nor keep themselves within the compass of the Court but ran 〈◊〉 as men out of their wits whereby their City 〈◊〉 filled with sighs and tears and no kinde of lamâ—â—â—ation pretermitted that sorrow is accustomed 〈◊〉 administer in such a case Such therefore as were without the Court as well Macedons as others câ—me running thither where the Conquerours from the conquered could not be discerned so equal and mutual was their sorrow The Persians called upon their just and merciful Lord and the Macedons made invocation unto him that was so just and gracious a King and thus there was a certain contention among them They did not only use the words of grief and heaviness but also of murmuring and indignation that so young a Prince being in the flower of his age and so fortunate in success should by the envy of the gods be so taken out of this world They called to remembrance what a chearfulness they had always seen in his countenance both when he led them to the Battel or when he besieged or assaulted any City or when he would give any commendation to the Valiant in any Assembly Then the Macedons repented that ever they had denied him divine honour confessing themselves both wicked and ungrateful in depriving him of any name whereof he was worthy And when they had continued long in the veneration and desire of him that was dead they began to lament their own condition who coming out of Macedon were beyond the River Euphrates amongst the middest of their Enemies who unwillingly received their new Government They saw themselves left destitute and the Empire without any certain Heir for want of whom every one would go about to draw the Power of the State into his own private interest Then they began to conceive and foresee the Civil Wars that did ensue and that they should be inforced to shed their bloud again not for the Conquest of Asia but for the Title of some such a one as would go about to make himself King Moreover that such who by reason of their age had been discharged from the Wars by their noble and righteous King should now be inforced to spend their lives in the quarrel of one who was but his Souldier Whiles they were in these imaginations the night came on and increased their terrour The men of War watched in their Arms and the Babylonians looked over the Walls peeping out from the tops of their houses to discover some certainty how the Affairs passed There was not one that durst kindle any light and because the use of the eye did fail they laid their ears to hear the rumour and words that were spoken and many times they were afraid when no cause of fear was and when they met together in the narrow streets or dark lanes they would be amazed and suspect each other as enemies The Persians after their accustomed manner cut short their hair and with their Wives and Children lamented the death of Alexander in mourning Garments with unfeigned affection not as a Conquerour or one that lately had been their Enemy but as their right and natural King for they being accustomed to live under a King could think no man more worthy then himself to rule over them This sorrow was not contained within the walls of the City but straightways it spread over all the Country thereabouts And the Fame of so great a mischief flying throughout Asia brought early tidings thereof unto Darius Mother She at the first report did tear asunder the garment she did wear and putting on mourning apparel she pulled her hair and fell down groveling upon the earth One of her Neeces sate by her mourning for the death of Ephestion who not long before had married her and in an universal heaviness bewailed the cause of her private sorrow but Sisigambis alone sustained all their miseries and bewailed both her own condition and her Neeces her fresh sorrow causing her to call to minde things past A man would have judged by her behaviour that Darius had been newly slain or that she had now celebrated the Funerals of two Sons together She did not only lament the dead but sorrowed also for the living Who shall now said she take care of these young Women Or who can be like unto Alexander Now we are taken Prisoners again We are newly fallen again from our Dignity and Estate After Darius death we found one to defend us but now since Alexander is gone who will have respect unto us Among these things she called to minde how Occhus the cruel King had slain her Father and four-score of her Brethren in one day and that of six Children born of her Body there was but one of them left alive She saw that Fortune had advanced Darius and caused him to flourish 〈…〉 to the intent she might end his life by 〈…〉 Finally she was so overcome with sorrow that 〈◊〉 covered her head turning her self from 〈…〉 and Nephew that sate at her feet and abstaining both from meat and from beholding the light 〈◊〉 ended her life the fifth day after she was determined to die This her death was a great argument of the clemency which Alexander had shew'd towards her and of his justice towards all the Captives seeing that after Darius death she could not endure to live but after Alexanders departure she was ashamed to continue any longer Consider Alexander justly and we must impute all his Vertues to his own nature and his Vices either to his youth or to the greatness of his Fortune there was in him an incredible force of Courage and an exceeding sufferance of Travel he was endued with manhood excelling not only Kings but also such as had no other vertue or quality he was of such liberality that oftentimes he gave greater things than the Receivers would have wished for of God The multude of Kingdoms that he gave in Gift and restored to such from whom he had taken them by force was a token of his Clemency towards them whom he had subdued He shewed a perpetual contempt of Death the fear whereof doth amaze other men And as there was in him a greater desire of Glory and worldly Praise than reason would admit so it was tolerable in so young a man performing so great and wonderful Atchievements The reverence and affection he bare towards his Parents appeared in the purpose he had to consecrate his Mother Olympias to immortality and in that he so strictly revenged his Father Philips death How gentle was he towards his Friends and how benevolent towards his Souldiers He had a wisdom equal to the greatness of his heart and such a policy and foresight as so young years were scarcely able to receive A measure he had in immoderate pleasures and lusted less than Nature desired using no pleasure but what was lawful These indeed were wonderful great Gifts and Vertues but in that he compared himself to the gods coveting divine honours and believing the Oracles that perswaded such
