who inhabit upon the Bospheron Sea are ascribed to be in Asia and such as be in Europe possess the Countries lying on the left part of Thrace so far as Boristhenes and from thence right forth so far as the River Thanais that parteth Europe and Asia It is certain that the Scythians of whom the Persians be descended came not from Bospheron but out of Europe There was a Noble City in those days called Hecatonphilos builded by the Greeks where Alexander remained with his Army conveying Victuals thither from all parts Among the Souldiers lying in idleness there arose suddenly a rumour which entred into their heads without any certain Author or beginning which was that Alexander satisfied with the Acts he had done purposed immediately to return into Macedon This Fame was not so soon blown abroad but that they ran like mad-men to their lodgings and trussed up their Baggage and their Stuff making such preparation to depart that every man judged warning to be given to remove and that the thing had been done by appointment The tumult that did rise in the Camp by lading of Carriage and by the calling which one made to another came unto the Kings ears This rumour obtained the sooner credit by the dispatch of certain Greek Souldiers whom Alexander had dismissed into their Country with the gift of six thousand Deniers to every Horseman Thereupon occasion was given to think that the War had been at an end Alexander whose purpose was to pass into India and the uttermost bounds of the Orient was no less displeased at this rumour then the case required And therefore calling before him the Captains of his Army with the tears in his eyes he made a great complaint unto them that in the middle course of his glory he should thus be pulled back and compelled to return into his Country rather as a man vanquished then as a Victor Which misfortune he said he could not impute to his Souldiers nor judge that their cowardliness did give an impediment to his proceedings but that it was only the envy of the gods that put so sudden a desire of their Country into the mindes of valiant men who within a while should have returned with greater glory and fame Thereupon they all promised to travel in Reformation of the matter offering themselves in all things were they never so difficult to do as he would have them And they promised also the obedience of the Souldiers if so be that he would make some gentle and apt Oration to pacifie them who were never yet seen to depart from him in any desperation or disturbance of minde if they once beheld the chearfulness of his Countenance and the courage proceeding from his heat He promised so to do and required in the multitude an inclination to give ear unto him When all things were prepared which were thought expedient for this purpose he assembled all his Army together and made this Oration unto them When ye consider my Souldiers the greatness of the Acts which ye have done and the manifold Conquests that ye have made it is no marvel at all that ye be inclined to quietness and fully satisfied with Fame and Glory For not to speak of the Illyrians and Tribals of Boetia Thracia and Sparta of the Achaians and Peloponnesians whom I have subdued part in person and the rest by appointment I will not make rehearsal of the War we began at Hellespont and how we delivered from servitude the Barbarous Nations the Ionians and Aeolides and got unto our possession Caria Lydia Cappadocia Phrygia Paphlagonia Pamphilia Pysidia Celicia Syria Phenicia Armenia Persia Media and Partheniae We have gotten more Countries then others have taken Cities and yet I am sure the number of them have caused me to leave some of them unrehearsed If I could think that the possession of these Lands that we have conquered in so short time could remain sure unto us then my Souldiers I would though it were against your wills break from you to visit my house and my home to see my Mother my Sisters and my Country-men to enjoy there the Land and Glory that I have gotten with you where the joyful Conversation of our Wives our Children and Parents our peace and quietness and a sure possession of things gotten through our valour do tarry for us as large rewards of our Victory But if we will confess the truth this new Empire which we have not yet at Commandment but is kept as it were by way of intreaty doth require a time that this stiff-necked people may learn to bear our yoke and by framing their dispositions to more Humunity bring their cruel nature to a more civil conversation Do we not see that the Corn in the field asketh a time for its ripening and though the same be without sense yet hath it its course to be brought to perfection Do you believe that so many Nations not agreeing with us in Religion in Custom nor in one use of Language accustomed to the Empire and Name of another man will be conquered and brought to subjection with the winning of one Battel No trust me they are kept under with fear of our Power and do not obey us of their own good wills And they which shew you obedience when ye be here amongst them when you be absent will be your Enemies You must think that you have to do with wilde Beasts which being fierce of Nature when they be first taken must be shut up and tamed by time Hitherto I have reasoned with you as though we had conquered the whole Dominion that pertained to Darius which is nothing so for Nabarzanes possesseth Hircania and the Traytor Bessus not only enjoyeth Bactria but also threatneth us The Sogdians Dahans Massagetes Sagans and the Indians remain yet in their own Liberty and Jurisdiction who shall not see our backs so soon turned but they will follow in our Rear They all have a certain Friendship and Amity one with another but we are all Strangers and Forreigners unto them There is no Creature but that will more gladly be obedient to Rulers of his own Nation then to Forreigners be their Government never so terrible We are driven therefore of necessity to purchase that we have not or else to loose that we have already gained As Physitians that in sick bodies will leave no humour that may hurt so likewise we must cut away whatsoever shall be an impediment unto our Empire Have you not seen great fires to arise from small sparks not regarded We may not neglect any thing in our Enemies whom the more we despise the more strong we make them And because you should not think it such an impossibility for Bessus to make himself King where a King is wanting you shall understand that Darius came not to his Empire by Inheritance but got into the Seat of Cyrus by the benefit of Bagoas his Eunuch We commit 〈◊〉 heinous offence my Souldiers if we make war against
Darius and put him down for the intent to give his Kingdom unto his servants yea and to such a one as attempted so vile an act against his Master at such a time as he had most need of help and whom we being his Enemies would have spared He being his subject put him in chains as a Captive and finally slew him because he should not be preserved by us Shall you suffer such a man as this to reign No let us make all the speed we may to see him crucified 〈◊〉 to shew unto all Kings and Nations a Justice done 〈◊〉 one that so vilely falsified his faith If the report should come unto you in your own Countries that the same man was destroying of the Greek Cities about Hellespont how sorry would you then be and how much would you lament that Bessus should enjoy that which you have got and usurp the rewards of your Victory Then would you make haste to recover your own then would you bend your selves to the Wars But how much better is it now to oppress him while he remaineth in such fear and is uncertain what way to take Shall we forbear to spend four days to come to him that have marched over such Snows that have passed so many Rivers that have climbed so many Mountains to whose journey the flowing-Sea could be no impediment nor the Streights of Cilicia could shut up our way Now all things are made plain and open and we stand in the entry of our Victory There are but a few Fugitives and Killers of their Master that do remain What more notable work can you leave unto your Posterity to be registred by Fame unto your glory then to revenge such as were Traytors to Darius You shall thereby shew that when you were Enemies unto him yet your hatred ended with his death and that no wicked man can escape your hands Which thing if you bring to pass how much more obedient do you think the Persians will be unto you when they perceive you to take just Wars in hand and that it was not with Bessus name whereat ye are offended but with his sins and treacheries His Oration was received of the Souldiers with such gladness that they straightways desire him to lead them whither he would And he that knew well enough how to make use of this opportunity immediately advanced into Parthenia and came to the bounds of Hircania leaving Craterus with those Regiments whereof he had the Rule and six thousand Horsemen of whom Amintas had the charge with the like number of Archers to defend Parthenia from the incursion of the barbarous Nations He appointed Erigonus with a small power to attend upon his Carriages willing him to pass with them through the plain Country and he himself with his Footmen and with the rest of his Horsemen marched forwards a hundred and fifty furlongs and incamped in a Valley at the entry into Hircania In the same place are great woods full of high and thick Trees and the bottom of the Valley is very fruitful by reason of the Springs that come forth of the Rocks Out of the foot of the Mountains there ariseth a River called Zieberis which within three furlongs of the head is divided by a Rock standing in the midst of the Stream causing the water to go two sundry ways which afterwards coming into one Channel runneth more violently then before by reason of the fall from the Rocks And suddenly it sinketh into the ground and so runneth hidden by the space of three hundred furlongs and then cometh forth again as it were out of a new Spring being then in bredth thirteen furlongs and as it runneth forwards groweth more narrow and falleth into another stream named Rhydago The Inhabitants of the Country affirm that any thing cast in where the Stream sinks into the ground will appear and come out at the next Mouth of the River For the proving of which conclusion Alexander caused two Bulls to be cast in where the water sank down whose bodies were found by such as were appointed for the purpose to appear where the Stream brake out again In this place he refreshed his Army four days during which time Nabarzanes who was Confederate with Bessus in killing of the King did write Letters to him to this effect How that he was no Enemy to Darius but counselled him ever to do such things as he judged most profitable and for his faithful counsel was put in danger of his life by him who against all reason intended to commit the custody of his person to Strangers condemning thereby the fidelity of his own Nation which they had kept unspotted towards their Kings the space of two hundred and thirty years Therefore seeing himself in that danger he took counsel of the present necessity and alledged that nothing was more dear to miserable Mortality then life for the love whereof he was driven to this extremity in committing an act which necessity rather compelled him to do then his own disposition For in a general Calamity every man seeks after his own Fortune If he would command him to come to his presence he said he would not refuse to do it for he could not fear that so great a King would violate his promise seeing one god is not used to deceive another But if he should seem unworthy of his assurance there were many Countries for him to fly unto for all men having vertue in them count always that for their Country where they make their residence Alexander made no stay to give him his word after such sort as the Persians used to receive promise which was safely to come and go Notwithstanding he marched in order of Battel sending ever Scouts before to discover the Country The light armed were appointed to the Vaward the Phalaux followed after and the Baggage behinde For by reason they were a warlike Nation and the Country hard to enter upon it caused the King to be circumspect The same Valley stretcheth to the Caspian Sea the Banks thereof resembling the Horns of the Moon before it cometh to the full the Sea lying betwixt them like a great Bay Upon the left hand the people inhabit that are called Cercetes which lye open towards the North and upon the other part the Leucosirians Mossynes and Chalibes and the Plains of the Amazons lye towards the West The Sea which some call the Caspian Sea and some the Hircanian being more sweet then any other bringeth forth Serpents of a wonderful bigness and Fishes differing in colour much from all the rest There be divers of opinion that the Lake of Meotis should run into this Sea which they conjecture by the water thinking the same to receive its sweetness of the Lake Towards the North the Sea groweth into a Beach and shooteth forth his waters far upon the Land which rising high make many Mears and Plashes And as by a constant course of the Planets they flow out so at a certain time by
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
power amongst the Sogdians Alexander as it hath been said before passed Mount Caucasus but for want of Corn his Army was brought to the extremity of hunger Instead of Oyl they were fain to anoint themselves with a juyce which they wrung out of Seseman every measure whereof was called Amphora and sold for 240 Deniers every like measure of honey for 390 and of wine for 300 and yet of the same very little to be had They have in that Country certain Vessels called Siry which the Inhabitants do use to hide so privily that they cannot be found except they be digged for within the earth The Country-men bury there their Corn after that manner for want whereof the Souldiers were fain to live with Herbs and such Fish as they caught in the Rivers But that kinde of food failing also they were inforced to kill their Carriage-Beasts and lived with the flesh of them until they came into Bactria the nature of the soil of which Country is of sundry kindes Some places are plentiful of Wood and Vines and abundant of pleasant fruit the ground is fat well watered and full of Springs and some as barren Those parts which be most temperate are sowed with Corn and the rest are reserved for feeding of Beasts But the greater part of that Country is covered over with barren Sands and withered up for want of moisture nourishing neither man nor bringing forth fruit but with certain windes that come from the Sea of Pontus The Sand in the plains is blown together in heaps which seem afar off like great Hills whereby the accustomed ways be so shut up that no signe of them can appear Therefore such as do possess those plains use to observe the stars in the night as they do who sail on the Seas by the course of them directing their journey The nights for the most part be brighter then the days wherefore in the day-time the Country is wilde and unpassable when they can neither finde any tract nor any way to go in nor mark nor signe whereby to pass the Stars being hidden by the Mist If the same winde chance to come during the time that men be passing it overwhelmeth them with Sand. Where the Country is temperate it bringeth forth great plenty both of men and horse so that the Bactrians may make thirty thousand Horsemen Bactria which is the Head-City of that Region standeth under a Mountain called Parapanisus The River called Bactria runneth by the Walls whereof both the City and the Country take their names Alexander being there in Camp received Letters out of Greece how the Lacedemonians and the whole Country of Peloponnesus had rebelled against him For they had not lost the Battel at such time as the Messengers were dispatched that brought the news of their revolt In the neck of these evil tidings there came another present terrour which was that the Scythians inhabiting beyond the River of Tanais were coming to aid Bessus At the same time also tidings came unto him of the Battel that Caranus and Erigius had fought with the Arians where Satribarzanes that was newly revolted being Chief of the Country seeing the Battel to remain equal on both sides rid into the forefront and plucked off his Helmet forbidding any of his side either to cast dart or strike a stroke and there made a challenge to fight hand to hand if any man durst come forth and prove his strength Erigius Captain to the Macedons was a man stricken in years but yet not inferiour to any young man in stoutness of stomack or strength of body who could not bear the proud arrogancy of Satribarzanes but stepping forwards and plucking off his Helmet shewed his hoary hair The day is come quoth he that I will either by the victory or by my honest death make tryal what kinde of men Alexander hath to his Friends and Souldiers and without more words he made towards his Enemy It could not be judged but that both Armies had stayed their hands by appointment for they gave back immediately on both sides to let them have free scope each party standing in expectation what should become of the Challenger for they could not but think themselves partakers of their adventure Satribarzanes first charged his Staff which Erigius avoided by bending his head aside but he in the midst of his Race struck the other with his Spear through the throat so that it came forth again at his neck Satribarzanes upon that stroak fell down from his Horse but yet made resistance till such time as Erigius plucked the Spear out of the wound and thrust it again into his mouth who to rid himself out of pain furthered his Enemies stroke Then the Arians seeing their Captain slain whom they had followed rather of necessity then of their own free wills called to remembrance Alexanders benefits and yielded themselves unto Erigius Alexander rejoyced much at the good success of this Enterprise doubting greatly the Lacedemonians but he did bear out their Rebellion stoutly saying That they durst never disclose their meaning until they knew he was come to the Confines of India Alexander having removed his Camp and going forwards in the pursuit of Bessus Erigius met him presenting the spoil of his Enemy as a memorial of his Victory Thereupon he committed the Rule of Bactria to Artabasus where with a Garrison he left his Carriage and with a power that was light and fit for travel he entred into the Desarts of the Susitans conveying his Army by night In the want of water that hath been declared before desperation moved them to thirst before they had desire to drink For by the space of four hundred furlongs they found no water at all The vapours of the Sun in the Summer-season did so burn the Land that when it began to wax hot it scorched all things as it had been with a continual fire And then the light being somewhat obscured by the Mist that rose out of the earth by the immoderate heat caused the Plains to have an appearance of the Main Sea Their journey in the night seemed tolerable because their bodies were somewhat refreshed with the Dew and the cold of the morning But when the day came and the heat rose then the drought drying up all their natural humours both their mouths and their bowels were inflamed with heat Then their hearts failed and their bodies fainted being in such a condition that they could neither stand still nor pass forwards A few that were taught by such as knew the Country had gotten water which refreshed them somewhat but as the heat increased so their desire grew again to drink There was no remedy but to give amongst the Souldiers all the Wine and Oyl that remained in store for drink was so sweet unto them that it took away the fear of any thirst to come But such as had greedily gulped in the water that they got became so heavy that they were neither able to bear their
