places by the Miners They within made a Counter-work as high as the old Wall but it did not reach to the height of the Towers made upon the Mount so that the inner parts of the City were subject to the shot of the Enemy But not long after a Mine the Wall by it being overthrown and a breach made through which the Macedons did enter was the utter loss of the Town where Alexander pressing on amongst the foremost adventurously had his leg hurt with a stone Notwithstanding that he mounted up by the help of his Weapon his former wound yet unclosed and fought amongst the foremost being in a great fury that in the Siege of one City he had received two wounds Betis that had fought notably and received divers hurts was forsaken of his own men and notwithstanding which he maintained still the fight and all his Armour was imbrued with his own blood and his Enemies But when he was inclosed round Alexander who was wont to wonder at the Vertue of his Enemies being puffed up with an insolent joy said unto him Betis thou shalt not die as thou wouldest thy self but whatsoever torments may be invented believe that thou shalt suffer them For all which words there appeared in Betis no token of fear but he beheld the King with an undaunted countenance and would not answer him one word Whereupon Alexander said See you not how obstinate he doth continue He will neither kneel nor so much as ask mercy but groans shall break his silence if nothing else can do it Thus his Fortune did alter his Nature and turned his Wrath into Fury For he causing Cords to be put through Betis feet whilest he was alive did draw him about the City with Horses glorying in that he did imitate Achilles of whom he was descended in the like affliction of his Enemy There were slain of the Persians and Arabians ten thousand and the Victory was not unbloody to the Macedons This Siege was not so famous through the Nobility of the City as it was by the double danger the King was in who making haste to pass into Egypt sent Amintas with ten Galleys into Macedon to levy more Souldiers For though he were always a Conquerour yet his men were diminished and he trusted not so much to the Souldiers of those Countries he had subdued as he did to his own Nation The Egyptians being a people that always were offended with the increase of the good fortune of the Persians who in their Government over them used much pride and covetousness And therefore seeking all occasions to revolt had received Amintas who came to them rather by way of treaty then by force and now especially at Alexanders coming they plucked up their spirits and assembled a great number to meet him at Pelusium where they judged he would enter The seventh day after he removed from Gaza he came to the place in Egypt which now is called Alexanders Camp from whence he sent his Army unto Pelusium by the Land-way and he himself with a choice Band of men was conveyed thither upon the River of Nile The Persians durst not abide his coming being in doubt the Egyptians would revolt And therefore when Alexander drew near unto Memphis where Astaces Darius Lieutenant was with a power of men he came over the River to meet Alexander and yeilding himself he delivered him eight hundred Talents with all the riches belonging to the King of Persia From Memphis he passed upon the same River into the inward parts of Egypt and so ordered the Government of the Country that he changed nothing of their Laws and Customs Which having effected he had a great desire to worship the Oracle of Jupiter Hammon But it was declared unto him that it was not possible for him to march with any great number the Country he had to travel through being spread all over with barren sands which being heated with the Sun would burn their feet in such sort that it should be intolerable for them to travel not only with the heat and want of water but also with the rowling sand which was so deep and would so sink under their feet that they should not easily stir All which difficulties the Egyptians set forth to be greater then they were indeed But Alexander for the vehement desire he had to exceed the condition of man was so fervently bent to visit that famous Oracle of Jupiter whom either he believed or desired that others should believe to be his Father that nothing could withhold him in performing of that Enterprize Therefore with such as he had appointed to accompany him in the journey he passed by water upon the Nile until he came to the Marish of Meotis The Embassadours of the Cyrenians came to him thither and brought him Presents whom he gently entertained assuring them of his Friendship which done he went forward in his Voyage The first and second days travel seemed tolerable not being yet come to the barren and desolate Wilderness and yet the ground they passed on was but unfruitful and barren earth but when the Plains appeared that were covered over with deep sands they then looked round about them and sought for Land as men be accustomed to do when they sail on the Main Sea for they could not judge themselves on Land where they neither saw Tree nor any appearance of habitation or haunt of men And there was no water to be found in that dry and burning place and such as they had brought with them in Bottles upon Camels backs was consumed and spent Besides the Sun was so hot that it dried and burned up all things When they were afflicted after this manner whether it were by the Will of God or by chance the Clouds suddenly overwhelmed the Sky and so shadowed them that it was a great comfort unto such as were wearied with heat though they wanted water to drink But to supply their need there fell by and by a great Shower which every man for the great desire he had to drink gaped to receive with open mouth When they had travelled four days in travelling these wilde Desarts and were come near unto the place of the Oracle there appeared a great swarm of Crows flying low before them and when the Army marched softly they sate down upon the ground and sometimes flew forwards as though they had been Guides to shew unto them the way At length they came unto the place consecrate unto Jupiter where it was a wonder to see in the midst of so wilde a Desart a ground so environed on all parts with high Trees defending the heat of the Sun and such a number of Springs running every where which caused the Woods always to look green The Air all seasons of the year there is like unto the Spring-time wholesome and temperate This Country doth border on the Ethiops towards the East and upon the Arabians whom they call Troglodites upon the South whose Country stretched to the
