremonies appertaining to his Brothers Funeral and Alexander himself marched towards Bessus In the way Letters were brought to Alexander from the Princes thereabout that Bessus was coming towards him with a great Army adding thereunto that Satribarzanes whom he had made Prince of the Arrians was newly rebelled for that cause notwithstanding he was come near unto Bessus he thought it best first to oppress Satribarzanes and for that intent he brought forwards his Horsemen and Footmen that were light armed to invade him suddenly His coming was not so privy but Satribarzanes knew thereof and fled into Bactria with two thousand Horsemen for by reason he was not able to assemble any more in so short a time the rest took the next Mountains for their refuge There was a Rock which towards the West was high and steep but towards the East more low and easie to be climbed which part was full of Trees The same Rock being in compass two and thirty furlongs had a Fountain running continually and in the top a Green Plain where they placed the weaker multitude but the rest that were apt for defence being to the number of thirteen thousand got themselves to the edges of the Rock and there threw down stones and logs upon the Macedons that came to assail them He left Craterus to besiege the Rock and went in person to pursue Satribarzanes and because he understood that he was fled far off he returned back again to the siege of them that were upon the Rock First he caused all things to be taken away that might be an impediment to his men in the assault giving But when they came to the bare and steep Rock the labour seemed lost where Nature wrought against them But he that was of a disposition always to strive against difficulties considering how hard a matter it was to go forward and how dangerous to return back did cast in his head all the ways that could be imagined and now fancied one thing and then another as men are wont when the ways they have found out first do not please them As he stood in a doubt what to do Fortune did minister unto him a means which neither wit nor reason could invent It chanced that the winde blew vehemently at the South West at what time the Souldiers had felled great plenty of wood whereof they thought to have made Scaffolds to mount up against the Rock and the heat of the Sun had made the same dry When Alexander perceived the winde to blow so violently and the wood lying in that place he immediately commanded more Trees to be cut down and laid upon them putting all other things to it that were apt to kindle and nourish fire so that Trees heaped upon Trees became as a Mountain so high as the top of the Rock The same being set on fire in all parts at once the winde carried the flame into the faces of their Enemies and the smoak covered the Sky The noise was then great that the fire made which burned not only the Trees that were fired of purpose but also the rest of the Wood growing near thereabout The Enemies were so tormented with the flame and heat of the fire that they were inforced to forsake their place of strength and attempted to escape away where the fire did give them least impediment But where the fire gave place the Macedons stood in a readiness to receive them so that they were consumed and slain divers kinde of ways Some threw themselves down the Rocks some ran into the midst of the fire others fell into the hands of their Enemies and a few half consumed with fire were taken prisoners When Alexander had done this he returned to Craterus who besieged Artacnan and having prepared all things in readiness tarried only for the Kings coming to give him the honour of winning the City When Alexander was come he approached the Walls with the Towers of Timber that he had prepared for the assault at the sight whereof the Inhabitants were so afraid that they held up their hands from the Walls requiring him to spare them and execute his wrath upon Satribarzanes who was the Author of their Rebellion Alexander pardoned them freely and not only raised the Siege but also restored to the Inhabitants all things that pertained to them As he removed from this City there came to him a new supply of Souldiers Zoilus brought out of Greece five hundred Horsemen and three thousand Antipater sent out of Illyria There came a hundred and thirty Thessalian Horsemen with Philip who also brought Forreigners out of Licia two thousand five hundred Footmen and three hundred Horsemen Alexander having thus increased his power entred into the Country of the Dragans who were a warlike Nation under the Government of Nabarzanes who was of Counsel with Bessus in the Treason that he committed against his Prince When he heard of Alexanders coming for fear of the punishment he had deserved he fled into India Here had they lain incamped nine days when Alexander being without fear of any Enemy and invincible against all Forreign Powers was brought in peril by reason of his own people It chanced that one Dimnus a man of mean behaviour and Authority with his Prince was greatly inflamed with the love of a young man called Nichomachus with whom he used much familiar conversation This Dimnus on a time being in a passion as it well appeared by his countenance allured this young man into a Temple where remaining together he declared that he had certain Secrets to shew him which in no wise were to be reported again Thereby he brought Nichomachus into a great suspition what the matter should be for before he would tell him he made a Protestation by the love and familiarity betwixt them that he would
Country-men and for that cause they could as ill bear Alexanders cruelty then as in times past Bessus Treason By this means when the fear of death was put into their heads they were easily stirred to Arms to which before they were sufficiently inclined of their own mindes When Alexander was advertised of their doings he willed Craterus to besiege Cyropolis and he himself won another City of that Country by an assault that he gave to it on all parts at once and by a signe given caused all the Children to be put to death making the rest a prey for the Souldiers This done the City was razed to the ground to the intent that others by their example might be kept in obedience There were a valiant people called Memacenans who were determined to abide the Siege not only for their honesties sake but also for that they thought it most for their Surety For the mitigating of their wilfulness the King sent unto them fifty Horsemen to declare his Clemency towards such as submitted themselves and how inexorable he was unto such as he overcome by force Their answer was That they neither doubted the Kings Promise nor his Power But after their answer given they lodged them without the walls where entertaining them with great Chear until it was mid-night they set upon them and slew them all Alexander was no less moved with this Act then the cause required He therefore made an assault upon the City on all parts at once which he found furnished in such wise that he could not take it at the first attempt Wherefore he appointed Meleager and Perdicas unto the Siege thereof who then were besieging of Cyropolis minding to spare the same because it was builded by Cyrus for he had not so great admiration of any King that had Reigned in those parts as of him and Semiramis whose magnanimity of minde and great atchievements seemed to him to exceed the rest But the obstinate wilfulness of the Inhabitants stirred up his wrath for when he had taken the City he willed the Macedons to spoil it who had enough cause to be moved against them and so returned to Meleager and Perdicas There was not one City that did more valiantly abide the Siege then the same did for both the hardiest of the Souldiers that were slain and the King was brought in great danger being struck in the Neck with a stone so that his sight failed him and he was felled to the Earth and for the present lost his sense The Army lamented thinking he had been dead But he was invincible against those things which put other men in most fear for without tarrying he dressed his wound returning to the Fight and after anger had stirred up the eagerness he had of Nature he renewed the assault more fiercely then before At length a great piece of the Wall was overthrown by a Mine at which he brake in and put the whole City to Sack and Ruine He sent from thence Menedemus with 3000 Footmen and 800 Horsemen to the City of Maracanda which Spitamenes had newly taken and put out from thence the Garrison of the Macedons the Citizens not consenting to it But when they saw they could not withstand him it was of necessity for them to agree to his will Alexander in the mean season came to the River of Tanais where he inclosed about with a wall so much ground as his Camp did contain extending in compass 60 furlongs and named the same City Alexandria This was done with such expedition that within seventeen days after the walls were raised the houses also were builded and the whole work was performed in a very small season through the contention amongst the Souldiers who should perform his work first when the same was divided into portions amongst them The prisoners whose Ransoms Alexander paid to their Takes were appointed to inhabit this City the descent of whom after so long time are not worn out such favour hath been shewed them in the memory of Alexander The King of Scythia whose Empire was then beyond the River of Tanais judging that the fortifying upon the Rivers side should be as a Yoke to his Neck did send his Brother Carcasis with a great power of Horsemen to beat down the Fortification and to remove away the Macedons from the waters side That River divideth the Bactrians from the Scythians of Europe and is the limit which parteth Asia and Europe asunder But the Countries that the Scythians do inhabit do stretch as far as Thracia and lye betwixt the North and the East joyning with Sarmatia and possessing part of it The Country also that lieth beyond the River of Isther is inhabited by them their utmost bounds stretching to Bactria and to the furthest bounds of Asia Northwards where are wonderful great Woods and wilde Desarts But such of them as bounded near unto Tanais and Bactria wanted not much of the civility of other Nations This being the first time that Alexander had to do with these people when he saw that he had to enter into a War for the which he was not provided his Enemies riding up and down in his sight and he diseased of his wound especially not having the use of his speech which failed much by reason of his long abstinence and the pain in his Neck he called his friends to counsel and declared unto them that he was not troubled with any fear of his enemies but with the iniquity of the time the Bactrians rebelling and the Scythians provoking him when he was neither able to stand upon the ground nor strong enough to ride on Horseback nor yet in case to give advice or exhortation to his men In consideration therefore of the doubtful danger in which he saw himself involved he accused the gods complaining that he was then inforced to lye still whose swiftness before-time none was able to escape The danger grew so great that his own men believed he had counterfeited his sickness for fear And therefore he who since the overthrow of Darius had left Consultation with the Diviners and Prophets turned himself again to the vanity and superstition of men willing Aristander unto whom he was addicted most that he should try out by Sacrifice what his success should be The Custom of them who were called Aruspices was to consider the Entrails of the Beasts without the King and to make report of the signification In the mean season while they were searching secrets that way he willed Ephestion Craterus Erigius and others of his Friends to draw near about him lest by straining his voice he might break out his wound again and said thus unto them The danger I am in hath caused the time to serve better for mine Enemies then for me Necessity I see chiefly in the Wars doth go before Reason for it is seldom given to men to chuse their own time The Bactrians are revolted upon whose Shoulders yet we stand purposing to try what courage we are of by
up some white Cloath You shall see me then come forwards with my power and turn the Enemies from you towards me He shall have ten Talents for a reward who doth recover the top first and he that getteth up next shall have one less and the like order shall be observed with Ten of the first I am assured you regard not so much my liberalitie as my favour When they had heard the King speak after that manner they imagined the thing done and departing out of his presence they prepared strong Ropes and iron Hooks which they fastened to the Rocks and so climbed up The King brought them about the Rock whereas it seemed least steep and most plain to mount upon and in the second Watch willed them to pass forwards with good speed They being furnished with two days Victuals and armed only with Swords and Spears at first went forwards without any great difficulty but when they came to the steepness of the Rock some took hold of the broken crags to lift up themselves and some fastening their Hooks on the Rocks climbed up by the Ropes They were compelled to rest and stay divers times and so consumed that day in travel and fear When they had passed many difficult places further labours appeared the height of the Rock seeming to grow more and more When they failed either of their hold or of their footing it was a miserable thing to see how they fell down headlong shewing by their mis-fortune an example to others what was likely to come of them Notwithstanding at length through all these difficulties they got up unto the top where wearied with the travel of their continual labour and some with the hurts and maims they had received they slept all that night amongst the wild and rough Rocks unmindful of the peril they were in When it was day they awaked out of their deep sleep and beholding the valleys underneath them they were ignorant in what part of the Rock so great a multitude of their Enemies should lie But at length when they perceived by the smoke in what place they were they upon the points of two spears set up the signe that was appointed them and found that in their coming up they had lost two and thirty The King being careful not so much for the desire he had to win the Rocks as to save those whom he had exposed to so manifest a danger stood all day beholding the top of the Mountain and when the darkness of the night took away the prospect of the eyes he departed to refresh his body The next day before it was full light he perceived the white Cloth set up on the top of the Rock but the variety of the Air the Sun beginning to arise and yet clouded caused him to doubt a while whether his sight had failed him or not But when it was full and open day it was manifestly apparent and all doubt was removed Then he called Cophes by whom he had attempted their mindes before willing him once again to exhort them to be better advised and if so be that in the trust of their strength they would not submit themselves that then he should shew to them those Souldiers that had taken the Rock over their heads When Cophes came thither he began to perswade Arimazes to give up his strength thereby to win the Kings favour and not inforce Alexander to stay in the Siege of a Rock having so many weighty affairs in hand But he found him more obstinate and proud then he did before and willed Cophes to depart and move him no more on that subject Then he took Arimazes by the hand and required him to go with him out of the Cave When they were come where they might look about he shewed him those that were gotten to the top of the Rock and scorning then his pride he asked of him whether Alexanders Souldiers had gotten wings or no By that time the Trumpets were blown in the Macedons Camp they might hear the Alarm that was made in the Army which as many vain and trifling things are wont in the Wars to grow to great effect so it was the cause that they yeilded themselves for fear so troubled them that they could not consider the small number that were over their heads but called Cophes again in great haste who was departed away and sent with him unto Alexander thirty of the chief men authorized to yeild up the Rock with composition to depart in safety But Alexander notwithstanding that he doubted lest his Enemies discovering the fewness of his men might put them to distress yet trusting in the felicity of his own Fortune and offended with the pride of Arimazes would agree to no condition but that they should yeild simply Arimazes thereupon despairing more of his state then he had cause descended down to the Camp with the chiefest of the Nation that were of Kin to him All whom Alexander caused to be scourged with Rods and then to be crucified at the foot of the Rock The multitude that yielded with the money that there was taken were given in gift to the Inhabitants of the new Cities and the Rule of the said Rock was committed unto Artabasus with the Charge of the Country thereabouts THE EIGHTH BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon ALexander having won this Rock with greater Fame then Glory because his Enemies remained in no place certain it was necessary for him to separate his Power and so he divided his Army into three parts He gave the Charge of the one part to Ephestion to Cenon the other and took the third part unto himself His Enemies were not all of one Opinion for some of them seeing their opposition could not avail yielded themselves before the Fight to whom he gave the Cities and the Lands of those that continued still his Enemies But the Outlawries of Bactria with eight hundred Horsemen wasted the Villages of the Massagetes For the redress whereof Attinas Governour of that Country went against them with three hundred Horsemen not knowing that his Enemies lay in wait for him who planting their Ambushment in a Wood joyning to a great Plain had appointed some men to drive Cattel thereby to draw their Enemies with the greediness of the prey within danger of the Ambush When the Souldiers of Attinas saw the Drivers of the Cattel they pursued them without order so that when they were passed the Wood where the Ambushment lay their Enemies brake out upon them not fearing any such danger and slew them every one The fame of this Overthrow came immediately to Craterus who drew thither with the Horsemen But the Massagetes being fled before his coming he flew a thousand of the Dahans that took their part whereby the Rebellion of all the Country ceased Thus Alexander having subdued the Sogdians returned to Maracanda whither Berdes whom he had sent to the Scythians inhabiting about Bosphorus came to him with
