maried and in an vniuersall heuines bewayled the cause of hir owne sorowe But Sysigambis alone susteyned all there miseries The behauour of Darius mother vpon the death of Alexander and bewayled bothe hir owne case and her nefes her freshe sorowe causing her to call to mynde thinges paste A man would haue iudged by her behauour that Darius had bene newly slayne and that she had celebrated the funeralles of bothe her sonnes togither She did not only lament the deade but sorowed also for the lyuing Who shall nowe qd she take care of this yong woman or who can be like vnto Alexander nowe we be taken prisoners againe nowe we be newly fallen from our dignitie and estate After Darius death we found one to defend vs. But nowe since Alexander is gone who wyll haue respect of vs Amongs she called to mind how Occhus the cruell kinge had slayne her father and foure score of her brethren on one daye and that of seuen children borne of hir bodye there was but one of theim lefte aliue She sawe that fortune had aduaunced Darius and caused him to floryshe for a tyme to the entente he myght ende his life by greater crueltye Finallye she was so ouercome wyth sorowe that she couered her head turning her selfe from her nese and nephew that sate at her fete and abstayninge both frō meate frō beholdynge of the light ended hir life the fift daye after she was determined to dye This hir death was a great argument of the clemencye Alexander hadde shewed towardes her and of the iustice towardes all the captyues seyng that after Darius death she could abide to liue but after Alexanders departure she was ashamed to continue any lenger Considerynge Alexander rightwiselye A discourse of Alexanders vices and his vertues we must impute all his vertues to his owne nature and his vices either to hys youth or to the greatnes of his fortune There was in him an incredible force of courage and an exceadynge sufferaunce of trauaile He was endued with manhode excellinge not onely amonges kynges but also amonges such as had neither vertue nor qualitye He was of that liberalitye that oftentymes he gaue greater thinges then the reciuers could haue asked of God The multitude of kyngdomes that he gaue in gift and restored to such from whom he had taken theim by force was a token of his clemencye towardes them that he subdued He shewed a perpetuall contempte of deathe the feare wherof doth amase other men And as there was in him a greater desire of glorye and worldely prayse then reason woulde beare so was it intollerable in so yong a man enterprisynge so great actes The reuerence and affection he bare towardes his parentes appeared in that he purposed to consecrate his mother Olimpias to immortalitie and that he so sore reuenged Philips death How gentle and familiar was he towardes his frēdes and how beniuolence towarde his souldiours He had a wisedome equall to the greatnes of his harte and suche a policie and forecast as so yong yeres were scarsely able to receiue A measure in immoderate plesures And the vse of his lust lesse then nature desiered vsing no pleasure but that was lawefull these were wonderfull greate giftes and vertues But in that he compared him selfe to the Gods coueted diuine honours and beleued the Oracles that perswaded such thinges that he was offended with thē that woulde not worship him and geuen more vehementlye to wrath then was expedient That he altered his habite and apparell into the fashion of straungers coūterfaited the custome of them he had subdued and despised before his victorye were vices to be attributed to the greatnes of fortune As the heate of youthe stirred him to anger and to the desyre of drinkyng so age might haue mitigated againe those faultes Notwithstandynge it muste nedes be confessed that though he preuailed muche by his vertue yet ought he to impute more vnto his fortune which only of al mortal men he had in his owne power Howe oftē did she deliuer him from the poynte of death Howe often did she defende him wyth perpetuall felicitie when he hadde rashelye brought him selfe in peryll And when she poynted an ende to his glorye she euen then was contente to finyshe his life stayinge his fatall destenye tyll he had subdued the Orient visited the Occean Sea and fulfilled all that mans mortalitie was able to performe To this so greate a kynge and noble conqueroure a successour was loked for But the matter was of ouermuch importaūce for any one mā to take vpō him Alexanders name and renowne was so great amonges all Nacions and they were counted moste noble that might be partakers of his prosperous fortune thoughe the porcion was neuer so small But to returne agayne to Babilon from whence this digression hath bene made The assēble after the death of Alexander They whiche had the guarde and custodie of Alexanders persone ▪ called into the courte suche as hadde bene his chiefe frendes and captaines of the men of warre after whom there folowed a great multitude of Souldioures desierynge to knowe who shoulde be successoure vnto Alexander The thronge of the souldiours was suche that manye of the capitaynes were excluded and coulde not enter into the courte A Proclamation therfore was made wherby all men were forbidden to enter except suche as were called by name But because their commaundement semed to want aucthoritie it was little regarded the multitude at the first began to make a greuous sorow lamentation But straightwaies the desire they had to vnderstande the successe of the matter stopped their lamētatiō made silēce Thē Perditas brought forth in sight of al the people the kinges chayre of estate wherin Alexanders Diademe his vestures regall hys armor was laide Emōges that which ornamētes Perdicas also laide downe the kinges signet deliuered to him the day before at the sight wherof they began to wepe and to renue againe their sorowe Then saied Perdicas Perdicas wordes Lo here is the rynge wherwith he was wōt to seale such thinges as perteined to the force of his Empire as he deliuered the same to me I so do restore it agayne to you And although no aduersitye can be deuised by the Goddes were they neuer so muche offended comperable to this Yet considering the greatnes of the actes whych he hath done we muste thinke that the Goddes sent suche a man as he was to raigne in the worlde whose tyme beyng expired that was appointed they haue called him againe to the place from whence he came Forsomuche therefore as none other thinge remaine of hym amonges vs but onely that whiche is alwayes wont to be remoued from immortalitie let vs perfourme the due pertayninge bothe to his bodye and to his name remembringe in what citye we be amonges what kynde of people and what a kynge and what maner of gouernoure we haue loste We must debate and deuise how to