out of order The Ships therefore did beat one against the other the Oars crashed asunder and every Ship either thrust forward or did put back one another No man would have judged it to be one Fleet but rather two Navies sighting a Battel upon the Sea The Sterns did strike against the poop such as went before troubled them that came after and at last the words of men in their choler came unto blows The tide had now over-flown all the Plains thereabout so that nothing appeared above the Waters save the Hills which seemed so many little Islands whereunto many did swim and left their Ships for fear Whilest the Navy was thus dispersed abroad and partly floated as they hapned in any valley and partly stuck in the ground as they lighted on the flats there came suddenly another terrour greater then the first For when the Sea began to ebbe the water fell back again into his wonted course with so great violence as it came forwards and restored the sight of the Land which before was drowned as in a deep Sea The Ships then forsaken of the water fell upon their sides and the Fields were strewed with broken boards and pieces of Oars The Souldiers durst not go forth to Land and yet were in doubt to tarry on Ship-board looking ever for some greater mischief to come then what they saw present or past They could scarcely believe what they saw and suffered which was a Shipwrack upon the land and a Sea within a River They thought no end could come of this calamity for they knew not that the Sea should shortly return again and set their Ships afloat And therefore they proposed to themselves Famine and all extremities The Monsters also of the Sea which after the water was past were left on dry land did put them in great fear The night approached and despair brought the King into a great agony yet no care could so overcome his heart that was invincible but he watched all night and sent Horsemen to the mouth of the River to bring him word when the tide came He caused two Ships that were broken to be amended and such as were overwhelmed to be hoised up again warning all men to lie in wait and be in a readiness against the water should arise When he had consumed all that night in watching and giving exhortation unto his men straightways the Horesemen returned on a main gallop and the tide at their heels which mildly increasing began to raise again their Ships and when it had once over-flown the Banks the whole Navy began to move Then all the Coast rebounded with the unmeasurable rejoycing that the Souldiers and Mariners made for their safeguard whereof they were before in despair When they saw the danger past they inquired one of another by what reason the Sea could so soon â—bb and flow and debated the nature of that Element which one while disagreed and another while was obedient and subject to the time The King conjecturing by the signes he had seen before that after the Sun-rising the tide would serve to his purpose at mid-night with a few Ships did sail down the Stream and passing out at the mouth of the River he entred four hundred Furlongs into the Sea and being Master of his desires he there made sacrifice to the gods of the Sea who were worshipped in those Countries and returned again unto his Navy On the next day he returned backwards against the Stream and arrived at a salt Lake the nature whereof being unknown deceived many that rashly entred into the water for their bodies by and by became full of scabs which disease taken by some the contagion thereof infected many others but they found that Oyl was a remedy for the same Alexander lying still with his Army waiting for the Spring of the year sent Leonatus before by Land where he thought to pass to dig Wells because the Country was very dry and destitute of water In the mean time he builded many Cities and commanded Nearchus and Onesicritus that were most expert in the Discipline of Sea-service with his strongest Ships to pass into the Ocean and to go so far forwards as they might with surety to understand the nature of the Sea and willed them at their return to land either within that River or else within Euphrates When the Winter was well passed he burned those Ships which were unserviceable and conveyed his Army by Land After â—ine Incampings he came into the Country of the Arabitans and from thence in nine days came into the Country of the Gedrosians who being a free Nation by a general Counsel had amongst them yielded themselves of whom there was not any thing demanded saving only Victuals The fifth day he came into a River which the Country-men call Barabon beyond which there lay a barren Country greatly destitute of water through the which he passed and entred amongst the Horitans There he betook the greater part of his Army to Ephestion and divided the Souldiers that were light armed to Ptolomy and Leonatus and so they wasted the Country with three Armies at once and took a great booty Ptolomy turned towards the Sea Leonatus on the other hand and Alexander himself in the midst In that Country he builded also a City and brought men out of Arrachosia to inhabit it From thence he came amongst the Indians who lying upon the Sea-coast do inhabit a great Country that is waste and desart They use no Traffique Commerce nor Conversation with any of their Neighbours but the desartness of their Country made them savage being wilde of their own nature Their nails and hair are never cut they made their Houses of the Shells of Fishes and of other things that the Sea casteth up and being clad with the skins of wilde Beasts do â—eed on Fishes dried with the Sun and such Monsters as the Sea doth cast upon the Land Here the Macedons consumed their Victuals and first endured scarcity and afterwards extream hunger searching out in every place the roots of the Palms which is the only Tree that groweth in that Country But when that kinde of nourishment failed them they killed their Carriage-beasts and abstained not from their Horses insomuch that lacking Beasts to bear their Baggage they were inforced to consume with fire those Spoils of their Enemies which had caused them to travel into the uttermost bounds of the Orient After their Famine there followed a Pestilence for the unaccustomed nourishment of the unwholesome meat they did eat with the travel of their journey and the anxiety of their mindes did spread Diseases amongst them in such sort that they could neither continue in a place nor yet go forwards without great destruction Hunger oppressed them when they tarried and the Pestilence was more vehement ever as they went forwards The Fields therefore were strewn full of men that were half dead and half alive and such as were but half sick were not able to follow the Army
assigned to encounter with those that Darius had sent to take the top of the Mountain He willed Parmenio that as much as might be he should stretch out his Forces towards the Sea and withdraw as far as he could from the Hills which the Enemies had taken but such as had direction by Darius to take the Hills neither durst resist such as came against them nor yet compass about such as were passed by them but fled away at the first fight of the Slingers which thing chanced well for Alexander for it was the thing that he doubted most that they from the higher ground should invade the open side of his Battel which lay unslanked towards them The Macedons marched 32 in a rank for the streightness of the ground would not suffer them to move in a broader body but by little and little as the plain between the Mountains began to enlarge so they had liberty to make their Battels broader and also for the horsemen to march upon the sides When both the Battels were come within fight of each other the Persians first gave a terrible and rude shout which was again doubled by the Macedons not with their number which was far inferiour unto the Persians but with the râ—bound of the Hills and the Rocks which doubled every voice of theirs Alexander did ride up and down before the fronts of his Battels making a signe to his Souldiers with his hand that they should not make too much haste to joyn with their Enemies for bringing themselves out of breath and as he went by he used to every Nation sundry exhortations as he thought convenient for their dispositions and qualities He put the Macedons in remembrance of their ancient courage and the number of Battels that they had won in Europe that they were come thither by his conduct not only to subdue Asia but the uttermost bounds of the Orient He shewed them to be the people that were ordained to conquer the world and to pass the bounds of Hercules and Bacchus he declared that both Bactria and India should be theirs in respect of which the countries that they had yet seen were but trifles and these were to be gotten all with one Victory Their Travel he said should not now be in vain as it was in the barren Rocks of Illyria or in the Mountains of Thrace but in this Conquest the Spoil of the whole Orient was offered unto them for the getting whereof they should scarcely need to handle their Swords since the Battels of their Enemies wavered so already for fear that with their approach only they had almost put them to flight He recalled his Father Philip unto their memory how he conquered the Athenians with the Country of Boetia how he rased to the ground the noble City of Thebes he made rehearsal to them of the Battel won at the River of Granike and of all the Cities that he had taken or that had been yielded unto him with the Countries they had passed through and subdued When he came unto the Greeks he desired them to call to miâ—d the great Wars that had been made against their Country in times past by the Persians first by the pride of Xerxes and after by Darius who made destruction both by Sea and Land in such 〈◊〉 that the Rivers could not serve them for Drink 〈◊〉 the Earth furnish them with Victuals for Food He rehearsed also how the Temples of their gods had been by them polluted and consumed their Cities overthrown and all Truces broken which ought to be confirmed both by divine and humane Law when he passed by the Illyrians and Thracians which were accustomed always to theft and spoil he invited them to behold their enemies which glistered with gold and bare no armour but spoil for them to take he incouraged them to go forwards like men and pluck the prcy from those effeminate women and to make exchange of their craggy Rocks and Mountains full of snow for the plentiful grounds and lands of Persia By this time both Armies were advanced within the throw of their Darts and Darius Horsemen gave a fierce charge upon the right-hand-Battel of the Macedons For Darius desire was to try the Battel by Horsemen rightly judging that the chiefest power of his Enemies consisted in their square Battel of Footmen So that the Battel where Alexander remained was brought to the point of being inclosed round if he had not perceived the same in time and commanding two Bodies of his Horse to keep the top of the Hill he brought all the rest of them to the incounter of his Enemies Having then drawn the Thessalian Horsemen where they stood to fight he commanded their Capt. to bring them about behinde the Battels and there to joyn with Parmenio to perform with courage what he should appoint them By this time the Phalanx of the Macedons in manner inclosed about with their Enemies fought notably on all parts but they stood so thick and were so joyned one to another that they wanted 〈◊〉 to wield their weapons They were so mingled that in casting their darts they one letted another few lighting on their enemies and the most part falling on the ground without harm and being forced to joyn hand to hand they valiantly used the sword Then there was great effusion of blood for both the Armies closed so near that their Harness clashed together weapon against weapon and foined at one anothers faces with their Swords There was no place for the fearful or the coward to fly back but each set his foot to other and by fighting kept still their place till they could make their way by force and so always passed forwards as they had overthrown their Enemies As they were wearied and travelled thus with fighting they were ever received with fresh Enemies and such as were wounded might not depart out of the Battel as it had been seen elsewhere their Enemies assailed them so fiercely before and their fellows thrust on so hard behind Alexander that day did not only such things as pertained to a Captain but adventured himself as far as any private Souldier coveting by all means to kill Darius which he esteemed the greatest honour Darius rode aloft upon his Chariot giving great provocations both for his Enemies to assail him and for his own Men to defend him As Oxatres his brother appeared most notable amongst them all in his furniture and personage so in affection towards the King he exceeded far the rest especially in that case of necessity for when Alexander approached near he thrust in before Darius with the band of Horsemen whereof he had the charge and overthrowing divers he put many more to flight But the Macedons swarmed so about the King and were in such a courage by the Exhortation that each made to other that they charged again upon the Band of Horsemen Then the slaughter was great and the overthrow manifest about the Chariot of Darius the noblest of his Captains lay
security for the money they had imployed in the Wars He gave honour also according to their deservings unto the Kings of Cyprus who revolted from Darius unto him and had aided him with Ships at the Siege of Tyre Amphoterus his Admiral had Commission to drive the Persians out of the Isle of Creet but especially that he should rid the Seas of Pyrates who troubled and spoiled all the Islands whilest these two Princes Alexander and Darius converted their Powers the one against the other Having ordered these things he did dedicate to Hercules at Tyre a great standing Goblet and thirty Bowls of Gold That done he set his whole minde and care upon Darius causing it to be proclaimed that every man should set forwards towards Euphrates But Darius understanding that his Enemy was gone through Egypt into Africa stood in doubt whether he should stay about Mesopotamia or withdraw into the inner parts of his Kingdom judging that he in person should prevail with those remote Nations in bringing of them forwards to the War which his Lieutenants should not be so well able to effect Yet when Fame had published and he understood by assured advertisement that Alexander was returned out of Egypt and fully resolved to follow him with all his power into what Country soever he should go he then gave order that the force of all the furthest Nations should draw towards Babylon knowing the resolution of his Enemy he had to match withal Thither resorted both Bactrians Scythians and Indians for the power of other Countries were come thither before and having the double number of men that he had before in Cilicia he prepared Armour for them with diligence of which many of them wanted both Horsemen and Horses were armed with plates of Steel such as before had no Weapons but Darts had Swords and Bucklers given unto them and to increase the power of his Horsemen he delivered many Horses to be managed and broken by the Footmen He had prepared also two hundred Waggons set with Hooks which in those Countries were esteemed things of great force and judged to be of a wonderful terrour to the Enemy they were made with great long Spikes sticking out before and with Swords set overthwart on both sides The Wheels were also full of Iron Pikes right forth and of great Hooks both upward and downward wherewith all things were cut in sunder that came in their way When his people were thus furnished with Armour and provided sufficiently for the Wars he removed from Babylon keeping the River of Tygris on his right hand and Euphrates on his left hand He overspread with his Army all the Plains of Mesopotamia after that he had passed the River of Tygris and understanding that his Enemy was approaching he sent Satropaces before with a thousand chosen Horsemen and afterwards appointed six thousand to Mazeus to stop Alexander in the passage over the River who had also Commission to waste and burn all the Country where he judged his enemies should come thinking to famish them for want of victuals considering that they had no other provisions but what they got by plundering and by stealth they themselves having plenty brought of all things both by Land and the River Tygris At length he came to a village called Arbella which afterwards was famous by reason of his overthrow There he left the greatest part of his Victuals and Carriage and made a Bridge over the River of Licus and in five days conveyed over his Army as he had done before over Euphrates passing forwards from thence about fourscore furlongs he came to another City called Boumello and there encamped This Country served wonderful well for aranging of his Battels in the large Plains