Embassadours of that Country Phratarus also who had the chief Rule of the Massagetes and Dahans which Nations were joyned by Affinity together sent certain Messengers to Alexander offering to be at his Commandment The Scythian Embassadours made request that Alexander would marry their Kings Daughter and if the Affinity pleased him that he would suffer the Princes of the Macedons to enter into Marriage likewise with the Noble-mens Daughters of their Country promising that the King should come in person to visit him He heard gently both the Embassages and still continued in that place till Ephestion and Artabasus came unto him and then joyning his Power again together he advanced into the Country that is called Baxaria There is nothing more esteemed in that Nation then to have great Droves of wilde Beasts inclosed in Parks which are very pleasant and full of Springs Those Parks are inclosed in Walls and Towers builded within them to be Lodges for the Hunters There was one Park in that Country that had remained unhunted during the time of four mens Ages into which Alexander entered with his whole Army chasing the wilde Beasts in every quarter Amongst the rest there was a Lyon of a vast bulk that came running towards Alexander which when Lysimachus who afterwards was King standing next to Alexander perceived he stepped before him to receive the Lyon with his Hunting Spear But Alexander plucked him back and willed him to withdraw saying That he was able to kill a Lyon as well as Lysimachus For you are to understand that this Lysimachus on a time hunting in Syria killed by himself alone an huge Lyon but yet he was torn to the very bones under the left shoulder and put in great danger of his life which being that which Alexander meant he performed with his Sword no less then he promised for he did not only receive the Lyon but killed him with one stroke Thereupon the Fable did rise how Alexander should have cast Lysimachus to a Lyon But though Alexander his chance was good herein yet the Macedons knew that by the Custom of his Country he should not have hunted on Foot without the chiefest of his Nobility and Friends about him He killed within that Park four thousand wilde Beasts and there did feast his Army returning afterwards to Maracanda Artabasus there excusing himself by his Age that he was unapt for the Rule of that Country Alexander committed the same to Clitus being the man that defended him with his Target when he was fighting bare-headed at the River of Granike and there cut off Rhosaceris hand that was in a readiness to strike the King He was an old Souldier to Philip his Father and notable by many feats of War that he had done Hellanice his Sister was Alexanders Nurse whom he loved no less then his own Mother For these causes he committed the strongest part of his Empire to his fidelity The King that purposed to set forward his journey the next day made the same night a Solemn Banquet wherein being too great a Boaster of himself when he was hot with Wine he began to set forth the Acts that he had done in such sort that his words offended the ears of such as knew them to be true The Ancient Men kept silence until such time as he began to deface the Acts of Philip his Father vaunting the notable Victory of Cheronese to be his own deed the glory whereof he said was taken from him by the malice and envy of his Father For he alledged how in the Mutiny which rose between the Macedons and the Greek Souldiers when Philip lay hurt of a wound which he received at a Fray and thought he could be no otherwise secure then to counterfeit himself to be dead he defended his body with his Buckler and slew them with his own hand who ran upon his Father to have killed him which act he said his Father never gladly would confess nor ever could abide to acknowledge his safeguard to come by his Son He also declared how after the journey he made by himself into Illyria in writing unto his Father he did ascribe the Victory unto himself having overthrown his Enemies when he was away He said that in his Opinion it deserved but small commendations to make a journey into Samothracia when Asia ought to have been spoiled and burnt Nor he thought no man worthy of praise indeed but such as do so great Acts as may exceed all mens credit The young men that were present were glad to hear these words and such other like but they were ungrateful to the Ancient especially for Philip's sake under whom they had long served Then Clitus who likewise was not very sober turned to such as were beneath him rehearsing some verses of Euâ—ipides whereof the King might rather hear the found then the words The effect of them was That the Greeks did evil who in the Monuments of their Victories did subscribe only the Names of their Kings who usurped that Glory unto themselves which other men did win by shedding of their own blood Alexander therefore judging his words to have been worse then they were inquired of such as were next him what Clitus said But when they kept silence Clitus with a louder voice rehearsed in order Philip's Acts and the Wars he made in Greece preferring them before any Acts done since that time Whereupon there did rise a confusion between the young men and the old But the King inforcing a patience himself when he heard Clitus deface his praise conceived a wonderful wrath in his minde Yet it seemed that he would have bridled his passion if Clitus would have made an end of his presumptuous talk But when he would not cease he gave occasion to Alexander to be further moved Clitus then did proceed so far forth that he durst defend Parmenio his case and preferred the Victory that Philip won of the Athenians before the destruction of Thebes And going further and further not only through drunkenness but even by a frowardness of a contentious minde at length he said If we must die for thee Clitus is not the first for they receive greater rewards of thy Victory that can most shamefully deface thy Fathers memory The Country of the Sogdians is given unto me that hath so often rebelled and now is not only unsubdued but such a one as by no means can be brought to subjection I am placed among those wilde Beasts that be of so uncivil a disposition But I could pass over things pertaining unto my self if the Souldiers of Philip were not despised forgetting that if the old Atharias had not turned again the young men when they gave over the fight we had yet sticked about Alicarnazus How is it then that Asia is conquered with these young men But I see it is true what your Vncle said in Italy He chanced upon Men and you upon Women There was nothing that Clitus spake or did in his rashness that moved more
subdued I came into Asia not utterly to subvert the Nations nor make the one half of the world desart but to give the conquered cause not to repine at my Victorie This is the occasion they gladly fight for you and for your Kingdom spend their bloud who if they were proudly used would straight rebel against you That possession is durable which is kept by violence but the thanks of a benefit received endureth everlastingly If we purpose to enjoy Asia and not to make a progress only through it we must make them partakers of our clemencie and then their fidelitie shall make our Empire stable and perpetual and truly we have â—ow more then we can well wish or desire Covetousness is an unsatiable Disease especially when men desire to fill the vessel that runneth over But you will say that I mingle their customes with ours It is so And why Because I see in many Nations many things which we need not be ashamed to follow and so great an Empire as we have got cannot otherwise be aptly governed except we deliver some things to them and receive likewise some things back from them again One thing is to be laughed at that I should refuse Jupiter for my Father being so acknowledged by his Oracle as who saith the answer of the gods were in my power He proffered the name of his son unto me which was not a thing unseasonable for the Atchievements I intended I would wish that the Indians could believe me to be a god for the success in War standeth much by Fame and that which is falsely believed sometime worketh the effect of things that are true Do you note me given to excess and prodigality because I garnished your Armor with Gold and Silver My purpose was to shew to men accustomed to such things nothing to be more vile then such kinde of metal and to declare that the Macedons invincible in other things could not be overcome with Gold it self After this manner I shall blinde the eyes of the barbarous who are always wont at the first sight to wonder at things be they never so base and vile And in that we shew to make no estimation of it we shall declare to all men that we are not come for desire of Gold nor Silver but to subdue the whole world from which glory thou Traytor wouldest have bereaved me and betrayed the Macedons I being slain to the barbarous Nations I am exhorted to spare their Parents Although it was not expedient that they should know what I have determined of them and to the intent they might die with the greater grief if they have any care or memory of them yet long ago I have forborn the custome of putting the innocent Parents and kinsfolks of traytors to death with the offenders and I now profess to pardon them and have them all in the same estimation I had before I know thou wouldest have thy Master Calisthenes brought forth who only esteemed thee being of his complexion because thou desirest to hear pronounced from his mouth those railing words which even now thou didst vomit out against me If he had been a Macedon born I had brought him into the place with thee a worthy Master of such a Disciple but being born in another Countrey he is subject to another law When he had spoken these words he dismissed the Council and commanded all such as were condemned to be delivered to the Souldiers of their own Regiments who because they would declare by some cruelty the love they bare towards their Prince slew them by all torments Calisthenes also died upon the Rack innocent of the conspiracy against the Kings person but a man not pliable to the custom of the Court and abhorring from the disposition of Flatterers There was never any thing that brought the Greeks into a greater indignation against Alexander then that he not only killed but caused to be tormented to death and that without judgement a man indued with godly Manners and good Sciences and one by whom he was perswaded to live when he purposed to have died for sorrow that he had slain Clitus for which his cruelty repentance followed that came too late But lest he might nourish idleness apt for the sowing of seditious rumours he advanced towards India always more glorious in War than after his Victory The whole Country of India lieth chiefly towards the East containing more in length than it doth in bredth The North parts are full of Mountains and Hills but all the rest of the land is plain having many fair Rivers which running out of the Mount Caucasus do pass pleasantly through the Countrey Indus is more cold than any other of the Rivers whose water is not unlike the colour of the Sea But of all the Rivers in the Orient Ganges is most excellent which running from the South passeth directly through many great Mountains until that by the encountring with Rocks his course is turn'd towards the East where it is received into the red Sea The violence of the stream breaketh down his banks swallowing trees and much of the ground In many places the stream is kept in with the rocks on which it beateth but where the ground is more soft there the River becometh more large and maketh many Islands The greatness of Ganges is much increased by the River of Acâ—sines which both meet before they enter into the Sea at their meeting the water is violently troubled and whiles the one resisteth the others entry neither of them seem to give place to other Diardnes is a River of the less Fame because is runneth in the uttermost bounds of India but yet it bringeth forth Crocodiles as the Nile doth and also Dolphins with Monsters unknown to other Nations Crooked Erimanthus with his many turnings and reflexions is consumed by the Inhabitants with watering their ground which is the cause that when it draweth near the Sea it becometh very little and beareth no name There are many other Rivers that divide the Countrey but none of them are so famous as these because they do not run so far The North-winde doth blast and annoy those parts most that are next unto the Sea but those Windes are so broken with the tops of the Mountains that they cannot endamage the inward parts of the Countrey wherefore Fruits are very plentiful there and perfect But that Region doth so much differ from the ordinary course of time in other parts of the world that when other Countries are burned most with the Sun India is covered over with Snow And when other places are Frozen the Heat is there most intolerable and yet there appeareth not any natural cause why it should be so The colour of the Indian Sea not differing much from the water of other Seas did take his name of King Erithrus by reason whereof the ignorant Greeks took opinion that the water of those Seas was red The Land is very aboundant of Flax whereof the greater part of
this innocent man but at his death laid violent hands upon him unto whom Orsines said I have heard that Women in times past have reigned and born great rule in Asia but it is now a more strange thing that an Eunuch should have the Empire in his hands This was the most Noble of all the Persians He was not only an innocent man in this matter but such a one as did bear singular affection unto Alexander and had shewed great liberality to him and his At the same time Phradates who was suspected to have gone about to make himself King was put to death Alexander began then to be much inclined to the shedding of bloud and to be credulous in hearing of false reports of such a force is Prosperity to change a mans nature wherein few men have consideration of Vertue Thus he who a little before would not condemn Lincestes Alexander when he was accused by two Witnesses and suffered divers of more mean estate to be acquitted though it vexed him that they seemed not guilty to other men thus he who bestowed Kingdoms upon his Enemies whom he had subdued was in the end so much altered from his former inclination that against his own appetite at the will of a vile Minion he would give Kingdoms unto some and take away Lives from others About the same time he received Letters of the Affairs in Europe whereby he understood that whiles he was in India Zopyrius his Lieutenant in Thrace made an Expedition against the Gâ—tes where by Storms and Tempests that suddenly rose upon him he was destroyed and all his Army When Suthes understood the defeat of that Army he procured the Odrisians that were his Country-men to revolt so that all Thrace was in a manner lost thereby and Greece it self stood in no great safety The Writers of the Acts of Alexander the Great make mention in this place of Calanus an Indian a man very famous in Philosophy who by the perswasion of King Taxiles followed Alexander and ended his life after a strange manner When he had lived threescore and thirteen years without any Disease at his coming into Persia he felt a pain in his belly by which conjecturing that the end of his life was come lest such a perpetual felicity as he had lived in should be interrupted by any long Disease or tormented by the multitude of Medicines which Physicians do use to administer he required Alexander that he would cause a Fire to be made that he might burn himself in the same The King began to disswade him from his purpose thinking to have withdrawn him from the execution of so horrible an act but when he perceived with what stedfastness and constancy he upheld his resolution and that there was no way to keep him any longer in life he suffered a Fire to be made according to his will into which Calanus did ride on horseback making first his Prayer to the gods of his Country and taking the Macedons by the hands required them that they would spend that day pleasantly in banquetting with their King whom not long after he said he should see at Babylon When he had spoken these words he went chearfully into the Fire and carrying his body in a comely posture he kept still the same gesture and countenance at his death which he was accustomed to do in his life When the Fire flamed the Trumpet sounded and the Men of War made such a shout as they were accustomed to do when they joyned in Battel with their Enemies which rebounded to the skies the Elephants also made a terrible noise These are the things which grave Writers do testifie of Calanus who was a notable Example of an invincible minde and constantly bent to endure adversity From thence Alexander advanced to Susa where he took to Wife Statira the eldest Daughter of Darius whose youngest sister called Dyrpetis he gave in marriage unto Ephestion and bestowed fourscore Virgins of the Noblest of all the Nations he had conquered to the principal Macedons and to the chief of his Friends because he would not seem alone to begin so strange a Custom These Marriages were celebrated after the Persian manner and a magnificent Feast prepared at the Espousals at which there were nine thousand Guests present to every one of whom Alexander gave a drinking Cup of Gold At the same time the Rulers of the Cities whom Alexander had subdued and builded sent unto him thirty thousand young Souldiers that were all of one age furnished with 〈◊〉 Armour and fit for any Enterprize of the War whom he called Epigony that is to say Successours The Macedons at their coming seemed to be somewhat appalled who wearied with long War used often in their Assemblies to murmur and speak mutinous words against their King for which cause he prepared these Souldiers to restrain the arrogancy of the others and gave them great benevolences Harpalus to whom the King had committed the charge of the Treasure and Revenues at Babylon hearing of the Acts that Alexander had done in subduing the greater part of the Kings of India and his success to be so prosperous that nothing could withstand him knowing the unsatiable desire that was in Alexander to visit far Countries and to increase his Glory thought it should be a hard matter for him to return to Babylon again Wherefore he gave himself to delight and riot misusing many that were Noble and free-women and wallowed in all kind of voluptuousness insomuch that he sent for a famous Harlot called Potonice to whom he both gave many great and Princely Gifts while she was alive and also after her death spent thirty Talents on her Tomb. Having in these and such other voluptuous Vanities consumed a great part of the Treasure when he understood that Alexander was come out of India and did execute Justice upon his Officers who misused them over whom they had the Rule by reason he was privy to his foul Conscience he feared the like might fall on himself And therefore gathering together five thousand Talents and six thousand mercenary Souldiers he took his way towards Athens no man being willing to receive him by the way When he came to Tenaron where a great number of the mercenary Greeks who had been discharged out of Asia were assembled he left his Souldiers there and went to Athens with his Money When he was come thither a great number of Citizens flocked about him but more for love of his Money than for any respect unto himself but especially the Oratours whom by small Rewards he easily corrupted to defend his Cause before the People But afterwards at a general Assembly he was commanded to depart the City and so he returned again among the Greek Souldiers by whom he was slain After that with thirty Ships they passed over to Sunium which is a point of Land in the Territory of Athens from whence they determined to have entred into the Haven of the City These things being known Alexander
greater worth without whose consent no such thing may be suffered to be done There is no difference whether you make Perdiccas King or the son of Roxane whensoever he shall be born Perdiccas goeth about to make himself King under pretence to be Governour to the Infant this is the cause why no King can please him but such as is not yet born And in so great a haste as all we make to have a King which haste is both just and necessary for the preservation of our estate he only doth wait for the expiring of times and months imagining that she should bring forth a man-childe which I think you doubt not but he is already prepared to counterfeit and exchange if need be If it were so in very deed that Alexander had appointed him to be our King I am of opinion that the same thing only of all the things he had commanded ought not to be observed or performed Why do not you run rather to seize upon the Treasure seeing the people ought to inherit it When he had spoken those words he brake thorow the press of armed men and they who gave way to him followed him to the spoil whereof he made mention The greediness of the Treasure caused a great Band of armed men to flock about Meleager and the Assembly began to fall into sedition which had grown to a greater inconvenience if a mean Souldier whom very few did know had not stepped forth and spoken to the multitude What need we said he grow into a Civil War seeing we have a King already whom you seek to finde the same is Arideus the Son of Philip and brother to Alexander who lately was our King born and brought up with him in the same Religion and Ceremonies that we do use who being the only Heir I marvel by what undesert of his he is neglected or what hath he done why he should not enjoy his right descended unto him by the universal law of the world If you seek one to be compared to Alexander you shall never finde him If you will have such a one as shall be next unto Alexander this is only he When these words were heard amongst the multitude they kept silence at the first as if they had been commanded by Authority but afterwards they cried with one voice that Arideus should be called and that they were worthy of death who made the Assembly without him Then Pythan being bâ—dâ—wed with tears began to speak Now I perceive said he Alexanders case to be most miserable seeing he is defrauded of the fruit which such as were his Souldiers and Subjects should bring forth at such a time as this is For looking only on the Name and Memory of your King you are utterly blinde in other things His words tended directly to the reproof of Arideus that was his elected King but his Speech procured more hatred to the Speaker than contempt to the young man against whom it was intended For the compassion they had of Arideus caused them the more to favour his Cause and therefore they declared with a general Acclamation That they would not suffer any to reign over them but him only who was born to so great a hope and still they call'd for Arideus to come forth amongst them Whereupon Meleager for the malice â—â—d envy he bare unto Perdiccas took an occasion boldly to bring him into the Assembly whom the multitude saluted as King and called him Philip. This was the voice of the people but the Nobility were of another minde amongst whom Python took upon him to put Perdiccas Plot in execution and appointed Perdiccas and Leonatus descended both of the Blood-Royal to be Governours of the Son which should de born of Roxane Adding moreover that Craterus and Antipater should have the Rule within Europe and upon this they sware the Souldiers to be obedient to Alexanders Issue Meleager then doubting not without cause that some evil might come unto him dâ—parted with such of his Faction but he returned immediately again bringing Philip with him into the Court and cried out to the multitude for the assiâ—ting of the Commonwealth in aiding of the new King whom a little before they had Elected and willed them to make an experience of his Abilities perswading them that he was the fittest to Rule over them being the Issue of Pâ—iâ—ip and hath both a King to his Father and a King to his Brother There is no profound Sea so stormy nor tempestuous or that raiseth up so many surges and waves as a Multitude doth motions and alterations when they swell with the hopes of a new Liberty not likely long to continue There wanted not some who gave their consent to Perdiccas but more agreed to make Philip King They could neither agree nor disagree a long time together one while repenting them of their Counsel and immediately again repenting them of the repentance Yet finally they were inclined to prefer the Kings Bloud Arideus was put in such fear with the Authority of the Nobility that he departed out of the Assembly after whose departure the favour of the Souldiers was rather silenced than diminished towards him so that at length he was called again and his Brothers Royal Habiliments which lay in the Chair were put upon him and Meleager put on his Corslet following as a defence to the Person of the new King The Phalanx clashed their Spears to their Targets threatning to shed his bloud who went about to take the Kingdom that pertained not unto him They rejoyced that the strength of the Empire should not be divided but still continue in the same Bloud and Family the right of whose Title by Inheritance coming of the same Bloud-Royal they shewed themselves ready to defend For by reason they were accustomed to have the Name of their King in such honour and veneration they thought no man worthy of it but such a one who by descent was born to reign Perdiccas therefore was afraid and with six hundred men that were of an approved manhood took upon him to defend the place where the body of Alexander lay Ptolomy joyned himself unto him also and the Band of the young Gentlemen that were about the Kings Person but so many thousands of armed men as were on the other side did easily break in upon them amongst whom Arideus was present with a great Band for the guard for his Person whereof Meleager was chief Perdiccas therefore in great fury called such to his guard as would defend Alexanders Body but many of them were sore hurt with Darts that came from the contrary side At last the ancient men plucked off their Head-pieces the better to be known and desired them who were with Perdiccas to abstain from Civil War and give place to the King and to the greater part Wherepon Perdiccas was the first that laid down his Weapon and the rest did in like manner Meleager then perswaded them that they should not depart but remain still about