other marieng a wyfe There were set furth sondry notable playes and deuises plesaunt to beholde And as Kyng Philip betwene the two Alexanders the one his natural sonne and the other his sonne in lawe was passyng through the preasse without any guarde The death of Philip. One Pansanias a young man of the nobilitie of Macedon when no man suspected any suche thing sodainly slewe him starck dead making that day whiche was apoincted to Ioye and triumphe lamentable and dolorous by the death of suche a prince Pansanias This Pansanias being a boie was enforced by Attalus to the vnnatural vse of his body whiche not content to do so himself at an other open banket caused diuers of his familiars to abuse him likewyse Attalus with whiche shame and villany the young man beyng sore greued as reason would coÌ„playned to the kyng whome although the dishonestie of the matter moued muche yet for the loue he bare to Attalus and for the respect of his seruice forbare to vse any reformacion in the matter This Attalus was very nere vnto the kynge and in speciall fauoure by reason he was kynsman vnto the Quene Cleopatra whoÌ„ Philip had laste maried He was also elected generall Capytayne of the Kynges Armye prepared to passe into Asia as one that was bothe valiaunt of hys persone and no lesse politique in the feates of warre vpon these respectes the Kynge endeuoured by all the meanes he coulde to pacefie Pansanias beyng kyndled with moste iuste cause of grief aswell by gyuing him great giftes and promocions as placing hym honourably amongest those IentlemeÌ„ that were for the guarde of his persone But all this could not appease the iust rage of his Ire whiche wrought so in hym that he determined to be reuenged not only vpon Attalus that dyd the villony but also vpon the Kynge that would not minister iustice Whiche determinacion he put in effect as is sayd before Many thynges myght be sayd more of the doynges and sayenges of this Philip but one thyng aboue an other is to be noted that although for the more parte he was alwayes occupied in the tourmoyle of the warres and other like busines yet had he euer suche affeccion to the studies of humanitie and good learnyng that he both did and spake many thynges worthy memory whiche were both witty and plesaunt He lyued seuen and fourty yeares and reigned .xxv. yeares beyng the .xxiii. kynge of the Macedons as they reigned in ordre ¶ The seconde boke of Quintus Curtius supplied of the actes of Alexander the greate Kyng of Macedonie WHen Philip was dead Alexander toke vpon hym as king the .20 yere of his age his sonne whiche for the greatnes of his actes was afterwardes called the great Alexander toke vpon him the kyngdome the .4.26 yeare after the buylding of Rome being of the age of .20 yeares His state stode at that tyme subiect to muche enuie hatred and hasard from all partes For the nacions and prouinces borderyng vpon hym could not wel beare their present bondage and euery one of them sought howe to recouer agayne their auncient dominion and enheritaunce The first thyng he attempted after he was kyng was the greuous execution he dyd vpon as manye as hadde conspiryd his fathers death whyche done he celebrated his funeralles with great pompe Concernyng his estate he sone establysshed it and that muche better theÌ„ any man could haue imagyned in one beyng of so yoÌ„g and tendre yeares for beyng of some had in contempt and of some suspected to be cruell towardes the one he bare hym self so stoutely that he toke from them all contempt and to the other so gentylly that their ymagened feare of his cruell disposition was cleane taken away he graunted vnto the Macedons fredom and priuiledge from all exaccion and bondage sauing from the seruice of warre by whiche act he got so great fauour and loue amonges his people that all affirmed by one consent howe the persone of their Kynge was chaunged and not his vertue his name was altered but not his good gouernement In the beginning of his raigne rebellion was made against hym on all sydes he by and by with an incredible stowtenes and coÌ„stancy of mynde stayed all their tumultes which thyng pacified and set in ordre he went to Corinthe in Peloponese Corinthe where callyng a generall Counsell of all the states of Grece Alexander elected Capitain generall against the PerciaÌ„s he was elected their generall Capitain against the Percians whiche before tyme had afflicted Grece with many plagues and at that present possessed the greatest Empire in the world his father had purposed that warre before but the preuencioÌ„ of death was the cause he brought not his purpose to passe Whiles he was in preparacion of this enterprise he was enfourmed howe the Atheniens the Thebanes and Lacedemonians were reuolted from hym and confederate with the Percians and all by meanes of an Oratour called Demosthenes Demosthenes whiche was corrupted by them with a great somme of money For the reformacion whereof Alexander so sodeynly had prepared an Army wherewith he came vpon them that they could scarsely beleue they sawe hym present of whose commyng they had not herde before In his way he practysed wyth