passable for Horses every-where and without shrubs or short brush to cover the ground withal having so free a prospect that the eye might discern things a great way off And if there appeared any Hills within the Plain Darius caused the same to be cast down and to be made level to the ground Such as by conjecture made report to Alexander of Darius power could not be credited for he could not think after so many slain there could be a greater power gathered together then he had before But he that doubted not any peril much less the multitude of them after the eleventh encamping came to the River of Euphrates over the which he made Bridges passing over his horsemen and afterwards his footmen For Mazeus that was sent against him with six thousand horsemen to hinder his passage durst not encounter him When he had continued there a few days not only to rest his Souldiers but also to confirm their mindes and to encourage them he set forwards resolutely against his enemies fearing that they would have retired back into the inward parts of Persia where he should have been inforced to follow them by waste places and desarts Therefore the fourth day he passed by Arbella and came to the River of Tygris All the Country beyond the River was on a smoak newly set on fire by Mazeus who burned all things where he came even as he had been an enemy Alexander at the first by reason of the darkness of the smoak stayed for fear of Ambushments But when they which were sent to scour the Country reported that all things were clear he appointed a few horsemen to prove the passage of the River who found the deepness at the first entry to come to the horse breast and in the midst of the stream to the horse neck There is no River in all the East-part of the world that runneth so violently which besides that the waters of other Rivers do run into it driveth down stones with the stream so that of its swiftness it is called Tygris which in the Persian tongue is to say an Arrow The footmen thereof divided into two Bands and holding their Armour over their heads were inclosed on both sides with the horsemen and so passed till they came to the deep of the channel without any great difficulty The King was the first amongst the footmen that passed over to the further side who with his hand seeing his voice could not be heard shewed the shallow places unto the Souldiers But they had much to do to keep their footing by reason of the stones whereupon they stumbled and of the violence of the water that took their feet away Such as carried burthens on their backs had the greatest travel not being able to stay themselves by reason of the trouble of their carriage were born down by violence of the stream And whilest every man went about to recover again his own there â—ell greater strife amongst themselves then they had with the stream and the heaps of fardels that every where flowed upon the water bare down many of them The King cryed to them that it was sufficient to keep their arms and let the rest go promising to recompence every man but they neither followed his counsel nor
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
Armour nor go forwards so that they seemed most happy who had gotten no water at all for such as had taken of it inordinately were inforced by vomit to put up the same again As Alexander carefully in this calamity stood with his Friends that were perswading him to have respect to himself for that he only and the greatness of his heart should be some relief unto them in his adversity there came two Souldiers who going before with such as had taken up the Camp had found water and were carrying of it in Bottles unto their Sons which were sore afflicted for want of drink behinde in the Army When they saw the King one of them opened his Bottle and filling a Cup presented the water to the King who receiving it at his hand demanded to whom they carried that water they said to their Sons Then he restored the Cup again full as it was given him and said I will not drink alone for so little cannot be divided amongst us all Make you haste therefore to carry to your Sons that you have gotten with your travel But Alexander travelled so long that before night he came to the River of Oxus The more part of the Army not able to follow for feebleness were left far behinde to the intent therefore that such as followed after might know where the Camp was he caused a fire to be made on the top of an hill and gave order that when the Vaward had refreshed themselves with meat and drink they should fill their Bottles with water and go back with the same to relieve their fellows The breath of such as drank intemperately closed up and they died immediately The number of these men was greater then ever Alexander lost in any Battel but he would neither put off his Arms refresh himself with meat or drink nor ease his body but stood in the way where his Army passed not departing till the last man was come into the Camp He watched all that night and passed it over in great trouble of minde and the day that ensued brought no release of his care for there were neither Boats to pass the River withal nor could he make any Bridge seeing there was no Wood growing nigh at hand But at length he found out a device whereunto only necessity did inforce him They took Beasts skins and stuffed them full of Straw whereupon they laid themselves and so swimmed over the River Such as first recovered the further side stood in order of Battel till the rest were passed over by which means in six days he conveyed over his whole Army Having passed the River of Oxus his purpose was to go forwards in the pursuit of Bessus till he understood such things as had chanced among the Susitans There was one Spitamenes whom Bessus chiefly honoured of all his friends But there are no benefits that can stay a man given up to perjury which in him was the more tolerable because he judged no mischief too great for him who had slain his Prince for the revenge of Darius was a fair colour to his offence But it is to be thought that his present fortune was more envied then his past actions were hated When it was known that Alexander had advanced over the River of Oxus Spitamenes did associate with him in counsel for his enterprise Dataphernes and Catenes whom Bessus specially trusted They agreed to the Designe more readily then he would desire them and taking to them eight young men that were strong of personage used this kinde of policy Spitamines repaired to Bessus and getting him alone informed him that he had found out how Dataphernes and Catanes had conspired to deliver him into Alexanders hands whereas he said he had prevented them while they were about their purpose having taken them both and put them fast in prison Bessus then thinking himself much bound unto him for so great a good turn gave him many thanks and for the desire he had to be revenged of his Enemies willed Spitamenes to bring them to his presence He caused their hands to be bound behinde their backs and to be brought by such as were privy to their Confederacy When they came in Bessus presence he beheld them with a full countenance and rose up to have struck at them But then they left their counterfeiting and straightways inclosing Bessus about bound him he strugling in vain and pulled the Diadem from his Head tearing the Garments from his Back which sometimes belonged to his Prince whom he had slain When he saw himself in this condition he confessed that the gods had righteously revenged his Treason and perceived by the Plague they sent him that they both favoured Darius and were friends to Alexander whose Enemies evermore preferred his Victory It is uncertain whether the multitude would have assisted Bessus or not but that Spitamenes had given forth that it was done by Alexanders appointment whereby he put them into a fear being yet doubtful of minde and set Bessus upon an horse on the which he brought him unto Alexander who in the mean season had chosen out 900 such as by reason of their Age were not meet for the Wars and gave to every Horseman two Talents and to every Footman three thousand Deniers That done he dispatched them home and gave thanks unto the rest because they promised to tarry with him until he had brought his Wars to an end Bessus was presented unto him at a little Town whereof the Inhabitants are called Branchidans who in times past by the Commandment of Xerxes when he came out of Greece were brought from Miletum and placed there because that in his favour they had violated a Temple called Didyma They had not altogether forgotten their Country Customs but had mixed their tongue which by little and little degenerated from their own Language and had not yet attained fully that Country-speech They received the King with great joy yeilding themselves and their City unto his will Whereupon he called to him the Milesians that served him in his Wars who bare an ancient hatred against this Generation of the Branchidans and left it to them to determine whether they would save them for the Country sake or else destroy them for the injury they had done them in times past But when the Milesians could not agree in Opinion he said he would order the matter himself The next day when the Brandichans came to meet him he returned them all again into the City and commanded the Footmen to inclose the City round and entred with such as he had appointed for that purpose and by a token given he put all to the Sword and razed the City as a Receptacle of Traytors they being without Armour in every place Neither the Affinity of their Tongue nor any prayer or intercession could mitigate their Enemies cruelty who after the destruction of the Town did cast down the Walls to the ground so that no memory of them doth remain That done they did
not only cut down the Woods wherein they used their Sacrifice but also plucked up the Trees by the Roots that the ground might be left barâ—en and desolate If the same things had been done against the very Offenders the revenge might have been thought righteous But to lay the fault of the Predecessors upon their Posterity it is judged as a cruel act being there were not any of them then present that had ever seen Miletum or done to Xerxes any kinde of pleasure As Alexander removed from thence towards the River of Tanais Bessus was brought before him spoiled of all his Garments whom Spitamenes led in a Chain put about his Neck a pleasant sight to behold as well to the Barbarous as to the Macedons When Spitamenes was come with him into Alexanders presence he said I have brought here unto you the Killer of his own Master after the same manner that he himself 〈◊〉 the example wherein I have both revenged 〈◊〉 that was my King and you also that now have gained the Soveraignty Let Darius open his eyes and rise from Death to behold this sight who was unworthy of such an end and worthy to behold and receive such a Spectacle as this After Alexander had given Spitamenes thanks he turned himself unto Bessus and said What beastly fury moved thee to take thine own Prince Prisoner and afterwards to kill him having so well deserved of thee Of which thy doings thou shalt receive a sufficient reward by usurping the counterfeit Name of a King He had no heart to make answer or to excuse his offence saving that he said He took upon him to be a King because he might deliver him the possession of the Country which thing if he had omitted some other he said would have taken it in hand Then Alexander called for Oxatres Darius Brother whom he had placed about his person and committed Bessus to his keeping to the intent he should cut off his Ears and Nose and hang him upon a Cross causing his own men to shoot him through with Arrows and so preserve his body that Birds should not touch him Oxatres promised to perform all the rest saving the keeping away the Birds which for the desire he had to set forth Catenes cunning he affirmed that none could so well keep them away as he who did shoot so assuredly that he could strike the Birds flying in the Air And though it was a cunning not so much to be marvelled at in a Nation so expert in shooting yet it was greatly admired by such as did behold him and it was great honour unto the doer He gave rewards unto such as were the Apprehenders of Bessus but he deferred his punishment because he minded to put him to death in the same place where he slew Darius In the mean season the Macedons going a forraging without order were overthrown by the Enemies that came running down the next Mountains They took more then they did kill and driving their prisoners before them retired again unto the Mountains There were of them to the number of twenty thousand who accustomed to live by Theft using Slings and Bows in their Fight whom while Alexander did besiege and in a Skirmish pressed upon the foremost he was stricken with an Arrow in the midst of his Leg where the Head did stick fast The Macedons that were sorrowful and amazed for their Kings hurt carried him into his Tent of whose departure out of the Field his Enemies were not ignorant for they might behold all things from the Mountains The next day they sent Embassadours to Alexander whom he admitted to his presence and unfolding his wounds whereby he thought to dissemble the greatness thereof he shewed his Leg unto them When they were commanded to sit down they said That hearing of his hurt they were as sorrowful for it as his own Subjects which should well be known for if they could finde out the person that did the deed he should be delivered into his hands They could not they said but judge them sacrilegious persons who would fight with gods of whose number they supposed him to be and therefore were determined to yield themselves Thereupon he gave them assurance and receiving again his men that were taken prisoners he admitted them to be his Subjects That done he removed his Camp and was carried in a Litter for the bearing whereof the Horsemen and Footmen contended together the Horsemen alledged it to be their Office because the King used to fight amongst them and the Footmen alledged that in as much as they used to carry the wounded Souldiers they thought no reason their Office should be taken from them chiefly when the King should be carried Alexander therefore in so great contention of both parties thought it a difficult matter for him to give sentence because the judgment should be grievous to them that should be put by their Office and therefore ordered that they should carry him by course From thence the fourth day he came unto a City called Maracanda the Walls whereof were threescore and ten furlongs about but the Castle was without any Wall He set a Garrison in the City and then burned and destroyed the Country thereabouts Embassadours came unto him thither from those Scythians which are called Avians who had been free since the time that Cyrus was among them but yet they shewed themselves then ready to be at his Commandment They were known to be the most righteous people of all the barbarous Nations as men that never used to make War but when they were provoked whose moderation and temperance in using of their liberty made the Inferiours equal unto the Superiours Alexander received them gently and sent Penidas a Friend of his to those Scythians that inhabited within Europe to forbid them to pass the River of Tanais without his appointment He had also a secret Commission to view the scituation of that Country and to visit those Scythians that inhabited about Bosphorus He willed him besides to chuse out a place upon the brink of Tanais where he might build a City to remain as a Fortress for the subduing of the people that he intended to visit But this designe was delayed by the Rebellion of the Sogdians who had also drawn the Bactrians to their part There were of them seven thousand Horsemen whose Authority the rest followed For the subduing of whom Alexander caused Spitamenes and Catones the Betrayers of Bessus to be sent for thinking by their means to bring the Country again to his obedience and to suppress those who had made this stir But they who were judged meet to stay the Rebellion and were sent for to that intent were the chief Authors of that Rebellion for they caused it to be noised abroad that Alexander had sent for the Bactrian Horsemen of purpose to destroy them all which Commission they said being appointed to them they would not execute because they thought it too foul an act to commit against their
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
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