all men before him because in such glory he died young and had his Acts set forth by such a one as Homer was From thence he passed forwards into the Dominions of Darius King of Persia who being the Son of Arsanus and the fourteenth King after Cyrus had the possession of the Monarchy of the whole Eastern part of the World The chiefest cause that moved Alexander to invade him was to be revenged of the damages and destructions wherewith the Predecessors of Darius had afflicted the Country of Greece and also for demanding Tribute of Philip his Father for the which he sent a proud and presumptuous Embassage calling himself The King of Kings and Kinsman of the Gods Lastly he had written to Alexander and called him his Vassal and gave Commission to his Lieutenants that they should beat that Mad Boy the Son of Philip with Rods and afterwards bring him to his Presence in Kings Apparel And furthermore that they should sink both Ships and Marriners and convey all the Souldiers that should be left alive beyond the Red Seas They therefore purposing to execute the Kings Commandment assembled their Power at the River of Granike which doth divide the Country of Troy from Propontides having to the number of 20000 Footmen and as many Horsemen with whom they had taken the ground on the other side of the River where Alexander must needs pass over whereof when he was advertised though he saw apparent danger in the Enterprize to fight in the water and the Ouze against his Enemies who had the advantage of the higher Bank yet upon a singular trust to his own good Fortune and the courage of his Souldiers he charged upon the Enemy At the first he was sore encountred and put in great danger of repulse but at length he vanquished and overthrew them In doing whereof there neither wanted policy in himself nor singular Manhood in his men There was slain in that Battel of the Persians twenty thousand Foot and two hundred and fifty Horse and of the Macedons but thirty four This Victory was greatly advantagious to Alexander's designe for thereby he won the City of Sardis being the chief strength the Persians had for the Mastering of the Seas unto which City and to all the rest of the Country of Lydia he gave liberty to live under their own Laws He got also under his possession the City of Ephesus which the fourth day after the Battel was abandoned by the Garrison which Darius set there In the mean season there came Embassadours from Magnetio and from the Triallians proffering the delivery of their Cities Parmenio was sent to them with three thousand Footmen and two hundred Horsemen with which Power he won Miletum that made-strong opposition And marching from thence towards Hilicarnassus he got all the Towns thereabouts at the first approach and afterwards besieged Hilicarnassus it self which with great travel he overcame at length and razed it to the ground As Alexander entred into Caria Ada the Queen of that Country who had been spoiled of all her Dominions by Oâ—ontobates Darius Lieutenant saving of one strong City called Alindaâ— met with Alexander and adopted him for her Son and Heir He would not refuse the Name and the proffer of her Liberality but did restore to her again the Command of her own City And besides for the Memorial of her Benevolence he put the whole Country of Caria under her Rule and Subjection From thence he marched into Licia and Pamphylia to the intent that by getting the possession of the Sea-coasts of those Countries he might cause the Sea-power of Darius to be of no effect When he had subdued the people of Pisidia he entered into Phrygia by which Country he was inforced to pass and marched towards Darius with whom he had a great desire to encounter having understood that he was coming against him with a formidable Army THE THIRD BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon ALexander in the mean season having sent Cleander to levy Recruits out of Peloponnesus established the Countries of Licia and Pamphylia and removed his Army to the City of Celenae Through this City there ran at the same time the River of Martia made famous by the Poetry of Greece whose Head springing out of the top of a high Mountain and falling down upon a Rock beneath makes almost deafning murmures flowing from thence and watering the fields round about without increase of any stream saving his own the colour whereof being like unto the calm Sea gave occasion to the Poets to feign how the Nymphs for the delight they took in that River did chuse their dwelling under that Rock So long as it runneth within compass of the walls it keepeth his own name but when it cometh without where the stream is more swift and vehement it is then called Lycus Alexander did enter into this Town being forsaken of the Inhabitants and perceiving they were fled into the Castle which he determined to win before he departed he first sent to summon them by an Herald who declared that except they would yield themselves they should suffer the extremity of the Law of Arms. They brought the Herald into an high Tower which was strong both by Nature and Art willing him to consider the height and strength thereof and to declare unto Alexander that he had not a full dimension of the strength of the place for they did know it to be impregnable and if the worst should fall yet were they ready to die in their Allegiance Notwithstanding their words when it came to the point that they saw themselves besieged and all things were scarce they took Truce for forty days with this Composition That if they were not rescued by Darius within that time they would render it up into his hands Which they did afterwards at the day appointed when they saw no Succours coming To that place there came Embassadours to him from Athens making request that such of their City as were taken prisoners at the Battel fought upon the River Granike might be restored to them To whom answer was made that when the Wars of Persia were once brought to an end both theirs and all others that were Greeks should be restored to their liberty Alexander had his present care and resolution always upon Darius who he knew had not yet passed the River Euphrates He assembled therefore all his Powers together purposing to adventure the hazard of the Battel The Country was called Phrygia that he passed through plentiful of Villages but scarce of Cities yet there was one of great Antiquity called Gordium the Royal Seat sometime of King Mydas The River of Sangaray doth run through it and it standeth in the mid-way betwixt the Seas of Pontus and Cilicia being judged to be the narrowest part of Asia by reason of the Seas which lye on both sides representing the form of an Island and if it were not for a finall point of
condition Fortune hath surprized me methinks the noyse of mine Enemies doth ring in mine ears and I who moved first the War am now challenged and provoked to the Fight When Darius did write to me such proud Letters he was not ignorant of mine Estate yet peradventure he shall be deceived if I may use mine own minde in recovery of mine own health My case requireth no slack Medicines nor slow Physitians I had rather die stoutly once then to consume long time in my recovery wherefore if there be any hope or cunning in Physick let it be now seen and think that I seek not remedy so much for mine own life as I do for the care I have to encounter with mine enemies When they heard him speak these words they were in great doubt of his sudden rashness and therefore every one particularly did desire him that he would not increase his peril through any passion but suffer himself to be ordered by the advice of his Physitians For they alledged that unapproved Remedies were not suspected of them without cause seeing his Enemy had gone about to corrupt such as were about him by promising a thousand Talents to his Killer they thought no man would be so bold to make any experience of Physick upon him wâ—â—ch for the want of tryal thereof might in any wise give cause of suspition There was amongst the excellent Physitians that came with Alexander out of Macedon one Philip of Acarnam who was preferred to him for preservation of his health and had faithfully served him from his Childhood and therefore loved him with entire affection He promised to provide for the King an approved Remedy but such a one as would work vehemently but by the drinking thereof he doubted not â—he said but to expulse the force of his disease That 〈◊〉 pleased no man but only him who 〈…〉 thereof should abide the peril for he could 〈◊〉 all things better then delay Darius and his power were always in his eye and he had an assured confidence that the Victory should fall on his side if he might be able to stand in the fight of his men the thing that only grieved him was that the Physitian would not minister before the third day In the mean season Parmenio whom of all his Nobility he trusted most had exhorted him by his Letter that he should not commit himself to the cure of Philip for that he was corrupted by Darius with a thousand Talents and the promise of his Sister in Marriage Those Letters brought the King into great jealousie and moved him to consider secretly with himself all those things that either fear or hope could put into his fancy Shall I adventure thought he to drink this Medicine What if it be poyson Shall I not then be accounted the cause of mine own death Shall I suspect the fidelity of my Physitian or shall I suffer mine Enemy to kill me in my bed yet were it better for me to perish by other mens Treason then thus to die through mine own faint heart His minde being thus diversly perplexed he would shew the Contents of the Letter to no man but sealed it with his own Ring and laid it underneath his Pillow Two days were passed in these imaginations and the third day the Physitian came to his Beds-side with the Medicine ready made When the King saw him he raised himself upon his Elbow and taking the Letter in his left hand with the other hand took the Cup and straightway supped it off When he had so done he delivered the Letter to Philip to read and whilest he was reading he beheld him continually in the face supposing that if he had been faulty some token would have appeared in his countenance When Philip had read the Letter he shewed more tokens of displeasantness then of fear and therewithal fell down upon his knees and said Sir I see my life doth depend upon your health but your Recovery shall declare that I am falsly charged with this Treason therefore when by my means you shall get your health I trust you will not then deny me my life In the mean season lay fear aside and suffer the Physick to work and to have its operation keep your minde quiet and suffer not your self to be troubled with the superstitious carefulness of your friends which though it proceedeth of good will is notwithstanding a great impediment unto your health His words not only satisfied the King but made him to conceive perfect hope of his recovery and said unto Philip If the gods would have granted thee to advise with thy self of a way to prove the confidence I have in thee and the good will I bear thee thou couldest never have chosen so good a one as this for notwithstanding the Letter I drank off the Physick believing thee to be no less careful for declaration of thine own truth then for my health and therewith gave him his hand Yet afterwards when the Medicine began to work it was such in operation that it seemed to verifie Parmenio his accusation for he fainted oft and had much labour to draw his breath Then Philip left nothing unproved or undone that might serve for his purpose he laid warm cloaths to his body and always as he fainted revived him again with sweet savours and when he perceived him once come to himself he ceased not to feed him with discourse and one while put him in remembrance of his Mother and Sisters another while of the great Victory that was at hand When the power of the Physick once entred into his veins there appeared straight in all parts of his body manifest tokens of health First quickness came to the Spirits and afterwards the body recovered his strength a great deal sooner then any man looked for For after the third day that he had been in this sad condition he walked in the sight of the Souldiers who wonderfully rejoyced to see him And they shewed no less affection unto Philip whom every one severally imbraced and gave him thanks as if he had been a God It cannot be expressed besides that Natural Veneration that Macedons use to bear unto their Prince in what Reverence they especially had Alexander and how fervently they loved him They had conceived of him an Opinion that he could enterprise nothing but that it was furthered by the Divine Assistance and Fortune was so favourable unto him that his rashness was always an increase of his glory his age being scarcely ripe and yet sufficient for so great things did marvellously set forth all his doings and many things which out of the Wars would be counted lightness were most acceptable to the Souldiers as the exercising of his body amongst them his apparel not differing from the common sort with his courage and forwardness in the Field which gifts given him by Nature and some things besides done of policy did get him both the love and reverence of his people When Darius heard of Alexander's sickness
better advised he willed him to be content with his own Inheritance and he would joyn in Amity with him and become his Friend in which point he was ready to enter into Treaty with him Alexander did write to him again after this manner Darius whose Name thou ownest wrought heretofore great destruction upon the Greeks inhabiting the Coast of Helleâ—pont and upon the Greek Colonies in Ioniâ— which are Greek Cities and passed from thence to the Sea with a great Army to make War against Greece and Macedon And also King Xerxes thy Predecessor came to subdue us with infinite numbers which being vanquished in a Battel on the Sea left notwithstanding Mardonius behinde him in Greece to destroy their Cities and burn their Countries It is manifest besides that Philip my Father was slain by such as were corrupted thereunto with your money You undertake always unjust Wars and being clad in Arms go about for all that to circumvent men with Treason as thou of late having such a number of men in thy Army didst attempt my death with the promise of a 1000 Talents I am not therefore the beginner of the Wars but only do repel such injuries as are offered me in doing whereof through the help of the gods who favour alway the right I have brought the greater part of Asia under my subjection and having overcome thee in Battel by force of Arms there is no cause that I should grant thee any thing because thou hast not observed towards me the Law of Arms yet if thou wilt come and submit thy self I promise thee that I will deliver both thy Mother Wife and Children for I both know how to get the Victory and how to use such as I Overcome But if thou fearest to commit thy self to us I will give thee safe Conduct to come freely As for the rest when thou writest to me remember that thou writest not only to a King but also unto him that is thy King He sent this Letter by Thersipus and marched from thence into Phâ—nicia where the City of Biblon was yielded unto him and so came unto Sydon which was a City of great Magnificence by reason of the Antiquity and Fame of the Builders The same was under the Dominion of Strato and supported by the power of Darius who yielding more by the constraint of the people then of his own good will was thought unworthy to Reign there Alexander made a Grant to Ephestion that he should make such a one King whom the Sydons thought most worthy of that Honour There were divers Noble young men in that City that had familiarity with Ephestion of whom he thought to have chosen one King but they refused his offer affirming that none might enjoy that Dignity except he were descended of the Blood Royal. Ephestion wondered at the magnanimity that was in them in despising the thing that others sought for by Sword and Fire and said Continue you still in that vertuous minde who are the first that have understanding how much better it is to refuse then to receive a Kingdom Chuse you therefore such a one of the Blood Royal that may remember he hath received the Rule at your hands But when they saw divers gaping for it and for the greediness they had to Reign they fell to flattering of such as were near to Alexander they resolved that there was none more fit for that Dignity then one Abdolominus who being of the Ancient Blood of the Kings for poverty was inforced to dwell in a small Graunge without the City His honesty was the cause of his poverty as it is to many other and being exercised in his daily labour he heard no noyse of the Wars that troubled all Asia They of whom we spake before came into his Garden with Garments to apparel him like a King and found him weeding of his ground whom they saluted King and said You must make exchange of the vileness of your apparel with these rich Roâ—es we here present you Wash thy body that is now covered with Dust and take upon thee the Heart of a King and in this Fortune whereof thou art worthy shew the same moderation and continency as at this present And when as thou shalt sit in thy Regal Seat having in thy hands the power of the life and death of thy people do in no wise forget the Estate thou wert in when thou took'st the Kingdom upon thee nor yet for what purpose thou didst receive it The matter seemed to Abdolominus like a Dream who asked them if they were mad that would mock him after that manner But when he saw them affirm by Oaths the thing to be in earnest he washed himself and receiving the Garment which was of Purple and Gold he went with them into the Palace The Fame as it is accustomed in such a case did notably abroad of this subject some favoured the cause and some did disdain it but such as were rich did upbraid his poverty and base Estate to such as were near about Alexander who caused the King to send for him and when he had long beheld his behaviour he said Your personage doth not disagree from the Fame of your Linage but I desire to know with what patience you did sustain your poverty I would to God quoth he I could bear my prosperity in like case now when I am a King Thâ—se hands did get that I desired and having nothing I lacked nothing His words caused Alexander to conceive of him a marvellous good Opinion so that he gave unto him not only the riches stuff and furniture appertaining to the King before but also many things that were taken from the Persians adding to his Dominion all the Country near about that City In the mean season Amintas who heretofore fled from Alexander to Darius and now he escaped in the last Battel did come to Tripolis with four thousand Greeks where he imbarqued and sailed to Cyprus thinking the World to be such then that every one might enjoy what he could get as if it had been his own Inheritance His purpose was to go into Egypt thinking there to become an Enemy both to Darius and to Alexander and to comply with the world according as time should serve To bring therefore his Souldiers to think well of his Enterprize he declared how the Governour of Egypt was slain in the Battel and that the Persians left there in Garrison were but a small number of little force and without any 〈◊〉 He shewed how the Egyptians used to Rebel against their Governours wherefore they were sure to be received as Friends For necessity quoth he hath inforced us to prove our Fortunes which failing us in our first hope we must now conceive that the time to come shall be much better then the Fortunes we now enjoy They all agreed with one voice that he should lead them where he pleased Whereupon thinking not good to pretermit the occasion whiles they were high with hopes he
