security for the money they had imployed in the Wars He gave honour also according to their deservings unto the Kings of Cyprus who revolted from Darius unto him and had aided him with Ships at the Siege of Tyre Amphoterus his Admiral had Commission to drive the Persians out of the Isle of Creet but especially that he should rid the Seas of Pyrates who troubled and spoiled all the Islands whilest these two Princes Alexander and Darius converted their Powers the one against the other Having ordered these things he did dedicate to Hercules at Tyre a great standing Goblet and thirty Bowls of Gold That done he set his whole minde and care upon Darius causing it to be proclaimed that every man should set forwards towards Euphrates But Darius understanding that his Enemy was gone through Egypt into Africa stood in doubt whether he should stay about Mesopotamia or withdraw into the inner parts of his Kingdom judging that he in person should prevail with those remote Nations in bringing of them forwards to the War which his Lieutenants should not be so well able to effect Yet when Fame had published and he understood by assured advertisement that Alexander was returned out of Egypt and fully resolved to follow him with all his power into what Country soever he should go he then gave order that the force of all the furthest Nations should draw towards Babylon knowing the resolution of his Enemy he had to match withal Thither resorted both Bactrians Scythians and Indians for the power of other Countries were come thither before and having the double number of men that he had before in Cilicia he prepared Armour for them with diligence of which many of them wanted both Horsemen and Horses were armed with plates of Steel such as before had no Weapons but Darts had Swords and Bucklers given unto them and to increase the power of his Horsemen he delivered many Horses to be managed and broken by the Footmen He had prepared also two hundred Waggons set with Hooks which in those Countries were esteemed things of great force and judged to be of a wonderful terrour to the Enemy they were made with great long Spikes sticking out before and with Swords set overthwart on both sides The Wheels were also full of Iron Pikes right forth and of great Hooks both upward and downward wherewith all things were cut in sunder that came in their way When his people were thus furnished with Armour and provided sufficiently for the Wars he removed from Babylon keeping the River of Tygris on his right hand and Euphrates on his left hand He overspread with his Army all the Plains of Mesopotamia after that he had passed the River of Tygris and understanding that his Enemy was approaching he sent Satropaces before with a thousand chosen Horsemen and afterwards appointed six thousand to Mazeus to stop Alexander in the passage over the River who had also Commission to waste and burn all the Country where he judged his enemies should come thinking to famish them for want of victuals considering that they had no other provisions but what they got by plundering and by stealth they themselves having plenty brought of all things both by Land and the River Tygris At length he came to a village called Arbella which afterwards was famous by reason of his overthrow There he left the greatest part of his Victuals and Carriage and made a Bridge over the River of Licus and in five days conveyed over his Army as he had done before over Euphrates passing forwards from thence about fourscore furlongs he came to another City called Boumello and there encamped This Country served wonderful well for aranging of his Battels in the large Plains passable for Horses every-where and without shrubs or short brush to cover the ground withal having so free a prospect that the eye might discern things a great way off And if there appeared any Hills within the Plain Darius caused the same to be cast down and to be made level to the ground Such as by conjecture made report to Alexander of Darius power could not be credited for he could not think after so many slain there could be a greater power gathered together then he had before But he that doubted not any peril much less the multitude of them after the eleventh encamping came to the River of Euphrates over the which he made Bridges passing over his horsemen and afterwards his footmen For Mazeus that was sent against him with six thousand horsemen to hinder his passage durst not encounter him When he had continued there a few days not only to rest his Souldiers but also to confirm their mindes and to encourage them he set forwards resolutely against his enemies fearing that they would have retired back into the inward parts of Persia where he should have been inforced to follow them by waste places and desarts Therefore the fourth day he passed by Arbella and came to the River of Tygris All the Country beyond the River was on a smoak newly set on fire by Mazeus who burned all things where he came even as he had been an enemy Alexander at the first by reason of the darkness of the smoak stayed for fear of Ambushments But when they which were sent to scour the Country reported that all things were clear he appointed a few horsemen to prove the passage of the River who found the deepness at the first entry to come to the horse breast and in the midst of the stream to the horse neck There is no River in all the East-part of the world that runneth so violently which besides that the waters of other