ships the Watchmen drew the Chain again over the Haven and then called up such as lay near about them whereupon none of them durst resist but were all taken prisoners and delivered to Amphiterus and Egilocus From thence the Macedons passed to Mytelene which was kept by Chares of Athens with a Garrison of two thousand Persians but when he was not able to endure the Siege he yeilded up the City on composition to have their lives saved and to depart to Imbross Darius despairing of peace which he thought to have obtained by his Letters and Embassadours gave his minde to Muster a new Army and freshly to renew the War Therefore he commanded the Captains and Rulers of his men to have a Rendevouze at Babylon and that Bessus Governour of the Bactrians should come thither with all the power he could make The Bactrians are the most hardy people among those Nations rough men and much abhorring the delicateness of the Persians For by reason that they border upon the Scythians which is a Warlike Nation they are accustomed to live by spoil and are conversant continually in Arms But Bessus who was suspected of Treason affecting the Kingdom and who would not be content with a second place put Darius in great jealousies who having an inkling that he aspired to be King feared his Treason Bessus having no other way but by that to bring his purpose to pass Alexander wrought all the ways he could to obtain knowledge where Darius was and into what Country he was gone and yet could not get any intelligence by reason of a Custom amongst the Persians who are accustomed with a marvellous fidelity to keep close their Princes secrets in the uttering whereof neither fear of death nor hope of reward can cause them to bring forth a word This was an Ancient Discipline which the Kings there used among their Subjects in punishing with loss of life the lavishness of the tongue which is there more grievously chastised then any other crime Nor is there in those parts any Vertue looked for at any mans hands who hath not the gift of secresie whereof Nature hath given a facility in man This was the cause that Alexander was ignorant of all things that his Enemies did and therefore continued his Siege before Gaza Betis was Captain there who was a man of notable Fidelity towards his Prince and with a small Garrison defended the City that was of a large compass Wherefore Alexander perceiving the advantage of the Scituation caused many Mines to be made for the lightness of the ground covered the designe having neither Rocks nor Stones to give any impediment They began their Mines on that side where they within could not behold them and to avoid the suspition of any such work in hand he caused an approach to be made to the Walls with Towers that he had made of Timber but the ground would not serve for their carrying and removing by reason of the looseness of the Sand whereinto the Wheels sunk and was the cause that the Joynts of the Towers brake asunder About the carriage of them many were hurt and much trouble they had both in withdrawing of them and in setting them forwards When he perceived he could not prevail by that means he drew off his men for that time But the next day he environed the City round about to give an assault on every part at once and before he returned out of his Camp he made Sacrifice after his Country manner requiring the aid of the gods It chanced as he was so doing that a Raven flying by let fall a Clod which she carried in her Claws upon the Kings Head where it brake in pieces and the Raven flew unto the next Tower where her feathers were so entangled with pitch that she could not fly away but was taken by the sâ—anders thereabouts This was thought a matter worthy on which the Diviners should consult for he himself was not free from the Superstition of such things Therefore Aristander to whom he gave most credit did interpret the same to be a signe of the destruction of that City but yet there was some peril he said appearing towards the Kings person for which cause he perswaded Alexander that he should not go about any exercise that day Though it grieved him much that one City should be a stay and impediment unto him for his free passage into Egypt yet he obeyed the Prognosticators and caused all his men for that day to retire The Enemies took courage at their departure thinking fear to be the cause why they came not forwards and issuing out of the City they set upon the Rear But they were more fierce in the beginning of the skirmish then constant in the maintaining of it for when they saw the Macedons rally themselves they stayed and pursued no further Alexander hearing the Alarm and quite forgetting the peril that was prophecied unto him at his Friends request put on his Armour which he was seldom accustomed to do and resorted thither where the skirmish was most hot There he was known by a certain Arabian that was one of Darius Souldiers who took upon him a desperate enterprize to kill Alexander and therefore making his pretence to be as a Fugitive from the Persians kept his Sword secret underneath his Target and fell down on his knees before him who judging that he had fled to him for succour commanded that he should be received among his own men But the Arabian therewithal made a violent thrust at the King with his Sword which he stepping aside a little did avoid it from his throat and cut off the Arabians hand that missed of the thrust Alexander then judged that he had clean escaped the peril that should have chanced to him that day But as I think Destiny cannot be avoided for whiles he was eager in fight amongst the foremost he was shot with an Arrow which passed through his Corslet and did stick in his shoulder Philip his Physitian did pluck it out and great abundance of blood did follow whereof every man was afraid for so much as they never saw an Arrow pass so far through any Armour before But he never changed countenance nor colour but causing the blood to be â—â—enched and his wound to be wrapped up continued still in the skirmish amongst the foremost either suffering or dissembling his pain But when the blood that was stayed for the time did break out again and the wound which for the newness thereof grieved him not much began to swell and rankle as the blood waxed cold then he began to faint and fall down and was taken up by such as were next unto him and carried into his Tent. Betis that perceived this and supposing him to be slain retired unto the City with great joy and triumph But Alexanders wound being yet unhealed he caused a Mount to be cast up as high as the top of the Walls and the Walls to be cast down in divers