the Tessalians and vsed to them suche gentle wordes and apte persuasions by puttyng them in remembraunce of his fathers benefites and of the auÌ„cient kynrede betwene theÌ„ by the discent froÌ„ Hercules that he brought them to the pointe that by an vnyuersall decre of the hole Countrey he was created their Gouernour So great was the celeritie that this young man vsed and his diligence so effectuall in all his doynges that he brought all suche in feare of hym as before turned from hym and regarded hym litle As the Atheniens were the firste that fayled so they firste of all repented and extolled with prayses Alexanders chyldhode whyche before they had despysed aboue the vertue of the auncient conquerours They also sent Embassadours to require of hym peace whome he sore rebuked when they came to his presence but yet was content at length to remytte their offence And although Demosthenes was chosen one of the Embassadours yet he came not to his Prince but from Cythron retourned agayne to Athens whiche his doyng was ether for feare that he had so often â—ayled agaynst Philip and stoored the Atheniens against hym or els to take away the suspicion of hym selfe from the Kynge of Percie of whome it was sayd that he had receyued a great somme of gold to stand agaynste the Macedons The same thyng was layed agaynste hym by Aesthines in an Oracion where he saieth Aesthynes presently the Kynges gold doth beare his charges but that can not laste hym long seyng no ryches can suffise his prodigall liuyng When Alexander had pacified those sturnes that were begonne in Grece before he would passe his Army into Asia he made a iourney agaynst the Peones the
Perdicas But this man quod he hath forgeuen theÌ„ that slewe his father These were the wordes that Egilocus spake about supper time and on the morowe early my father sent for me who was heauy and sawe me sadde for we both had heard that which made vs out of quiet Therefore to proue whether he babled those woordes through excesse of wine or of an aduised purpose coÌ„ceiued before we thought good to send for him sekyng occasion of the same coÌ„municatioÌ„ he of his own mind said further that if we durst vndertake the aduenture he would not shrynke from vs or if our hartes serued not he would kepe our counsayle Yet so long as Darius was liuyng my father thought all the matter out of time because the death of AlexaÌ„der should be to the auaile of our enemies and not of our selues But Darius once ridde out of the waye then he that could destroy the kynge should obtaine the empire of Asia and all the orient for his reward whiche couÌ„saile beyng approued faieth and trouth was geuen therupon But concernyng Dimnus I know nothing When he had confessed all thys matter I perceyue quod he that it dothe not auayle me that I am vtterlye gilties of this treason Then thei renued his tormentes againe and so beate his face and his eyes with the troncheons of their speares vntil they enforced him not onely to coÌ„fesse of him selfe but also to shewe the circumstaunces of the whole treason prepeÌ„ced The secoÌ„de coÌ„fession of Philotas Because quod he it semed that the king would soiourne long among the BactriaÌ„s I was afrayed least my father that had so greate a power in his handes and the keping of so much treasure beyng .lxx. yere of age should happe to die in the meane season theÌ„ being disarmed of so great a streÌ„gth should not get oportunitie to slea the kyng Wherfore I hasted the matter while the praye was in hand Thus discouered he the conspiracye wherof if thei beleued his father to be aucthour he saied for his trial he refused not to be tormented againe though it were to greuous for him to endure The officers then whisperyng together thought the examination to be sufficient returned therwithall to the Kynge whiche on the morow caused al the coÌ„fession there to be opeÌ„ly recited before Philotas whoÌ„ he caused to be led into the place because he was not able to go where he coÌ„fessed all the matter againe Then Demetrius was brought forth Demetrius whiche was counted the greatest doer in this conspiracye next to Philotas But he with great protestatioÌ„ and incredible sloutenes both of harte couÌ„tenaunce denyed that he euer intended any euill against the king and for his triall desiered to be tormented Then Philotas castyng his eyes about Calis spied one Calis standing by and made a sygne to him to draw nere Who being abashed refusing to come forwards Wilt thou quod he suffer Demetrius to lye me to be strayned again With those words Calis became speachles chauÌ„ged color TheÌ„ the MacedoÌ„s begaÌ„ to suspect that he wold accuse innoceÌ„t bicause the same Calis was nether named by Nichomacus nor by Philotas him selfe in his tormentes But finallye Philotas before the kinges officers standing therabout coÌ„fessed that all the treason was conspired by him self Demetrius Wherfore as many as were appeached by Nichomacus vpon a tokeÌ„ geuen Philotas put to death were stoned to death according to the Macedons lawe Thus was Alexander deliuered froÌ„ great peril not only of his life but also of his surety For Parmenio and Philotas beyng of suche power â–ª if thei had not openly bene found culpable coulde not haue bene condempned without the great grudge of the armye So long therfore as Philotas as denied the thing the matter semed doubtfull and many men thought him cruellye handled But after he hadde confessed the circumstaunces no man not so muche as his neare frendes toke any pitye of him The seuenth boke of Quintus Curtius of the actes of the great Alexander Kyng of Macedon LIke as the men of warre thought Philotas iustly put to death his offence beyng fresh in memorie euen so after he was gone whoÌ„ thei before hated their enuye was turned to pitie The noblenes of the yong man moued theim muche so did the remeÌ„braunce of the olde yeres and desolatioÌ„ of his father He was the firste that made the waye open for Alexander