Rivers do run into it driveth down stones with the stream so that of its swiftness it is called Tygris which in the Persian tongue is to say an Arrow The footmen thereof divided into two Bands and holding their Armour over their heads were inclosed on both sides with the horsemen and so passed till they came to the deep of the channel without any great difficulty The King was the first amongst the footmen that passed over to the further side who with his hand seeing his voice could not be heard shewed the shallow places unto the Souldiers But they had much to do to keep their footing by reason of the stones whereupon they stumbled and of the violence of the water that took their feet away Such as carried burthens on their backs had the greatest travel not being able to stay themselves by reason of the trouble of their carriage were born down by violence of the stream And whilest every man went about to recover again his own there â—ell greater strife amongst themselves then they had with the stream and the heaps of fardels that every where flowed upon the water bare down many of them The King cryed to them that it was sufficient to keep their arms and let the rest go promising to recompence every man but they neither followed his counsel nor
did as he commanded them for besides the noise that was amongst them Fear filled their ears as they were swimming and wading through the water At length where the stream was most shallow they came forth there being nothing miscarried or wanting amongst them all saving a few fardles If their enemies had made but a proffer against them they might easily have been put to distress But Alexander's good fortune turned his enemies away from him with which success he passed the River of Granike when so many thousands of horsemen and footmen kept the passage against him After that manner he overcame the multitude of his enemies in the Streights of Cilicia Though his hardiness were such that it sometimes wanted praise yet his felicity ever delivered him out of all extremity of peril If Mazeus had done his part and set upon them as they were passing the River he might easily have put them to distress being unarmed and out of order but after the Macedons had armed themselves being then too late he began to shâ—w himself with a thousand Horsemen When Alexander perceived the small number that came against him he caused Ariston Captain of the Peonians to give a full charge upon thâ—n The Horsemen that day notably behaved themselves but especially Ariston who with his Spâ—ar ran Satropaces the chief Captain through the throat and pursuing him into the midst of his Troop thrâ—w him from his horse and cut off his head which to his great commendation he brought and thrâ—w down before the King Alexander taâ—ried there two days and on the morning caused warning to be given by Proclamation for his setting forwards But in the first watch of the night the Moon suffered an Eclipse and losing her brightness became afterwards red as blood and then waxed dim and dark The strangeness of this sight did strike a religious fear amongst the Macedons whereof proceeded such a doubt and dâ—â—ad that they fell into a murmuring why they should be brought forwards in such a manner against the will of the gods into the uttermost bounds of the Earth where they could neither pass the Rivers nor enjoy the accustomed use of the Elements finding nothing but waste grounds and wilde desarts all which was endured they said for the ambition of one man for whose vain-glory the blood of so many thousands should be shed He despiseth saith they his own Country he hath forsaken Philip for his Father and hath affected Heaven in his foolish imagination And now it was come near unto sedition when Alexander that in all things was without fear commanded the chief Rulers and Captains of his man of War to assemble at his Pavilion and there commanded the Astronomâ—rs of the Egyptians whom he judged to have most understanding oâ— the Planets to declare their opinions They understanding very well the revolutions of the time and their appointed courses knâ—w that the Moon was ever eclipsed when that either she was underneath the earth or else when her light was blâ—mished by opposition of the Sun which reason reserved amongst themselves they accustome not to acquaint the people with it But affirm that the Greeks were under the Aspect of the Sun and the Persians under the Moon and therefore so often as the Moon â—â—â—leth of her light it signifiâ—d great destruction unto the Nations under that constellation And to confirm that opinion of theirs they brought in old Presidents of the Kings of Persia to whom the eclipse of the Moon had signified that the gods were against them in sighting of their Battel There is nothing more effectual then superstition to govern a multitude which otherwise is without rule tumultuous and mutable but when they have once conceived a religion though it be but vain they are more obedient to their Diviners then to their Captains which thing might be well perceived when the answers of the Egyptians were divulged amongst the people For they streightways were removed from their dulness and despair and stirred up to hope and confidence Alexander therefore that could use the time and imploy his Souldiers in their good mood in the second watch removed their camp keeping Tygris on his right hand and the Mountains which they call Gordian on his left By break of day the Scouts that he sent before