victuals for their feeding whereby their small number was always sufficient when they came to fight Whereas Darius the Lord of so huge a multitude through the straitness of the ground wherein he was driven to give battel was compelled to use the fewness of men which he before had despised in the Enemy Alexander appointed to Abistamines the rule of Cappadocia and marching with his Army towards Cilicia came to the place called Cyrus Camp because Cyrus lodged there when he passed into Licia against King Croesus This place was distant about fifty furlongs from the Streight entring into Cilicia The Country-men use to call those Streights Pylae where the natural scituation of the place had made a Fortification as it were with mans hands When Arsenes Governour of Cilicia understood of Alexanders coming remembring what Memnon perswaded in the beginning of the Wars he put it in execution when it was too late wasting and destroying throughout Cilicia all such things as he thought might stand his Enemy in stead leaving the Country waste which he was not able to defend whereas it had been much better to have taken the Streight before his Enemies where from the Hills lying over the way he might without hazard have hindred his entry or have distressed his passage But he leaving a small number for the defence of the Streight retired himself back to waste the Country which his part had been to defend from destruction By his departure it came to pass that such as he left behinde thinking themselves betrayed would not so much as abide the sight of their Enemies when a much less number had been sufficient to have kept the passage for the scituation of Cilicia is such that it is environed about with a continual rough and steep Mountain which rising from the Sea on the one side and fetching a compass about joyneth again with the Sea on the other side Though the part of the Mountain which lyeth furthest from the Sea is plain and full of Rivers amongst the which two are most famous Pyramus and Cydnus but Cydnus most especial not so much for its greatness as the clearness of the water which from his first Spring runneth clearly through all the Country and hath no other River running into him to disturb the pureness of the stream for which cause it remaineth always clear and cold by reason of the Woods that do shadow all the banks Time hath consumed many Antiquities within that Country which are remembred of the Poets There may yet be seen the foundations of the Cities of Lirnessus and Cebestus with the Cave and Grove Corycian where Saffron groweth with many other things whereof now remaineth but only their name When Alexander entred the Streights before mentioned and beheld the scituation of them he never in all his life marvelled more at his own felicity confessing that it had not been possible for him to have passed if any had stood at defence against him for that with stones only he might have been overwhelmed the Streight besides being so narrow that there could not pass above four in front to the increase of which difficulty the tops of the Mountains hung over the way which in many places was broken and hollow with the streams that ran down from the Hills Alexander sent the Thracians that were light armed to scour and discover the ways for fear the Enemies should lie there in ambush and suddenly break forth upon him He appointed also a Band of Archers to take the top of the Hill which were willed so to march that they might be always in a readiness to fight After this manner he came to the City of Tarsus which was set on fire by the Persians because Alexander should finde no harbour there but Parmenio was sent thither with a choice number of Horsemen to quench the fire who understanding that the Enemies were fled away at the news of their coming entered into the City and by that means saved it from burning The River of Cydnus spoken of before did run through this City where the King arrived about mid-day it being in the Summer season at what time the heat is no where more violent then in that Country He took such delight in the pleasantness of the water that he would needs bathe his body therein to wash away the sweat and dust thereof and being very hot he entred naked into the water in the sight of all his Souldiers thinking it should be a contentation to them to see that the Garments about his body were no other but such as they commonly used themselves to wear He was no sooner entred but all the parts of his body began to shake and trâ—mble his face waxed pale and the lively heat was mortified in all parts of his body his Servants took him up and carried him into his Tent as one besides himself and at the extreme point of death then there was a great desolation and heaviness in the Camp they wept lamented and bewailed that such a King so Noble a Captain as had not been seen in any Age should be thus taken from them in the height of his Enterprize