into Asia alwaies partaker of his perils as he whiche in the warres was euer captayne of his vowarde chiefe a counsaile with the kynge his father and so trusty to Alexander him selfe that in oppressing of Attalus his enemye he would vse no other mans seruice The remembraunce of these thinges was ripe among al the souldiours sedicious wordes came to the kinges eares who being litle moued therwith did wisely with trauaile auoide the euel occasioÌ„s coÌ„ming of idlenes Wherfore he made it so be proclaimed that all men should be in redines before the court gate where thei being once assembled he came forâ—h to speake vnto theÌ„ And as it was before deuised required the bande of the Agrians to bring forth one Alexander Lincestes whiche long before Philotas Alexander Lincestes had coÌ„spired the kinges death This maÌ„ being accused of two witnesses as afore is said had remained in prison .iii. yeres together It was also proued that he was of counsell with PaÌ„sanias in the killing of king Phillip But because he saluted first AlexaÌ„der by the name of king his punishement was deferred rather then his offeÌ„ce forgeueÌ„ For at the intercessioÌ„ of Antipater his father in law the king had respected his iust indignation for the time But the old festred sore brake out againe and the coÌ„sideration of his perill present renued the remeÌ„braunce of that that was passed Therefore when he was brought forth of pryson commaunded to saye for him selfe albeit he had .iii. yeres leasure to deuise his aunswere yet stammeryng and tremblinge coulde bringe forth but little of that whiche he purposed to saie finally both his memory and his harte failed him Wherfore there was none that doubted but that his fearfulnes was a token of a gilty conscience and no default of memory so that whiles he was staggering and hacking in his tale they that stode next thrust him through with their pikes whose bodye conueied out of the place the kinge commaunded Amintas and Simmannas to be brought forth Amintas Simmannas brought to iudgement for Palemon their yongest brother after he had knowledge of Philotas torment fledde away Of al Philotas freÌ„des these .ii. were most deare vnto him through his commendation aduaunced to high honorable offices The kinge remeÌ„bryng wyth what earnestnes and labour Philotas had brought theÌ„ into his fauour doubted not but they wer priuy to this last coÌ„spiracy And therupon he declared to the multitude AlexaÌ„ders accusatioÌ„ against them that he had occasioÌ„ of suspectioÌ„ against those meÌ„
taleÌ„ts And sent to Antipater such as had the gouernans of the Cities of Greac threscore taleÌ„ts He gaue order the suchas wer his coÌ„federats shuld with ther own powre of ships defed the seas of HellespoÌ„t according to the leage betwixt theÌ„ It was not yet come to his knowledg how MenoÌ„ was deade vpoÌ„ whoÌ„ he set his hole regard Menon knowing if that he moued not against hiÌ„ nomaÌ„ shuld enterrupt his passage before he cam to Darius The Cytye of Ancire Alexander came to the cytye Ancyre where he made hys musteres and so entred into Paphlagomya wherunto the Grecians be borderers of whome it is said the venetians be discended Rhaphlagomya Al this Contrey yealdid vnto him gaue him pledgs obteining to be free of tribute seing they neuer paid any â—â— the percians Calas was captayne there who taking with him the band of Souldirs that were lately come out of Macedon went vnto Capadocea Calas But Darius hearing of the deathe of Menon Capadocia was noles moued therwyth then the case required for then allother hope set apert he determyned to trye the matter in person coÌ„dempnyng all thynges that had ben don by hys deputies hauing opinion that good gouerment wanted in many of them and that fortune had fayled in them all He came therefore to Babylon wher he encamped Assembling al his force togithers in sight bicause he wold shewe the greater courage And vsing the ensample of Xrexes in takiÌ„g of his musters entrenched so much ground abut as was able to receiue .x. thousand men within the whych he lodged in the night suche as had bene mustred in the daye And from thens they were bestowed abrode in the plaine contrey of Mesepotanya the numbre of his horsmen fotemeÌ„ were innumerable and yet seamed to the syght to be more then they were There were of the Percyans an C. thousand of whom .xxx. thousand were horsemen Of the Medeans .x. thousand horsemeÌ„ .xxx. thousand fotemen Of the Barcanyts two thousand horsemen Themnubre of Darius men of warre with brode swordes light bucklers and .x. M. fotmeÌ„ with like weapoÌ„s Ther were of the ArmeÌ„ians .xl. thousand fotemen .vii. thousand horsemen The hircanyans of great estymacioÌ„ emongeste those nacioÌ„s had .vi. thousand horsemeÌ„ The deruicens were .xl. thousand fotemeÌ„ armed with pikes wherof parte had no hedes of IroÌ„ but dried the poiÌ„ts of theÌ„ in the fiere therwer also of the same nacioÌ„ .ii. M. horsmeÌ„ Ther caÌ„e froÌ„ the CaspiaÌ„ sea viii M. fotmeÌ„ .cc. horsmeÌ„ And with theÌ„ of the rude nacions of Asia .ii. M. fotemen and .iiii. M. hosemen To the increase af thes numbres there were .xxx. M Mercenary sauldiers that were Greaks Hast wold not suffer to cal for the BactriaÌ„s Sogdians Indians with other thinhabiters of the red sea nacioÌ„s which had naÌ„es scarsely knowen to ther owne kynge Thus Darius wanting nothing lesse theÌ„ the mullitud of meÌ„ greatly reiossed to behold them And puffed vp with the vanitye flattery of the greate men that were aboute hym turned to Charidemus of AtheÌ„s an experte maÌ„ of warre which for the displeasure that AlexaÌ„der did bere him was baÌ„ished his coÌ„trey asked him if he thought not this coÌ„pany sufficient to ouerthrowe the Macedons WheriuÌ„to Charidemus without resptte of the kinges pride or of hys owne estate aunswered Charidemus words â—nto Drius Peraduenture six qd he ye will not be content to heare the truth excepte I tell yt nowe it shal be to late hereafter