to discover the enemy returned to him with report of Darius his coming then the Souldiers prepared themselves to fight and marched forwards in order of battel But those who were discoverers for the Persians were a thousand horsemen who seemed to the Macedons to be a great Army The Scouts commonly have that property that when they cannot finde out the truth they imagine through fear things that be false When Alexander understood the certainty he sent towards them a small number of his own horsemen at whose coming they fled and were partly slain and part of them taken prisoners That done he sent forth another party as well to discover further as also to quench the fire which the Persians had made through all the Country for as they fled away they put fire into the roofs of their houses and the stacks of Corn which soon took hold above and consumed all till it came to the ground By the extinguishing of those fires great plenty of Corn was preserved and abundance of all other things ensued amongst the Macedons this was a motive which incouraged the Souldiers greatly to pursue their enemies for they doubting that they might burn and consume all such things as might serve to their use pursued them with all the speed they could make providence growing from necessity For Mazeus who before did burn the Country at leisure when he saw himself pursued fled away and left unto the Macedons the greater part untouched Alexander understanding that Darius drew towards him and was come within an hundred and fifty furlongs made provision of Victuals and remained four days in the same place Darius Letters were there intercepted which he had written to the Greeks in perswasion either to kill or betray Alexander He doubted whether he should recite the same Letters openly or no having no mistrust of their fidelity and affection towards him But Parmenio disswaded him from acquainting the Souldiers with any such promises of Darius considering that the committing of such an act consisted in one mans hands and that covetousness never judged any thing unlawful He followed Parmenio's counsel and so removed his Camp As they were marching one of the Eunuches that attended upon Darius wife brought word how she fainted and was in great peril of death for she in very deed was so wearied with continual travel and affection of minde that she fell down in a swound betwixt her mother-in-law and her young daughter and so died He had no sooner reported it but another came with tydings that she was dead indeed whereat Alexander was no less sorrowful than if his own mother had been in the same condition and weeping no less then Darius should have done
of their terrour seeing they could not enjoy any benefit of the Stars for if any gave light the same was taken away by the shadow of the trees And the use of the ear could not serve for one to receive counsel and comfort from another the winde whirling amongst the leaves and the shaking of the boughs making an amazing noise But at length the day increasing in its light diminished the terrours that the darkness of the night had made Then by fetching a little compass about they passed the hollow gull and every man began to be a guide to himself At last they got up on the top of the Hill from whence they might behold their Enemies in their Camp Then the Macedons shewed themselves stoutly in their Armour appearing suddenly on their backs when they mistrusted no such thing and there slew such as came first to encounter with them So that on the one part the grievous noise of them that were slain and the miserable shrick of such as ran in for succour amongst their own company put the rest to slight without making any resistance When the Alarm was once heard in the Camp where Craterus lay the Army by and by passed forward to go through the Streights in the which they were repulsed the day before Philotas also with Polipercon Cenos and Amintas who were gone the other way arrived at the same time and gave a further terrour unto their Enemies When the Persians saw their Enemies assailing them in all parts at once though they were so opprest with their sudden invasion that at the first they were in doubt what to do yet at length they assembled together and fought notably necessity stirring up the faintness of their hearts for often-times despair is the cause of good hope They being unarmed closed with them that were armed and with the weight of their bodies pulled their Enemies to the Earth and killed divers with their own Weapons Ariobarzanes with forty Horsemen and five thousand Footmen that kept about his person brake through the Battel of the Macedons to the great slaughter of his own men and his Enemies and by making haste recovered Persepolis the chief City of the Countrey But when he was excluded from thence by such as were within he renewed again the Fight with such as were with him and so was slain By that time Craterus that made all the speed he could was come unto them Alexander fortified his Camp in the same place where he did discomfite his Enemies For though they were all fled and he certain of the Victory yet because he found his way stopped in many places with great and deep Ditches he thought good to use circumspection and not to make too great a speed not so much by fear of his Enemies Force as by reason of the nature of the ground which he found apt for them to lay ambushments against him As he was passing forwards he received Letters from Tyridates the keeper of