and after such a manner not in Battel slain by his Enemies but bathing in a River It grieved them that Darius now being at hand should obtain the Victory by such a chance without seeing of his Enemy and that they should be enforced to return back again as men vanquished by those Countries through which they had passed before as Conquerours in which Countries all things being destroyed by themselves or by their Enemies they must of necessity die for hunger though no man should pursue them It became a question amongst themselves who should be their Captain in flying away or what he were that durst succeed Alexander and though they might safely arrive at the Sea of Hellespont yet who should prepare them passage there When they had disputed these questions their argument by and by was turned into compassion towards their Prince lamenting as men out of their wits that such a Flower of Youth such force of courage as was in him that their King and Companion in Arms should after this manner be plucked from them In the mean season Alexander began to draw his winde somewhat better and when he came unto himself he lifted up his eyes and began to know his friends that were about him That the vehemency of his sickness somewhat asswaged was perceived in that he began to understand the pâ—â—il he was in But the solicitousness of his minde was a great hinderance unto his health for tidings came that Darius within five days would be in Cilicia He could not but take it grievously that such a Victory should be plucked out of his hands through his infirmity and that he should be taken as one tyed in Fetters and be put to some shameful and vile death He called therefore to him both his Friends and Physitians and said unto them Ye see in what an extremity of
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
by their invocation But Aristander to whom he gave most confidence could do nothing in that case Alexander therefore condemning their Sacrifices which he thought then done out of time called for such as knew the Countrey they shewed him of another way that was plain and open enough but yet he liked it not he was so ashamed to leave his Souldiers unburied that were slain For amongst all other Ceremonies observed in the discipline of their Wars there was not any more religiously kept then the burying of the dead He caused therefore such prisoners as were lately taken to be called before him amongst whom there was one expert both of the Greek and Persian tongue who shewed to the King that he laboured in vain if he thought to convey his Army over the tops of those Mountains which he said began at Mount Caucasus and closed in the one side of Persia by the space of sixteen hundred Furlongs in length and one hundred and forty in bredth till such time as they descended unto the Sea which maketh another Fence where the Mountains ceased The Country lying at the foot of the Mountains he described to be plain fruitful and replenished with many fair Cities and Villages and that the River of Araxes running through the same falleth into another River called Medus bringing with it the Tributes of many smaller streams which River of Medus being much less then the same which it doth receive runneth from thence towards the South No place could be more abundant of grass the River every where cloathing with Flowers what it had bedewed with its waters The River was shadowed over with Plantain and Poplar-trees which by reason they stand somewhat high and the water runneth low in a deep channel seem to such as be afar off to be woods adjoyning to the mountains He accounted no Country in Asia to be more wholesome or to have a more temperate air then this both by reason of shadowy Mountains that evermore keep off the heat and also of the Sea which on that part being at hand with a constant temperature doth nourish the ground When the prisoner had made a description of the Country after this manner the King enquired of him whether he knew those things by report or else had seen them with his eyes He said that he had been a Herds-man and knew the Country very well and all the passages and that he had been twice taken prisoner once by the Persians in Lycia and now the second time by him Upon these words Alexander called an Oracle to memory whereby it was signified to him that a Lycian should be his Guide into Persia Wherefore promising to him such rewards as the present necessity required and as his estate was meet to receive he willed him to be armed after the Macedons manner and to be their Guide to shew them the way which way though he had declared to be streight and difficult yet Alexander made no doubt to pass it with a small number thinking it no difficult matter to pass that place for his glory which the Herds-men had passed often-times for the profit of pasture Then the guide left not to alledge the difficulties of the way specially for such as wear arms but the King said to him Take me for surety that not one of them that are appointed thee shall refuse to go where thou shalt pass That done he left Craterus with the charge of his Camp and he himself passed forwards with such Footmen as were accustomed to his person with those bands of whom Meleager had charge and with a thousand Archers on horseback taking first order with Craterus that he should keep his Camp in the same form it had been used before and cause many fires to be made of purpose that the Enemies might rather think him to be there still present he advised him further that if he perceived Ariobarzanes to get knowledge of his Enterprize and so to send part of his power to the stopping of his passage that then by pretending of an assault he should shew all the terrour he could to draw his Enemies from him to the defence of that place But if that