bold and insolent he thought himself King indeed when he saw that he was Arbiter of his Subjects Lives and that there was nothing more to be done to place himself beyond the reach of Envy than to shed the best Blood in Macedonia The more you commend the vanity of great Ones the more are they in love with it the more Blood a Tyrant sheds the more is he desirous of shedding it Lyncestes Alexander had bin imprison'd three Years upon an Accusation of two Witnesses for conspiring against the Life of Alexander the Reason his Punishment had bin so long defer'd was because he was the first that saluted Alexander King after the death of Philip. Antipater Lyncestes his Father-in-Law was Governor of Macedonia and it seem'd very probable that the intercession of one that was Master of so flourishing a Kingdom should have suspended his execution a far longer time But Alexander would no longer hearken to Policy an insatiable desire of revenge carried him on towards his own ruin He caused therefore the Criminal to be brought forth accused only by two Persons and had him dispatch'd according to their custom The Chief of the Macedonians perceived presently that Alexander grew more cruel from day to day and began to fear for themselves They were ready to think that the Heavens provok'd by the King's vanity who dared equal himself to the Gods had inspir'd Philotas with the desire of taking away his Life However they spread this Rumor through the Army the easier to engage the Souldiers to a revolt The remembrance of Parmenio's Merit and Philotas his Misfortune who died in the flower of his Age had already excited pity in the Macedonians In the one they thought they had lost the Protector of their Liberty the Avenger of the Gods and of their Country in the other a Captain of rare Valour without whom Alexander could do nothing that was great These seditious Discourses would have forg'd a Rebellion had not the King caused his Army to march against the Arachosians Without doubt that was the only means to dissipate all ill Designs Idleness spoils the Souldiers Spirits but all these murmurs vanish at the first sound of the Trumpet Nevertheless Alexander's Conduct might well have made such brave Men desperate For having known that several highly resented Parmenio's Death he form'd them into a Body and made Leonidas their Captain ordering them to incamp separately from the rest as it were out of ignominy It was not to be feared that their seditious Discourses should have corrupted the rest of the Macedonians for as is the custom of Souldiers Martial Liberty and the joy of new Conquests would have laid their Anger and their Malice In the mean while Alexander abandon'd himself to all sorts of Vices The irregularity of his Manners increased with his Victories and his Ambition no longer curb'd by Vertue carried him to that excess of Pride as to require from the Macedonians and Persians Divine Honours I cannot but pity the weakness and vanity of this Prince Could he think the Macedonians would worship as a God one born of Philip and Olympias subject to the same Infirmities with other Men These Heroës whom Antiquity has placed in the Heavens lived in such sort that Posterity reckon'd them in the number of the Gods after their Death and if during their Life they should have required from Men Adoration and Divine Worship without doubt they would have render'd themselves despicable and ridiculous to the whole World The Sages forbore not to scoff at those false Divinities and the more enlightned Pagans have themselves laugh'd at their own Religion Alexander presum'd too much upon the Grandeur of his Actions the Persians and other strange Nations might well admire them but the Macedonians could do no more than praise his Conduct and his Courage Those that run the same danger are willing to participate with the General in the Glory of the Conflict and suffer with regret that any one should attribute to himself the honour of the Victory But if he were so intent to elevate himself above the condition of Men why was he not more diligent to gain respect from his People It is not for the Majesty of a Prince to make himself too publick if he will be ador'd he must separate himself from the Commerce of the World The old Macedonian Captains taking it ill that Alexander should publickly debase his Father's Glory scoffed at his Pride and pretended Divinity Which so incensed him that he kill'd Clitus his Nourses Son with a Javelin This great Warrier who had sav'd his Life at the Battel of Granicus suffered with regret his so outragiously attacking the Memory of Philip and abhor'd his Vanity and the enormity of his Crimes Neither was he without a Second Calisthenes who made profession of Wisdom declar'd himself more openly for as Cleo one day at Table with the chief of the Macedonians and Persians propounded to render Divine Honour to Alexander This Philosopher answered him with his usual freedom That it was not in the power of Men to make a God that they could hardly make a King and that the Persians would be their Conquerors if they followed them in their barbarous Customs The freedom that Polypercon took was yet greater who seeing a Persian worshipping the King began to laugh and throwing him upon his Face bad him bow lower All these Scoffs tended to the diminution of Alexander's Glory How then could he expect Divine Honour from those that so much contemn'd him For