Darius Treasure signifying that the inhabiters of Persepolis hearing of his coming were about to spoil the Treasure and that therefore he should haste to prevent it for the way was ready enough notwithstanding the River of Araxes interposed There was no vertue in Alexander more commendable then his celerity which he shewed specially in this for leaving his footmen behinde he travelled all night with his horsemen and by day-light came to the River of Araxes there he found many Villages and Houses whose Timber being taken down a Bridge was raised in a moment by the help of stones which were found in the bottom of the River When Alexander had passed the River and came near unto the City a company met him so miserable as seldom have been found in any memory They were Greeks to the number of four thousand whom the Persians heretofore had taken prisoners and afflicted with divers kindes of torments For some of them had their feet cut off some their hands and others their ears but all were marked in the flesh with hot Irons The Persians having maimed and deformed them after this manner kept and reserved them still as a memory of their despite towards the Nation But when they saw they should come under the obedience of another Prince they suffered the Greeks to meet Alexander They seemed rather to be Specters then men for nothing could be discerned or known but their voice The compassion of their wretched estate caused the beholders to let fall no fewer tears then they did themselves For it could not appear which of them were most miserable though their afflictions were divers But when they had cried out before Alexander that Jupiter the revenger of Greece had opened their eyes in beholding him that should deliver them they judged then all their gifts as one Alexander wiped the tears from his eyes and willed them to be of good chear for that they should both see their Countrey and their Friends and he encamped at the same place where he met them being two furlongs from Persepolis The Greeks drew themselves together to consult what was best for them to demand of Alexander and when some were of opinion to ask dwelling places within Asia and others had more minde to return into their Countries Euctemon the Cymaean spake thus unto them We that even now were ashamed to put our heads out of the prison and darkness we were in to make suit for our own aid and relief are become of such simplicity that we presently desire to shew unto Greece as a pleasant spectacle our deformities and maims whereof we have as much cause to be ashamed as to be grieved You must think that such bear their miseries best who can finde the means to hide them most and that there is no Countrey so familiar to men that be unfortunate as solitariness and forgetfulness of their former estate For they which make an account of their Friends pity and compassion know not how soon their tears may dry up no Creatures can love those faithfully whom they abhor For as calamity of her own Nature is full of complaint so Felicity is always proud and every one doth use to think of his own Fortune when he judgeth of his Neighbours For except we had all been in misery one of us long ago had been weary of another What marvel is it then though men in felicity seek alwaies their equals My opinion is therefore that we who as men long ago were as dead in this life seek us a place wherein we may hide our maimed members and whereas exile may conceal our horrible deformities If we shall return into our Countrey being in this case how can we but be unwelcome to our Wives whom we married young Or shall our Children or our Brethren now acknowledge us being the vomits of so many Prisons and though all things should there succeed as we could wish yet how small a number of us are able to travel through so many Countries How is it possible for
pass which being four Furlongs in bredth and so deep that no footing could be found appeared to them like a great Sea and yet the largeness thereof nothing mitigated the violence of the stream but it ran with no less â—ury than if it had been narrow appearing by the repercussion of the water in many places to be full of great stones in the bottom This River being sufficient to affright them of it self the sight of the further bank full of Horse and Men was an increase to their terrour where the Elephants that had bodies of an unreasonable greatness stood in their sight being provoked to bray of purpose to the intent that with their terrible noise they should fill their Enemies ears with fear Though the Macedons were couragious and their hearts full of good hope as they who oftentimâ—s had experience of their own acts yet their Enemies and the River both together made them wonderfully amazed for they could not think how to keep a stedfast course to the further shore in so weak and uncertain Boats nor when they were there could they see how to arrive with success There were many Islands in the middest of the River into the which both the Indians and the Macedons did swim holding their weapons above their heads Thâ—re they skirmished together in the sight of both Kings who by experience of this small bickering made trial of the success of the Battel to come But amongst the Macedons there were two noble young men called Sisimachus and Nicanor excelling in courage and in hardy attempts and through their continual good fortune had got a resolution to despise all peril Other young men took them for their Captains and without