a Country called Zenippa that confineth on the Scythians which being well inhabited and full of Villages doth with the plentifulness thereof not only detain the Inhabitants to dwell there still but also inviteth strangers to come amongst them The same was a refuge to the Outlaws of Bactria that still rebelled But after Alexanders coming was known they were driven forth by the Country-men and two thousand and two hundred of their Horsemen which were accustomed to live by Theft and Spoil in time of Peace made worse not only by the War but also by despair of forgiveness and their wilde dispositions did give an On-set suddenly upon Amintas who was Darius Lieutenant The Battel was long doubtful betwixt them but finally they lost seven hundred of their number whereof three hundred were taken prisoners and turned their backs to the Victors not without revenge for they flew of them fourscore besides three hundred and fifty that they wounded and yet notwithstanding after this second Rebellion they obtained pardon When Alexander had brought them to his obedience he came with his whole Army into a Country called Naura the Lord whereof was called Sisimethres who had two Sons by his own Mother it being lawful there for the Parents to have the Carnal Knowledge of their Children The same Sisimethres with 2000 armed men fortified and kept the Straight at the entry of the Country where it was most narrow The passage was defended both with a River and a Rock through the which Rock the way was made by force of hands The light is received in at the Entry but further inward there is none but only such as men bring with them From this Rock there goeth a Vault underneath the ground that hath issue into the Fields which is not known but to such as are of the same Country Though this straight was naturally strong and defended besides by a strong Power it withheld not Alexander to attempt it who brought Engines which they call Arietes to beat down their Fortification and with Slings and shot of Arrows did force his Enemies from the places of their defence When he had driven them away he passed through the Works he had won and made approach to the Rock but the Stream that grew out of the force of united waters falling from the Mountain was an impediment to him therein It seemed a wonderful work to fill the Chanel of the River yet he caused Trees and Stones to be brought to the place When his Enemies that never had seen any such thing before beheld the Work suddenly to rise like a Mountain they were put into a marvellous fear by which the King supposing they might have been brought to render it up sent one Oxiartes of the same Nation to perswade Sisimethres to render the Rock and in the mean season to put them in more terrour he caused Towers of Wood to be brought forwards and did shoot from the Engines with such violence out of the same that the Enemies forsaking all other strengths retired into the top of the Rock Oxiartes finding Sisimethres in this fear perswaded him rather to prove Alexanders Benevolence then his Power and seeing that all Creatures submitted to him that he alone should not be his hinderance marching now with his Victorious Army into India whereby he should turn other mens plagues upon his own neck Sisimethres would have been contented to follow his advice but that she who was both his Mother and his Wife affirmed how she would rather die then commit her self into any mans hand and therefore he being ashamed that the love of Liberty should remain more in a Woman then in him being a Man he altered his purpose taking that way which was more honest then sure and dismissing him that was the Mediator for Peace he determined utterly to abide the extremity of the Siege Yet when he had well weighed his Enemies Power and his own together he began again to repent him of his Wives Counsel it being more rash then profitable and made suit that Oxiartes would return proffering then to commit himself to the Kings Will only requiring of Oxiartes that he would not utter his Wives Opinion for fear lest that he should not obtain her pardon He sent therefore Oxiartes before and he came after with his Wife his Children and all his Kinsfolk without tarrying for any assurance promised to him by Oxiartes Alexander hearing of their approach sent his Horsemen before to cause them to stay and to tarry for his coming And when he was come to the place where they did abide he offered Sacrifice to Minerva and Victoria restoring unto Sisimethres his former Rule and Authority putting him in hope of a greater Country if he would faithfully continue in his Friendship and took his two Sons presented to him by the Father to serve him in his Wars Alexander left his Footmen to subdue such as had not yet yeilded and went forwards with his Horsemen into other parts The way was craggy and difficult which at at first they indured indifferently but afterwards when their Horse-hoofs were torn and they utterly soundred many were not able to follow but rode dispersed and out of order the weariness of their travel so much overcame shame The King notwithstanding changed often his Horse and pursued without intermission his Enemies that fled before him by reason whereof all the Noble young men that were wont to accompany him were left behinde saving only Philip Lysimachus Brother who then being in the flower of his youth and of great likelihood to become an excellent man followed on Foot the King that did ride on Horseback by the space of fifty furlongs Lysimachus divers times for all that proffered him his Horse but in no wise he would depart from the King notwithstanding that he had his Corslet on and all his Armour When the King passed through the Wood where his Enemies lay in Ambushment he sought notably and protected the Kings person fighting with his Enemies But after they were put to flight and driven out of the Woods the greatness of his courage which had sustained him in the heat of the Fight fainted with his body and being all on a sweat he leaned himself to a Tree which could not so much stay him but that he fell to the earth and being taken up again by the Kings hands he immediately after did shrink down and died The King being sorrowful for his death received some other intelligence no less to be lamented for before he came to his Camp he was advertised of the death of Erigius one of the most Noble of his Captains whose Funerals were celebrated with great Pomp and Ceremonies of Honour From thence he determined to go unto the Dahans where he understood that Spitamenes was But Fortune that never ceased to favour him did unexpectedly finish that journey of his as she did many others Spitamenes was inflamed with an excessive love to his Wife whom he carried with him in all
their Garments are made The twigs of the Trees are so tender that they receive the Prints of Letters like wax The Birds by teaching counterfeit the voices of men There are many Beasts which are not bred among other Nations Rhinocerots are there bred but not brought forth The Elephants of that Countrey are stronger than those that are made tame in Africk and their highness doth answer to their strength The water of the Rivers doth carry down Gold and run mildely without any great fall The Sea doth cast upon the Shore both Pearls and precious Stones whereof proceeded the cause of their great Riches for after their Merchandize was once known to other Nations the purgings of the Seas were highly esteemed as the fansie of man would make the price The dispositions of the men as in all other places are according to the scituation of the Countries they dwell in They make their Garments of Linnen Cloth which cover their bodies down to their feet They binde Sandals under their feet and wear Rolls of Linnen about their Heads Such as are in any Degree either of Nobility or Riches have precious Stones hanging at their Ears and they cover all their Arms with Bracelets and Ornaments of Gold They use great curiosity in Combing of their Heads which they cut very seldome They shave without any form of gravity all parts of their Face saving their Chin. But the excess of voluptuoasness which they call magnificence used by them doth exceed the vices of all Nations When their will is to be seen abroad their servants carry about them Perfuming Pans of Silver and fill all the ways where they go with sweet Savors they themselves are born in Litters of Gold hanging with pearls and the Garments they wear are of gold and purple empaled together The armed men follow their Litter and such as are of their Guard among whom are Birds born upon boughs which they teach always to sing when they are conversant in earnest matters In the Kings Palace are pillars of gold carved about with vines of gold wherein the Images of those Birds they delight in most are artificially wrought The Court is open to all comers When the Kings do comb and dress their heads they use to give answer to the Embassadors and execute justice upon their people When their Sandals are taken off their feet are anointed with sweet odours The greatest travel they take is when they hunt wilde Beasts inclosed in Parks which they strike whiles their Concubines are singing and dallying with them the Arrows they shoot are of two cubits long which do not the effect of the force they are shot withal by reason of their weight which is an impediment to their swiftness wherein the property of the Arrow chiefly consisteth In small journeys they use to ride on horseback but when they are to travel further they are carried upon Elephants whose huge bodies are covered all over with gold And because no vice should be wanting in their corrupt manners great numbers of Concubines do follow them in golden Litters The Queens have their companies separate by themselves who in all excess of voluptuousness are nothing inferiour to the Kings It belongeth to the women there to dress meat and they also serve men with wine whereof there is great plenty among the Indians When the King hath largely drunk and is fallen into a sleep his Concubines use to carry him into his Chamber calling upon their gods in a Hynâ—â— after their Countrey manner Who would think that amongst all these vices there were any regard of vertue there are amongst them a rough kinde of people whom they call wise men who count it the most glorious thing to prevent their own death and they use to burn themselves while they are alive It is imputed for a great shame to such as either cannot well stir for age or have not their perfect health if they prolong their life till their natural death approach nor is there any honour given to those bodies that die for age They think the Fires to be defiled if the bodies be not alive that are burned in them Such as live in Cities after a civil manner attain to the most knowledge of the motion of the Stars and of the prophecy of things to come nor can they think that any man doth shorten his life that looketh for death without fear They esteem those for gods whom they begin once to worship and especially trees the violating of which they forbid upon pain of death They number fifty days to the month and notwithstanding limit their years as they do in other places They note not their times by such course of the Moon as is commonly used that is from the full Moon but from the first quarter when she beginneth to be horned and by counting after the same manner they make their accounts more uncertain There are many other things reported of them with which I thought not necessary to interrupt the order of this History As Alexander entred into India the Princes of the Countrey addressed themselves unto him submiting themselves and declaring that he was the third man being begotten of Jupiter that came into their Countrey They said that Hercules and Bacchus were not known to them but only by fame but they rejoyced that they might behold him present with their eyes Alexander received them with all the gentleness he could devise and willed them to accompany him because he would use them as Guides in his Journey But when he saw that the whole Nation came not he sent Perdicas and Ephestion with part of his Army before to subdue such as would not submit themselves and willed them to go forwards till they came to the River of Indus and there to make Boats in which he might transport his Army and because they had to pass many Rivers the Boats were so devised that they might be taken asunder and carried in Carts and afterwards joyned together again He appointed Craterus to follow him with the Phalanx and he with such Horsemen and Footmen as were light armed marched before and being Encountred on his way he Fought a small Battel and drove his Enemies into the next City When Craterus was come to the intent he might strike terrour amongst those people that had not yet proved the Macedons Force he commanded that when they won the City they should kill both man woman and childe and burn the same to the ground but as he was riding about the Walls he was hurt with an Arrow Notwithstanding the City was won and all put to the Sword the very houses not escaping the cruelty of the Conquerours After this he subdued an obscure Nation and came to a City called Nisa It chanced that whiles they incamped in a Wood before the City there fell a cold in the night which more afflicted the Macedons than ever it had done before in any other place against the which they prepared the remedy that was next at
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
at your hand Here the Ocean Sea doth meet us and if we mistake not we are come to the utmost place where your Fortune leads you I had rather speak these things before then behinde your back for I seek not so much to win the favour of the Souldiers as I desire that you should rather hear the voice of them speaking then the murmure of them complaining When Cenus had made an end of his Oration there arose a cry and lamentation which in confused voices every where call'd Alexander their King their Father and their Lord. Then the other Captains and especially the more ancient of them who by reason of their age had the more honest excuse and greater authority made the like request so that the King was not able in that obstinacy either to chastise them or asswage them Therefore uncertain what to do he leaped from the Judgment-Seat and commanding his lodging-door to be shut he admitted no man to come unto him but such as were accustomed to be about his person Two days he consumed in this angry melancholy and the third day he came forth amongst his men causing twelve Altars of square stone to be set up as a Monument of his journey and willed the Trenches of his Camp to be made wider and the places where the Souldiers lay to be inlarged greater then served for the bigness of their bodies thinking by form and shape of things thus increased to leave a deceitful Wonder to Posterity From thence he returned by the way he had passed before and incamped near unto the River of Acesines Cenus chanced there to die whose death the King lamented but yet he said that for so few days he had made an over-long Oration as though he alone should have returned into Macedon By that time the Navy of Ships which he had appointed to be made stood in readiness and aflote and Memnon in the mean season brought him out of Thrace 6000 Horsemen and besides from Harpalus 7000 Footmen with twenty five thousand Arms that were wrought with silver and gold which he distributed amongst his men and commanded the old to be burned purposing to pass unto the Ocean Sea with a thousand Ships But before he departed he reconciled by Affinity Porus and Taxiles betwixt whom there was a new discord risen upon their old hatred He had obtained of them great aid both in making and the furnishing of his Fleet. During the time he was about this business he builded two Cities the one whereof he called Nicea and the other Bucephalon naming the latter by the name of his Horse that was dead He gave order that his Elephants and Carriages should pass by Land and he sailed down the River proceeding every day about forty furlongs so that he might always land his power in such places as he thought convenient At length he came into a Country where the Rivers of Hydaspes and Acesines do joyn together and do run from thence into the bounds of a Nation called Sobions They declared that their Predecessors came from Hercules Army who being left there sick did inhabit the Country They were cloathed in beasts skins using Clubs for their weapons And though they had left the customs of the Greeks yet there appeared many things amongst them that declared from whence they were descended Here the King landed and marched two hundred and ten furlongs within the Country which he wasted and took the chiefest City in the same There were forty thousand men that stood in defence against him upon a Rivers side but he passed the water putting them to flight and after they fled into the City he wan it by force The young men were all slain and the rest sold as slaves After that he assaulted another City where he was repulsed by the great force of the Defendants and lost many of his men But when the Inhabitants saw that he continued still the Siege despairing of their safeguard they set fire on their houses and destroyed themselves their Wives and Children which fire when the Macedons quenched they kindled the same again It seemed a strange contention the Citizens to destroy their own City and their Enemies labouring to preserve it the Wars so contrarily changed the Laws wrought in man by nature The Castle was saved wherein a Garrison was left Alexander went about this Castle by water which was invironed with three of the greatest Rivers in all India Ganges excepted Indus passing on the North-side and Acesines running into Hydaspes upon the South Where these Rivers met the waters rose like surges of the Sea being full of Mud and Ouze which by the course of the water were driven upon the shore for all that the Rivers are broad yet the Channels are but narrow wherein the Ships must pass The waves did rise so high and thick breaking sometimes upon the Poops and sometime upon the side of the Ships that the Marriners began to vail their Sails but they were so troubled through fear and the violent swiftness of the stream that they could not order their tackling so that two of their greatest Ships were drowned in sight and the smallest Vessels which were less able to be governed were driven upon the shore without any harm The King chanced upon the place where the Waves swelled highest wherewith his Ship was so tossed and traversed that the Helm could not direct its course wherefore the King fearing to be drowned pulled off his garments being ready to cast himself into the water and his Confidents did swim near thereabout being ready to receive him It appeared to him doubtful which peril was the greatest either to swim or to continue still aboard But the Marriners laboured wonderfully with their Oars adding all the force that lay in mans power to cut through the Waves by whose importunate travel the water seemed to divide asunder and to give place so that at length they got out of the surges and yet not able to bring the Ship to the shore dashed upon the next flat it appearing that the Ships and the Stream had fought a Battel together Alexander having escaped this peril set up to every River an Altar whereupon he offered due Sacrifice and that done he past forwards thirty furlongs From thence he came into the Country of the Sudricans and Mallians who being accustomed to be at war among themselves were then joyned in Society They assembled in Arms to the number of nine thousand Footmen ten thousand Horsemen and nine hundred armed Waggons whereof when the Macedons were advertised who believed that they had passed all perils seeing a fresh War arise with a new fresh Nation they were amaz'd with a sudden fear and began again with seditious words to repove their King They alledged that he would lately have compelled them to pass the River of Ganges to make war upon those Nations inhabiting beyond the same which enterprise though it were left they had not for all that ended the War never the more but