this he must have chang'd the form of Government have made himself absolute Monarch of the Empire have usurp'd the Macedonian Freedom have bin Arbiter of their Lives and Fortunes have dispatch'd his Nobles and have kept such a distance between himself and his Subjects as might have made him seem quite different from what he was But if the horror of so great an Impiety or the necessity he then had for his Captains permitted him not to arrive to that excess of Cruelty it concern'd his prudence and wisdom to moderate his Ambition and the friendship of his Nobility would have bin far more glorious than the adoration of the Persians proceeding from the base complaisance of that Nation 'T was this unreasonable Pride which made him again run the risk of losing his Life which at last precipitated him to his ruin and has render'd his Memory odious to all Ages The Death of Calisthenes is certainly deplorable and a great proof of Alexander's Wickedness who could not suffer an honest Man in his sight In fine he fell on a sudden from that moderation that had made him admir'd and lov'd of every one to so violent Extravagancies and to so great profusion of Vice that 't is no wonder that Hermolaus should have the boldness to conspire his Death The Noblemens Children of Macedonia according to custom were oblig'd to enter into the King's Service at fifteen Years of Age. After some Years the Prince promoted them to the
examine in this Conqueror's Conduct all that 's most remarkable that Princes may form themselves according to so excellent a Model The Actions of Alexander and the Intreigues of the Conspirators will teach them to defend themselves from Domestick Treasons and to elevate themselves by Justice Clemency and Liberality as much above the Vulgar as they exceed them in Grandeur and the advantages of Birth I will begin with the Conspiracy of Philotas so much the more blameable for conspiring the Death of his Master and his King as he was indebted to him for his Fortune THE CONSPIRACY OF PHILOTAS ALexander was arriv'd to the highest pitch of Grandeur Darius was dead and his Army vanquish'd Asia had chang'd her Master who seeing himself in the Persian Throne and finding nothing more on Earth to satisfy his Ambition would have had his Subjects given him Divine Worship The luster of too great Majesty is so far from attracting Respect and Fear that it excites great Ones to Envy and makes them aspire to wear the Diadem and whosoever equals himself to the Gods is unworthy to live among Men. And hence it came that Philotas one in Alexander's Army that could not support his Pride endeavoured to dispatch him Of all Vices Ambition is the most dangerous because it bears a resemblance of Virtue it has apparently the same end the desire of Glory is inseparable to them both and of this Philotas was as greedy as Alexander Virtue and Ambition have their original from the same Source from grandeur of Courage from a noble bold and undertaking Spirit the difference I find between them is this Justice limits bounds to Virtue Ambition knows none has no Faith no Friendship no Honesty it dares all things neither the fear of Danger nor the power of Justice can detain it it generates those criminal thoughts that strike at Royalty the hatred jealousie and revenge of great Ones Three sorts of Persons commonly conspire the Death of Princes Certain melancholy People who at any price whatsoever though it be at the expence of their Lives enterprise extraordinary Actions to eternise their Memory to Posterity not much caring whether it be honourable or held in abomination such was he that burnt the Temple of Diana the Jacobin that kill'd Henry III and many others Some transported with an abominable desire of Revenge care not to survive an Injury receiv'd as he that stab'd Henry IV. And almost all great Ones in the Revolution of a State hope for some change of Fortune For this last reason the common People are to be feared when a Government is changed from a Democracy to a Monarchy the Nobility when it has bin an Aristocracy the Princes of the Blood if a Kingdom be Hereditary the Ministers and Favorites if Elective The Kingdom of Macedonia descended for several Ages from Father to Son and whilst there were Successors no one dar'd enterprise any thing against his King's Life Alexander labour'd to secure himself immortality by Actions of an Heroick Courage by the grandeur of his Enterprizes he was enflam'd with a desire of Glory little minding the preservation of his Life and less the leaving a Successor to his Empire He prefer'd Bagoas before Barsine Roxane known to be great with Child at his Death could not keep the Macedonian Captains from dividing among themselves those vast and lovely Provinces into as many Kingdoms The Scepter of Alexander therefore being to fall into strange Hands his Nobles pretended to his Crown which there was no appearance of their arriving to the King being young and vigorous therefore they were to hasten their Expectations by the means of Ingratitude of Treachery of a Crime horrid and detestable Nothing retains Ambition but the fear of a lawful Successor in which consists the security of a Prince for there 's none will form any Design contrary to his Faith and Duty unless he be supported by more than ordinary hopes Alexander's Death would have made almost as many Kings as were Macedonian Captains what wonder then if he were continually