any other armour saving their Pikes swom over into an Island which was full of their Enemies where through their boldness only they slew many of them and so might have returned with glory if rashness where it findeth prosperous success could ever be content with measure But while with scorn and pride they tarried for their Enemies they were suddenly inclosed by such as did swim over the River and were killed with Darts which they cast at them from afar Such as escaped their Enemies were drowned in depth of water or eddies of the stream This fight put Porus in great courage who saw all their doings from the further shore And though Alexander was long uncertain what way to take yet at length he deceived his Enemies by this policy There was an Island in the River greater than the rest and apt to hide his designe by reason it was full of Wood and had a great â—ampiâ—r cast upon that bank which was towards his Enemies there both his Footmen and Hosemen might stand covered from the sight of the Indians and the rather to turn their eyes another way from looking towards the Island he caused Ptolomy with a great number of Horsemen to shew themselves against their Enemies far off from the Island and to put the Indians in fear of them making ever a shew as though they would swim over the River which thing Ptolomy did many days together to the intent that Porus should be inforced to remove his Army to that part to withstand him and thereby brought them out of sight of the Island Alexander also caused his own Pavilion to be set upon the Rivers side over against his Enemies and all the pomp that pertained to the state of a King to be set forth within their view with his Lifeguard standing in sight the same which was wont to attend his person Furthermore Attalus who was equal with Alexander in years and like unto him both in face and personage stood there openly apparelled like the King that it might appear to Porus that Alexander was still remaining there and went not about to pass the River The execution of this designe was first letted by a tempest whereby afterwards it was furthered and brought to good effect fortune ever using to turn her discommodities into good success towards him For when the Enemies were thus attent to observe Ptolomy who lay upon the river against him and Alexander with the rest of his Army was busie about the passing of his men into the Island before mentioned there fell suddenly a great storm scarcely tolerable to such as lay within their Cabines which so much afflicted the Souldiers abroad that they forsook their Boats and fled again to land And yet for all this their busling and noise was not heard of their Enemies through the vehemency of the shower As this Tempest began suddenly so it suddenly ceased but the clouds remained so dark that there appeared not so much light as the Souldiers might know one another by the face when they spake together which darkness might have feared some other men considering that they had to row in a River that they knew not their Enemies peradventure waiting for them at their landing whither they went as blinde men that for glory fought in peril But Alexander used that which put other men in terrour to serve for his desire and willed that every man upon a signe given should enter into their Boats with silence his Boat was the first that lanched from the shore towards the further side of his Enemies Porus only keeping his Watch against Ptolomy There was but one Boat that stuck fast by the way upon a Rock and all the other recovered the land Alexander then commanded the Souldiers to prepare their armour and fall into array and whilest he was dividing his men to put them in order of Battel and to march towards his Enemies it was reported to Porus that a great number of men of War were come over the River and landed which would straightway give him Battel But he at the first according to the fault that is in mans nature through overmuch confidence in himself believed it not but thought that Abiasares who was confederate with him had come to his assistance Yet when the day appeared and the truth was manifest Porus put forth a hundred armed Waggons and four thousand Horsemen under the leading of Hagis his brother to keep Alexander in action They counted those Waggons their principal Force for every one of them carried six men two Archers two with Targets and two that ruled the Horses which were not unarmed but when it came to the Fight they let their reins loose and bestowed their Darts among their Enemies But the use of those Waggons served to small purpose for the shower that had fallen more violently than was accustomed had made the fields wet and slabby that the Waggons could not stir but stuck in the mire and became immoveable whereas Alexander being without baggage or any thing that might be an impediment unto him fiercely invaded his Enemies The Scythians and the Dahans were the first that gave the onset and Perdicas was appointed with the Horsemen to charge upon the right-hand-Battel of the Indians Then the Battels beginning to joyn on all parts