This great preparatoÌ„ hiughe army of yours gathered of the multitud of somany nacioÌ„s that you haue raised vp froÌ„ al pies of Thorient is more fearfull to theinhabiturs hereabouts then terrible to your enemies your meÌ„ shine in colors and glister in armure of gold exceding so much in ryches that they which haue not sene theÌ„ which ther eies caÌ„not coÌ„ceiue any such thiÌ„g in their minds But coÌ„trariwise the MacedoÌ„es being rough souldiers wtout any such excesse be terrible to behold the froÌ„ts of ther batailes staÌ„d close togethers alwais in streÌ„gth furnished with pikes targets for defeÌ„ce The Phalant of the Macedons that which thei call ther Phallant is an immouable square of fotemen wherin euery one staÌ„d close to other ioyning weapoÌ„ to weapon euery souldier obedieÌ„t toy t whych is commauÌ„ded him redy at his captaines beck whyther it be tofolowe his ensigne to kepe hys armye to stand stil to ruÌ„ne to fetche a coÌ„pas to chang thorder of the battell to fight on this side or that side euery souldier can do thes thinges aswel as the captaines And because you shal not thinke gold siluer to be effectuall to thys matier they began and obserued this discipline pouerty beiÌ„g Maystres WheÌ„ they be werye the ground is there bed they are sattsfiedfied with suche meate as thei find by chaunce and thei measure not their sleape by the lengthe of the nyght Thinke you the horsmen of Thessaly the Alcharnans and Etolians whych be inuincible men of warre wil be repulsed with â—lynges or staues hardned in the fire It behoueth you to haue a like force to repulce theÌ„ and to be serued of the same kind of men Mi counsel is therfore that you seÌ„d this gold and siluer to wage souldiers out of those countreis from whence thei come Darius was a man of a meke and tractable dysposicion if the heighte of his estate had not altered the goodnes of hys nature which made hym so vnpatyent to here the truthe that he commaunded Charydemus to bee put streight wayes to death being a man that was fled to his proteccion and that gaue hym right profitable couÌ„sel When he was going towards his death he left not his libertye to speake but saide there is one at hande that shal reuenge my deathe For he againste whome I haue geuen the counsell shall punyshe the for not folowinge of the same And thou being thus altered with the libertye thou haste being a King shalt be an ensample to suche as shal come after that when they commit their doinges to fortune they clerely forget theÌ„ selues whiles Charidemus was speaking these wordes they which had the charge committed vnto them put him to death whereof afterwardes the Kynge toke ouer late repeÌ„tance for he confessed that he had spokeÌ„ the truth caused him to be buried Thymones Ther was one Thymones the soÌ„ne of Menter a yoÌ„g maÌ„ of great actiuite to whoÌ„ Darius gaue the charge of al the souldiers straungers in whom he had great coÌ„fidence and willed hym to receyue theÌ„ at Pharnabasus handes And gaue to Pharnabasus that rule the MenoÌ„ had before Thus Dariê° beiÌ„g careful of the busines he had in hand whither it were through pensiuenes of mind or that his fancie did deuine thiÌ„ges to coÌ„e was coÌ„tinually troubled with visioÌ„s in his sleape Dâ—riue dreame He dreamed that the MacedoÌ„s caÌ„pe was al on fire And shortly after yt
called Ora Ora. where he ouerthrewe in battel thinhabiters that encountred with him whereby he got the Citye into hys possession Ther were many other Cities obscure of fame that came into Alexanders handes by thabaÌ„doning of thinhabiters which assembled them selfes togither in armes and kept a rock called Aorun The rocke called Aorun The fame was that Hercules had besieged the same before tyme in vaine and by reason of an earthquake enforced to departe When Alexander viewed thys rocke and sawe howe stepe it was and vnpassable became voyde of counsell tyl such tyme as an old man that knewe wel the place came to hym with hys two sonnes offring for a reward to guyde hys men awaye vp to toppe Alexander promised them .iiii. score talentes and keapinge one of his sonnes as pledge sente him to parfourme that he had promysed Mulinus the kynges Secretary was apoynted with certayne souldiers lighte armed to folowe the guyde whose purpose was to receiue the Indians by fetching a compasse about the rock But the same rock was not as the more parte be whiche lieng aslope hath wayes vp vnto the toppe by degrees For it stode bolte vpright after the fashion of a but brode benethe and euer as it groweth vpward lesse and lesse tyll it becometh sharpe in the â—oppe And it is enclosed on that on syde with the Riuer of Indus that hath highe stepe banckes vpon the otheirwith depe dikes holowe places ful of water and mudde Wherefore there could be deuised no way to wynne it except those dikes were firste fylled There was a woode at hand which the king commaunded to be cut downe and causyng the bowes to be shred of for the cariage filled the holowes with the bare stockes Alexander bare the fyrst tree and all the souldiers folowed after with a couragious showt for there was no man that would refuce to do that they sawe the kynge begynne So that within .vii. dayes the dikes and hollowe places were fylled vp Then the king apoynted the Agrians and the archers to go to the assaulte of the rocke and did chose .xxx. yonge men of such as he iudged most apt for the purpose out of hys owne bande Charus and Alexander to leading of whoÌ„ he apointed Charus and Alexander whom he put in remembraunce of his name that was in comen to them bothe At the fyrst bicause the hasard was so manifest the kyng was not determyned to aduenture his own parson But when the trompet blewe to thassault he was of such a redy courag that he could not obstaine but making a signe to his guard that thei shoulde folowe him was the fyrste that set fote vpon the rock Then there were fewe of the Macedons that would gladly haue taried behind