he himself should deceive his Enemies and recover the Hill upon them that then upon the hearing of the alarm in the Camp of the Persians preparing themselves to resist him he should not doubt to pass that way from whence they were repulsed the day before judging they should finde no resistance the Enemies power being converted towards him In the third watch he set forwards in great silence without sounding of Trumpet and passed on by such a way as was shewed him by the Guide every Souldier that was light armed carrying three days Victuals But when he was on his way besides the wilde Rocks and sharp stones that caused them oft to fail their footing the Snow driven by the winde was a great impediment to them in their journey for they fell divers times down into pits and such as coveted to pull them out were often-times themselves drawn after The night also with the Country unknown and the Guide of whose fidelity they doubted increased much their fear considering that if they should not deceive their Enemies watch they should be taken and perish like beasts They considered also that both their safeguard and the Kings lay in the hands of a prisoner At length they came to a Mountain where the way towards Ariobarzanes lay on the right hand where he sent before under the guiding of such as they had taken prisoners Philotas Cenon Amintas and Polipercon with a band of the lightest armed whom he advised that forasmuch as they had both horsemen and footmen and the Country fertile and abundant in forrage that they should make no haste but pass forwards fair and easily and he with the Esquires of his body and the band of horsemen whom they called Agema was guided by another by-path far off from the place where his enemies kept their watch But the passage was so straight and so hollow that they suffered great trouble and vexation in passing thereof It was now mid-day and they were so wearied that of necessity they must take rest having so far to go as they had travelled already saving that the way was not altogether so difficult and rough He refreshed therefore his men with meat and sleep and in the second Watch did rise up and passed the rest of his journey without any great difficulty saving in that part where the Mountain began to fall aslope towards the plain their passage was there suddenly stopped by a great gull occasioned by the violence of the streams that ran down the Mountains by wearing away the Earth and besides the trees standing so thick and the boughs that grew one within another appeared before them as a continual hedge When they saw themselves stayed after this manner such desperation fell amongst them that they could scarcely abstain from tears the darkness being a great increase
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
who instantly required that at the least they might be suffered to bury the body It was denied them long by reason of Cleander who dreaded the Kings displeasure but because they began to wax more earnest intending to avoid matter of Sedition he cut off the Head which he sent to the King and left them the Body to bury This was the end of Parmenio a Noble-man both in War and Peace many things had he done without the King but the King without him did never any thing worthy of praise He served and pleased in all affairs a King most happy and fortunate and being threescore and ten years of age executed the Office of a Captain as lively as though he had been young in years and pretermitted not oftentimes the parts of a common Souldier He was quick in counsel doughty of deed well beloved of all Princes but most dear to the common sort of Souldiers Yet whether those things moved him to be King or else caused him to be suspected thereof it is yet to be doubted For whether the words that Philotas spake when he was overcome with the pains of his last torments were true or false or else that he sought an end of his pain by accusing himself falsly it was much doubtful seeing there was no such thing proved at such time as the matter was most fresh in memory Such as Alexander perceived to grudge at the death of Philotas were separated from the rest of the Army and put into one Cohort under Leonidas their Captain who in times past was of near familiarity with Parmenio The King did bear privy displeasure against them and therefore willing to prove the disposition of every man he gave warning throughout the Army that all such as would write into Macedonia and have their Letters surely conveyed should bring them to be carried with such as he would send Whereupon every man did write frankly to their Friends such things as were in their hearts Some shewed themselves to be offended with the long Wars and some seemed to be well pleased but all their Letters were intercepted as well of such as commended the King as of those that grudged at his doings Wherefore he willed such as by their Letters disclosed themselves to be weary of the travel of the Wars for their reproach to be put in a Regiment apart from the rest whereby he both gave them occasion to shew their hardness and besides removed the liberty of their tongues from the credulous ears of the rest Which rash device as all other things turned to the setting forth of the Kings felicity for in all extremities they shewed themselves the râ—adiest and the most forward and whilest they coveted to redeem their reproach their valiant doings could not be hidden in so small a number being separated by themselves These things being ordered after this manner he appointed a Ruler over the Arians and proclaimed his journey against the Araspians who by changing of their names were called Evergitans since the time that they relieved Cyrus Army with Lodging and Victuals being afflicted with cold and penury It was the