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 of men My counsel is therefore that you send this Gold and Silver to levy Souldiers out of those Countries from whence they come Darius was a man of a milde and tractable disposition if the height of his Estate had not altered the goodness of his Nature which made him so impatient to hear the truth that he commanded Charidemus to be put straightways to death being a man that was fled to his protection and that had given him right profitable counsel When he was going towards his death he left not his liberty to speak but said There is one at hand that shall revenge my death for he against whom I have given thee counsel shall punish thee for not following my advice And thou being thus altered with the liberties thou hast being now a King shalt be an example to such as shall come after that when they commit themselves to Fortune they clearly forget their names Whilest Charidemus was speaking of these words they which had the charge committed unto them did put him to death whereof the King afterwards took over-late repentance confessing him to have spoken the truth and caused him to be buried There was one Thymones the Son of Menter a young man of great activity to whom Darius gave the charge of all the Forreign Souldiers in whom he had great confidence willing him to receive them at Pharnabasus hands and gave to Pharnabasus the Rule that Memnon had before Thus Darius being careful of the great business he had in hand whether it were through pensiveness of minde or that his fancy did divine things to come was continually troubled with Visions in his sleep He dreamed that the Macedons Camp was on fire and shortly after it seemed to him that Alexander was brought to his presence in such kinde of apparel as he himself did wear when he was first chosen King and that Alexander should be carried on Horse-back through Babylon and so vanish out of sight Hereupon the Interpreters of Dreams betokened good fortune to himself because of the fire that seemed to be in his Enemies Camp and for that Alexander without any vesture of a King appeared in the vulgar apparel of the Persians Others did interpret it otherwise that the Lightning in the Macedons Camp signified glory and victory to Alexander and also the enjoyment of the Empire of Asia which they made more clear forasmuch as Alexander appeared in the same Vestures that Darius did wear when he was chosen King Care besides and anxiety of minde as often chanceth brought things past again to remembrance It was rehearsed how Darius in the beginning of his Reign changed the Scabbard of his Sword from the Persian manner into the fashion that the Greeks used whereupon the Caldees did prognosticate that the Kingdom of the Persians should be translated to those whose fashion he had counterfeited Notwithstanding being glad of the interpretation of the Diviners which was every where published concerning his success and of the Vision that he seemed to have seen in his sleep he commanded his Army to march forwards towards the River of Euphrates It was the Ancient Custom amongst the Persians at Sun-rising to raise their Camp and a warning of their setting forwards to be by the sound of a Trumpet at the Kings Pavilion upon which there stood the Image of the Sun inclosed in Christal shining so bright that it might be seen thorowout the Camp The order of their marching was in this manner the Fire which they call Holy and Eternal was carried before on silver Altars next to them were the Diviners singing after their Country manner there followed three hundred sixty five young men in Scarlet Robes like in number unto the days of the year then came the Chariot consecrated to Jupiter drawn with white Horses and a great Horse following which they call The Horse of the Sun Such as did ride upon the Palfreys did wear white Garments bearing Rods of Gold in their hands Next in order came ten Chariots garnished and wrought with silver and gold The Horsemen of twelve Nations followed in sundry sorts of Armour then came a Company that the Persians called Immortal the riches of whose Apparel exceeded far the rest they had all Chains of Gold Coats embroidered with Gold and Sleeves set with Pearl These were followed within a small distance by a Band of fifteen thousand Souldiers called Doripherii reputed for the Kings Kinsmen and apparelled almost like Women more notable for the variety of the riches of their Garments then the Armour they did wear Such as were wont to receive the Kings Robes did ride next before the Chariot upon the which Darius did sit on high with great pomp and magnificence his Chariot being garnished on both sides with carved Images of their gods made of silver and gold the beams whereof were set with Pearls and precious Stones with two Images of Gold standing thereupon of a cubit length one opposite to the other and over their heads an Eagle of Gold displayed But amongst the rest the Kings Apparel seemed marvellously sumptuous which was of Purple empaled white with a Border imbroidered of Gold and Golden Faulcons so wrought as if they were fighting together He was girt Effeminately with a Girdle of Gold and the Sword that hung thereupon had a Scabbard of Pearl the Diadem which he did wear upon his head called by the Persians Cydaris had a Roll about it of white and green Next behinde the King came ten thousand Horsemen who had all their Spears plated with silver and their Spear-heads guilded He was inclosed on both sides with two hundred of the Blood Royal at whose backs there followed thirty thousand Footmen and after them four hundred of the Kings Coursers Within the distance of one furlong Sâ—â—ygambis the Mother of Darius was carried in one Chariot and his Wife in another the Train of their Women riding on Horseback Next to them wâ—nt fifteen Chariots wherein the Kings Children were carried and their Nurses and their Eunuchs which are greatly esteemed in that Country After them followed three hundred of the Kings Concubines all apparelled like Queens Then came six hundred Mules and three hundred Camels that carried the Kings Treasure guarded with a Band of Archers The Wives of the Kings Kinsmen and the other that were about the King came riding next and after them a great company of Slaves and Varlets Last came the Rereward lightly armed whereof every Captain severally with his own Company closed the Army such was the Order oâ— Darius 〈◊〉 But on the other side beholding Alexanders Army there was to be seen a great difference neither the Men nor the Horse glistered so with gold and precious Furnitures but only with the brightness of their Harness They were obedient to their Captains Command always in a readiness to stay or to advance neither oppressed with the multitude nor pestred with too much Baggage They wanted not in any place either ground for their encamping or
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
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
they carried before in Trusses and to be ready and attend to every thing that should be appointed them For he understanding the Treason that was contrived followed the Kings Chariot seeking occasion to speak with him And Bessus doubting the same thing would not depart from the Chariot but followed rather as a Watch then a Waiter Patron therefore having tarried long and being interrupted oftentimes as he was about to speak stood in a stay betwixt fear and fidelity beholding the King in the face When Darius perceived that he beheld him after that manner he willed Bubace his Eunuch that rode next him to enquire of Patron if he had any thing to say to him Patron said Yea but his matter was such as he would no man should hear Then he was willed to come near and without any Interpreter Darius understanding somewhat of the Greek Tongue Patron said unto him Sir Of fifty thousand Greeks that served you there is a small number of us remaining which have continually followed you in all Fortunes bearing unto you the same fidelity and affection that we did in your most flourishing Estate And we were determined wheresoever you are to take that for our Country and home both Prosperity and Adversity hath so coupled us together By which Invincible Fidelity that is in us I desire you and require you that you would vouchsafe to lodge within our Camp and suffer us us to be the Guard of your Person We have lost Greece we have no Bactria to go unto all our hâ—pe is in you and the gods grant that all other men may do the like It is not necessary I should speak any more nor would I demand the custody of your Person being an Alien and a Stranger if I knew that others were as well-minded towards you Although Bessus were ignorant of the Greek Tongue yet his Conscience pricked him to believe that Patron had disclosed something and therefore carrying away some part of his words by a Greek Interpreter became out of doubt Darius nothing afraid as it appeared by his Countenance enquired of Patron what moved him to give such advice Whereupon he thought not good to defer it any longer but said Bessus and Nabarzanes work Treason against you so that your Life and your Estate stand in extreme peril and this day shall be the last either to the Traytors or to you Whose words if Darius had well weighed and regarded Patron had received the glory of the preservation of the Prince But let them mock that list who say that the state of men is governed by Chance I do believe every man runneth his Race by an Immutable Order and by a concatenation everlasting appointment unknown appointed long before Darius answer was That although the fidelity of the Greek Souldiers was sufficiently known unto him yet he was determined never to depart from his own Nation by whom though he might be deceived yet it was hard for him to mistrust them Whatsoever should befall him he said he was minded rather to suffer it amongst his own Subjects then to part away from them not desiring to live if his own Souldiers desired not his Safeguard Whereupon Patron despairing of the Kings welfare returned them of whom he had the charge ready to adventure any thing for his sake Bessus in the mean season had absolutely determined to slay Darius but fearing that he could not win Alexanders favour except he delivered his Enemy into his hands alive deferred his purpose to the night following In the mean season he came to Darius and gave him thanks that he had so warily and with such wisdom avoided the Treason of that false Grecian who being corrupted by Alexander sought nothing but how to make a present of his head whereat he said He could not marvel that a Mercenary man should leave any thing undone for Money being without any Pledge of his Honesty without house and home banished out of the world a fair Friend and a doubtful Enemy tossed here and there at the beck of all men that would corrupt him And then he fell to purging of himself calling the gods of his Country to witness his Innocency in this matter Darius by his countenance seemed to believe him yet he doubted not of the truth of what Patron had told him but he was come to such a point that it was as dangerous for him not to believe his own men as to be deceived There were thirty thousand whose lightness was feared to have consented to this Conspiracy and Patron had but four thousand unto whom if he had committed his â—afety and thereby condemned the fidelity of his own Nation he saw that then they might have had a goodly colour and pretence to perform their Enterprize and therefore chose rather to be killed Innocently then to give any occasion whereby he should seem to have deserved death And yet when Bessus purged himself he answered That he knew that there was no less Justice in Alexander then Manhood and that they were deceived that looked for any Rewards of Treason at his hands knowing there was none a greater Punisher or Revenger of the breach of Fidelity When the night drew near the Persians after their accustomed manner put off their Armour and repaired to the next Villages to provide things necessary But the Bactrians as Bessus had commanded them stood still armed In the mean season Darius had sent for Artabasus and shewed him what Patron had declared Whereupon Artabasus made no doubt but that he would straightways commit himself among the Greeks thinking that the Persians when the Kings peril should be published abroad would joyn with the Grecians Yet Darius predestinate to his chance could not hear that saving counsel nor sought for any help in that case but imbraced Artabasus as though he should never see him more and being wet with the tears that one of them let fall upon the other he caused Artabasus to be removed from him and because he would not see his sorrow in departing from him he covered his face and fell flat upon the ground Then such as were accustomed to the Guard of his Person who should have been his Defence in all perils fled away thinking themselves over-weak for such a number of armed men as they supposed to be coming There was a great solitariness within Darius his lodging for none remained about the King but a few Eunuchs that had no place to repair unto Then he debated and devised with himself alone sometime one thing and sometime another and anon he waxed weary of that solitariness in which before he took a comfort and called Bubace unto him whom he beheld and said Go provide for your selves who according to your duties have been true to your Prince till the last hour here I do tarry for the fatal Law of my destiny Peradventure you do marvel that I do not end mine own life I had rather dye through other mens wickedness then by mine own After these words Bubace
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
remained in Camp till such time as the Souldiers that were left behinde did overtake their Fellows Then he went forwards with his Army to the Mount Caucasus which divideâ—â— all Asia into two parts For on the one side 〈◊〉 stretcheth towards the Sea of Cilicia and on the other side to the Caspian Sea to the River of Araxes and the Desarts of Scythia To this Mount Caucasus there joyneth another Mountain called Taurus next unto it in bignesâ— which riseth from Cappadocia and passing by Ciâ—â—cia closeth with the Mountains of Armenia Out of these Mountains joyning thus together as it were in one continual ridge all the Rivers in Asia do descend some of them running into the Red Sea some into the Caspian and Hircanian Sea and other unto the Sea of Pontus In seventeen days Alexander with his Armies passed Mount Caucasus where in a Rock that is ten furlongs in compass Antiquity fained that Prometheus lay bound At the foot of this Mountain Alexander chose out a place to build a City wherein he placed seven thousand of the most Ancient Macedons and such others whose service he would not use any more in the Wars and called the same Alexandria But Bessus that was put in fear with Alexanders celerity made sacrifice unto the gods of his Country and according to the custom of those in the midst of his Banquets he consulted with his friends and his Captains for the maintenance of the Wars And when they were well charged with Wine they extolled greatly their own power despising the rashness of their Enemies and their small number But chiefly Bessus was most arrogant in his words who puffed up with pride by reason of the Kingdom he had newly got by Treason began to declare How that Darius by his folly had increased his Enemies Fame who would needs fight with them in the Streights of Cilicia when by retiring back he might have drawn them before they had been aware into Desart places and there have put Rivers and Mountains between his Enemies and him and amongst the same so inclosed them that they could by no possibility have fled away and much less make any resistance Wherefore he said he was resolved to retire back amongst the Sogdiâ—â—â— where the River of Oxus should be as a Wall betwixt him and his Enemies till such time as he might assemble a strong power of the Nations thereabout knowing very well that the Chorismians the Dahans and Sacans the Indians and Scythians inhabiting beyond the River of Tanais would come to his assistance of whom there was none so low that any Macedon with the top of his head could reach to his shoulders They all in their drunkenness assented to him affirming that only to be the wisest way whereupon Bessus caused the Wine to be carried about plentifully as if by a Sea of Drink he intended to arrive to Victory There was at that Feast one Cobares a Median who in the Art Magick if it be an Art and not rather a deceit of some vain man was more notable by his profession then by his knowledge but otherwise a moderate and an honest man he making a preamble before his discourse said He was not ignorant how much better it were to be obedient to others counsel then to be a counsel-giver For such as are followers of other mens judgments are sure to have no worse fortune then the rest but such as are Authors and perswaders of any matter commonly prepare their own peril and therewith delivered the Cup he had in his hand and proceeded thus The Nature of Man in this respect may be called perverse because every one can see better into other mens affairs then into his own Their counsels must needs be always full of perturbations who take their own advice for fear is an impediment to some desire unto other and to many a self-love of the thing that they have devised I will not speak of pride nor impute it unto any man ye have seen by experience how every one doth esteem that thing only to be best which he himself hath invented The Diadem of a King that you wear upon your head is a great burthen which though it be born moderately the weight thereof will oppress the bearer It is not fury can avail in this case but wise and prudent counsel When he had spoken those words he rehearsed a Proverb commonly used amongst the Bactrians which is That a fearful Dog doth bark more then bite and that the deepest Rivers do run with least noise which things I have rehearsed because such prudence may appear as remained amongst the Barbarous As he talked after this manner such as heard him wondred to what end his discourse would tend Then he began to shew his advice which was more profitable to Bessus then grateful Alexanders celerity quoth he is such that he is come in a manner to the entry of your Court he can remove his Army before you can remove this Table You say that you will draw your assistance from his River of Tanais and that you will put Rivers betwixt you and your Enemies I would know if he be not able to follow wheresoever you shall fly If the way be indifferent it must needs be mâ—st easie and assured to the Conquerour And though you think fear doth make much speed yet hope is more swift It were therefore methinks expedient to procure the favour of him that is the Mightiest and yield your self to the Stronger Howsoever he shall accept it your Fortune is more like to be better that way then to remain still an Enemy Consider that you possess another mans Kingdom and therefore you may the better depart therewith For ye cannot be a just King till ye receive the Kingdom of him that is able to give it and take it away This is faithful counsel wherefore it is not necessary to delay the execution thereof The Horse that is of Noble courage will be governed by the shadow of a Rod but the dull beast is not pricked forwards with the Spur. Bessus that was fierce of nature and well set forwards with drink became in such a fury at his words that he could scarcely be withheld by his Friend from slaying Cobares for he pulled out his Sword to have done the deed and departed out of the Feast in a great rage But Cobares in the tumult escaped away and came unto Alexander Bessus had eight thousand Bactrians armed attending upon him who so long as they judged by the intemperateness of the Air in these parts the Macedons would rather have gone into India then into Bactria were very obedient to his Commandment But when they understood that Alexander was coming towards them every one shrunk away and forsook Bessus Then he with a Band of his own Family who were yet faithful unto him passed the River of Oxus burning such Boats as carried him over because the same should not serve his Enemy in following him and assembled a new