but many lefte their array where as they stode in ordre of battell and folowed the king The cause of many was miserable whom the riuer that ran by swalowed in when they fell downe from the rocke Which sight was sorowfull to such as were out of daungeir being admonished by the perel of other what they ought to feare them selfs So that their cumpassion being turned into feare lamented aswell them selues as those whome they sawe slayne after that maner At length they went so farre â—urth that without the getting of the rocke they coulde not returne back againe without there greate destruccion For there enemies rowled downe great stones vpon them wherwith they were easely beaten downe the rocke hauing so slippar and vnstable standing Yet for all that Charus and Alexander whiche were apointed the leading of the .xxx. chosen souldiers had gotten to the toppe and beganne to fight hand to hand But there were so many dartes cast at them from afarre that they receiued mo wouÌ„des then they could gyue Wherefore Alexander bothe myndfull of his name and of his promise whiles he fought more egerly then warely was enclosed aboute and slayne Whom when Charus sawe deade he ranne vpon his enemies and vnmyndefull of all thynges sauing of reueng slewe many wyth hys pike and dyuers wyth hys sworde But beinge layed at by so manye at onse he fell downe deade vpon the bodye of hys frende The death of thes two so hardy yonge men â–ª and of the reste moued Alexander greatly yet parceyuing no remedy in the matter caused the retracte to be sowned It was gretly for their salfgard â–ª that they retired by lettle and little without aperaunce of anye feare and the Indians contented to haue repulsed their enemies pursued not after them Alexander herupon was determined to leaue of his purpoce seing he sawe no hope howe to wynne the rock yet he made a countenaunce as though he ment to coÌ„tinewe the sieg styll For both he caused the wayes to be closed vp And made an approche with towers of woode alwayes putting freshe men in place of them that were weried When the Indians parceiued Alexanders abstinacy two dayes and two night they banketed contiunially and played vpon timbrels after there maner to cause there enemies thinke that they had no doubte in the siege but trusted suerly to preuaill The thirde nighte the noyse of there â—imbreles ceased and many torches were sene burning which the Indians had lighted to se which way they might escape downe the rocke in the darke night Alexander sent Balacrus to descouer the matter Balacrus who found that the Indians were fledde and that the rock was habandoned Then asigne was geuen that the holle Armye should giue a showte at once wherbye they dyd strycke suche feare amongys their enemyes that fledde wythout ordre That many of them thynkynge their enemies had bene at there backes leaped downe the rockes and slewe them selues and some mayned in there falling were left behind by there felowes that fled awaie Thus the kynge being victorer of the place rathere then of the man testyfied natwithstaÌ„ding with solempne sacrifyces vnto the gods a greatnes of victory and set vp aulters vpon the rock to Minarua and Victoria And though the guides that he apoynted to his light armed men parfourmed not so much as they promised yet there reward was truely giuen them And the rule of the rock with the countrey thereaboutes was coÌ„mitted to Sysocostus Sâ—socostus And he him self went forwardes wyth his army from thence to Echolyma Echolyma But vnderstanding that certayne streightes through the whych he should passe were kept by one Erix with Erix xx thousand armed men He committed that parte of hys army that were heuie armed to Cenon to be brought on by soft iorneyes and going before in parson with the slyngers and Archers put his enemies to flight making the way clere for hys army to passe that folowed after The Indians whither it were for the hatred they bare vnto their capteine or els for to get the fauour of the victorer kylled Eryx as he fled awaye and brought hys head and hys armour vnto Alexander Who considering the fowlenes of the act woulde
and did incorporate you amonges mine owne people causinge you to vse the same habite and the same armoure But your obedience and pacience towardes the aucthoritie appeareth muche better in you then in them Therfore I haue ioyned to my selfe in mariage the daughter of Oxatres that is a Percian not disdayninge to beget children vpon a captiue And afterwardes desiringe more aboundauntlye to encrease the issue of my bodye I toke to wife the daughter of Darius and was the aucthour that my neare frendes likewise shoulde beget children vpon captiues mindynge by this holye couenaÌ„te to exclude the difference betwene the victorers and the vainquished Wherfore you must now thinke that you be not souldiours vnto me adopted but more naturall And that Asia and Europe is one kyngdome without any difference I haue geuen vnto you armoure after the maner of the Macedons I haue brought all straungnes and noueltie into a custome and nowe ye be both my countreymen and my souldiours all thinges take vpon them one fourme and fashion I haue not thought it vnsemely for the Persians to shadowe the customes of the Macedons nor for the Macedons to counterfeit the Percians seynge thei ought to be vnder one lawe custome that should liue vnder one kynge When he had made this oration he committed the custody of his person vnto the Persians he made them of his guarde and his officers of iustice bi whom when the Macedons whiche had geuen occasion of this sedicion were ledde bound vnto execution one of them that was more auncient and of greater estimacion theÌ„ the rest spake after this maner Howe longe will you thus geue place vnto your wil in executynge vs after the straungers maner Your souldiours and countreymen be drawen to execusion by their owne prisoners before their cause be hearde If you haue iudged vs worthye of death at