they that had the charge of the Waggons counting them their last refuge let loose the reins and rushed forward into the midst of the Fight The coming of these Waggons appeared to be a matter doubtful and dangerous to both Parties for at the first brunt the Macedons were born over and overthrown by them and when the Waggons came in any rough or miry place the Indians were thrown out of them For when the Horses that drew them were once galled and put in fear they carried the Waggons without government and tumbled part of them in the mire and part into the River a few traversed the fields and fled for succour unto Porus who seeing his Waggons scattered all over the Fields and to wander about with their Rulers he distributed the charge of his Elephants amongst his Friends and placed his Footmen and Archers behinde them He had many that sounded upon Timbrels being Instruments that the Indians used in the stead of Trumpets wherewith their Ears were so filled that the noise of their Enemies little moved them They did bear also the Image of Hercules in the front of their Foot-battel which was done for an encouragement for them to fight well and for a note of reproof and scandal to them that should â—ly from their Standard for it was loss of life to leave it in the Field So that the fear they conceived of Hercules who sometimes had been their Enemy was then turned into a Veneration and Religion The sight both of the Elephants and Porus himself astonied the Macedons and caused them a while to make a stand for the beasts being set in order amongst the armed men shewed afar off like high Towers and Porus himself exceeding the stature of most men the Elephant whereupon he did ride was an addition unto his height which excelled so much all the other Elephants as he himself excelled the rest of men So that Alexander beholding both Porus and his power said That at length he had found a Jewel equal unto his heart for we have to do quoth he both with terrible Beasts and with notable Men of War And thereupon he looked towards Cenon and said unto him When I with Ptolomy Perdicas and Ephestion shall set upon the left Battel of our Enemies and you shall see us in the heat of fight do you then set forwards my right Battel and freshly assail them when you see them begin to fall out of order Antigonus Leonatus and Tauron do you bend against their Main Battel and set upon the Front Our Pikes are long and strong and cannot serve to any better use then against the Elephants wherewith they may be thrust through and such overthrown as are carried upon their backs The Elephants are but an uncertain force which use to do most harm unto their own part for as they use to go against their Enemies so long as they are at command so when they are once put in fear they turn against their own men and shew most rage towards them He had not so soon spoken these words but he put Spurs to his Horse advancing against his Enemies and when according to his appointment he had given the Charge Cenon with a great Force brake upon the left Battel and the Phalanx at the same instant brake in amongst the midst of their Enemies When Porus saw the Horsemen give the Charge he put forwards his Elephants to encounter them but they being slow Beasts and not apt suddenly to move were prevented by the swiftness of the Horses and their Bows stood them not in any great stead for by reason their Arrows were so long and heavy they could not nock them on their Bows except they first staid their Bows upon the ground and the ground was so slippery that they could not have any perfect footing and while they were preparing themselvs to shoot their Enemies were come amongst them Then every man fled from the order that Porus had given as it chanceth oftentimes amongst troubled minds where Fear beareth more rule then the Captains appointment for in so many parts as their Army was divided so many Generals became among them Some would joyn all their Battels in one others would have them divided some willed to stay and others to go forwards and inclose their Enemies about there was no general consultation amongst them Porus notwithstanding accompanied with a few with whom shame prevailed more then fear assembled such of his Forces together as were dispersed abroad and advanced against his Enemies setting his Elephants in the front of the Battel They put the Macedons in fear troubling with their unwonted cry not only the Horse that naturally do fear them but also amazed the men and disturbed their order insomuch that they who a little before thought themselves Victors looked about which way to fly and save themselves which when Alexander perceived he sent against the Elephants the Agrians and Thracians who were men light armed and more apt to skirmish afar off then to fight hand to hand They bravely assaulted the Elephants and their Governours and sore afflicted them with the multitude of their Darts and Arrows that they bestowed amongst them and the Phalanx came constantly forwards against them who were already in fear but such as pressed over-forward in fighting with the Elephants procured their manifest destruction and being trampled to death with their feet they were an example to others not to be over-hasty in adventuring themselves The most terrible sight was when the Elephants with their long Trunks called Proboscis took the Macedons in their Armour from the ground and delivered them up to their Governours The Battel was prolonged doubtfully till the day was far spent the Souldiers sometimes flying from the Elephants and sometimes pursuing after them until that with a certain kinde of crooked weapons called Copidae prepared for the purpose they cut the Elephants upon the legs These the Macedons had right aptly divided for not only the fear of death but also the fear of a new kinde of torment in death caused them to leave nothing