expos'd to the murmuring of his Souldiers to the Infidelity of his Friends to Domestick Treacheries I am much mistaken if it were not this that first gave Philotas thoughts of advancing himself to Royalty Parmenios's Valour Merit and Esteem who commanded a puissant Army in Media confirm'd him in his Design and his own Grandeur finish'd his Resolve 'T is dangerous to suffer any to approach too near to that whose Possession can make them happy that Husband may blame himself that shews his Wife to another who after falls in love with her Royalty has greater Charms 't is like a polish'd Glass dull'd with the least Breath of those are near it or like the Fountain of Narcissus the transcendent Beauty appearing in it is so charming that there 's none can see it and live without the enjoyment A Prince that gives too great preferment to a Favorite a Minister or a great Captain nourishes a Rival a cruel Enemy a Competitor for his Empire that has but one step to mount into his Throne We read in the Histories of all Ages of several Kings Favorites of an obscure Birth incapable of great Matters who coming into an entire possession of their Master's Favours oftentimes by ways shameful and wicked have dar'd to aspire to their Crowns What may we not then expect from a great Captain Generous Liberal Ambitious of an illustrious Birth Head of a powerful Army belov'd of the Souldiers and the common People I own it pleasant for a Monarch to discharge himself of the weighty Burthen of State-Affairs on the capacity of some Minister to repose himself from the Glory of his Armies upon the valour of a great Captain to intrust his most secret Thoughts with the Wisdom and Discretion of a Favorite But this Favorite this Minister this Captain should be only Executors and not Masters of their Prince's Will and this Prince should as far exceed them in discerning Merit in understanding of Affairs in judicious Fore-sight in eminency of Capacity as in Power and Grandeur Such exquisite Parts are to be feared in a Favorite his Fidelity is shaken by so great Advantages and we have seen in this Age a King formidable to his Enemies implore the Assistance of another King against his Favorite If a Prince must needs spend his Generosity if he must needs heap up Favours upon his Subjects let him take heed not to bestow them all in one Place or on several Persons united in Friendship or Blood who may have the same Desires the same Will Be a Minister never so powerful if he have but one Employ one Charge in an Empire he can have no more Creatures than his Authority reaches Should he meditate any Design destructive to the State he would meet with a thousand Obstacles A General of an Army who is neither Master of the Treasury nor has Intelligence with a Superintendent is not at all to be feared He that commands the Land-Forces
is oppos'd to the Admiral the Affection of the People to the Souldier's Rebellion but if a Minister be General of an Army Superintendent of the Treasury Admiral or if these Charges are at his disposal what is there that he cannot do if faithful he is formidable if unfaithful he is King Parmenio and Philotas were Masters of the Empire one General of the Cavalry the other of a whole Army the former Governor of several Provinces Superintendent of the Treasury having in all Battels the command of one Wing the latter awing the great Ones a Favorite and Arbiter of his Prince's Life The immense Riches of Philotas the great number of Creatures of all sorts and conditions inseparably linked to his Fortune his Authority in the Armies almost equalling the King's might well induce him young as he was cruel full of delicacy and pride to conspire the death of Alexander the only Let to him in his way to the highest pitch of Grandeur Add to these the Love of a Woman the true cause of his destruction Antigone of a noble Birth an excellent Beauty a sweet Nature a lively pleasant charming Spirit was one of those illustrious Prisoners that the Governor of Damascus delivered to Permenio with all the Treasures Darius had committed to his disloyal custody This fair Slave made her self Mistress of Philotas his Liberty he forgot that he had all power over her and shamefully submitted himself to her Laws That pride that contempt that made him but a little before despise Darius his Nobles the chiefest of the Macedonians and equal himself to his King chang'd it self immediately into submissions to his own Captive he became fearful as are the greatest part of Lovers and thought himself unworthy of her because he was not Alexander The violence of his Passion rouzes in his Heart a vehement desire of making himself King impatient of enjoying Antigone he despairs of possessing her unless he share the Empire with her At the Wars egg'd on with great Love and Courage he exposes himself to dangers more than ordinary he is liberal to prodigality gentle affable gains the Hearts of his Souldiers cloaths himself like them accommodates himself to their Manners protects them is belov'd and reigns already over the whole Army But so many good Qualities were produc'd by Love which being blind can never guide Lovers in their Conduct and in his Reason and Prudence had no share At Table in his Bed in the midst of good Cheer and Imbracements he begins to celebrate his Actions Alexander could not recompence them with a Kingdom large enough for his Ambition Philotas looks on him no longer as