leastwayes chaung the ministers of your wrath This was a good admonishmente if he hadde bene pacient to heare the trueth But his wrath was groweÌ„ into a woodnes so that when he sawe theim whiche hadde the charge of the prisoners staye a little at the matter he caused the prisoners to be tumbled into the riuer and there drowned Notwithstandynge the crueltye of this punishement the souldiours were not sâ—urred to any sedition but repayred by rowtes vnto their capitaines and vnto suche as were neare aboute the kynge requirynge that if there yet remained anye infected with the same offence that he shoulde commaunde theim to be putte to death proferynge their bodyes to be punished and executed at his owne will After it was knowen that Liuetenaunteships were geuen vnto the PerciaÌ„s and that they were distributed into diuers orders and suche names geuen vnto them as were vnto the Macedons and that they were reiected wyth reproche they coulde not then any lenger conteine theim selues nor suffer the doloure they had conceyued in their hertes but with a great throng pressed to the courte wearyng onely their nethermost garmentes and leauynge their weapons without the gate in token of repentaunce There wyth weapynge and all tokens of humilitie they made request to be admitted to the kynges presence that he would vouchsafe to pardon their offence pacifiynge his wrath with the deathe of so manye of theim as he shoulde thinke good rather theÌ„ to suffer them to liue in such reproch whiche excepte he woulde release Alexander was reconsiled to his souldiours they protested they woulde neuer departe out of the place When those thynges were declared vnto Alexander he caused the courte gates to be opened and came forthe amonges them Wheras beholdynge their lamentation and repentaunce their miserable behauour and affliction he coulde not abstayne to weape longe tyme wyth theim and in coÌ„sideration of their modestie forgaue theÌ„ their former offeÌ„ces And after he had temperately told theÌ„ their faultes and againe comforted them with gentle words he discharged many froÌ„ the seruice of the warres sent theÌ„ home liberally rewarded writing to Antipater his liuetenant in Macedon that he should assigne theÌ„ the chiefe places in the Threatres at triumphes and open playes wheras they shoulde sit with garlaÌ„des on their heades he willed that their children after their deathes should enioye their fathers wages He appointed Craterus to be their ruler to whoÌ„ in the place of Antipater he had committed the gouernement of Macedon Tessalie and Thrace sendynge for Antipater to repaire vnto him with a supplie of yong souldiers Alexander had receiued letters before both froÌ„ hym and Olympias his mother Olymyias AlexaÌ„ders mother wherby dissension appeared to be betwixt them For his mother acused Antipater that he wente aboute to make him selfe kyng And Antipater did write howe Olympias did manye thinges otherwise then it did become her Antipater did take his callynge awaye so greuouslye in his hart that he conspired therupon to poyson Alexander who hauynge accomplished the matters that before be meÌ„cioned went to Echatan that standeth in Media to set order in the necessarie affaires of his Empire and there ordeyned solempne triumphes and feasting It chaunsed Ephestion whom the kynge specially loued The death of EphestioÌ„ and vsed in place of a brother about the same time to dye of a feuer Whose death Alexander toke more sorowfullye then can well be credited committynge in his doloure manie thinges that were vnseaminge for the maiestye of a Prince He commaunded Ephestions phisition to be hanged as though he had died through his negligence He laye embracynge of the dead bodye and coulde hardlye be taken awaye by his frendes but continued his sorowe night and daye There be many other thinges written in that behalfe which be scarsely credible But it is certayne that he commaunded sacrifice to be made vnto him as vnto a God and consumed in his buriall and making of his tombe aboue .xii. M. talentes As he was returninge to Babilon the Caldian Prophetes met him on the waye exhortynge him that he shoulde not enter into the citye For that it was signified that if he wente thether at that time he should be in great peryll of his life Notwithstanding he regarded not their admonishmentes but went forwardes in his iourney accordynge as he hadde appoynted For he vnderstode that Embassadours were come thither from all Regions tariynge for his comming The terrour of his name was so spredde throughe the worlde that all nacions shewed an obsequiousnes towardes him as though he had bene appoynted to be their kynge That caused him to make haste towardes Babylon to kepe there as it were a Parliamente of the whole worlde When he was come thither he receiued the Embassadours gentlye and afterwardes dispatched them home agayne There was aboute the same tyme a banquet prepared at one Tessalus Medius house Thessalus Medius wherunto the kynge beinge bidden came thither wyth such as were appoynted to kepe him companye But he had not so sone dronke of Hercules cuppe Alexander was poysoned but that he gaue a grunte