that they fell down dead at his feet and from that time forward none was so bold to approach so neer him but threw Darts and shot Arrows at him afar off He lay open to every mans blow and yet though with great pain defended himself upon his knees until such time as an Indian shot an Arrow at him that was two Cubits long which a little above his right thigh passed through his Corslet by reason of which wound he shed so much bloud that he let his sword fall as one at the point of death and therewith became so faint that he had not strength to pluck out the Arrow Then the Indian which had hurt him came with great joy to spoil his body but when Alexander felt his enemies hand upon him moved as it is to be thought with despite to receive an infamy to that extremity he called again his spirits that were passing away and with his sword thrust his enemy being unarmed through the body When he had thus slain three of his enemies who lay dead before him all the rest stood amazed afar off Then Alexander desiring before his last breath should fail to be killed fighting began to raise up his body upon his Target but his strength would not serve him thereunto and therefore he reached at a bough that hung over his head coveting thereby to have raised himself but his ability not suffering him he fell down again upon his knees and by a signe given with his hand challenged his enemies if any of them durst come and fight with him At the last Peucestes repulsing his enemies on another part of the walls got into the Town and coasting along came unto the place where the King was When Alexander espied him though he had no hope to live yet he took his coming for a comfort to his death and for all his feebleness began to rear up himself Then came Timeus and within a while Leonatus and after them Aristonus When it was once published amongst the Indians that Alexander was entred within the walls they left their defence in other places and came flocking thither where they fiercely assailed such as stood in defence of the Kings person Timeus after he had fought notably and received many wounds was there slain Peucestes also notwithstanding that he was stricken and wounded with their Darts yet with his Target he defended the Kings person without any regard of himself And Leonatus whiles he resisted the Indians that eagerly ran upon Alexander received so sore a blow on the neck that he fell down in a swound at the Kings feet By that time Peucestes became so feeble of his wounds that he was not able to defend him any more The last hope and refuge remained in Aristonus who also was so grievously wounded that he could not endure any longer the force of the Indians In the mean season the fame was spread amongst the Macedons that the King was slain which being a matter that should have put others in fear stirred up their hearts and made them the hardier For from that time forwards there was none that had respect of his own peril but adventured unto the wall and breaking down the same with Pickaxes entred in at the breach making slaughter of their Enemies of whom few stood at defence but fled away There was neither man nor woman nor infant spared for whomsoever they met they judged him to be the person that had hurt their King and so at length with the slaughter of the multitude their just anger was satisfied Clitarchus and Timagenes do write that Ptolomeus who afterwards became King of Egypt was present in this encounter But he himself that used not to deny any thing that stood with his own glory did put in memory how that he was then absent being imployed on another Enterprise Such a negligence was then in those who did write the Antiquities of things or such a credulity which is a fault no less than the other When Alexander was brought into his lodging the Chirurgeons cut off the stale of the shaft in such sort that they moved not the head that was within the flesh and when they saw the wound bare they perceived hooks to be on the Arrow-head so that without the destruction of his body it could not be pulled out except by incision they made the wound greater and yet in that point they feared lest blood flowing too abundantly should be an impediment unto them for the head was very great and it seemed to be entered far within his body There was one Critobulus that was very cunning and most excellent amongst the Physicians and Chirurgeons and yet in so dangerous an accident as this he was fearful and in doubt to undertake the Cure lest if any thing should chaâ—ce to the King otherwise than well whilest he remained under Cure the blame thereof might â—ight upon his head therefore when Alexander perceived by his weeping the fear he was in and that through trouble of minde he looked pale in the face he said unto him What is it that thou lookest for Or why dost thou stay in ridding me quickly out of this pain at the leastwise by death if thou canst not otherwise bring it to passâ— For seeing my wound is incurable why fearest thou that any thing should be laid to thy charge When Critobulus heard his words he either ceased or dissembled his fear and exhorted Alexander that he would suffer himself to be held while they pulled the Arrow-head that was within his flesh for the least motion he said might be hurtful unto him The King would not be held but kept his body at a stay without moving in such sort as they appointed him When they had cut the wound wider and pulled out the head there issued out such abundance of blood that the King fell in a swoon and a dimness came over his sight and he stretched out himself as one in the pangs of death Then they wrought all the means they could to stanch the blood but when they perceived it would not avail his friends began to weep and lament thinking verily there had been no way but death Notwithstanding at length he ceased his bleeding and recovering again his spirits began to know them that stood about him All that day and the night ensuing the men of War stood in arms about the Kings lodging confessing that all their lives depended upon his breath and would not remove from thence before they understood that he took some rest but when they knew that he was fallen in a sleep they returned into the Camp bringing unto the rest more certain hope of his recovery Alexander about the curing of his wound remained there seven days and understanding that a constant fame of his death was spread abroad amongst the Indians he caused two Ships to be fastened together and a Lodging to be made for him in the middest so that remaining upon the water from both sides of the land he might