Prisoners amongst whom Darius Mother was one were set in the top of an Hill with a small Guard about them The charge of the left Battel was committed unto Parmenio as was accustomed before-time and Alexander himself was in the Main Body When they were drawn near to one another one Byon came flying from the Persian Hoast in a full gallop and declared unto the King that Darius had planted iron Galtops where he thought his Horsemen should pass and by a certain signe shewed him the place because it might be avoided Alexander willed the Fugitive to be kept safe and assembled all his Captains together declaring the matter and exhorting them to make their Souldiers privy to the danger for eschewing the place pointed out to them But all that were in so great an Army could not hear the warning given the noise of both Armies taking away the use of the ears But Alexander riding betwixt the Battels gave Exhortation to the Captains and to all other that were within hearing He declared that there was but one hazard remaining to them that had passed through so many Countries in hope of the Victory which they were now ready to fight for Thereupon he reduced to their memory the Battels they had fought at the River of Granike in the Mountains of Cilicia and with what speed they had passed over both Syria and Egypt The rehearsal whereof put them in great hope and did intice them forwards to the desire of glory He shewed that the Persians being withdrawn from their former flying were now compelled to fight of necessity because they could fly no further and how that three days together amazed for fear they had remained still in one place with their Armour on their backs of whose despair he said there could be no greater argument then that they had set on fire their own Country confessing all to be their Enemies that they destroyed not He exhorted them not to fear the vain name of unknown Nations for it was a thing nothing pertinent which were called Scythians or which Caducians for being unknown Nations it was a sure token that they were men of no valour because such as be valiant could never be unknown in the world And contrariwise Dastards when they come forth of their Dâ—ns bring nothing with them but names of men whereas you quoth he that be Macedons have obtained by your Vertue and Manhood that there is no Country in the world ignorant of your Acts. He willed them to behold the evil order that was in their Enemies Host of whom some had no weapon but a Dart others a Sling to cast stones and very few had such Armour as they ought to have So that though there was a great number on the other part yet he said they had more on their side when they should come to fight hand to hand and that for his part he would not require any man to adventure himself except he were an example to him of Fortitude and Courage for he assured them that he would be seen fighting with the foremost knowing that so many wounds as he should get should be so many ornaments to his person He said they themselves knew that he would be no partaker of the prey but that it was ever his custom to bestow the rewards of his Victory upon the Souldiers His former words he shewed to be spoken to men of courage but if any were of another temper he was to inform them that they were come unto the place from whence they could not fly having left so many Countries behinde them which they had passed over and so many Rivers and Mountains at their backs so that now there was no way to their own houses and Native Country but such as they must make open with their own hands This was the Exhortation he gave unto the Captains and to such of the Souldiers as were next unto him Darius that was in his left-hand Battel accompanied with a choice Band of Horsemen and of Footmen despised the small number of his Enemies their Battels appearing to him thin and void of men when he saw their Wings stretched so far abroad He stood therefore on his Chariot on high and turning himself both on the right hand and the left he spake in this manner to such as were about him We that were not long since Lords of all the Countries lying between Hellespont and the Ocean Sea are compelled now to fight not for Fame and Glory but for our Safeguard and our Liberty which chiefly is to be esteemed This day shall either establish or make an end of the greatest Empire that hath been in any Age. At the River of Granike we fought with a small part of our Power When we were vanquished in Cilicia Syria was able to receive us and the Rivers of Tygris and Euphrates were as Bull-warks to defend our Kingdom But now we are come to that extremity that we have no place to fly unto if we be put to flight All things behinde our backs are wasted with this long War neither Cities are inhabited nor men left to till the ground Our Wives and our Children do follow this Army a prey ready for our Enemies except we put our bodies for the defence of such as be dear unto us So much as hath concerned me I have performed preparing such an Army as this huge Plain is able to receive I have distributed amongst you Horse and Armour providing that Victuals should not be wanting for such a multitude and have chosen an apt place to arange our Battels in All the rest remaineth in your hands do but dare to fight and the Victory is yours and despise you the Fame of the Enemy which is but a weak weapon against men of Valour It is rashness which hitherto ye have feared as a Vertue whereof when the first brunt is spent it waxeth dull as are Drones having once lost their stings This Plain hath disclosed their small number which the Mountains of Cilicia did hide You see how empty their Ranks are how thin their Wings be extended abroad how their Battels be empty and void of men and such as are in the Rear have already turned their backs They may be overthrown with your Horses feet though I send none against them but the Hooked Waggons And if we win the Battel we make an end of the War for they have no place to fly to They are shut in with Tygris on the one side and with Euphrates on the other and such things as before made for their purpose now are turned and do make clear against them Our Army is light and without much Baggage and they are laden with preys and booties we shall kill them as they are wrapt in spoils And the same one thing shall be both our gain and the cause of our Victory If any of you be moved with the Fame of the Nation you must think that the Armour with the outward shew and not the bodies of the
wonderfully that the Victory should be thus taken out of his hands and that Darius had better fortune in flying then he in following In the mean sâ—ason the fame of Darius overthrow was brought unto Mazeus wherefore though before he had the upper hand yet he was so stricken with fear at his Fellows misfortune that he made a slack pursuit upon their Enemies Parmenio was ignorant of the cause why the fight did slack so willingly on their part and boldly using the occasion called the Thessalian Horsemen unto him and said See you not how our Enemies that even now gave us a fierce onâ—set suddenly be afraid I see the fortune of our King doth give us the Victory All the Field is strowed with the Persians that be slain Why do you therefore stay Are you not good enough for men that fly They saw that his words had some appearance of truth and therefore by and by they took courage and putting their Spurs to their Horses gave a full charge upon their Enemies who retired not by little and little but marched away a great pace and they wanted nothing of flying saving that they had not yet directly turned their backs yet for all that in so much as Parmenio knew not what was become of the King nor of his Battel he stayed and would not pursue after them Mazeus having liberty given him to fly at his leisure passed the River of Tire not the next way but by a further compass about with more surety and recovered the City of Babylon with the remainder of that vanquished Army In the mean season Darius with a few that accompanied him in his slight came to the River of Licus where passing over he stood in doubt whether he should break the Bridge or no for it was shewed him that his Enemies were at hand but considering how many thousands of his men by the breaking thereof should become a prey to his Enemies he left the Bridge standing and at his departure said That he had rather open the way to them that pursued him then to shut it against them that fled after him But Darius left not his flying till he came to Arbella where he arrived about mid-night Who is able to conceive in his minde or express in words the manifold chance in this discomfiture the slaughter that fell both upon Captains and Souldiers the chasing of them that were put to flight and the destruction in general and in particular Fortune heaped together in that one day the chances of the whole world Some took the way that came next to hand others fled into the Woods and sought out by-ways to escape such as had them in the chase There was a confusion of Horsemen and Footmen mixed together withouâ— any head the armed with the unarmed and the whole with the hurt At length the compassion that one had of another was turned into fear and they that could not follow were left bewailing themselves one to another But Thirst chiefly afflicted the wounded and wearied who lay along every where in the ways where any water was gasping after it with open mouth and when for greediness they had gulled in the troubled water they began to swell when the Mud once entred into their Intrails and being thus not in case to move the Enemy came and stirred them up with fresh wounds Some when the Brooks near hand were taken up by others sought out for Springs in every secret place Nor were there any Puddles so dry or so far out of the way that could be hidden from the thirst of them that searched them out The old men and women were heard howling and crying in all the Villages near the way side how Darius was yet their King Alexander as it hath been said before pursuing the Chase was come to the River of Licus at which the multitude of the Flyers were more then could pass the Bridge so that many when their Enemies pursued them leaped into the water and there laden with their Armour and wearied with sighting and flying were consumed in the stream But within a while neither the Bridge nor the River were able to receive the throung that continually increased by their indiscreet flying For when fear had once entred into their hearts they doubted only that which put them first in fear The Macedons were very eager in pursuit of their Enemies and required Alexander that he would not suffer his Enemies to escape free away But he to stay them alledged that their weapons were dull their hands wearied their bodies faint in the long pursuit and the night besides fast approached on them But in very deed the care of his other Battel which he thought to be yet fighting caused him to return to their succour He had not so soon turned his Ensignes but that certain Horsemen brought him word from Parmenio that he likewise had put his Enemies to flight He was not in so great danger all that day as when he was coming towards his Camp for there were but few that followed him and they were out of order as men that rejoycing of the Victory judged all their Enemies either to be fled or slain in the Field Suddenly there appeared a Band of Persian Horsemen coming against them which at the first stayed but afterwards perceiving the small number of the Macedons gave a charge upon them The King rode foremost rather dissembling then despising the peril he was in But his perpetual felicity never failed him in his extremities for at the first encounter he strake the Captain of the Persians who in eagerness of the fight unadvisedly came against him through with a Spear When he with that blow was stricken to the ground Alexander slew the next unto him with the same Staff and after him divers others When his Company saw their Enemies amazed with his doings they brake upon them and threw many to the earth yet they for their parts were not unrevenged for the whole Battel did not so earnestly fight as that small Band assembled so by chance But at length when they saw flying in the dark to be more safe unto them then fighting they fled away in divers Companies Alexander having escaped this extraordinary peril brought his men in safeguard unto his Camp There were slain of the Persians which came to the knowledge of them that had the Victory forty thousand and of the Macedons less then three hundred which Victory Alexander won more by his own Vertue then by any fortune and with hardiness and courage more then through any advantage of the ground for he both ordered his Battels politickly and fought manfully With great wisdom he contemned the loss of the Baggage considering the weight of the whole matter to consist in the Battel it self Whilest the fortune of the Field remained doubtful he used himself as assured of the Victory and when he had put his Enemies in fear he ceased not till he had set them flying and that which scarcely can be
believed in that fierceness of courage he pursued in the Chase more wisely then greedily For if he should have followed on still part of his Power yet fighting in the Field he should either have lost the Battel through his own fault or else have won the Victory through the prowess of another Or if after he had obtained the Victory he had shewed himself afraid of the Horsemen that he met he must either shamefully have fled or have been miserably slain Nor were his Captains to be defrauded of their due commendation for the wounds that they did receive were tokens of their Manhood Ephestions arm was wounded with a Spear Perdicas Cenos and Medinas with shot of Arrows were almost slain out-right And if we will give a true judgment of the Macedons that were there we must confess that he was a King worthy of such Ministers and they men worthy of so great a Master THE FIFTH BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon IF I should here make mention of the Wars that in the mean season intervened both in Greece Italy and in Thracia and of the Revolters that were checked and subdued by the appointment and Commission of Alexander the proceedings in Asia would thereby be interrupted which I thought most convenient to put wholly together until the death of Darius and then to joyn them in this work as they agree with the time I will first speak of those things that ensued after the Battel of Arbella where Darius arrived about mid-night and as it chanced the greater part of his friends whom he called all together and spake to them to this effect That he doubted not but Alexander and his Souldiers greedy of the abundance of the spoil which was in a readiness for them would visit such Cities and Countries of his as were most famous for their scituation and wealth which thing he said considering his estate could not but turn at length to his advantage His purpose was in a swift March to repair into the Desarts And seeing the uttermost bounds of his Kingdom were yet untouched he might easily repair his Power from thence to renew the War Let therefore that greedy Nation quoth he take my Treasure and satisfie their hunger with gold which shortly shall cause both the same and themselves also to be a prey unto us For he said he had learned by experience that the Flocks of Concubines and Eunuchs were nothing else but burdens and impediments which Alexander possessing and carrying about with him it would at the last make him inferiour unto them of whom before he was Victorious His Oration seemed to all men to be full of desperation for they saw thereby that the rich City of Babylon should be given up unto the Macedons and Susae shortly after with all other Ornaments of the Realm which were the cause of the War But he proceeded in perswading them how that men in adversity ought not to do things that should seem goodly in the speaking but necessary in the experience That Wars were made with Iron and not with Gold with men and not with the walls of Cities for all things follow them that are armed and in strength He shewed that his Ancestors famous for their Atchievements were afflicted after this manner in the beginning and yet recovered quickly again their former estate After he had spoken these words either for that they were thereby incouraged or else that they rather obeyed his Authority then liked his Counsel they followed him into the bounds of Media Shortly after Arbella was delivered up to Alexander which was full of Treasure and precious Moveables and besides the pay of the whole Army was left there The sickness that began in Alexanders Camp arising from the favour of the dead bodies which were scattered over all the Fields was the cause that he did the sooner remove The plain Country of Arabia famous with the abundance of sweet Odours there growing lay upon the right hand as they marched And so passing through the Country lying between Tygris and Euphrates which is so fat and plentiful a ground that the Inhabitants are fain to drive their Beasts from feeding lest a Surfeit should destroy them The cause of this fertility cometh by the moisture that issueth from both Rivers sweating by veins through the ground Both these Rivers have their beginnings in the Mountains of Armenia where they are distant twenty five hundred furlongs and so run forwards keeping their distance till they come near unto the bounds of Media and Gordia For there by little and little they draw more near together leaving less space betwixt them They inclose on both sides the Country that is called Mesopotamia from whence they run through the bounds of Babylon into the Red Sea After Alexander had changed his Camp four times he came to a City called Memnium where there is a Fountain within a Cave that belcheth out great plenty of Pitch So that it appears the Babylonians had their Cement from thence which they imployed about the making of their walls of an incredible bredth and compass As Alexander was going from thence towards Babylon Mazeus who was said before to have fled from the Battel came to meet him in most humble manner whereas committing his Children into his hands he yeilded himself and rendred up the City His coming was very grateful unto the King considering what travel he should have sustained in the siege of so strong a City if it had been kept against him And besides for so much as Mazeus was a man both famous and valiant and much commended for his atchievements in the last Battel and conceived his example should provoke others to do the like he received both him and his Children in gentle manner and yet gave order to his men that they should enter into the City in such Array of Battel as if they were presently to fight A great number of the Babylonians stood upon the walls desirous to behold him that was their new King but the most part went forth to meet him Bagistines that was Captain of the Castle and Keeper of the Kings Treasure because he would shew himself to be no less affectionate towards Alexander then Mazeus was strowed all the ways where he should pass with Flowers and Garlands and set Altars of Silver on both sides with Frankincense burning upon the same and all other kinde of sweet odours Next unto him came Droves of Beasts great number of Horses with Lyons and Pardals lying in their Dens which he brought as Presents to give unto Alexander and after them the Wise Men singing according to their Country manner The Caldeans followed next with their Diviners and Prophets and then the Musitians with several kindes of Instruments whose property was to sinâ— the praises of their Kings and the Caldeans who used to declare the motion of the Planets with the course and revolution of the times Last in order came the Babylonian Horsemen