as thoughe he had bene striken to the harte And beynge caried out of the feast halfe dead was so tormented wyth payne that he required a swerde to haue killed him selfe His frendes did publyshe abroade dronkennes to be the cause of his disease but in verye dede it was prepensed treason the infamye wherof the power of his successours did oppresse The poyson prepared longe before was deliuered by Antipater vnto Cassander his sōne whiche wyth his brethren Phillippe and Iolla were wonte to serue the kynge at meate He was warned that he shoulde not committe the same poyson to anye person except it were to Thessalus or to his brethren Philippe therfore and Iollas whiche were wonte to take the saye of the kynge cuppes hauyng the poyson readye in colde water mixed it with the wine after they had tasted it When the fourth daye was come the souldiours partly for that they suspected he hadde bene dead and partlye because they coulde not endure to wante longe his syght came sorowfullye vnto the courte desirynge to see the kynge whiche by his commaundemēt were admitted vnto his presence by such as had the charge of his person When they behelde him liynge in that case they made great sorowe and lamentacion for he semed not to them to be the same their kynge whom they were wont to see but rather a deade corse If their griefe were great the sorowe of theim that stode nexte to the bedde appeared muche more whom when Alexander behelde lamentyng after that sorte he saied vnto thē When I shall departe you shall finde a kynge worthye for suche men as you be It is a thynge incredible howe that he durynge the tyme the souldiours of his whole armye came to viset hym he neuer altered countenaunce nor gesture but continued in that kind of presence he gaue vnto the firste vnto the laste man When he hadde dismissed the multitude as though he had bene discharged of al the debt of life he laye downe againe to rest his weake body his voyce beginnyng to fayle him cōmaunded his frendes to come neare aboute him and then takinge his rynge from his finger deliuered it to Perdicas and gaue therwith a commaundemente that his bodye shoulde be conueyed to Hammon They demaunded to whom he would leaue his kingdome He saide to the worthiest By whiche wordes it appeared that he forsawe the contention that was like to ensue vpon his death Perdicas more ouer demaunded of him when he woulde haue diuine honours done vnto him At such time quod he as you shall finde your selfes in felicitie These were the laste wordes Alexander spake and shortelye after he died Immediatlye after his death the courte was full of howlynge The sorow that was made vpon Alexāders death lamentynge and sorowe makynge and by and by as it hadde bene in a deserte or a place solitary all thynges were whiste and a sorowfull silence was spredde ouer all euerye man beynge conuerted into imagination what shoulde become of the matter The yonge menne of the nobilitye that were accustomed aboute Alexanders person coulde not beare the greatnes of their doloure nor kepe them selfes within compasse of the courte but ranne aboute as menne out of their wyttes wherby the citye was filled with heauines and complainte and no kinde of lamentation pretermitted that sorow is wont to minister in such a case Suche therfore as were without the courte vnderstandynge this matter as well Macedones as other came runnynge thither wheras the Conquerours from the conquered nor the Victorers from the vainquished coulde not be discerned the sorowe was so indifferent to thē al. The Percians called vpō their iust and mercifull Lorde and the Macedons made inuocation to him that was so valeaunte and gracious a kynge and thus there was a certaine contencion of sorow amōges thē Men did not vse their only wordes of griefe and heauines but also of grudge and indignation that so yonge a prince beynge in the flower of his age and of his fortunate successe shoulde by the enuy of the Goddes be so taken out of this worlde They called to remembraūce what a cherefulnes they had alwaies sene in his countenaunce ether when he led them to the battel when he besieged or assaulted any citie or when he would geue any commendacion to the worthye in anye assemble Then the Macedons repented that euer they hadde denied him deuine honours confessyng them selues bothe wicked and vngratefull for depriuynge him of anye name wherof he was worthye And when they had continued long in the veneration and desire of him that was dead then they began to pitye their owne case whiche commyng out of Macedon were passed the riuer of Euphrates amonges the middes of their enemies that vnwillinglye receiued their new gouernement They saw them selues left destitute the Empire without any certaine heyre for wāt of whō euery one wold go about to draw the power of the state vnto his priuate behofe And thē they began to conceiue and forsee in their mindes the ciuill warres that did ensue that they shoulde be enforced to shede their bloude againe not for the cōquest of Asia but for the title of some such one that would go about to make him selfe king wherby their old scarres should breake out againe into new woūdes that such as by reason of their age had bene discharged from the warres by their noble righteous king should now be enforced to spend their liues in the quarell of some such one as was but his souldier Whiles thei were in these imaginaciōs the night came on encreased their terroure The men of warre watched in harnayes the Babilonians loked ouer the walles pepyng out frō the toppes of their houses to spye some certaintye how the matter wēt There was none that durst kyndle any light And bicause the vse of the eie did fail thei laied their eares to heare the rumours wordes that were spoken And many times thei wer afraied whē no cause was whē thei met together in the narow stretes or darke lanes thei would be amased suspect eche other as enemies The Percians after their accustumed maner clipped there heare and with ther wiues and children lamented the death of Alexander in mourning garmentes with vnfained affeccion not as a conqueror and one that lately had bene there enemye but as there rightwise and naturall kyng For they being accustumed to liue vnder a king could think no man more worthy then he to rule ouer them Thys sorowe was not only conteined within the walles of the citie but streightwayes spred ouer all the countrey ther aboutes And the fame of so great a mischiefe flyenge through oute Asia brought some tydinges therof vnto Darius mother She at the fyrste reporte tare a sonder the garment she ware and put on morning appareill she pulled her heare and fel downe groueling vpon the earth One of her neces sat by her morning the death of Ephestion whom she had