unattempted Finally the Elephants wearied with wounds with their violent strugling did cast their Governours to the earth and did tear them in pieces for they were put in such fear that they were no more hurtful to their Enemies but driven out of the Battel like sheep Porus being forsaken of the greater part of his men ceased not to cast Darts whereof he had plenty prepared upon his Elephant amongst them that surrounded him whereby he wounded many and by reason he lay open to every mans blow he was laid at on all parts till he received nine wounds behinde and before through which he bled so much that he had no power to cast any more Darts but for feebleness they fell out of his hands The Elephant also which he did ride upon pricked forwards with fury made a great disturbance amongst the Macedons until that his Governour seeing the King so faint that he let fall
assigned to encounter with those that Darius had sent to take the top of the Mountain He willed Parmenio that as much as might be he should stretch out his Forces towards the Sea and withdraw as far as he could from the Hills which the Enemies had taken but such as had direction by Darius to take the Hills neither durst resist such as came against them nor yet compass about such as were passed by them but fled away at the first fight of the Slingers which thing chanced well for Alexander for it was the thing that he doubted most that they from the higher ground should invade the open side of his Battel which lay unslanked towards them The Macedons marched 32 in a rank for the streightness of the ground would not suffer them to move in a broader body but by little and little as the plain between the Mountains began to enlarge so they had liberty to make their Battels broader and also for the horsemen to march upon the sides When both the Battels were come within fight of each other the Persians first gave a terrible and rude shout which was again doubled by the Macedons not with their number which was far inferiour unto the Persians but with the râ—bound of the Hills and the Rocks which doubled every voice of theirs Alexander did ride up and down before the fronts of his Battels making a signe to his Souldiers with his hand that they should not make too much haste to joyn with their Enemies for bringing themselves out of breath and as he went by he used to every Nation sundry exhortations as he thought convenient for their dispositions and qualities He put the Macedons in remembrance of their ancient courage and the number of Battels that they had won in Europe that they were come thither by his conduct not only to subdue Asia but the uttermost bounds of the Orient He shewed them to be the people that were ordained to conquer the world and to pass the bounds of Hercules and Bacchus he declared that both Bactria and India should be theirs in respect of which the countries that they had yet seen were but trifles and these were to be gotten all with one Victory Their Travel he said should not now be in vain as it was in the barren Rocks of Illyria or in the Mountains of Thrace but in this Conquest the Spoil of the whole Orient was offered unto them for the getting whereof they should scarcely need to handle their Swords since the Battels of their Enemies wavered so already for fear that with their approach only they had almost put them to flight He recalled his Father Philip unto their memory how he conquered the Athenians with the Country of Boetia how he rased to the ground the noble City of Thebes he made rehearsal to them of the Battel won at the River of Granike and of all the Cities that he had taken or that had been yielded unto him with the Countries they had passed through and subdued When he came unto the Greeks he desired them to call to miâ—d the great Wars that had been made against their Country in times past by the Persians first by the pride of Xerxes and after by Darius who made destruction both by Sea and Land in such 〈◊〉 that the Rivers could not serve them for Drink 〈◊〉 the Earth furnish them with Victuals for Food He rehearsed also how the Temples of their gods had been by them polluted and consumed their Cities overthrown and all Truces broken which ought to be confirmed both by divine and humane Law when he passed by the Illyrians and Thracians which were accustomed always to theft and spoil he invited them to behold their enemies which glistered with gold and bare no armour but spoil for them to take he incouraged them to go forwards like men and pluck the prcy from those effeminate women and to make exchange of their craggy Rocks and Mountains full of snow for the plentiful grounds and lands of Persia By this time both Armies were advanced within the throw of their Darts and Darius Horsemen gave a fierce charge upon the right-hand-Battel of the Macedons For Darius desire was to try the Battel by Horsemen rightly judging that the chiefest power of his Enemies consisted in their square Battel of Footmen So that the Battel where Alexander remained was brought to the point of being inclosed round if he had not perceived the same in time and commanding two Bodies of his Horse to keep the top of the Hill he brought all the rest of them to the incounter of his Enemies Having then drawn the Thessalian Horsemen where they stood to fight he commanded their Capt. to bring them about behinde the Battels and there to joyn with Parmenio to perform with courage what he should appoint them By this time the Phalanx of the