us that are here banished into the uttermost bounds of the Orient being aged impotent and maimed to endure those travels which have wearied men who have been both armed and Conquerours It is to be asked what shall become of our Wives whom Chance and Necessity hath here procured us for the only comfort of our imprisonment what shall we do with our Children Shall we take them with us or leave them behinde us If we return with such as we have here none of those in Greece will acknowledge us and shall we then be so mad to leave those comforts we have already being uncertain whether we shall arrive at those which we desire or not Verily much better it were for us to conceal our selves amongst them who have been acquainted with us in our misery These were Euctemon his words but Theatus the Athenian reasoned to the contrary There is no wise man quoth he that will esteem us by our outward shape seeing that our calamity is not come by Nature but by the cruelty of our Enemies Such as are ashamed of the injuries of Fortune are well worthy to suffer misadventures They give a grievous sentence upon the state of mans Mortality and despair much of mercy who deny their compassion to men in misery Now therefore since the gods have offered to you what ye durst never have wished for that is your Country your Wives and your Childre being 〈◊〉 things which men esteem more then life and redeem oftentimes with death Why do you doubt for the enjoyment of those things to break out of this imprisonment I judge the Air of our own Country most natural to us where there is another manner of living other Customs other Religion and another tongue which for the pleasantness of it is coveted of the Barbarous Nations What great things then be those which ye would willingly leave the want of which onely is the cause of your misery My Opinion is plain that we visit our Countrey and our Home and not to refuse so great a benefit as Alexander hath proffered us If any be detained with the love of such wives and children as they have gotten here in servitude let such be no impediment to others that esteem most their natural Countrey There were but few of this opinion for custome that is of greater force then nature prevailed in that point They agreed therefore to demand of Alexander the gift of some place to inhabit in and chose out a hundred to be Petitioners to him in that behalf When Alexander perceived them coming towards him thinking that they would have required what he had conceived he said unto them I have appointed to every one of you Beasts to carry you and a thousand Deniers and when you shall come to Greece I will so well provide for you that excepting your misfortune no man shall think himself in better case then you But when he saw them looking still toward the ground and that they neither lifted up their eyes nor spake one word he enquired the cause of their heaviness Then Euctemon rehearsed again those words in effect which he had spoken before in Councel The King therefore pitying no less their demand then he did their misfortune commanded three thousand Deniers to be given to every one of them and ten suits of apparel with Cattel and Corn whereby they might Till and Sow the Land that should be appointed to them The next day he assembled all the Captains of his Army together and represented to them that there was no City more enemy to the Greeks then the same that was the chief Seat of the ancient Kings of Persia from whence all the great Enemies had been sent into Greece how Darius first and after him Xerxes had come out of that place to move their unâ—ust War against Europe with the destruction of which City he thought good to revenge the blood of their Predecessours The Inhabitants had abandoned that City and fled where their fear did drive them Whereupon the King straightways brought in all the Phalanx to the spoil thereof He had before that time won many Cities some by force and some by composition that were full of riches and of Princes Treasure but the abundance of that City did exceed all the rest as being the place where the Persians had laid up all their substance Gold and Silver was found in heaps and great plenty of rich habiliments and furniture of houses not only for necessary use but for excess and ostentation which was so great that it gave the Conquerours occasion to fight for it amongst themselves each taking other for their enemies that had gotten the richest spoil The abundance there was such that they could not imploy the riches which they found but when they saw things of value they esteemed them rather then took them away At last every one of them coveting to have a part of every thing did tear and break asunder the Princely Robes and the precious Plate of curious workmanship with the Images of Gold and Silver which were plucked in pieces as every one caught hold nothing was left untouched nor any thing carried away whole cruelty bearing no less rule then covetousness every one was so laden with gold and silver that they esteemed not the keeping of their prisoners but killed such as at first they spared in hope of gain There were many therefore that prevented their Enemies by a voluntary death and divers cloathing themselves in their most precious apparel leaped down from the walls with their wives and children Certain there were that set their own houses on fire which they judged their Enemies would else have done and burned themselves with their Family together At length the King did forbid any violence to be done to women and that no man should meddle with any thing pertaining to them The sum of money taken within this City was greater then any man can well credit but either we must doubt with others or else believe what hath been left in memory that the Treasure there found amounted to a hundred and twenty thousand Talents which Treasure because Alexander would employ in his Wars he caused Horses and Camels to be brought from Susae and Babylon to convey the same The taking of the City of Persagadis wherein were found six thousand Talents was an increase to this sum which City being built by Cyrus was yielded up by Gobates who had the Government thereof Alexander left in the Castle of Persepolis three thousand Macedons in Garrison under Nicâ—rides Captain of the same and reserved to Tyridates that delivered him the Treasure the same honour that he enjoyed with Darius Leaving in this City the greater part of his Army with his Carriages under the Rule of Parmenio and Craterus he with a thousand Horsemen and a Band of Footmen without any Baggage went to visit in the Winâ—â—â—â—â—â—son the inward parts of Persâ—a There he was 〈…〉 ed with Storms and Tempests that were in a manner
go not to it like Sluggards Therefore if we shall go unto Bactria which is now our next Refuge let us for the present make Bessus our King who is already Ruler of that Country and when the Affairs be once brought to some stay he shall restore to you the Empire again as to their Right King Although Darius perceived not the greatness of the mischief that lay hidden under his wicked words yet it was no marvel that he could not abstain for he turned towards him and said Thou vile Slave hast thou now found out a time meet to disclose the Treason that lyeth in thy heart And therewithal he pulled out his Sword to have slain him if Bessus and the other Bactrians about him had not hindred his purpose These pretended to be sorry for the matter but minded in very deed to binde him if he had continued in his purpose In the mean season Nabarzanes escaped away and Bessus followed after who immediately did separate the Bands they had charge of from the rest of the Army because they would use them apart to their own purpose When they were departed Artabasus framed his talk according to the estate of the time then present and began to pacifie Darius with words putting him in remembrance how his case was such that it behoved him to bear quietly the foolishness or rather the errour of his own men for as much as Alexander was at hand too sore an Enemy for them although there were no disobedience But if we shall be at variance quoth he when he does pursue us our affairs shall stand in very evil condition Thereupon Darius inclined somewhat to Artabasus advice and though he was minded to remove yet because he perceived every man to be troubled in minde he remained still in the same place But he himself was so astonished with sorrow and desperation that he kept himself close and came not forth of his Pavilion Whereupon the Camp being without Government the Heads not consulting together as they did before there arose amongst them a great diversity of Opinions and motions of minde Which thing when Patron saw that was Captain of the Greek Souldiers he willed his men to put on their Armour to be in a readiness to do as they should be appointed The Persians incamped by themselves and Bessus remained amongst the Bactrians practising to carry away the Persians into Bactria and to leave Darius signifying to them the riches of that Region yet untouched and the peril they were in if they remained there but they were all in a manner of one Opinion that it was an over-great offence for them to forsake their Prince In the mean season Artabasus executed the Kings Office and went amongst the Persians in their lodgings admonishing and exhorting them sometimes apart and otherwhile all together and would never leave them before it appeared that they would do as the King would have them That done with great pain and difficulty he perswaded Darius to take his meat and set his minde upon his business But Bessus and Nabarzanes were so greedy to get the Government into their hands that they resolved to put in execution the thing they had long conspired betwixt them for so long as Darius was in safety they could not hope to compass nor attain so great Authority The Majesty of a King is had in great Veneration amongst those Nations at whose Name only they assemble together and the Reverence used to them in their prosperity causeth men to shew them the like obedience in adversity The greatness and power of those Countries whereof of Bessus and Nabarzanes had the Rule not being inferiour to any other Nations in that part of the world either in men in furniture or largeness of their Territory gave a great incouragement unto their wicked dispositions in attempting of this matter For they possessing the third part of Asia were able to make as great a number of men as Darius before had lost In confidence whereof they not only despised Darius but Alexander himself purposing when they were once become Lords of that Country to re-inforce from thence again the power of the Empire and maintain the Wars against the Macedons When they had long devised and debated these things they determined to take Darius by the Bactrian Souldiers of whom they had the Rule and 〈◊〉 to send word to Alexander that they reserved him alive to deliver him into his hands And if so be that Alexander should not not accept it which indeed they doubted then their purpose was to kill Darius and with their power to fly into Bactria But for so much as they saw that Darius could not be taken openly seeing there were so many thousands ready to aid him and fearing also the fidelity of the Greeks they determined to work by slight the thing that they could not bring to pass by force The plot was to counterfeit a repentance of their former doings in excusing unto the King the fear they were in and in the mean season they sent certain to practise with the Persians and to prove their mindes The Souldiers were tossed to and 〈◊〉 with hope and fear sometime they thought that by leaving of their King they should commit themselves to manifest ruine and destruction And again they remembred what entertainment was promised them in Bactria that lay open for them where they should be received with such gifts and riches as they could not well imagine Whiles Bessus and Nabarzanes were beating of these things in their heads Artabasus came unto them declaring how Darius was well pacified and that they might if they would be in the same Estate and Degree with him that they were before Thereupon they fell to weeping and purging themselves requiring Artabasus that he would take upon him the defence of their Cause and carry their Request and Submission unto the King The night was consumed in this kinde of business When it was day Nabarzanes with the Bactrian Souldiers stood at the Entry of the Kings Lodging colouring his privy Treason with the solemn pretence of doing his duty Darius caused warning to be given for his remove and so mounted upon his Chariot after his accustomed manner Nabarzanes and the other Traytors fell upon the ground to worship him and shed tears in token of repentance notwithstanding that they determined shortly after to put him in Fetters so apt is the nature of man to dissimulation Darius being of a simple and gentle Nature was inforced through their behaviour not only to believe what they pretended but also it caused him to weep for joy yet that could not cause the Traytors to alter their purpose when they perceived what kinde of man and what manner of Prince they went about to 〈◊〉 Darius doubting nothing of his peril that was next at hand made all the haste he could to escape Alexander whom he only doubted Patron that was Captain of the Grecians commanded his Souldiers to put on their Harness which
an Ebb they return again restoring the ground to its former estate Some believe these waters to be no parcel of the Caspian Sea but that they come out of India and run into Hircania which lieth low in the foresaid Valley The King being removed from that place marched forwards twenty furlongs in a wilde Desart where great woods hung continually over their heads and Brooks of water and the dirt gave great impediment to their journey But at length without any opposition of his Enemies he passed those difficulties and came unto a fair Country wherein besides other Victuals wherewith it did abound there grew great plenty of Apples and the ground was very apt for Vines There were also plenty of a certain kinde of Trees much like unto Oaks whose leaves were covered with honey which the Inhabitants gather before the Sun-rising for else the moisture would be dried up with the heat When Alexander had passed thirty furlongs further Phrataphernes met him yeilding both himself and such others as fled away after Darius death whom he received gently and came to a Town called Arnas Thither came Craterus and Erigonus bringing with them Phradates that had the rule of the Tapurians his friendly receiving and gentle entertainment was cause that many followed his example in committing themselves to Alexanders Mercy Menape was there made Prince of Hircania who being a banished man in the time of Occhus came to King Philip for Refuge and Phradates also was restored to the Office he had before When Alexander was come to the uttermost bounds of Hircania Artabasus whom as we declared did shew himself always faithful to his Master did meet him with Darius Kinsmen and Children and with a small Band of Greek Souldiers The King at his coming proffered him his hand because he had been entertained before by King Philip when he was banished by Occhus But the chief cause that he received him so well was for the fidelity that he observed towards his Prince He being thus gently entertained by Alexander did say unto him Sir long may you flourish and reign in perpetual felicity I that rejoyce in all other things am grieved only at this that by reason of mine old age I shall not be able long to enjoy your goodness He was eighty five years of age and brought with him nine Sons born of one Mother whom he presented to the King praying God to continue their lives so long as their service might be acceptable unto him Alexander was accustomed much to walk on foot but then lest the old man might be ashamed to ride himself going on foot he called for Horses for them both When he was incamped he sent for the Greeks that Artabasus brought but they made request that he would first give assurance to the Lacedemonians that were amongst them or else they would take advice amongst themselves what were best to do The same were the Embassadours that the Lacedemonians had sent to Darius which after the Battel joyned themselves to the Greeks that were in pay with Darius The King willed them to leave all assurances and compositions and come to receive such appointment as he would give them They stood long in a doubt vaâ—ying in opinions but at length they agreed so to do saving Democrates of Athens who had always opposed the success of the Macedons and despairing of pardon slew himself But the other as they had determined submitted themselves to Alexanders will being ten thousand five hundred in number besides ninety of such as were sent Embassadours unto Darius The greatest part of the Souldiers were distributed amongst the Bands to fill up the numbers that wanted and the rest were sent home except the Lacedemonians whom he commanded to be put in prison There was a Nation called Mardons bounding next to 〈◊〉 rude in their manners and usages accustomed to live by theft They neither sent Embassadours nor gave any signification that they would be at Alexanders Commandment He took thereat great indignation that any one people should give impediment to his Victory and therefore leaving a Guard for his Carriages he advanced against them with a strong power He marched forwards in the night and by the time that the day appeared his Enemies were in sight But the matter came rather to an Alarm then to any fight for the Enemies were soon driven from the Hills who flying away left their Villages to be sacked by the Macedons But the Army could not pass into the inward parts of the Country without great trouble and vâ—xation the same being compassed about with high Mountains great Woods and desart Rocks and the parts which were plain were defended with a strange kinde of fortification that is to say with Trees set thick of purpose the Boughs whereof when they were young were wreathed one within another the tops bowed down were put into the ground again from whence as out of another root there sprung new branches They would not suffer the same to grow as Nature brought them forth but did knit them so one within another that when they were full of leaves they covered the earth The Trees thus wreathed one within another inclosed in the Country as it were with a continual hedge and were as snares to intangle such as would enter There was no way could be devised to go through the same but only by cutting down the wood and therein they found a great difficulty and much travel by reason that the wreathing and wrapping of the Boughs kept them off from the bodies of the Trees and the weakness of the Boughs so yeilded to the strokes that they could not easily be cut asunder The Inhabitants of the Country were accustomed to creep amongst the under-wood like wilde Beasts and by privy Sallies break out upon their Enemies Alexander therefore caused his men after the manner of Hunters to seek out their lurking places and killed many of them But at length he invironed the Wood with his Souldiers round about to the intent they might break in at every place where they should finde an entry In doing whereof many wandred and lost their company in places that they knew not and were taken prisoners and amongst them Bucephalus Alexanders Horse whom he did not esteem as other men do other Beasts for this Horse would not suffer any other man to back him and when the King would ride he would kneel down upon his knees to receive him so that he seemed to have the sense to understand whom he carried Alexander was more sorrowful and incensed fo◠〈◊〉 loâ—s of his Horse then was expedient for such a cause for searching about to get the Horse again he caused Proclamation to be made by an Interpreter that except he were restored he would not leave one of the Country-men alive When they heard this terrible threatning amongst other gifts they presented unto Alexander his Horse Yet he was not therewith pacified but commanded the Woods to be cut down and the ways to be