his Benefactor accuses him of Injustice speaks insolently of him debases this great Monarch ascribes all his Conquests to Parmenio le ts scape some injurious Language the most clear-sighted penetrate into his Designs and suspect his Loyalty Perhaps he might think that he discharg'd his Heart into the Bosom of a Woman amorous and discreet A strange thing that so many Examples of Infidelity cannot make Lovers suspicious of the usual Inconstancy of their Mistresses Fickle Antigone ceases to love Philotas and betrays him She must destroy him to preserve her new Lover She thinks it her securest way to acquaint Alexander with the imminent danger threatning him Craterus whom the King honour'd particularly with his Favour jealous of Philotas his Glory and an Enemy to his Grandeur seeks occasion to ruin him which Antigone proffers him and tells him all that miserable Wretch had discover'd to her of his Mind during the most tender moments of their privacy As it is impossible that the Dust cast into the Wind should not be scatter'd so it is very difficult for a Secret intrusted with a Woman young handsom and amorous not to be divulg'd She longs to know that that 's kept from her and when she knows it desires as much to publish it She is ardent in her Pursuit treacherous after Enjoyment cruel in her new Love No kindness can retain her the remembrance of a Man she has lov'd tenderly and amorously embrac'd affects her not like the Earth that darkens the Sun from whence it receives its warmth But if there be any thing firm in the tenderness of her Sentiments happy is the Man that has her she is an inexhaustible Sourse of Pleasures Craterus glad to destroy his Enemy by preserving the Life of his King runs to Alexander and gives him an account of what he had heard Antigone is call'd and is not asham'd to publish her own Infamy and the secret of a Man that so intirely lov'd her The King nevertheless dissembles whether it were that the consideration of Parmenio's great Services his unbyass'd Friendship his incorrupted Loyalty inclin'd him to Clemency or whether it were that he thought Philotas innocent or feared too lightly to condemn upon the bare testimony of a slave the fidelity of an ancient Servant most passionate for his Glory one of his chief Captains and Confidents adored by the Souldiers for his Liberality and Magnificence But Fortune that took a particular care of Alexander and prepar'd for him new Conquests discover'd the whole Intreigue of a most horrid Plot. Dymnus one in no great Authority at Court but of a stout Heart and great Spirit was one of those that had conspir'd the King's Death he was so in love with a young Youth call'd Nicomachus that he could not but intrust him with a Secret upon which depended his own safety and that of so many Persons of Quality who were concern'd in the Enterprize He declares it to him and endeavours to perswade him to make one as well from the consideration of their Friendship as from that of his future Grandeur after the Attempt He Weeps Caresses Threatens Urges and sometimes promising him a Kingdom sometimes setting the Image of Death before his Eyes if he refuse to hold with them Would'st thou have says he my dear Nichomachus a greater Testimony of my Affection I trust my Life to thy Faith and I call thee to be a sharer in the Empire of all Asia This young Youth bearing a great love towards his King was seized with horror at a Crime so full of cruelty he protests he 'l never be wanting to his Duty to the Loyalty he owes his Master that all he can do for his Friend is not to ruin him if he 'l repent of so great a wickedness Dymnus stood wavering between Love and Fear at length setting his Sword at his Friend's Brest calling him sometimes Coward sometimes Traitor he was going to begin with him the execution of his Design but that the young Man in a fright promis'd more than he was ask'd He feigned therefore a resolution to execute the Enterprize and desired to know the number and quality of the Conspirators Dymnus full of joy that he had gain'd him names Peucolaus Nicanor Aphaebetus Loceus Demetrius Dioxenus Archepolis and Amyntas 'T is certain he made no mention of Philotas who I am
highest Charges of them came Favorites and the greatest Captains According to all appearance these young Nobles were more likely than any to tolerate their Prince's Defects and Government as having bin for a long time accustom'd to his Humour and brought up in his Court as Sons But as it is impossible intirely to bereave Lions of their natural fierceness so there is in humane Nature something so fierce and indomitable that though it may for some time be kept under it can never be extinguish'd there is a self-love which is as it were the measure and first mover of all our Affections there is a Liberty which the weight of Chains cannot bow Who could have thought that these young Nobles having contriv'd a Conspiracy against Alexander so much the more dangerous as they were driven by a desire of Glory and an implacable hatred and given each other their Faith should neither by the caresses of their Prince nor the inconstancy of their Age be induc'd to violate the same for a long time all but one observing it intirely which is rare in Traitors Alexander being one day a Hunting Hermolaus one of his Pages threw his Dart at a Wild Boar and kill'd him The King who was running in to present the Beast with his Spear