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
man would have judged that the whole Wood had been on a flame for there was scarcely space â—eft betwixt the fires for men to stand Then their nummed joynts began to be moved with the heat and their spirits which were oppressed by the force of the cold began to have their free recourse some recovered the Cottages which necessity caused them to seek out in the uttermost part of the Wood and the rest recovered the Camp which was planted in a moist ground but by that time the Shower was ceased the Tempest had consumed one thousand Souldiers with Varlets and Slaves It is said that divers were frozen to death leaning against Trees and yet seemed as though they had been living and speaking together It chanced that a common Souldier of the Macedons who had much pain to go and carry his Armour came at last into the Camp where the King was who notwithstanding that he was chaâ—ing of his own body against the fire yet he did rise out of his Chair and pulling off the nummed Souldiers Armour who was almost past his remembrance he set him down in his Seat He a great while knew not where he sate or who had received him but at length when his natural heat came to him and he perceived it to be his Kings Seat and the King to be there present he was afraid and did start up again But Alexander beheld him in the face and said Perceivest thou not now my Souldier with how much better condition thou livest then the Persians do under their Kings for it is death to them to sit in the Kings Seat and the same hath been the safeguard of thy life The next day he called his friends and the Captains of his Army together promising to restore to them whatsoever they had lost wherein he performed his promise for Sisimethres bringing unto him many Beasts of burthen with 2000 〈◊〉 and a great number of Sheep and Oxen he distributed all amongst the Souldiers wher in he both restored to them their loss and also delivered them from their hunger The King gave great thanks unto Sisimethres and commanding his Souldiers to carry six days Victuals ready dressed he marched against the Sacans where he destroyed all their Country and of the Booty there taken he gave thirty thousand sheep in gift to Sisimethres From thence he came unto a Country belonging to a Noble Prince called Cohortanus who subjected himself unto the King and he again restored his Country to him exacting nothing of his but that of his three Sons he should send two of them to serve him in his Wars But Cohortanus offerâ—d to him all three and made a feast unto Alexander with such sumptuousness as belongâ—d to the manner of their Country therein all the pleasures being shewed that could be devised Thirty Virgins of the Noble-mens children were brought in 〈◊〉 Alexander amongst whom there was Cohortanus Daughter called Roxane who in beauty and excellency of personage and comelinâ—ss of apparel 〈◊〉 amongst those Nations excelled all the rest And notwithstanding that they were all of excellent Beauty with whom she was accompanied yet she drew all mens eyes towards her and especially the Kings who could not well now govern his affections in such prosperity of fortune it being an infirmity which the frailty of man seldome can avoid Thus he who beheld the Wife of Darius and her two Daughters to whom Roxane was not comparable with no other desires then he might have beheld his Mother was so overcome with the love of a young Virgin being but of mean Parentage if she should be compared to the Bloud of Kings that he affirmed it to be a thing necessary for the Establishment of the Empire for the Persians and Macedons to marry together by which only means shame might be taken from the vanquished and pride from the Conquerours He also shewed a president how Achilles from whom he was descended joyned himself with a Captive And lest his doings should be counted lasciviousness he resolved to take her to him by the way of marriage The Father joyful of this which he looked not for gladly confirmed the Kings words who in the heat of his desire caused Bread to be brought forth according to the custom of his Country the same being the most Religious Ceremony of Marriage amongst the Macedons This Bread was cut asunder with a Sword and each of them made of it a Sacrifice It is to be thought that such as established the Customs of that Nation coveted by a moderate Diet to shew to them that were the gatherers of great Riches with how small a thing they ought to content themselves Thus he who was both King of Asia and Europe joyned himself in Marriage with a Maid brought in at a Masque to beget upon a Captive one that should Reign over the Victorious Macedons His friends were ashamed that he should chuse upon drink a Father-in-law among them whom he had lately subdued But after Clitus death all the liberty and freedom of speech being taken away they seemed to agree with their countenances as with the most apt instrument to declare the consent of their mindes After this was done he prepared his journey towards India purposing to visit the Ocean Sea And because he would leave nothing behinde him that might be an impediment to his expedition he took order for thirty thousand young men to be levied out of all the Provinces and to be brought to him armed minding to use them both as Pledges and as Souldiers He sent Craterus to pursue Haustanes and Gateues of whom the one was taken and the other slain Polipercon also subdued the Country that was called Bubacen and having set all things in order he set his whole imagination upon the War of India which was counted to be a very rich Country and to abound both with Gold Pearls and Precious Stones things appertaining as much to Voluptuousness as Magnificence and it was said that the Souldiers there had their Targets made of Ivory and of Gold And therefore lest he who thought himself to excel the rest should be surpassed in any point he caused his Souldiers to garnish their Targets with Plates of Silver and the Horsemen to beautifie their Bridles with Gold and Silver There were one hundred and twenty thousand armed men that followed Alexander in the War When all things were ripe for what he long before conceived in his evil-disposed minde he thought it time to compass how he might usurp the name and honour of a god and so willed himself not only to be called but also to be believed to be the Son of Jupiter as though his power had been as well to restrain mens thoughts as their tongues His intent was that the Macedons should fall prostrate on the ground and worship him after the same manner that the Persians did their Kings and to such his desire there wanted not pernicious flattery the perpetual poyson of Princes whose Estates have more
often been overcome by flattery then by any force of Enemies The Macedons were not in blame of this for none of them suffered gladly their Country Customs to be subverted but it was the fault of the Greeks who with their fordid conditions corrupted the profession of honest Sciences There was one Hagis of Argos as evil a Poet as was since Cherillus days and another called Cleo a Sicilian given to flattery both by his nature and by the Custom of his Country These with some other of the dregs and refuse of their Countries whom Alexander reputed more then any of his Captains and Kinsmen would make it appear to the world that Heaven lay open for Alexander and sticked not openly to pronounce that both Hercules and Bacchus Castor and Pollux should all give place to his new godhead For the bringing of those things to pass the King commanded upon a solemn day a Feast to be prepared with great pomp inviting thereunto all the great Lords and Gentlemen both of the Macedons and the Greeks with whom when he had sate and eaten a while he departed out of the Feast Then Cleo as was before-determined made a Speech in the praise and admiration of the Kings Vertues rehearsing his exceeding benefits towards them all which to 〈◊〉 he said there was but one way and that was 〈◊〉 they would acknowledge him a god whom they knew to be one For is it a small thing quoth he to recompence such great benefits towards you with the expence of a little Frankincense He shewed the Persians Custom to be both Religious and Wise in worshipping their Kings as gods thinking their defence and safeguard to consist in the Majesty of their Prince He said that Hercules and Bacchus were Deified when they had once overcome the envy of such as lived in their time and men that come after do easily believe such things as have been confirmed by their Predecessors If any of you quoth he will stick at this matter ye shall see me the first that at the Kings coming in shall fall down upon the earth and worship him which president other men ought to follow and especially the men of most wisdom that should always be examples to others in doing their duties towards their Prince His Speech tended directly against Calistenes whose gravity and prompt liberty of speech was hateful to the King for he thought him the man who only had stayed the Macedons that else would readily have done him that honour Hereupon every mans eyes were fastened on Calistenes who after silence made spake in this manner If the King were present O Cleo to hear these thy words it should not be needful nâ—w to answer thee for he himself would make request that he might not thus swerve into the custom of Strangers nor would he suffer that thou shouldest deface and bring into the obloquy and envy of men with such thy pernicious flattery his Noble Acts brought to pass with such courage and good fortunes But because he is absent I for him will thus answer thee There is no fruit soon ripe that will continue long this I mean by thy divine humours which whilest thou goest about to give unto the King thou takest his Honour from him There is a time required that men should believe him to be a god for that gift hath always been given to great men when they are once dead by such as came after them I wish unto the King Immortality after his death and that his life may be long and his Estate continual But Deifying is a thing that sometimes doth follow a man but it never doth accompany him Thou didst rehearse examples of the Deifying of Hercules and Bacchus thinkest thou that they were made gods upon drink and by the degrees of one dinner The nature of Alexanders Mortality must be removed from our eyes before the same can bring him into Heaven Are not they goodly gods Cleo that thou and I can make Would the King thinkest thou he content to receive of us the authority of his godhead I have a great desire to prove thy power If thou canst make a god first make a King it is much more easie to give an earthly Kingdom then the possession of heaven Thinkest thou Cleo that the Immortal gods will hear thee without disdain or suffer those thy wicked counsels to take any effect They would that we should hold us content with the customs of our Forefathers and for my part I am not ashamed of my Country and desire not to learn after what manner I should honour my Prince for in my Opinion we acknowledge him sufficiently to be both King and Conquerour of whom we receive Laws to live under Calisthenes was favourably heard of all men as the person whom they accounted the recoverer of their Universal Liberty He did not only in this Speech paint out such flatteries but also lively expressed the Opinion of the Macedons especially of such as were ancient men to whom the exchange of old customs were grievous The King was nothing ignorant of the words that had passed between them for he stood behind a partition of the Hall and heard all the discourse He sent word therefore to Hagis and Cleo that at his coming in they should move the Strangers only to fall down and worship him after their Country custom And after a while the King as though he had been about some business of importance returned again unto the Feast and then the Persians fell down and worshipped him after such sort as was appointed but Polipercon that sate above the King at the Board asked one in scorn who prostrate touched the ground with his Chin wherefore he kissed no harder with which words he moved Alexander to so much anger being always impatient of it that he said to Polipercon Is it thou that disdainest to honour me Shall I be mocked of thee alone Polipercon answered That as it was not seemly that a King should be scorned so it was not that a Subject should be despised At which words the King plucked him from the Table and throwing him down he said unto him falling upon the earth Lo hast thou not done that thy self which before thou didst scorn in another man And thereupon he commanded him to custody and so brake up the Feast Polipercon being thus punished was afterwards pardoned but Calistenes whose contempt and stubbornness the King had long grudged at found that the King had more deeply grounded his displeasure on whom there chanced shortly after an apt occasion for revenge It was a Custom as it hath been said before amongst the Noble-men of Macedon to put their Sons when they were past their Childhood in service to the King as Pages to do necessary business about his person Their usage was to watch nightly by course at the Chamber-door where the King lay The Concubines were by them brought in at another door where the Guard watched They likewise received the Horses of the Grooms
reward was truly given them And the rule of the Rock with the Countrey thereabouts was committed to Sisocostus he himself going forwards with his Army from thence to Echâ—lima Alexander understanding that certain straights through the which he should pass were kept by one Erix with twenty thousand armed men he committed that part of his Army that were heavy laden to Cenon to be brought on by soft journeys and going before in person with the Slingers and Archers he put his Enemies to flight making the way clear for his Army to pass that followed after The Indians whether it were for the hatred they did bear unto their Captain or else to get the favour of the Conquerour killed Erix as he fled away and brought his head and his armour unto Alexander He considering the foulness of the act would not honour the doers for their example sake nor punish them because they served his purpose From thence by sixteen encampings he came to that part of the River called Indus where Ephestion had prepared all things in such sort as he had commission One Omphis was King of that Countrey who before had perswaded his Father to submit himself unto Alexander and immediately upon his Fathers death sent Embassadors unto him to know his pleasure whether he should take upon him as a King before his coming or else live privately in the mean season And although he was permitted to govern as a King yet he would not use the authority granted him until the King came He had caused Ephestion to be received in the best sort he could devise but notwithstanding he had not visited him because he would not commit his person to any mans fidelity but to the Kings When he understood of Alexanders coming he went towards him with his whole Power whose Elephants by small distances mixed in Battel amongst his Footmen shewed afar off like Castles At the first Alexander did not take him a Friend but as an Enemy and therefore set his Men in order of Battel and his Horsemen in wings in readiness to Fight When Omphis understood the errour of the Macedons he commanded his men to stay and putting his spurs to his Horse he rode forwards alone Alexander did the like not questioning whether he were a Friend or an Enemy but thought himself secure either through his own manhood or the others fidelity Their meeting as it appeared by their countenances was very friendly but for want of an Interpreter they could not speak together therefore after they had called one unto them the Indian King declared unto Alexander that the cause he met him with an Army was to put immediately his whole power into his hands and tarried not to intreat for any assurance by Messengers but upon trust only had committed both his Person and his Kingdom to him whom he knew to make War for the winning of Glory and Fame and therefore could not fear in him any perfidiousness Alexander rejoyced to see his simplicity and proffered him his right hand as a pledge of his promise and restored unto him again his Kingdom He presented unto Alexander fifty and six Elephants with many other Beasts of exceeding greatness and three thousand Bulls which is a Cattel of great value in those Countries and mâ—â—h esteemed by Kings Alexander enquired of 〈◊〉 whether he had under his Dominion more Souldiers 〈…〉 of the ground He answered that he was driven of necessity to have more Souldiers because he was at War with two Kings whose Kingdoms lay beyond the River of Hydaspis their names were Abiasares and Porus but the authority remained in Porus. He said that he was prepared and resolved to