levelled which he cut through the Woods This work went so well forward that the Inhabitants despairing of ability to defend their Country yeilded themselves to the King who receiving their Pledges committed them to the keeping of Phradates and from thence the fifth day he returned again to his Camp There he gave to Artabasus the double honour that Darius did unto him and sent him home again into his Country After that he came to the City of Hircania where Darius Chief Seat was Nabarzanes upon assurance came thither bringing with him great gifts and amongst the rest presented unto Alexander an Eunuch called Bagoas of singular Beauty being in the first flower of his Youth whom Darius used and afterwards Alexander at whose intercession especially he did pardon Nabarzanes The Nation of the Amazons being near unto Hircania as hath been said before did inhabit the Plains of Themyscire about the River of Thermodoon and had a Queen reigning over them called Thalestris which kept under her Dominion all the Countries between Mount Caucasus and the River of Phasis She for the great affection she had to see Alexander travelled out of her own Country and being come near where he was sent certain before to declare that a Queen was come of desire to visit him and to enjoy the private familiarity of his company When liberty was given her to come to his presence she caused all the rest of her Band to stay and she came forwards attended only by three hundred women As soon as she perceived Alexander she leaped from her Horse carrying two Javelins in her hand The Amazons apparel is such that it doth not cover all their bodies for their breasts are bare on the left side and their garments which they use to knit up with a knot come not to their knees One Breast they always reserve untouched wherewith they nourish their Women-Children but their right Breasts they use to â—ear to make them more apt to draw their Bowsâ— and cast their Darts Thalestris looked upon Alexander with a bold countenance and observed in her beholding of him that his personage answered not to the Fame that she had heard of his Acts for the Barbarous Nations gave great Veneration to the Majesty of the Personage thinking none to be sufficient for the doing of great Acts but such as Nature had indued with great personages It was demanded of her if she had any request to make unto Alexander Whereat she abashed not to confess that she was come thither to have Children by him thinking her self a personage worthy of whom he should get Heirs to inherit his Kingdom wherein she covenanted that if it were a Woman she would keep it still and if it were a Man-Childe she would restore it to the Father Alexander enquired of her if she would go forwards with him in his Wars But therein she excused her self that she had left no order for the defence of her Kingdom But she continued still in declaration of the cause of her coming and required that her expectation therein might not be in vain The Womans Appetite seemed to be more vehemently given to Lust then the Kings was yet she obtained of him to stay for that cause and he consumed thirteen days in satisfying her desire That done she departed to her own Kingdom and Alexander marched into Parthenia which was the place where he first shewed manifestly the Vices that were in him There he turned his Continency and Moderation being the most excellent Vertues appearing in any kinde of Estate into Pride and Voluptuousness not esteeming his Country-Customs nor the wholesome temper that was in the Discipline of the Kings of Macedon For he judged their civil usage and manner to be over-base for his greatness but did counterfeit the height and pomp of the Kings of Persia representing the greatness of the gods He was content to suffer men there to fall down flat upon the ground and worship him and accustomed the Conquerours of so many Nations by little and little to servile offices coveting to make them like unto his Captives He ware upon his Head a Diadem of Purple interpâ—led with white like as Darius was accustomed and fashioned his Apparel after the manner of the Persians without scrupulosity of any token that it signiâ—iâ—d for the Conquerour to change his Habit into the fashion of him whom he had vanquished And though he boasted that he wore the spoils of his Enemies yet with those spoils he put upon him their evil manners and the insolency of the minde followed the pride of the Apparel Besides although he sealed such Letters as he sent into Europe with his accustomed Seal yet all the Letters he sent abroad into Asia were sealed with Darius Ring So it appeared that one minde could not bear the greatness that appertained to two He apparelled also his Friends his Captains and his Horsemen in Persian apparel whereat though they grudged in their mindes yet they durst not refuse it for fear of his displeasure His Court was replenished with Concubines for he still maintained three hundred and sixty that belonged to Darius and amongst them were Flocks of Eunuchs accustomed to perform the natural use of Women The old Souldiers of Philip naturally abhorring such things manifestly withstood to be infected with such volupâ—uousness and strange Customes Whereupon there rose a general talk and opinion throughout the Camp that they had lost more by the Victory then they had won by the War For when they saw themselves overcome with such excess and Forreign Customs so to prevail amongst them they judged it a slender reward of their long being abroad to return home in the habit of Prisoners They began to be ashamed of their King that was more like to such as were subdued then to them that were Victorious and that the King of Macedon was become the Prince of Persia and one of Darius Courtiers When he understood that the chief of his friends and his men of War were much offended at his doings he went about to recover favour again with gifts and liberality but the rewards of servitude are ungrateful to free men And therefore lest it might turn into a sedition he thought good to break the maginations increased by idleness with the exercise of War whereof an apt occasion was given Bessus investing himself as a King took upon him the name of Artaxerxes drawing to his part the Scythians and others that were the Inhabitants of the River Thanais which things were reported to him by Nabarzanes whom he had received into his favour and given the Rule of the Country he had before When he had determined this new Expedition he found his Army so over-charged and laden with Spoil and other Furniments of Voluptuousness that they could scarcely move Wherefore he commanded the Baggage and Stuff of the whole Army to be brought together into one place excepting only such things as were very necessary The place was large and plain to which the
assure him by his Oath to keep the thing secret who supposing the matter to be of no such weight that he ought with Perjury or breaking of his Oath to disclose the same again did swear by the gods there present Then Dimnus opened unto him how there was a Treason conspired against the King which within three days should be put in execution to which he said he himself was private with divers men of Nobility and Estimation When Nichomachus did hear it and found it to be of such moment he constantly denied then that this promise extended to conceal Treason whereunto no Oath nor Religion could binde a man which when Dimnus observed he became on a rage betwixt love and fear and clasped the young man by the hand requiring with weeping eyes that he would not stick to be a partaker of this Conspiracy or at the least if his heart would not serve him that he would keep the counsel secret in respect that he had found such a manifestation of love in him as to commit his life into his hands without any further proof of his fidelity But in conclusion when he perceived that Nichomachus would in no wise agree to his purpose but manifestly abhorred the act he used divers means to draw him to his intent one while intreating him with fair words and another while threatning to kill him calling him Coward and Traytor to his Friend commending the Gallantness of the Enterprise and put him in hope of great preferment that he should be partaker of the Kingdom which they went about to purchase When he had proved all these ways and yet he found him averse one while he thrust his Sword to Nichomachus throat and another while to his own so that at length by threatning and fair speaking he brought him to promise both to keep his counsel secret and also to be assistant to the deed Yet nevertheless as one of a constant minde though for the time present he seemed to be won with the love of his Friend and agreeable to his requests he changed no part of his former purpose This done Nichomachus required to know what the men were that had confederated themselves in so weighty a matter because the persons he said were much material that should take so great an Enterprize in hand Then Dimnus though he were in great trouble of minde that he had brought the matter so far forth yet when he heard him ask the question rejoyced and thanked him greatly that he would so freely associate himself with such manner of men as Demetrius of the Privy Chamber Peculaus Nicanor Aphabetus Loceus Diocâ—nus Archipolis and Aminuas This communication once ended betwixt them Nichomachus departed and disclosed all which he had heard before to a Brother of his called Ceballinus agreeing betwixt them two that Nichomachus should remain still secret in his Tent lest by his coming to the Kings lodging not using to have access to the King the Conspirators might perceive themselves betrayed Ceballinus repaired to the Kings lodging tarrying before the gate waiting for some man near about the King to bring him to his Presence It fortuned that among many which passed by only Philotas the Son of Parmenio demanded why he waited there To whom Ceballinus with a bashful countenance well declaring the unquietness of his minde reported all which he had heard of his Brother requiring that he would declare the same immediately to the King Philotas departed from him unto the King with whom that day he had much communication on other things and yet opened no part of that which was told him by Ceballinus At night as Philotas came forth Ceballinus met him at the Court-gate and required whether he had done his Message to the King or not He excused the matter that he could not finde him at leisure The next day Ceballinus met him again going to the King and put him in remembrance of that he had told him before to whom he answered that he remembred it well yet for all that he disclosed no part of it unto the King Ceballinus then began to suspect him and intended no longer to defer the thing but opened the same to Metron Master of the Kings Armory who immediately conveyed Ceballinus into the Armory and repaired streight to the King who was bathing and informed him of all that he had heard Alexander then made no delay but sent certain of his Guard to take Dimnus and after came himself into the Armory As soon as Ceballinus saw the King he ran unto him with great rejoycing and said Lo I have preserved thee from the hands of thine Enemies Alexander examined him of all the circumstances and he again answered to every point in order The King was earnest to know how long it was since Nichomachus had given him this information and he confessed that it was three days Whereupon the King considering that in truth he could not have concealed it so long commanded that he should be put in Ward Then cryed he out and declared that at the same instant when he knew of the Conspiracy first he opened it to Philotas of whom he said he might enquire the truth Thereupon it was demanded of him whether he had required of Philotas to bring him to the Kings Presence or not Which thing when the King by his confession perceived to be true and that he did stifly maintain what he said he lifted up his hands to heaven the tears falling from his eyes greatly complaining that Philotas should requite him with such unfaithfulness whom he most of all trusted Dimnus in the mean season knowing for what cause he was sent for wounded himself to death but yet somewhat hindred by them that were sent to take him he was brought alive before the King whom as soon as he beheld he said unto him Dimnus What have I offended thee that thou shouldest think Philotas more worthy to be King of Macedon then I At which words Dimnus became speechless and casting forth a great sigh turned his face from the Kings sight and fell down dead The King called Philotas before him and said This man whom thou here seest should have suffered deatâ— if it could have been proved that he had concealed two days the Treason intended against me with which he hath charged thee Philotas to whom as he saith he gave knowledge immediately thereof The more near thou art about me so much more greater is thy offence and the fault had been more tollerable in him then in thee Howbeit thou hast a favourable Judge for if there be any thing that cannot be excused yet at the least it may be pardoned To this Philotas nothing abashed if the heart may be judged by the countenance made answer That Ceballinus indeed brought him a vain Report the Reporter whereof was over-light of credit to be believed and that he feared lest by the presenting of such a matter which did rise upon a Brabble betwixt two persons of evil disposition he might
because I would have offended none I have found some more desirous to procure my death then to save my life What hatred suppose ye should I have gotten if I had accused Innocents But Dimnus slew himself could I therefore divine before that he would so do No surely this his death being that which only tryed the Accusation true could not move me to utter it being prevented by another And if I had been a Conspirator with Dimnus of so great a Treason is it likely that I would have dissembled it by the space of two days after it was discovered As for Ceballinus it had been an easie matter to have dispatched him out of the way after the thing disclosed wherefore should I have delayed the matter I entred into the Kings Chamber alone having my weapons about me why deferred I my purpose Durst I not attempt it without Dimnus But perchance ye will say Because he was the chief Conspirator How then standeth it together that I should be his Vnderling who did covet to be King of Macedon Which of you all have I corrupted with Bribes What Captain what Officer have I inclined to more then another It is laid to my charge that I abhor the speaking of my Country Language and that I disdain the manners of the Macedons What Do I despise the Kingdom that I covet Ye know that our Natural Tongue through our Conversation with other Nations is gone out of use as well those that be Conquerours as they that be subdued must learn a new Language But surely these things make no more against me then did the Treason that Amintas the Son of Perdicas intended against the King with him I had friendship I will not die except ye will make it a thing unlawful to love the Kings Brother But it was our duty to honour a man called to that degree of Fortune I beseech you am I guilty because I could not guess before that he would offend Is the Law such that the Friends of Offenders must suffer being Innocents if that be the reason why live I so long If it be no reason why am I condemned to die But I am charged that I had pity of them that should live under such a one as believed himself to be the Son of Jupiter O faith of friendship and dangerous liberty of true counsel it was you that deceived me it was you that compelled me to hide that I thought I confess I wrote so to the King but not of the King I did it not for spite but for my duty sake I thought it more expedient for Alexander to have acknowledged the Kindred of Jupiter with silence then to have made a report thereof with Ostentation But because the truth of gods Oracle is certain let god he witness in my cause Retain me in Prison till ye may know Jupiters answer concerning this Conspiracy and in the mean season be that hath vouchsafed our King to be his Son will suffer none of them that have conspired against his Off-spring to be unknown If you suppose torments more then Oracles I will not desire to be saved from them in tryal of truth There is an old use that such as be put to answer upon Life and Death are accustomed to bring their Parents and Kinsmen before you Two Brothers of late have I lost my Father I neither can bring forth nor dare I call for because he is accused of this Treason with me It is a small thing for him that is the Father of many Children and having but one Son left in whom to take pleasure not only to lose him but also to lose his own life with him Therefore my most dear Father shalt thou die for me and with me It is I that do take thy life from theeâ— It is I that put a period to thy old days Why didst thou beget me unhappy Wretch in hatred of the gods Was it to receive such fruit from me as is prepared for thee I am in doubt whether my Youth be more unhappy or thine Age For I in the flower of my years am plucked away and the Executioner shall bereave thee of thy life which if Fortune would have suffered to continue yet Nature would have asked it e're it had been long The remembrance of my Father doth put me in minde how loath and timerous I ought to have been to the report of Informations For when my Father was advertised that Philip the Physitian had prepared poyson for Alexander he wrote a Letter to warn the King that he should not receive the Medicine which his Physitian had prepared Was my Father believed Was his Letter of any Authority I my self when I have reported such things as I heard how often have I been shaken off with a check for my light belief So that when we tell things we are hated and when we hold our peace we are suspected What would you have us to do Then one of the Company that stood by cryed out That none ought to be Traytors to them by whom they are intrusted Thou sayest well quoth Philotas whosoever thou art And therefore if I have committed Treason I require no respite of my pain And here will I make an end of speaking because my last words seem tedious unto your ears As he was speaking these words his Keepers led him away There was amongst the Captains one Belon a hardy man but one very rude and void of all civility who being an old Souldier was promoted from a low estate to the degree of Captain This Belon presuming upon a foolish audacity when all others had done began to tell them that when divers had taken up their lodgings in the Camp how they were thrust out by the servants of Philotas who would take his quarters where other men were placed before and how all the Streets were full of his Waggons laden with Gold and Silver He added further that Philotas would suffer none to lodge near unto him but always appointed certain to wait whiles he slept to the intent he should not be disquieted with any noise not so much for wakening of him as for disturbing his rest and that he was so haughty that he despised the plain men of Phrygia and Paphlagonia and being a Macedon born would not be ashamed to hear men of his own Nation by an Interpreter And whereas he had heretofore moved to have the Oracle of Jupiter enquired after he said it was meant thereby to make Jupiter a lyer for acknowledging Alexander to be his Son as if any man should envy the King for that Title which the gods had given him But why said he did he not ask counsel at Jupiter before he did offend For now he would have sent to the Oracle that in the mean season his Father who ruleth in Media might raise a power and with the money that he hath in custody assemble desperate persons to the fellowship of his mischief Nevertheless we shall said he send to Jupiter not
to inquire of any thing touching the matter but to give him thanks and to sacrifice unto him for the preservation of so good a King Then all the Company was moved and among them there began a cry That the Traytor should be rent in pieces which thing Philotas who feared more grievous punishment was content to hear The King returning deferred the Councel till the next day either to commit Philotas to prison to be there racked or else in the mean season to get further knowledge of the Treason yet albeit it drew towards night he commanded his Councel to be called together Some of them thought it best that Philotas should be stoned to death after the Macedons Laws Ephestion Craterus and Cenus determined to have him tryed by torment and then they who perswaded the contrary turned also to their Opinion Therefore when the Councel was broken up Ephestion with Craterus and Cenus arose to haste Philotas to the examination The King called Craterus unto him and commanding the rest to avoid had secret communication with him in the innermost part of his lodging the effect whereof came not to any mans knowledge He tarried there till the night was far past to hear the end of the determination The Executioners set forth all sorts of cruel torments in the sight of Philotas who of his own minde said unto them Why defer you to kill such a man as hath confessed himself the Kings Enemy and a Traytor What needeth more Examination It was my intent it was my will Craterus minde was that whatsoever was confessed before should be confessed by Philotas again upon the Rack Whiles he was taken upon the Rack his Body naked his Eyes bound he cryed out upon the Law of Nature and the gods of the Country but all was in vain to their deaf ears Finally as a condemned man he was torn with most extreme torments by his Enemies for the Kings pleasure And notwithstanding both Fire and Scourges were ministred unto him more to afflict him then to examine him yet he had power of himself both to refrain from speaking and groaning But ... after that his Body began to be 〈◊〉 with stripes and that he could not abide the Scourges which pierced to the bare bones he promised if they would torment him no more he would confess whatsoever they should require of him But first he would have them to swear by the life of Alexander that they should cease their torments and set the Rack aside The which being obtained he said to Craterus Tell me what ye will have me to confess Thereat Craterus was displeased thinking by those words that he had mocked him and caused his torments to be renewed Then Philotas besought him to have a time of respite whiles he might take his breath and then he would utter all that ever he knew In the mean season the chief of the men at Arms and especially such as were near to Parmenio in any degree of Kindred after that the Fame was spread that Philotas was tormented fearing the Macedons Law wherein it was ordained that the Kinsfolk of such as had committed Treason against the King should be put to death with the Traytors some slew themselves some fled into wilde Mountains and waste Wildernesses and great dread and fear fell through all the Host until such time as the King having knowledge of it made Proclamation that he would pardon the rigour of the Law to the Kinsfolk of the Traytors In conclusion Philotas made his Confession but whether it were to deliver himself out of pain by accusing himself falsly or not it is to be doubted seeing that it is commonly seen that both those that truly confess and falsly deny come all to one end You are not ignorant quoth he how familiar my Father was with Egiâ—ocus I mean the same that was slain in the Field he was the cause of our mischief For when the King took upon him the Title of Jupiters Son he disdained thereat Shall we acknowledge him quoth he to be our King who taketh scorn that Philip was his Father We are all undone if we can suffer this He doth not only despise men but the gods also who will be reputed a god We have lost Alexander we have lost our King he is fallen to Presumption neither tolerable to the gods with whom he compareth neither to men whom he despiseth Have we with our Blood made him a god who now despiseth us who disdaineth to be in the number of men Trust me that we also if we be men shall be adopted of the gods Who hath revenged the deaths of Alexander his Grand-father or of Archelaus or Perdicas But this man hath forgiven them that slew his Father These were the words that Egilocus spake about supper-time and on the morrow early my Father sent for me He himself was heavy and saw me also sad for we both had heard that which made us out of quiet Therefore to prove whether he uttered these words through excess of Wine or premeditation we thought good to send for him and seeking occasion of the same communication he of his own minde said further That if we durst undertake the Adventure he would not shrink from us or if our hearts served not he would keep our counsel Yet so long as Darius was living my Father thought all the matter out of season because the death of Alexander should be to the advantage of our Enemies and not of our selves But Darius once rid out of the way then he that could destroy the King should obtain the Empire of Asia and all the Orient for his reward Which counsel being approved Faith and Troth was given but concerning Dimnus I know nothing When he had confessed all this I perceive quoth he that it doth not avail me that I am utterly guiltless of this Treason Then they renewed his torments and did beat his Face and his Eyes with the Truncheons of their Spears until they inforced him not only to betray himself but also to shew the circumstance of the whole Treason pretended Because quoth he it seemed that the King would continue long among the Bactrians I was afraid lest my Father that had so great a power in his hands and the keeping of so much Treasure being fourscore years of age should happen to die in the mean season and then being disarmed of so great a strength I should not get opportunity to slay the King wherefore I hasted the matter whilest the prey was in hand Thus discovered he the Conspiracy whereof if they believed not his Father to be Author he said that for his tryal he not refused to be tormented again though it were too grievous for him to endure The Officers then whispering together thought the examination sufficient and returned therewithal unto the King who on the morrow caused all the Confession to be openly recited before Philotas whom he caused to be led into the place because he was not able to go and there