conceiving indignation against Hermolaus caused him to be whipp'd according to the custom of the Macedonians But this young Nobleman not brooking the Affront shew'd that those who are so far advanc'd in Years as to be able to take up Resolutions beseeming Men of courage are not to be dealt withal as Children Nothing is more capable to incite a resolute and ambitious Spirit to revenge than the receiving shameful Punishment for a bold and generous Action worthy of a Prince's Applause Virtue has its Venom 't is dangerous to provoke it we see daily Pity converted into Fury Hermolaus in dispair seeks out Calisthenes that wise Philosopher and enemy to Flattery famous for his Learning and the austerity of his Manners Presently he complains to him with tears of the out-rage he has receiv'd and 't is reported that Calisthenes whether it were to incite him to revenge or to comfort him said to him Consider Hermolaus that thou art now no Child These words gave him such courage that from that very instant he conspir'd the death of Alexander The Counsel of great Men is held in a Common-Wealth as an Oracle and a Law whence it comes that a Man esteem'd wise by the Vulgar can easily raise a Multitude and cause a great disorder in a State The more powerful therefore a Man is in Counsel the more moderate should he be in giving it Calisthenes whom every one heard with pleasure ought to have taken heed to his words more than any under the reign of a Prince who punish'd the intemperance of the Tongue with the severest Punishment He had done like a Man of great Wisdom if he had only comforted Hermolaus in his disgrace and not set him on revenge a young Man apparently incapable of such kind of Enterprizes One must be certain of the Event destroy ones Enemy or not attack him Hermolaus inflam'd with a desire of Revenge and not being able to accomplish it himself assembles his Companions and speaks to them in this manner If the Affront I received only concern'd me I would only lament my disgrace and impute it to my bad Fortune But all the Macedonians have part in my Infamy and it concerns their Glory to take a memorable Revenge Doubtless the Gods jealous of their own Grandeur have suffer'd Alexander who dares equal himself to them to deal with us so unworthily that they might inspire us with a just resentment and courage to free our selves from this Monster of Pride Be not deceived my Companions I have not bin punish'd according to Law Alexander could not suffer that I should rob him of the Glory of killing a Wild Boar he has exercised his private Indignation Envy is the only cause of this outrage I have done a bold Exploit for my Age fit to be admir'd and he has treated me like a Slave What recompence can you now expect for your great Services if Ingratitude and Ignominy be the Reward of Courage What avails it you Macedonians that you have gain'd by the price of your Blood the Empire of the Universe Were it not better to be in bondage to the Persians A generous Action gives a Slave his Liberty which we lose in the midst of Victories Happier the Vanquish'd than the Vanquishers under the Government of a Tyrant He cannot suffer the Glory of the latter they are incessantly the Object of his Fury whereas the former come not within the reach of Envy I scruple not to say that Alexander is a Tyrant What fitter name can be given to one that is so greedy of his own Citizens Blood How shall I find words to express his Impiety his Cruelty his Arrogance Is he not a Monster to make himself Arbiter of Mens Lives and the Glory of the Gods who would be Master of our Bodies and Tyrant o're our Hearts who not content to reign on Earth would have command in Heaven He is not asham'd to require Honours that another would refuse and because we free Macedonians laugh at the base complaisance of the Persians he hates us he lays Snares for us he oppresses us See how he recompences those to whom he is indebted for the Empire of the East his Glory and his Life His insolence ascends to that degree of impiety as to make us own for the Son of Jupiter a wicked perfidious Desertor who forsakes the Laws of his Country to follow the Customs of Barbarians whom we have known born of Olympias who is jealous of his Father's Glory and assassinates his best Friends What do you expect O generous Souls a Death as cruel as that of Parmenio and Clitus Shall we yet sprinkle Alexander's Laurels with our Blood to be at last like those great Men sacrific'd to his fury Consider that there is nothing dearer to miserable Mortals than their Lives shall we suffer them freely to be taken from us Why should we not rather secure them by Alexander's Death So memorable an Action will eternize our glorious Memory to posterity This Tyrant's Life is in our Hands the Heavens have given him over to our Vengeance in us whom he has cruelly injur'd he reposes all his confidence would you have a more convincing proof of the Will and Anger of the Gods Without doubt 't is their pleasure to make use of our tender Youth in so bold an Enterprize to make it known to the World that they are the Authors we only their Instruments Is there any of you so ill advis'd as to oppose the Gods Incited by the Heavens Alexander's insupportable Pride and Cruelty aâ—m'd greedy of Glory and full of firm Resolution shall we not dare attack a Man without Guards unarm'd oppress'd with Crimes in a deep sleep I have chosen you my Companions