adventure the hazard of the Battel with such of them as should invade him first Hereupon Alexander granted unto Omphis both to take upon him the Diadem and the name of his Father that was called Taxiles the custom of the Countrey being such that the Name ever followed the Kingdom whosoever enjoyed it When he had received Alexander honourably in hospitality three days the fourth day he declared how much Corn he had delivered to Ephestion and to his Army presenting to the King and to all his Friends Crowns of Gold and besides of Coined Silver fourscore talents Alexander rejoyced so much in his good will that he both returned again to him his Gifts and gave him besides a thousand Talents of the spoil he brought with him with much Plate of gold and silver many garments after the Persian manner and thirty of his own Horses with the same furniture they did wear when he did ride upon them which liberality as it obliged Omphis so it greatly offended the minde of the Macedons For Meleager at Supper when he had well drunk said He was very glad that Alexander had yet found one in India whom he judged worthy to receive the Gift of a thousand Talents The King bearing in minde how much he had repented the slaying of Clitus for the rashness of his tongue refrained his anger but yet told him That envious men were ever Tormentors to themselves The next day the Embassadors of King Abiasares came unto Alexander who according to their Commission offered all things unto his will whereupon assurance being confirmed they returned again to their Master Alexander therefore thinking that through the greatness of his name Porus might be brought to do the like sent Cleochares to him to demand tribute and to summon him to come and do homage when he should enter the bounds of his Kingdom Porus made answer That of those two requests he would perform one which was to meet him at the entry of his Kingdom but that should be in Arms and with a Power Alexander therefore being determined to pass the River of Hydaspis Burzantes that had been Author of the Rebellion amongst the Arachosians was taken and brought to him bound with thirty Elephants an apt assistance against the Indians that are wont to put more trust in those beasts than in the trust of their own Nation Gamaxus King of a small portion oâ— India which had confederated with Barzantes was brought likewise bound unto him Wherefore committing them both to prison and the Elephants to Omphis he came unto the River of Hydaspis But Porus lay encamped on the further side to hinder his passage having fourscore and â—ive Elephants of huge strength oâ— body three hundred Waggons of War thirty thousand â—ootmen amongst whom there were many Archers whose shafâ—s as hath been said before were more heavy than they could wield Porus himself did ride upon an Elephant greater than all the rest who also being of a big stature appeared notable in his Armour that was garnished with gold and silver having also a courage equal to the strength of his body and so great a wisdom as was possible to be found amongst so rude a Nation The Macedons were not so much afraid with the sight of their Enemies as they were with the greatness of the River they had to
of the Sun and the plenty of Springs keeping the ground moist there were also many Serpents seen whose Scales glistered like gold There was nothing more dangerous then the poyson proceeding from them for immediately upon the stinging death followed until such time as the Inhabitants of the Country shewed a remedy From thence through Desarts they came unto the great River Hidraores whereunto there joyned a great Wood which having such Trees as are not wont to be seen in other places was also full of wilde Peacocks Alexander removing his Camp from thence took a Town by assault and taking Hostages appointed them to pay Tribute After that he came to a great City builded after the manner of that Country which was both well walled and also invironed about with a deep Moat The Inhabitants came forth against Alexander and joyning their Chariots together in a front wherein their Custom was to fight they proffered him Battel Some used Darts some Spears and other Pole-axes and with great agility leaped to and from their Chariots when either they found an advantage to invade their Enemies or else would rescue their Fellows that were in distress This unwonted kinde of fighting put the Macedons at the first in a fear especially being hurt afar off by their Enemies and not able to come to fight with them hand to hand But after they had considered their disordered manner they esteemed not their force but inclosed their Enemies about and thrust their horses in with pikes and the sooner to defeat them they cut the Traces wherewith the Chariots were tyed to separate them asunder When they had after that manner lost eight hundred of their men they fled again into the City which the next day the Macedons did win by assault Some there were that saved themselves by flying who seeing the City lost swam over the water and filled all the Towns thereabout with fear They declared of what invincible force their Enemies were judging them in respect of their power rather to be gods then mortal men When Alexander had gotten that City he sent Perdicas with a part of his Army to destroy the Country and committing another part to Eumenes for the subduing of such as would not submit he with the rest of his power came unto a strong City to which many of the Inhabitants of the Country fled Notwithstanding that they sent to Alexander for peace yet they prepared nevertheless for the war by reason of a Sedition which rose amongst them which made them to be of divers Opinions some would rather have indured any extremity then yield and others thought they were not able to make resistance and whilest they differed so in Opinions and had no common consultation amongst themselves such as held Opinion to yield up the City opened the Gates and received in their Enemies And notwithstanding that Alexander had just cause of displeasure against the contrary Faction yet he pardoned them all and receiving their Hostages removed towards the next City When the Indians that stood upon the walls beheld the Hostages that were brought before the Army and perceived them to be of the same Nation they desired communication with them who declaring both the Kings Clemency and his Force it did move them to deliver up their City whose example the rest of the Cities did follow From thence he came into the Kingdom of the Sophites who are a Nation as the Indians think most excelling in wisdom best governed and who have the most civil Conversations amongst them The Children that are there begotten are not nourished and brought up according to the will of their Parents but by the order of such who have the charge committed unto them to view the state of the Infants If they perceive any not apt to become active or else wanting any of their limbs they cause them straightways to be killed They use to Marry without respect of Kindred they come of or greatness of Parentage making no choice but in the shape of the body which is the thing only esteemed amongst them The King himself was in the Chief City of that Country against which Alexander brought his power The Gates were shut and no man appeared in Arms upon the walls to make any defence wherefore he stood in doubt a great while whether the City was abandoned or whether the Inhabitants had kept themselves secret for some policy While he remained in that expectation suddenly the Gate was opened and the King who in goodliness of person excelled all the rest came forth with his two Sons He did wear a garment of gold and Purple impaled that covered the Calf of his leg the Sandals he did wear on his feet were set with precious stones All his arms were garnished with Pearls and he had hanging at his ears two precious stones which were excellent both for bigness and brightness he had in his hand a Scepter of gold set with precious stones called Berilli which after his salutation made with humble submission he delivered unto Alexander yielding both himself his Children and his Kingdom into his hands There were in that Country notable Dogs for the hunting of wilde Beasts but above all most eager on the Lyon the King therefore to shew their force and quality unto Alexander put four of them to a great Lyon who straightway took hold of him Then one who was accustomed to that Office took one of those Dogs by the Leg to pluck him off from the Lyon and because he would not lose his hold he cut off his Leg with a Sword but when the Dog hung nevertheless upon the Lyon he was cut in sunder by pieces till such time as he died having his teeth still fastened in the Lyons flesh such an eagerness had Nature wrought in those Creatures as it is committed unto memory In the compiling of this History sometimes I am inforced to write things that I can scarcely believe for I neither dare affirm the things whereof I doubt nor conceal such things as I have received for truth Alexander leaving this King within his own Kingdom came unto the River of Hydaspis and there joyned with Ephestion who had subdued the Country thereabouts One Phegelas was King of the next Nation who commanding his Subjects to continue the tilling of the ground as they were wont to do met Alexander with rich Presents refusing nothing that was commanded him When he had tarried with him two days and was determined the third day to have passed the River he found therein great difficulty by reason that the stream was so large and full of great stones He stayed therefore a while to be more fully advertised of the state of those Countries and of all such things as were necessary for him to know He understood by Phegelas how beyond that River there lay a Desart of ten days journey and next to that Desart the River of Ganges which was the greatest River in all the Orient He declared to him that beyond Ganges
there inhabited two Nations called Gangaridans and Pharasians whose King was called Aggramenes who used to come to the Field with twenty thousand Horsemen two hundred thousand Footmen two thousand armed Waggons and three thousand Elephants which were counted of all to be the greatest terrour These things seemed incredible unto Alexander and therefore he inquired of Porus if the things were true that had been told him He confirmed Phegelas report concerning the force of the Nation but he said their King was not descended of Noble Blood but of the basest of men his Father being a Barber who with great pain did get his daily bread until he came in favour with the Queen who preferred him to the King her Husband who was afterwards slain by his Treason Then he under a pretence to become Tutor unto the Children usurped the Kingdom to himself and putting the Children to death did beget him that was now King being in hatred and disgrace with the people as one that followed more the manners of his Fathers former Estate then such as did be seem the Dignity of a Prince When Alexander heard Porus affirm this he was in great trouble of minde not that he regarded the multitude of his Enemies or the force of their Elephants but the greatness of the Rivers and the scituation of the Country so difficult to enter He thought it a hand Enterprise to seek out Nations so far inhabiting the uttermost bounds of the World Yet on the other side the greediness of glory and the unsatiable desire of Fame made no place seem too far nor any Adventure to be over-hard He doubted also that the Macedons who had passed so many Countries and were grown old in war would not be content to follow him over so many Rivers and against so many difficulties of Nature lying in their way For he judged that since they abounded and were laden so with Spoil they would rather seek to injoy such things as they had got then to travel any further to purchase more He could not think the same desire to be in his Souldiers that was in himself for he compassed in his minde how to get the Empire of the whole world into which he had but yet made his entry whereas they wearied with travel and thinking to have past all peril looked to injoy with speed the fruit of all their labour Yet for all that his desire at last overcame his Reason so that assembling his Army together he spake unto them after this manner I am not ignorant my Souldiers how that there are now many rumours spread amongst you by the Indians purposely to bring you in fear but the vanity of their lying is not so new a thing that it is able any more to deceive you The Persians after that manner would have made the Streights of Cilicia and the Plains of Mesopotamia terrible unto you yea and put you in fear of the Rivers of Tygris and Euphrates and yet we waded over one of them and passed the other by a Bridge Fame never reporteth things truly but maketh them to be greater then indeed they are Even our Glory though it be grown to a certain perfection yet it is more in Fame then in effect Which of you of late did think that you should have been able to endure the Elephants shewing afar off like Castles Who thought I could have passed the River of Hydaspis when it was reported to be much greater then it was We should long ago my Souldiers have fled out of Asia if Tales could have caused us to turn our backs Think you that the Flocks of Elephants to be greater then the Herds of Beasts you have seen in other places seeing they are so rare in the world so strange to be taken and so much difficulty in the making of them tame The same vanity that hath reported them to you to be of such numbers hath numbred also the Horsemen and the Footmen of your Adversaries Concerning the Rivers the more broad they are the more gently they do run for such as are narrow and of small breadth are always most violent in their course where contrariwise the broad Rivers pass their course more mildly But you will peradventure say that all the peril is at the landing where your Enemies shall wait for your arrival Whatsoever the River be the hazard is all one at the shore But imagine that all these things were true whether is it the greatness of the Beasts or the multitude of the men that putteth you in fear As concerning the Elephants we have had experience of them of late how more violently they rage against their own party then against us Why should we fear them but only make less the greatness of their bodies with such weapons as we have prepared for the purpose What matter is it whether they are of the like number that Porus had or whether they are three thousand seeing we perceive that when two or three are wounded the rest begin to fly away And forasmuch as they cannot well be governed when they are but few when there are so many thousands together they must needs be an impediment one to another and breed a confusion amongst themselves they are so unwieldy by reason of their huge bodies that they be neither apt to pass forwards nor yet to fly I have always so little esteemed them that when I have had plenty of them I would never use them knowing very well that they are more dangerous to such as imploy them then to their Enemies But peradventure it is the multitude of their Horsemen and Footmen that move you Were you never wont to fight against such numbers or is it the first time you have encountred with disordered multitudes The River of Granike is a witness how invincible the power of the Macedons is against any multitude and so is Cilicia that flowed with the Persians blood and Arbella whose Plains are strowed with their bones You too late begin to number the Legions of your Enemies after that with your Victories you have made Asia a Wilderness When you passed over the Hellespont you should then have considered your small numbers Now the Scythians do follow us we have did at hand from the Bactrians and we supply our power with the Sogdians yet for all that it is not these men in whom I put my confidence I have a regard unto your force I reserve your manhood about me as a Pledge and assurance of my atchievements So long as I stand in the field amongst you I will neither weigh my self nor mine Enemies do you but shew an appearance that there is hope in you and chearfulness We are not newly entred into our travels but have passed all our labours being come unto the rising of the Sun and to the Ocean Sea except our own sloth be our impediment from thence having subdued the world we shall return Conquerours into our Country Do not you as those negligent Husbandmen that lose their
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