he confessed all the Treason again Then Demetrius was brought forth who was counted the greatest Actor in this Conspiracy next to Philotas But he with great protestation and incredible stoutness both of heart and countenance denied that he ever intended any evil against the King and for his tryal desired to be tormented Then Philotas casting his eyes about espied one Calis standing by and made a signe to him to draw near who being abashed and refusing to come forwards Wilt thou quoth he suffer Demetrius to lye and me to be racked again With those words Calis became speechless and changed colour Then the Macedons began to suspect that he would accuse Innocents because the same Calis was neither named by Nichomachus nor by Philotas himself in his torments But finally Philotas before the Kings Officers standing thereabout confessed that the Treason was conspired by himself and Demetrius wherefore as many as 〈◊〉 impeached by Nichomachus upon a token given were stoned to death according to the Macedons Law Thus was Alexander delivered from great peril not only of his safety but also of his life For Parmenio and Philotas being of such power if they had not openly been found culpable could not have been condemned without the grudge of the Army So long therefore as Philotas denied the thing the matter seemed doubtful and many men thought him cruelly handled But after he had confessed the circumstances no man not so much as the nearest Friends took any pity of him THE SEVENTH BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon AS the Men of War thought Philotas justly put to death his offence being fresh in memory even so after he was gone their envy was turned into pity The Nobleness of the Young Man moved them much so did the number of the Old Years and Desolation of his Father He was the first that made the way open for Alexander into Asia always partaker of his perils the Captain of his Vaward and chief in Councel with the King his Father and so trusty to Alexander himself that in oppressing of Attalus his Enemy he would use no other mans service The remembrance of these things was fresh among all the Souldiers and seditious words came to the Kings ears who being moved therewith did wisely with travel avoid the evil occasions coming of idleness wherefore he caused it to be proclaimed that all men should be in a readiness before the Court-gate where they being once assembled he came forth to speak unto them And as it was before contrived he required the Band of the Agrians to bring forth one Alexander Lynstes which long before Philotas had conspired the Kings Death This man being accused of two Witnesses as before said had remained in prison three years together against whom it was proved that he was of counsel with Pausanias in the killing of King Philip But because he saluted first Alexander by the Name of King his punishment was deferred rather then his offence forgiven For at the intercession of Antipater his Father-in-law the King had respited his just indignation for that time But the old festered sore brake out again and the consideration of his peril present renewed the remembrance of his danger passed Therefore when he was brought forth of prison and commanded to say for himself albeit he had three years leisure to devise his answer yet stammering and trembling could bring forth but little of that which he purposed to say and finally both his heart and his memory failed him wherefore there was none that doubted but that his fearfulness was a token of a guilty Conscience and no default of memory So that whilst he was staggering and hacking in his tale they that stood next thrust him through with their Pikes whose body conveyed out of the place the King commanded Amintas and Simmannas to be brought forth for Palemon their youngest Brother after he had knowledge of Philotas torment fled away Of all Philotas friends these two were most dear to him and through his commendation advanced to high and honourable Offices The King remembring with what earnestness and labour Philotas had brought them into his favour doubted not but they were privy to his last Conspiracy Whereupon he declared unto the multitude that he had occasion of suspition against those men long ago by his Mothers Letters whereby he had warning to beware of them and that now fearing the sequel of worser inconveniencies had made them sure inforced thereunto by apparent presumptions First he said the day before Philotas Treason came to light it was well known that they had much conference with him in secret And also their Brother who fled away when Philotas was on the Rack he had declared by the absenting of himself the cause of his flying He shewed also that of late contrary to their accustomed manner of waiting without any cause moving them thereunto but only by pretence of diligence they pressed next about the King of all other whereat marvelling that they would furnish a Room whereunto they were not appointed became so in doubt of their clustring together that he returned into the Train of the Gentlemen that followed him He declared beside that when Antiphanes Clerk of the Stable the day before Philotas Treason came to light according to his accustomed manner gave knowledge to Amintas that he should deliver of his Horse to such as had lost their own he proudly answered again that except he would content himself he should know shortly what manner of man he was Which violence of tongue and rashness of words bulked out quoth he was nothing else but a declaration and token of his trayterous heart These things being true he said they had no less deserved then Philotas and if they were otherwise he desired they might answer unto the points Thereupon Antiphanes was brought in to give Evidence of the Horse not delivered and of his proud answer given with threatning When Amintas had gotten liberty to speak he desired of the King that whiles they answered for themselves their Bands might be loosed which thing obtained he made 〈◊〉 to have his garment to be cast upon him which Alexander not only granted but willâ—d a weapon to be delivered unto his hands as other 〈◊〉 used When he had received the same 〈…〉 a little the place where the Corpse of Lincestes lâ—y and said in this wise Whatsoever shall become of us Sir King we must think if our chance be good the same to proceed of your favour and if it be evil we must judge the fault to be in our Fortune seeing you suffer us to plead our cause without prejudice setting our mindes free and our bodies at large with the sâ—me apparel restoring us wherein we were wont to follow you Our Cause is such that we cannot doubt of it and we are passed the fear of Fortune therefore with your favour I will answer first those points wherewith you charged us last We know most
Horsemen who were amazed at Philotas torments His company had left him behinde and whiles he was in doubt whether he might turn again or fly further forwards he was taken by them which pursued after him He then began to weep and beat himself about the face not so much lamenting his own chance as the condition of his Brethren being in danger for his cause with which behaviour of his he moved the King and all the company there present only his Brother Amintas could not be pacified but beheld him with a fierce countenance and said O mad Creature Then oughtest thou to have wepâ— when thou didst put thy Spurs to thy Horse as a Traytor to thy Brethren and a Companion to Traytors Thou Wretch whither and from whence didst thou flee Thou hast now brought to pass that both I am thought worthy of Death and also must become anâ— Accuser of others Palemon thereupon confessed himself to have offended in that point but more grievously against his Brethren then towards himself Then the multitude could not abstain from weeping and shouting being Tokens whereby men in Assembly are wont to declare their affections and with one consent they cryed to the King That he should spare Innocents and men of service His friends upon that occasion did rise and with weeping eyes required mercy of the King Then he commanded silence and said By mine own judgment I do pardon both you Amintas and your Brethren desirous that ye should be more mindful of my benefit then of your own jeopardy Come in favour again with me with that fidelity by which I am reconciled unto you Except these things which were brought in Evidence had been tryed to the uttermost my dissimulation might have been suspected in this matter Better it is therefore to be cleared then to remain in jealousie and thin that no man can be acquitted except he be first detected Thou Amintas pardon thy Brother and let that be a token of thy hearts being reconciled unto me This done the King dismissed the Assembly and sent for Polidamus whom of all men Parmenio loved best accustomed always to stand next him in Battel And though the clearness of his conscience did assure him to come boldly yet after he was commanded to bring forth his Brethren being but young and unknown to the King his confidence was turned into fear and he began to doubt imagining in his minde rather such things as might hurt him then by what means he was thus circumvented In the mean season the Guard which had commandment thereunto brought forth his Brethren When the King saw Polidamus pale for fear he called him near unto him and commanding all men â—part he said unto him Through Parmenio his Treason we were all in danger but chiefly I and thou whom under colour of Friendship he deceived most In the pursuing and punishment of whom see how much I trust thy fidelity for I am determined to use thee as a Minister therein and whilest thou goest about it thy Brethren shall be thy pledges Thou shalt go into Media and â—ear my Letters to my Officers written with mine own hand It is necessary haste be made that the â—wiftness of the Fame be prevented I will that ye â—ome thither in the night and that the tenour of my writing be executed the day after Ye shall carry Letters likewise unto Parmenio one from me and another written â—t the name of Philotas I have his Signet in my custody So that when Parmenio shall see both you and the Letter sealed with his Sons Ring he will be without any suspition Polidamus being thus delivered of fear promised his diligence a great deal more earnestly then was required When Alexander saw his promptness in the matter he both commended his good will and rewarded him accordingly And Polidamus changed his own apparel and took other after the fashion of the Arabians with two of the same Country to be his Guides for whose truth their Wives and Children were pledges in the mean season And so they passed on Camels through such places as were desart for lack of moisture and within eleven days came unto their journeys end before any knew of their coming Polidamus then took again his Macedons apparel and in the dead time of the night came unto Cleanders lodging who had the chief Authority there next unto Parmenio When Cleander by his Letters understood the Kings pleasure Polidamus having more Letters to deliver likewise to others agreed by the break of day to go together to Parmenio As they were going tidings came to Parmenio of Polidamus arrival who rejoycing both for the coming of his Friend and for the desire he had to know of the Kings Estate the rather because he had received no Letter from him a long space commanded Polidamus to come to him The houses of that Country have large Back-sides and pleasant Orchards full of Trees being the chief delight of the Princes and great Lords there The Captains which had received Commandment by the Kings Letters to kill him came to Parmenio walking under the shadow of the Trees being agreed among themselves to execute the slaughter when he should begin to read his Letters So soon as Parmenio had espied Polidamus coming afar off with a semblance of joy as appeared by his countenance he ran to imbrace him and after salutation given to each other he delivered the Kings Letter As he was unclosing it he demanded of Polidamus what the King intended to do You shall know that said he by the Contents of our Letters Which when he had read I perceive quoth Parmenio that the King purposeth a Voyage against the Arachosians Surely he is a painful Prince and never in rest But now after so much glory won it were time for him to take his ease and have consideration of his health and safeguard And then he read the other Letter written in the Name of Philotas whereat he was joyful as appeared by his countenance With that Cleander stabbed him with his Sword in his side and after striking him over the throat the residue thrust him in as he lay a dying But Parmenio's men who stood near at hand and saw the murder whereof they knew not the cause ran into the Camp and with their troublous tidings set all the Souldiers in an uproar They ran straight to Arms and clustring together about the place where the murder was done they made an exclamation that except Polidamus and the other Actors in that deed were delivered to their hands they would overthrow the Wall and make sacrifice to their dead Captain with the bloud of the Offenders Cleander willed the chief of them to be let in and recited the Kings Letters wherein was contained the Treason of Parmenio intended against him with a request to them to sit in revenge Then immediately upon the Kings pleasure known the Sedition was appeased but the grudge was not rid out of their hearts The most part departed saving a few
rather made an exchange for a new labour being put forth amongst this wilde Nation to make the Ocean Sea open to him with their blood and to be drawn beyond the Sun and the Stars They were compelled they said to visit those places that Nature coveted to remove from mans knowledge They grudged that to their new Armour there were new Enemies raised up whom if they should vanquish and put to flight they could not see what benefit they should receive thereby but only darkness and obscurity of the Air which always covered the deep Sea replenished with multitudes of Monsters wallowing in those immoveable waters in which dying Nature did faint away The King little moved for himself was much troubled for these passions of his Souldiers wherefore he assembled them all together declaring of how feeble a force those Nations were whom they feared so much and who only remained and were an impediment to them having passed over so many Countries to attain to the period of their travels and to the end of the world He shewed how that in respect of their former fear he had left his Enterprise over Ganges with the Conquest of the Nations inhabiting beyond the same and had directed his journey this way whereas their glory shall be as great and their danger less seeing the Ocean was in a manner within sight the Air whereof he felt blowing in his face He required them therefore that they would not envy the glory he sought by passing the bounds of Hercules and Bacchus seeing that with so little pain they might give unto their King perpetual Fame and Immortality In doing whereof they should depart out of India as Conquerours whereas otherwise they should seem to â—ly away from thence It is the property of all multitudes and specially of Men of War to be drawn with every little motion amongst whom as sedition doth soon arise so it is soon pacified There was never a more chearful cry made of any Army before then the Souldiers now made to Alexander who willed him to lead them wheresoever he would and make himself equal in glory unto them whose Acts he did emulate Alexander rejoycing in the willingness that appeared in his Souldiers removed straight ways towards his Enemies who were the stoutest people of all the Indians They prepared themselves manfully for the Wars and chose for their Captain one of the Oxidracans who was of an approved Manhood he incamping at the foot of a Mountain made fires all abroad to cause his number to appear the greater and went about in vain to fear the Macedons when they were at rest by making of alarms with their cryes and manner of howling When the day appeared Alexander having an assured confidence to obtain the Victory commanded the Souldiers to put on their Armour and chearfully to fall in order of Battel But the Indians whether it were for fear or by reason of some sedition risen amongst them suddenly fled into the Desart Mountains whom Alexander followed in vain and not able to overtake them took their Carriage After this he came to the City of the Oxidracans whereunto great numbers were fled as well in trust of the strength of the place as of their own power As Alexander was about to make the approach Demophon his Diviner admonished him that he should either defer the assault or else not meddle with it at all for there appeared signes that his life should be in jeopardy When Alexander had heard his words he beheld him and said If any man should interrupt thee when thou art busie about thy Science or considering of the Entrails should not he seem unto thee to be troublesome and his coming to be ungrateful Yes truly said he So art thou now unto me said Alexander for having so great actions in hand of more moment then the Entrails of Beasts I finde no greater impediment then a Superstitious Diviner And as soon as he had spoken the word he caused them to rear up the Ladders and whilest other men sticked and stayed at the danger he mounted up the wall in his own person The same was very narrow on the top not divided with loops as is commonly used but inclosed with one whole and continual Battlement round about which caused it to be the more hard to scale Alexander therefore having no convenient place to stand for his defence stayed upon the wall receiving upon his Target the Darts that were cast at him from all parts His Souldiers could not get to him they were so beaten from the walls by the shot that came from above Yet at the last when they saw their King given up into their Enemies hands shame overcame their imminent danger But their overmuch haste became their hinderance and was the cause why they could not come to the rescue of their King For whiles every man coveted to ascend the Ladders they were so heavily laden that they brake asunder and such as were mounted upon them fell down again deceiving Alexander of his only hope so that in the sight of all the Army he stood destitute on the walls as in a Desart without any aid or succour and had wearied his left arm with which he held his Target in receiving the Darts thrown at him His friends cryed unto him to leap down unto them who stood in readiness to receive him But he giving no car unto them undertook an incredible enterprise and such a one as hath not been heard of before deserving rather the report of rashness then of any fame that might sound to his glory for with a desperate leap he cast himself into the City that was full of his Enemies For before he could recover his feet again it was likely either he should have been slain or taken alive But he by chance so conveyed his body that he fell upon his feet and fought with such as came against him Fortune so provided that he could not be enclosed about by reason of an old tree which as it had been of purpose stood near the wall whose broad boughs being full of leaves covered him from above and the greatness of the stock kept his enemies from coming at his back and upon the forefront he received the darts that were cast against him with his Target For though there were never so many that contended with him afar off yet durst there no man come near unto him and the boughs kept off the arrows and darts as well as his Target did In this extremity the greatness of Alexanders Fame chiefly fought for him and next of all desperation a great encouragement for a man to die honestly At length through the multitude of his enemies that continually flocked about him both his Target was laden with shot his Helmet was broken with stones and his legs fainted and failed under him by reason of his continual travel which when his enemies perceived they without fear drew more near unto him of whom he received two with his sword in such sort