fifth day before he entred into their Country where he understood that Satribarzanes who took Bessus part was with a power of Horsemen entred again amongst the Arrians He sent against him Caranas and Erigius and in their aid Artabasus and Andromachus with six thousand Greek Footmen and six hundred Horsemen Alexander continued threescore days in setting order amongst the Evergitans upon whom he bestowed a great sum of money for the notable â—â—delity they shewed towards Cyrus and leaving Amenides to be their Governour who was Darius Secretary he went to subdue the Arachosians who border upon the Sea of Pontus The Men of War who were under Parmenio his Rule came then to Alexander being six thousand Macedons with two hundred of the Nobility five thousand Greek Footmen and two hundred Horsemen which were the chief force of their power To these Arachosians Memnon was appointed Lieutenant with four thousand Footmen and six hundred Horsemen Alexander from thence entred with his Army into a Country not known unto such as bordered upon it for the Inhabitants would not have conversation with any other people They were called Paramisadans being a very rustical kinde of men and most rude amongst all the Barbarous Nations the hardness of the Country had so indurated their dispositions They lye most towards the cold North-Pole joyning with the Bactrians upon the West and bending towards the Indian Sea upon the South They used to build their houses of Brick and because the Land is full of barren Mountains and void of Timber they make their whole houses of the same which beginning broad beneath groweth ever more narrow towards the top and like the Keel of a Ship where the holes are made above to receive light Such of their Pines and Trees that bring forth fruit which they will preserve from the violence of the cold they cover with earth during the Winter-seasons and when the Snow is vanished away they restore them again to the Air and to the Sun The earth was there covered with Snow and frozen so hard that there remained no signe of any Bird or Beast within the Country The Air besides was so dark that little light appeared but the earth being covered as it were with a 〈◊〉 ihadow men could scarcely discern things very near at hand The Army being brought into this Country destitute of Tâ—llagâ— suffered all the discommodities and miseries that might be end 〈◊〉 both of hunger cold weariness and despair There were many of them that died for cold and the Snow destroyed their feet but especially it took away the sight of many When they were wearied and not able to travel any further they laid themselves down upon the frozen Snow and having once left the motion of their bodies which stirred in them their natural heat they were straightways so benummed with cold that they could not rise again till they were lifted up by their Companions and there was no remedy for it but to compel them to go forwards for then by stirring of themselves their natural heat was revived and they recovered again some strength Such as recovered the Cottages wherein the Country-men dwelled were very well refreshed but the darkness was so great that the houses could not be otherwise discerned then by the smoak The Inhabitants that had never seen Strangers before amongst them when they beheld the armed men coming suddenly upon them were amazed for fear and brought forth whatsoever they had to save their bodies from violence Alexander marched on foot amongst his men rasing such as were down and relieving such as he saw afflicted with the cold with his own cloaths He was seen one while in the Van another while in the middest and sometime in the Rereward to the great travel of his body At length they came to places better manured where he refreshed his Army with plenty of victuals and there
hand and cut down the Wood to make them great fires the flame whereof took hold of the Sepulchres belonging to the City which by reason they were made of Cedar they were soon set on fire and never left burning till they were all consumed The fire made both an Alarm in the City and in the Camp for the Citizens thereby judged that their Enemies would make some attempt against them and the Macedons perceived by the barking of the Dogs and the noise of the men that the Indians would salley out upon them Wherefore Alexander issuing out of his Camp in order to Battel â—lew such as attempted the Fight Thereupon they within the City became of divers opinions some were minded to yield and others thought good to adventure the extremity When Alexander understood of their division he caused his men to abstain from slaughter and only to maintain the Siege At length they were so wearied with the discommodities of the War that they yielded themselves They affirmed their original to be from Bacchus who indeed builded their City at the foot of a Mountain called Meroe the quality of which Mountain being reported to Alexander by the Inhabitants he sent Victuals before and passed thither with his whole Army incamping upon the top thereof The Mountain grew full of Vines and Ivy abounding with Springs that flowed out in every place The same was also plentiful of many kinds of Apples of most pleasant taste the ground also brought forth Corn without cultivation There grew plenty of Lawrel-trees with many kindes of wilde fruit I cannot impute it unto any motion of religion but rather to plenty and wantonness that caused Alexander to repair thither where of the Ivy and the Vine-leaves were made Garlands by the Souldiers who ran up and down the Hills after a dissolute manner all the hollows and valleys thereabout rebounding with the voice of so many thousands of men calling upon Bacchus to whom that place was dedicate which license and liberty being begun of a