it marched with so great a speed For every man thought so much to further his own safety by how much he made haste to get before his fellows Such as fainted and could not follow desired both such as they knew and knew not to help them forwards but they had no Beasts whereupon to set them and the Souldiers who had the imminent mischief that fell upon other men represented before their own eyes could hardly bear their own Arms wherefore when they were called upon they would not vouchsafe once to look back fear had so taken away all compassion from them Then they who were left behinde cried upon the gods and their King for help alledging That they were all of one Country and Religion which was a Band for one to relieve another But when they had cried long in vain unto their deaf ears through desperation they raged wishing the like end to their Friends and Companions which they themselves endured The King possessed both with sorrow and shame because he and none else should be the cause of so great a destruction amongst his men did write to Phrataphernes Ruler of the Parthenians to send to him upon Camels Victuals ready to be eaten and certified the Princes of the Countries round thereabout of his necessity who did slack no time but made provision according to his will Thus his Army delivered only from Famine was brought within the bounds of the Gedrosians and forasmuch as the same was a Country fertile of all things he thought good to stay there a while with rest to recover again his feeble Souldiers There he received Letters from Leonatus that he had won the Victory of the Horitans who encountred him with eight thousand Footmen and five hundred Horsemen He was advertized from Craterus That he had taken and put in hold Ozines and Zariaspes two Noble-men of Persia who went about to rebel Alexander also understanding that Memnon was dead gave the charge of the Country whereof he had the rule unto Siburtius and afterwards marched into Carmania Aspastes was Governour of that Nation who being suspected of Innovation whiles Alexander was in India met him on the way But Alexander dissembling his wrath entertained him gently and gave unto him his accustomed honour till such time as he had better proof of the accusation which was laid against him When the Princes of India according to his appointment had sent out from all their Countries great plenty of Horses and other Beasts both for Saddle and Draught he gave Carriage again to all men that wanted and restored their Armour to the former beautifulness and excellency for they were come into a Country joyning upon Persia which was both abundant in all things and also quietly established under his subjection He thought it then a time to counterfeit Bacchus in the glory and fame which he got amongst those Nations Whether it were a Triumph that Bacchus first instituted or a pastime used of him in drunkenness Alexander was determined to counterfeit his Acts having his minde elevated above the estate of man He commanded therefore all the Villages through the which he was to pass to be strewed with Flowers and Garlands and Wine to be set forth at every mans door for all men that would drink He caused Waggons also to be made of largeness able to carry great numbers and decked the same with precious Furniture The King went foremost with his Friends and next to them his Guard wearing upon their heads Garlands of Flowers some playing upon Flutes some upon Harps every one generally through the Army adorned his Chariot according to his ability and substance and consuming the whole day in Banquetting did hang their rich Armour beside them Alexander with such as he called to his Company was carried in a Chariot laden with Cups of Gold and other golden Vessels and with his drunken Army he marched thus seven days together in ostentation of the prey they had gotten wherein they shewed such dissoluteness that if one thousand of the subdued people had given them the onset they might have taken them Prisoners and led them away in triumph But Fortune which hath appointed both Fame and Estimation to things turned all this disorder unto his Glory for both the Age that was then and the Posterity that came after marvelled and took it for a wonder that he durst go so dissolutely among those Nations not yet established under his Empire the barbarous People reputing his Rashness for an assured Confidence But shedding of bloud ensued after this Triumph For Prince Aspastis spoken of before was commanded to be put to death So that his excess in Voluptuousness was no let unto his Cruelty nor his Cruelty an impediment to his Voluptuousness THE TENTH BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon ABout the same time Cleander Sitacles Agathon and Heracon who by the Kings appointment had put Parmenio to death returned to him bringing with them five thousand Footmen and a thousand Horsemen There were many Accusers that followed them out of the Province whereof they had the Governance their behaviour being such that the acceptable service they had done to Alexander in killing of Parmenio could be no satisfaction for the multitude of offences they had committed They used such an universal spoil not abstaining from Temples nor from consecrated things The Virgins also and great Ladies of the Country whom they had ravished complained of them lamenting the shame they had sustained They used such Covetousness and inordinate Lust in their Authority that it caused the name of the Macedons to be hated amongst those Nations And yet among all the rest Cleanders offence was most horrible who ravishing a Virgin of Noble Parentage gave her to his Slave to use as his Concubine The greater part of Alexander Friends were not so much offended with their cruelty and foul acts whereof they were accused as with Parmenio his death which they kept in silence lest the rehearsal thereof might have procured them favour with the King rejoycing that the Kings Justice was fallen upon the Ministers of his Wrath and that no Power or Authority gotten by evil means could have any long continuance Alexander hearing the Cause said that the Accusers overslipt the greatest Offence which was the despair of his own safety for if they had either hoped or believed that he should ever have returned out of India they durst never he said have committed any such hainous offences He commanded them therefore to prison and six hundred Souldiers to death who had been the Ministers of their cruelty and they also were executed the same day whom Craterus had brought as Authors of the Rellellion out of Persia Within a while after Nearchus and Onesicritus who had been commanded by the King to search the Ocean-sea returned to him declaring some Discoveries by knowledge and some by report They shewed him of an Island not far from the mouth of Indus which abounded
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
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
the Mountains whereby men might get to the furthermost side 〈◊〉 the chief City of that Country and if he woâ—â— send but a sew that were light armed they miâ—t be brought to a place where they should appear above their enemies heads This counsel liked him so well that he made these Counsellours Guides for his Army and committed them to Tauron whom he appointed chief of the Enterprize He assigned unto him fifteen hundred mercenary Souldiers and one thousand Agrians with whom after the Sun was gone down he entred into his journey Alexander in thâ— third watch removed his Camp and by the Spring of the day had passed the Streights there he set his men in hand for the cutting down of Timber for making of Towers and all such other things as pertained to the assault of a City and so begâ—n his siege It was a difficult matter to make the aproach the City stood â—o high and the Rocks gave such impediment that the Souldiers were repuled and received many hurts contending both wth the Enemies and the scituation of the placâ— notwithstanding they gave it not over by reasn the King was always amongst the foremost aking if they were not ashamed being the Conqurours of so many Cities to be so long in the â—â—nning of a small Castle that was so obscure and unknown in the world As he was travelling amâ—gst the foremost with Darts and Arrows they â—ade many a shot at him from the walls but the â—ouldiers defended him with their Targets becauâ—â— they could not perswade him thence At lengtâ— Tauron appeared above the Castle of the City a whose sight his Enemies hearts fainted and 〈◊〉 Macedons more 〈◊〉 did assail them When 〈◊〉 saw themselves in this extremity and perceive their power not able to withstand the Maceas they became to divers dispositions For some were determined to die and many to fly away But the greater part retired themselves into the Castle from whence they sent unto Alexander thirty Embassadours to ask mercy But he returned a sad answer to them that there was no pardon to be obtained at his hands whereupon they being in the utmost danger of death and excluded from all other remedies sent unto Sisigambis by a privy way unknown to their Enemies making their request that she should vouchsafe to be a means to Alexander for the pacifying of his rigour towards them In her only they put their hope knowing how much Alexander loved her and that he esteemed her as if she had been his mother And they thought she would the rather incline to their desire because Madates that was Captain there had married her sisters Daughter whereby he became a Kinsman to Darius Sisigambis stood long in denial of their request shewing that it agreed not with her fortune to become an intercessour for others adding thereunto that she feared lest she might misuse his favours and make him weary of her importunities for she said that she had more remembrance that she was a prisoner then that she was a Queen But at length she was overcome with their solicitations and by her Letters made intercession unto Alexander after such sort that she first excused her self of her sute making and after required him that he would pardon them or at the leastwise that he would forgive her being Petitioner only for the life of such a one as was her Friend and Kinsman and now no longer an enemy but in readiness to submit himself This one thing is sufficient to declare the moderation and clemency that was then in Alexander for he did not only pardon Madates but also left the City untouched granting to all that were within it their liberty with enjoyment of their Lands and Goods without paying of any tribute More then this she could not have obtained of Darius being her Son When he had thus subdued the Vxians he united them to the Province of Susa and purposing to pass forwards he divided his Army into two parts whereof he committed the one to Parmenio to be conducted through the plain Country and reserving such a part as was pestered least with baggage he took the way of the Mountains which with a continual ridge runneth out in length from thence into Persia In his passage he plundered all the Mountain-Country and arrived the third day in the confines of Persia The fifth day he entred into the Streights of Pylae Susiae which were defended by Ariobarzanes with fifteen thousand Footmen who on the tops of the high and steep Rocks that hung over on both sides the way at the first kept themselves quiet on purpose pretending a fear until such time as the Army was entred into the narrowest of the Streights But when they saw the Macedons pass on forwards in contempt of them then they threw down great stones upon them which falling upon the undermost Rocks and there breaking in pieces rebounded amongst the Macedons falling with such violence that they distressed whole Regiments at once And besides this they did them great damage with shot of Arrows and Stones that they casted out of Slings Such as were men of courage were not so much grieved with the death and destruction that they saw there present as that they should be slain after such a manner like beasts caught in a pit whereas they could not be revenged upon their Enemies Their wrath hereupon was turned into such a rage that they ran up against the Rocks and there enforced themselves by taking hold and by heaving up of one another to mount up unto their Enemies But when they had caught hold of some outward part and thereby laboured to ascend by force of so many hands that fastened to it at once they pulled in sunder the thing they held by and fell down all together In this case they could neither remain go forwards nor yet defend themselves by any device they could make with their Targets seeing the stones were of such weight that were thrown down upon them Alexander was in great trouble of minde not only for the grief he received by the destruction of his men but much more for the shame that he had so rashly brought his men into such a dangerous straight He had been invincible before that day and never attempted any thing in vain He had passed the Streights of Cilicia without damage and opened to himself a new way by Sea into Pamphilia which felicity of his seemed to be now at a stay if not to retreat for he could perceive no other remedy then to return by the way he came He caused the retreat therefore to be sounded and gave order to his Souldiers to go close together and by casting their Targets over their heads to return the same way they came having then marched thirty Furlongs within the Straight When he returned and had planted his Camp in an open ground consulting what was best to do such a superstition invaded his minde that he called for the Priests and Diviners to help the matter
parties fortune as it were of purpose bringing such valiant men to fight together neither of them prevailing upon other But the streightness of the place where they fought did not suffer them to joyn with their whole force at once for more were beholders then fighters and such as stood without danger encouraged the others with their cry At length the Lacedemonians began to faint and scarcely able for sweating to sustain their Armour began to draw back to have the more liberty to flee from their Enemies that pressed sore upon them When they were once broken and scattered abroadâ— the Conquerours pursued after and passing the place whereupon the Lacedemonians Battel was first arranged made a sore pursuit upon Agis who seeing his men flying and his Enemies approach at hand willed his men to set him down where stretching himself to feel if the force of his body could answer unto his heart when he found himself unable to stand remaining upon his knees put on his Helmet and covering his body with his Target shaked his Spear and provoked his enemies to draw near if any were desirous of his spoil but there was not one that pressed near him but did cast Darts afar off which he always took and threw at his Enemies again till such time as he was thrust into the bare breast with a Spear But when the same was pulled out of the wound he fainted and bowing himself upon his Target shortly after fell down dead blood and life failing both together There were slain of the Lacedemonians 5340 and of the Macedonians not above three hundred but there was scarcely any of them that escaped unwounded This Victory not only brake the hearts of the Lacedemonians and of their Confederates but also of others who lay in wait looking for the success of that War Antipater was not ignorant how the countenances of such as did gratifie his Victory differed much from the intents of their hearts but desirous to finish the Wars that were begun he perceived it necessary for him to dissemble and suffer himself to be deceived And though he rejoyced much in the Fortune of the Battel yet he feared the envy that might ensue thereof it being a greater matter then the Estate of a Lieutenant did bear For Alexander was of such a nature that he desired his Enemies had won the Victory shewing manifestly that he was not contented with Antipaters good success thinking that whatsoever chanced to another man was a derogation to his own glory Antipater therefore who knew full well his stomack durst not use the Victory according to his will but assembled a Councel of Greeks to advise what they thought expedient The Lacedemonians made no other request but that they might send Embassadours to Alexander who upon their Address to him and their suit made obtained a General Pardon for all men saving for such as were the Authors of the Rebellion The Megapolitans whose City did abide the Siege were compelled to pay as a Fine for their Rebellion twenty Talents to the Athenians and the Aetolians This was the end of the War which being suddenly begun was ended before Alexander had overthrown Darius at Arbella As soon as his minde was delivered of those present cares as one that could bear better the wars then quietness he gave himself up to pleasures by the vices whereof he was overcome whom no power of the Persians or any other were able to subdue He was given to banqueting out of season and to a fond delight of drinking and watching in Plays amongst Flocks of Concubines that drew him into strange manners and customes which he following as things more pleasing then his Country Customes offended thereby greatly both the eyes and the hearts of his Nation and caused many that loved him before entirely to hate him then as an Enemy For the Macedons that were obstinate in keeping their own Discipline and unaccustomed to be curious being so penurious in their Diet as might suffice Nature only when they saw him go about to bring in amongst them the Vices of those Nations which they had subdued Conspiracies began to be made against him Mutinies arose amongst the Souldiers and every one complaining to another freely uttered their griefs whereby he was provoked to wrath to suspition and sudden fear Divers other inconveniencies insuing thereupon which shall be declared hereafter Alexander being given as hath been said before to unreasonable banqueting wherein he consumed both day and night when he was satisfied with eating and drinking he passed the rest of the time in Plays and Pastimes And not contented with such Musitians as he brought out of Greece caused the Women that were Captives to sing before him such Songs as abhorred the ears of the Macedons not accustomed to such things Amongst those Women Alexander espied one more sad then the rest who with a certain shamefac'dness did strive with them that brought her forth She was of excellent Beauty and by her Modesty her Beauty was much augmented And because she did cast her eyes towards the earth and covered her face so much as she might she gave suspition for him to think that she was descended of Noble Parentage And therefore being demanded what she was she shewed her self to be the Niâ—ce of Occhus that lately reigned in Persia and the Wife of Histaspis who was Darius Kinsman and had been his Lieutenant over many great Armies There yet remained in the Kings heart some small sparks of his former Vertue for in respect of her Estate being descended of the Blood of Kings and in Reverence he bare to such a Name as the Niece of Occhus he commanded her not only to be set free but also to be restored to her Goods and her Husband whom he willed to be sought out The next day he appointed Ephestion to bring all the prisoners to the Court where inquiring of the Nobility of every one he commanded them who were descended of Noble Blood to be severed from the rest amongst whom they found Oxatres Brother to Darius that was no less Noble of minde then of blood There were made of the last spoil twenty six thousand Talents whereof twelve thousand were consumed in rewards amongst the Men of War and the sum amounted to no less value that was conveyed away by them that had the keeping thereof There was one Oxidates a Noble-man of Persia that was imprisoned by Darius and appointed to suffer death whom Alexander delivered and gave unto him the Seignory of Media and received Darius Brother amongst the number of his Friends reserving to him all the accustomed honour of his Nobility Then they came to the Country of Parthenia being then but obscure and unknown but now the Head of all those Countries which lye upon Tygris and Euphrates and bounded with the Red Sea This Country being fruitful and abundant in all things was conquered by the Scythians who possessing part of Asia and Europe are troublesome Neighbours to them both The Scythians