with Gold and had no breed of Horses amongst them wherefore the Inhabitants would give a Talent for every Horse brought from the Main-land They also told him of great and monstrous Fishes whereof those Seas were full which carried down with the Tide would shew their bodies as big as a great Ship and follow the whole Fleet with a terrible noise and when they dived underneath the water they troubled the Seas as it had been a Ship-wrack These were things they had seen the rest they received by the report of the Inhabitants as how the Red-sea took his name of King Erithrus and not of the colour of the Water They shewed also another River not far from the Main-land growing full of Palm-trees where was a great Wood and in the midst thereof stood a Pillar where King Erithrus was buried with an Inscription on it of such Letters as were used in that Country They added besides That such Vessels as carried the Merchants and the Vassals of the Army through the covetousness of the Gold which had been reported unto them were landed in the Island by the Mariners and were never seen after These words moved Alexander much and put him in a great desire to get more certain knowledge of those parts and therefore he commanded them again to Sea willing that they should coast the Land till they came within the River of Euphrates and from thence to come up to Babylon against the Stream The things were infinite that he compassed in his head for he determined after he had brought the Sea-coast of the Orient under his subjection to go out of Syria into Africk for the envy he bare to the Carthaginians he purposed from thence to pass over the Desarts of Numidia towards the Gades where he understood by fame that Hercules had planted his Pillars and so directing his Journey through Spain the which the Greeks of the River Iberus call Iberia to go over the Alps into Italy till he should come to the Coast where the next passage was unto Epirus For this intent he gave commandment to his Officers in Mesopotamia That they should cut down Materials in Mount Libanus and convey the same to Capsagas a City in Syria and there make Gallies of such greatness that every one of them might be able to carry seven Oars upon a Bank and from thence he willed them to be conveyed unto Babylon He also sent commandment to the King of Cyprus to furnish them with Iron Hemp and Sails Whiles these things were in doing he received Letters from Porus and Taxiles signifying That Abiazares was dead of a Disease and that Philip his Lieutenant in those parts was slain they being put to death who were the Actors of it Alexander in the place of Philip preferred Eudemon that was Captain of the Thracians and gave Abiazares Kingdom to his Son From thence he came to Pasargades a Country of the Persians whereof Orsines was Lord who in Nobility and Riches exceeded all other men in those parts as one that derived his Pedegree from Cyrus that once was King of Persia The Riches his Predecessours left him were great and he by a long continuance in his Inheritance and Authority had much increased the same He met Alexander coming thitherwards and presented both him and his Friends with Gifts of sundry sorts which were a multitude of young Horses ready to be backed Chariots wrought with gold and silver precious Moveables excellent Pearls and sparkling Stones weighty Vessels of Gold Robes of Purple and four thousand Talents of coyned Silver But this his liberality was the occasion of his death for when he had presented all the Kings Friends with Gifts above their desire he honoured not Bagoas the Eunuch with any Gifts at all whom Alexander especially favoured for the use of his body by which he did oblige the King unto him There were therefore some that gave him admonition how much Alexander esteemed Bagoas but he answered them That his custom was to honour the Kings Friends and not his Minions and that it was not the manner of the Persians to have any in estimation who did pollute themselves in so shameful an abuse When his words were reported to the Eunuch he used the Power which he had got by dishonest Arts to the destruction of that noble and innocent man for he did suborn certain lewd persons of Orsines Country to bring in false Accusations against him which he warned them to present at such a time as he should appoint unto them In the mean season whensoever Bagoas got the King alone he would fill his credulous ears with tales against Orsines ever dissembling the cause of his displeasure lest thereby he might lose the reputation of his false report The King had not Orsines yet in suspition of such a Crime as afterwards he was charged with but he began to grow with him out of estimation His accusation was ever so secret that he could never get knowledge of the peril that was privily wrought against him This importunate Favourite in his vile conversation had with the King was mindful ever of the malice he bare to Orsines whom he would not cease to bring in suspition of Covetousness and Rebellion so oft as he saw Alexander bent to use him familiarly And now the false Accusations were in readiness which he had prepared to the destruction of the innocent whose fatal destiny which did approach could not be avoided It chanced that Alexander caused the Tomb wherein Cyrus Body was buried to be opened pretending to use certain Ceremonies for the dead but thinking in very deed that his Tomb had been full of Gold and Silver whereof there was a constant fame amongst the Persians But when it was viewed there was nothing found but a rotten Target two Scythian Bows and a Scimiter Alexander caused the Coffin wherein Cyrus Body was laid to be covered with the Garment which he himself accustomed to wear and set thereupon a Crown of Gold marvelling that the sumptuousness used in burial of such a King endued with so great Riches was no more then in the burial of an ordinary person When this thing was in doing Bagoas stood next unto Alexander and beholding him in the face said unto him What marvel is it though the Sepulchres of Kings be empty when Lords Houses are not able to hold the Gold that they have taken out from thence For my part I never saw this Tomb before but I have heard Darius report That there were three thousand Talents buried with Cyrus From hence said he proceeded Orsines liberality in winning your Favour by the gift of that which he knew he could not keep When he had thus stirred up Alexanders wrath against Orsines he presented them whom he had suborned to accuse him by whose report and by Bagoas informations Alexander was so incensed against Orsines that he was put in prison before he could suspect he was accused The Eunuch was not contented with the destruction of
dolour they had conceived in their hearts but with a great throng prâ—ssed to the Court wearing only their nethermost Garments and leaving their Weapons without the Gate in token of repentance there with weeping and all tokens of humility they made request to be admitted to the Kings presence beseeching that he would vouchsafe to pardon their Offence and to pacifie his wrath with the death of so many of them as he should think good rather than to suffer them to live in such a reproach which except he would release they protested they would never depart out of the place When these things were declared unto Alexander he caused the Court-gates to be opened and came forth amongst them where beholding their lamentation and repentance and the posture of their miserable affliction he could not abstain to weep a long time with them and in consideration of their modesty forgave them their former offences and after he had moderately told them their faults and again comforted them with gentle words he discharged many from the Service of the Wars and sent them home magnificently rewarded writing to Antipater his Lieutenant in Macedonia that he should assigne them the chief places in the Theatres at Triumphs and publick Shews where they should sit with Garlands on their heads willing that their Children after their deaths should enjoy their Fathers Pay He appointed Craterus to be their Ruler to whom also in the place of Antipater he had committed the Government of Macedonia Thessalia and Thracia Antipater being sent for to repair unto him with a supply of young Souldiers Alexander had received Letters before both from him and Olympias his Mother by which there appeared to be some discontents between them For his Mother accused Antipater that he went about to make himself King and Antipater did write how Olympias did many things otherwise than did become her Antipater did take his calling away so grievously to heart that he conspired thereupon to poyson Alexander who having accomplished what he resolved to have done advanced to Ecbatana in Media to set in order the necessary Affairs of his Empire and there ordained solemn Triumphs and Feastings It chanced that Ephestion whom the King entirely loved and used in the place of a Brother did die at the same time of a Fever whose death Alexander took more heavily than may well be credited committing in his grief many things that were unbeseeming the Majesty of a Prince He commanded Ephestions Physician to be hanged as though he had died through his negligence He lay imbracing of the dead body and could hardly be taken away by his Friends but continued his sorrow night and day There are many other things written on this Subject which are scarcely credible but it is certain that he commanded Sacrifice to be made unto him as to a god and consumed in his Burial and in making of his Tomb above twelve thousand Talents As he was returning to Babylon the Chaldean Prophets met him on the way exhorting him not to enter into the City for it was signified That if he went thither at that time he should be in great peril of his life Notwithstanding he regarded not their Admonitions but went forward in his Journey according as he was appointed for he understood that Embassadours were come thither from all Regions and tarried for his coming the terrour of his name was so spread through the world that all Nations shewed an obsequiousness towards him as though he had been appointed to be their King This caused him to make haste to Babylon to keep there as it were a Parliament of the whole World When he was come thither he received the Embassadours gently and afterwards dismissed them home again There was about the same time a Banquet prepared at the house of one Thessalus Medius whereunto the King being invited came with such as were appointed to keep him company But he had no sooner drunk of Hercules Cup but that he gave a deep groan as though he had been struck to the heart and being carried out of the Feast half dead he was so tormented with pain that he required a Sword to have killed himself His Friends did publish abroad that drunkenness was the cause of his disease but in very deed it was prepared Treason the infamy whereof the Power of his Successors did oppress The poyson prepared long before was delivered by Antipater unto his Son Cassander who with his brethren Philip and Iolla were accustomed to serve the King at meat he was warned that he should not commit the said Poyson to any Person except it were to Thessalus or to his own brothers Philip and Iolla who were both accustomed to take the assay of the Kings Cup and having the poyson ready in cold water mixed it with Wine after they had tasted it When the fourth day was come the Souldiers partly because they suspected he was dead and partly because they could not endure to want long his sight came sorrowfully unto the Court desiring to see the King who by his commandment were admitted unto his presence by such as had the charge of his person When they beheld him lying in that estate they made great sorrow and lamentation for he seemed not to them to be the same whom they were accustomed to behold but rather a dead Corpse If their grief were great the sorrow of them who stood next to the Bed appeared much greater whom when Alexander beheld to lament after that sort he said unto them When I shall depart you shall finde a King worthy of such men as you are It is a thing incredible to speak how that during the Souldiers of his whole Army came to visit him he never altered his countenance nor gesture but continued in that presence which he gave unto the first unto the last man When he had dismissed the multitude as though he had been discharged of all debt of life he lay down to rest his weak body and his voice beginning to fail him he commanded his Friends to draw near unto him then taking his Ring from his Finger he delivered it to Perdiccas and gave therewith a commandment that his Body should be conveyed to Hammon They demanded to whom he would leave his Kingdom he said To the worthiest By which words it appeared that he foresaw the Contention that was like to ensue upon his death Perdiccas moreover demanded of him when he would have divine Honours done unto him At such time said he as you shall finde your selves in Felicity These were the last words Alexander spake and shortly after he died Immediately after his death the Court was full of howling and lamenting and by and by as it had been in a desart place all things were hush and a sorrowful silence was spread over all grief being converted into imagination what the event should be The young men of the Nobility that were accustomed about the Kings person could not bear the greatness of their dolour
things that he was offended with them that would not worship him and given more vehemently to wrath than was expedient that he altered his habit and apparel into the fashion of strangers and counterfeited the custom of those whom he had subdued and despised before his Victory these were Vices to be attributed to the greatness of his fortune As the heat of youth stirred him unto anger and to the desire of Drinking so age might have mitigated again those distempers Notwithstanding it must needs be confessed that though he prevailed much by his Vertue yet ought he to impute more unto his Fortune which only of all mortal men he had in his own power How often did she deliver him from the point of Death How did she protect him with perpetual Felicity when he had rashly brought himself into peril And when she had decreed an end to his glory she even then was content to finish his life staying his fatal destiny until he had subdued the Orient visited the Ocean and fulfilled all that mans mortality was able to perform To this so great a King and so noble a Conqueror a Successor was wanting and it was a task of too great an importance for any one man to take it upon him his Name and Renown was so great amongst all Nations that they were counted most noble who could be partakers though it were never so little of his prosperous Fortune But to return again to Babylon from whence this digression hath been made They who had the Guard and Custody of Alexanders person called into the Court such as had been his chief Friends and Captains of the men of War after whom there follow'd a great multitude of Souldiers desiring to know who should be Successor unto Alexander The throng of the Souldiers was such that many of the Captains were excluded and could not enter into the Court. A Proclamation therefore was made whereby all men were forbidden to enter except such as were called by name But because their commandment seemed to want authority it was but little regarded and the multitude at first began to make a doleful cry and lamentation But immediately the desire they had to understand the event stopped their lamentation and procured silence Then Perdiccas brought forth in sight of all the people the Kings Chair of Estate wherein Alexanders Diadem his Royal Habiliments and his Armour was laid amongst which Ornaments Perdiccas also laid down the Kings Signet delivered to him the day before at the sight whereof they began to weep and to renew again their sorrow Then said Perdiccas Lo here is the Ring wherewith he was accustomed to Seal such things as pertained to the Government of his Empire which as he delivered to me I so restore it again to you And though no affliction can be devised by the gods were they never so much offended comparable to this yet considering the greatness of the Acts which he hath done we must think that as the gods sent such a man so to reign in the world his time being expired that was appointed they have called him back again to the place from whence he came Forasmuch therefore as nothing more of him remaineth capable of immortality let us perform the Rites pertaining to his Body remembring in what City we are amongst what kinde of people and what a King and Governour we have lost We must consider and consult how to maintain our Conquest amongst those men over whom it is gotten for the doing whereof it is needful for us to have a Head but whether the same shall be one or many it doth consist in you You are not ignorant that a multitude of men of War is a Body without life Six months are now passed since Roxaue was conceived with childe we desire of the gods that she may bring forth a Son which may enjoy this Kingdom when he cometh to Age In the mean season appoint you by whom you will be governed When Perdiccas had spoken these words Nearchus rose up and said There is no man can deny but that it were requisite that the Succession should continue in the Blood Royal but to look for a King that is not yet born and to pass over one that is born already is not expedient for such men as the Macedons are nor yet doth serve the necessity of the time There is a Son whom Alexander begot on Barsines whâ—t should hinder why the Diadem may not be set upon his Head Nearchus discourse was acceptable to no man therefore the Souldiers according to their custom clashed their Spears against their Targets and continued making a noise And when he would not forsake his opinion but obstinately maintained the same it had almost bred a sedition which being perceived by Ptolomy he spake after this manner Neither the Son of Roxane nor of Barsines is an Issue meet to reign over the Macedons whose names we should be ashamed to mention within Europe their mothers being Captives Have we subdued the Persians to that end to become subject to such as are descended of them That was it which Darius and Xerxes being Kings of Persia did labour for in vain with so many millions of men of War and with so many Navies This therefore is my opinion that Alexanders Chair of Estate be set in the middest of his Court and that all such as were accustomed to be of Counsel with him assemble together so often as any business requireth to be consulted on and that the Captains and Rulers of the Army be obedient to that Order whereunto the greatest number do assent There were some agreed with Ptolomy but few with Perdiccas Then Aristonus spake in this manner When Alexander was demanded to whom he would leave his Kingdom he willed the worthiest to be chosen Whom judged he worthy but Perdiccas to whom he delivered his Ring This was not done at such a time as he was alone but when all his Friends were present he did cast his eyes amongst them and at length châ—se out one to whom he delivered it For this cause I think it right that the Kingdome be committed to Perdiccas Many agreed to his opinion so that the Assembly cried out to Perdiccas that he should 〈…〉 amongst them and take up the Kings Signet But he stayed between ambition and modesty thinking the more modesty he used in the obtaining the thing he so much desired they would be so much the more earnest to proffer it to him When he had stood a good while at a stay doubting what to do at length he drew back and stood behinde them who sate next to him When Meleager who was one of the Captains saw the stay that Perdiccas made he took courage on his seeming unwillingness and said Neither the gods will permit nor men will suffer that Alexanders Fortune and the weight of so great an Empire should rest upon his shoulders I will not rehearse that there are many present more noble than he is and of