few was spread so suddenly through the whole Army that the Souldiers scattered abroad without order lay here and there reposing themselves upon the grass and leaves that they had gathered together as it had been a time of quiet and most assured peace which licentiousness of the Souldiers rising by chance Alexander did not withstand but ten days together made Feasts to Bacchus during which time he plentifully banqueted his whole Army Who can therefore deny but that greatness of fame and glory is oftentimes a benefit rather of fortune than of vertue for their Enemies had no heart to set upon them whiles they were drowned in this excess of banqueting drunkenness and sloth but were as much afraid of their drunkenness as if they had heard their cry encounting with them in Battel which felicity preserving them here did afterwards defend them after the same manner in the middest of their Enemies returning as it were in triumph from the Ocean Sea when they were given all to feasting and to drunkenness When Alexander descended from the Mountain he went to a Countrey called Dedala which the inhabitants forsook and fled to the Woods and wilde Mountains and therefore he passed from thence into Acadera which he found both burned and abandoned likewise of the inhabitants whereby of necessity he was compelled to use the War after another manner For he divided his Army into divers parts and shewed his power in many places at once By which means he oppressed them before they could provide for themselves and subdued them to their utter ruine Ptolomeus took most Cities but Alexander won the greatest and afterwards joyned again his Army together which he had thus divided That done he went forwards and passed a River called Choaspe where he left Cenon to besiege a rich City called Bezira and he himself went to Mazage where Aassacanus being dead had left the Dominion both of the Countrey and the City to his Mother Cleophes There were three hundred thousand Footmen to defend that City which was both well fortified and strong of scituation being inclosed upon the East with a swift River having steep Banks defending the City that it could not be approached on that side Upon the South and the West parts nature as it were for the once had planted high Rocks lying betwixt them and deep hollows and pits made many hundred years before where the Rocks ceased there began a Ditch of Wonderful depth and wideness The Wall wherewith the City was inclosed was 35 Furlongs in compass whereof the nether parts were builded of stone and the upper parts of clay yet the stones were mixed with the clay to the intent that the frail substance clinging to the harder the one should binde the other and lest the Earth washed upon with the rain might fall all together there were stanchings of Timber put betwixt to stay the whole work which covered over with boards was a way for men to go upon Alexander beholding this kinde of fortification was uncertain what to do For he saw he could not approach to the Walls but by filling of those Ditches and hollow places and that he could not otherwise fill them than by making of a Mount which was the only way he had to bring his Engines to the Walls but whiles he was viewing the Town after that manner he was struck from the wall with an Arrow on the thigh which he pulled out and without wrapping of his wound he called for his horse and letted not for his hurt to give order for such things as he thought expedient But at length when by hanging of his leg the bloud drew from the wound and waxed cold whereby his hurt began to pain him he then said he was called the son of Jupiter but yet he felt in himself the infirmities of a diseased body Notwithstanding he would not return into the Camp before he had viewed what was necessary and gave order for all things he would have done After the Souldiers had received their orders by plucking down of Houses without the Town they got great plenty of stuff to make the Mount withal and by casting stocks of trees on heaps into the ditches and hollow places the Mount within nine days was raised up to the top of the walls and the Towers were planted upon the same such was the labour and diligence that the Souldiers used in this business The King before his wound was closed up took the pains to see how the Works went forwards and when he perceived them in such height he commended the Souldiers for their diligence and caused things to be brought to the walls by reason of which they that defended the walls were sore afflicted with shot and by reason they had not seen any such kinde of work before they were wonderfully amazed especially when they beheld the towers of such bigness to come forwards and yet could not perceive by what means they were moved they therefore judged it to be done
Red Sea It confineth on the West with other Ethiops which are called Simnoes Towards the North lieth a Nation called Nalamons who inhabiting upon a flat shore are accustomed to live upon the spoils of the Sea and lye always in wait upon the Coast to spoil such Ships as suffer wrack The people which inhabit about the Wood be called Ammonians and dwell in Cottages scattered abroad The midst of their Wood closed about with a triple Wall is unto them a Castle In the first Ward is the Palace of their Ancient Kings in the second their Wives Children and Concubines were lodged in which place the Oracle of Jupiter is also and the third is a place for their Men of War There is also another Wood having a Spring called the Fountain of the Sun which in the morning is luke-warm in the midst of the day cold and in the evening warm again at mid-night it is scalding hot and as it draweth towards day it diminisheth his heat more and more The same Effigies that is worshipped for Jupiter hath not the similitude of other Images that Crafts-â—â—â—â— do make for gods but is very like unto the fashion of a Navel having in the midst thereof an Emerald sâ—t about with Pearls When any answer is required the Priests carry the same in a Ship of Gold that hath many Plates of Silver hanging on both sides the Matrons and the Virgins follow after singing a strange Song after their Country manner whereby they believe they do oblige Jupiter to shew his Oracle manifest and true When Alexander was come unto the place the Eldest of the Priests who came to meet him saluted him in the Name of Jupiters Son for so he said his minde was that he should be called Whereupon Alexander forgetting the state of his Mortality said That he did both receive and acknowledge the Name Then he demanded further If the Empire of the whole World were appointed him by Destiny There the Prophet prepared before to Flattery answered That the whole World should come under his Obeysance After that he demanded Whether all such had suffered death that had murthered his Father The Priest answered That his Father could not be harmed by the Treason of any man but he said That all Philips Killers were put to death And one thing he added more That he should be Invincible till such time as he should depart to the gods Thereupon Alexander made Sacrifice and both offered unto the Idol and gave great gifts unto the Priests He permitted also his Friends to ask Counsel of the Oracle for such things as they would demand Yet they enquired no further but if it were Jupiters will that they should worship their King with Divine Honours To this it was answered Tâ—â—â— if they honoured their Victorious Prince as a god it should be acceptable unto Jupiter If he had with judgment weighed the Oracle he might have well perceived the untruth that was therein but whom Fortune hath brought to believe in her she maketh them many times more desirous of glory then able to receive it Alexander not only suffered but commanded himself to be called the Son of Jupiter and whilest he went about to encrease the Fame of his Acts he did corrupt and deface them with such vanity and the Macedons accustomed to be governed by Kings but yet reserving a greater shadow of Liberty then other Nations did withstand him more obstinately in affecting of his Immortality then was either expedient for him or them But these things shall be declared in time convenient I will proceed to declare the rest of his Acts. When Alexander was returned from Hammon and come to the Marish of Meotis scituate near unto the Isle of Pharos he viewed the nature of the place and was at the first determined to build a City within the Island But afterwards considering the Isle not to be large enough he chose out the ground where Alexandria now standeth called by the name of the Builder containing all that ground between the Mear and the Sea the walls whereof were in compass eighty furlongs When he had taken order for the building of this City leaving such behinde him as he had appointed for the performance thereof he departed unto Memphis He had a desire not unreasonable if it had been in time convenient to have seen both the inward parts of Egypt and also of Ethiopia and the affection he had to view Antiquities and the famous places of Mamnon and Tyton had near drawn him beyond the bounds of the Sun But the Wars he had in hand being of much more importance then any such idle Peregrination gave him no time to fulfil his fantasie therefore he appointed Aestilus a Rhodian and Peucestes a Macedon to the Government of Egypt assigning them four thousand Souldiers for defence of the Country and gave Polymen thirty Galleys to keep the Mouth of Nile He made Apollonius Ruler of that part of Africa which joyneth unto Egypt and Cleomines Receiver of the Tributes in both Countries This new City was soon replenished with a great multitude for Commandment was given to all Countries thereabouts to send Inhabitants unto Alexandria It is said that when the King according to the Macedons Custom used the Ceremony of steeping Barley at the raising of the Walls the Birds came and fed thereupon which being taken by many for an unlucky Token it was answered by their Diviners That there should be great resort of strangers to that City and that it should give nourishment to many Lands As the King went down the River of Nile Hector the Son of Parmenio desirous to follow him was drowned for the Vessel that carried him sunk being crowded with over-many men He strived long with the Stream but his garments gave impediment to his swimming so that his breath was near gone before he could recover the shore where for want of succour he died whose unfortunate chance Alexander took grievously as one that did bear him special favour and therefore caused his body to be honourably buried The death of Andromachus Lieutenant of Syria whom the Samaritans had burned alive was the increase of Alexanders sorrow for the revengement whereof he made all the haste he could and at his coming into Samaria had the Authors of the act delivered into his hands whom he put to death and then placed Memnon in Andromachus Room He delivered into the Methinians hands Aristonicus and Crijolaus who usurped over them whom they after many grievous torments did hang over their walls That done he gave Audience to the Embassadours of the Athenians the Rhodians and the Scots The Athenians did gratifie unto him his Victory and required that such Greeks as were taken prisoners might be restored to liberty The Rhodians and the Scots complained of their Garrisons He granted to them all their requests and restored to the Mytelens all their Pledges encreased their Territory and Dominion in respect of the fidelity they shewed unto him and gave them