Macedons in manner inclosed about with their Enemies fought notably on all parts but they stood so thick and were so joyned one to another that they wanted 〈◊〉 to wield their weapons They were so mingled that in casting their darts they one letted another few lighting on their enemies and the most part falling on the ground without harm and being forced to joyn hand to hand they valiantly used the sword Then there was great effusion of blood for both the Armies closed so near that their Harness clashed together weapon against weapon and foined at one anothers faces with their Swords There was no place for the fearful or the coward to fly back but each set his foot to other and by fighting kept still their place till they could make their way by force and so always passed forwards as they had overthrown their Enemies As they were wearied and travelled thus with fighting they were ever received with fresh Enemies and such as were wounded might not depart out of the Battel as it had been seen elsewhere their Enemies assailed them so fiercely before and their fellows thrust on so hard behind Alexander that day did not only such things as pertained to a Captain but adventured himself as far as any private Souldier coveting by all means to kill Darius which he esteemed the greatest honour Darius rode aloft upon his Chariot giving great provocations both for his Enemies to assail him and for his own Men to defend him As Oxatres his brother appeared most notable amongst them all in his furniture and personage so in affection towards the King he exceeded far the rest especially in that case of necessity for when Alexander approached near he thrust in before Darius with the band of Horsemen whereof he had the charge and overthrowing divers he put many more to flight But the Macedons swarmed so about the King and were in such a courage by the Exhortation that each made to other that they charged again upon the Band of Horsemen Then the slaughter was great and the overthrow manifest about the Chariot of Darius the noblest of his Captains lay
before any durst utter what they thought because they were uncertain how the King was inclined at length Parmenio spake and said My opinion was ever that the prisoners taken at Damascus should have been delivered to such as would redeem them whereby a great sum of money might have been made of them who now remaining in captivity trouble the hands of many a man of service And now I think most necessary of all that you exchange for thirty Talents of Gold this old Woman and the two young Damzels which be but impediments and disturbance to your marches Here is a rich Realm to be gotten by Treaty without any hazard of Battel For there was never any before you quoth he that was Lord of all the Countries in length and bredth lying between Ister and Euphrates He willed him therefore rather to have respect towards Macedonia then to look forward towards Bactria and the Indians These words liked not the King and therefore so soon as Parmenio had made an end of his Speech he made this answer And if I were Parmenio I would rather desire Money then Glory But now seeing I am Alexander I am not in any doubt of poverty and have in consideration that I am a King and no Merchant I have nothing whereof I will make Sale I will much less sell my Fortune If I were in minde to deliver the Prisoners it were much better to give them freely then to ransome them for money Hereupon he called the Embassadours and answered them in this sort Shew you to Darius that giving of thanks is needless to an enemy and let him not think that I have had any respect to his friendship in those things that I have done of mine own clemency and liberality Nor let him impute the same in any wise towards himself but to the inclination of mine own nature and that I contend not against mens calamities but against the force of mine Enemies I use not to make war with women and prisoners for he must be armed to whom I shall owe my hatred And though it were so indeed that he meant good faith in his peace asking yet peradventure I would take advice before I would consent But seeing that at one time he hath provoked my Souldiers to betray me and at other times stirred up my friends with money to destroy me I must pursue him to the uttermost not as a righteous enemy but as one that worketh his ends by treason If I should accept the condition of peace that you do bring I should acknowledge him to be Conquerour His liberality doth give me all that is behinde the River of Euphrates not considering in what place I speak now unto you Have you forgotten that I am passed the River of Euphrates and incamped beyond the bounds ye prâ—ffer me in Dowry Drive me from hence that I may know the same to be yours wherewith you would infeoff me He proffereth me his Daughter with no greater liberality then he would do to one of his Servants Doth he think to do me a pleasure in preferring me to be his Son-in-law before Mazeus Go and shew this to your King that both what he hath lost and what he hath yet in possession shall be unto me the rewards of the War which shall determine the bounds of both our Empires and by the fortune of the battel which we shall fight to morrow appoint to each of us our limits Let him know that I came not into Asia to receive but to give If he would have been content to have been the second person and not coveted to be equal with me I would peradventure have granted his request But as two Suns cannot shine on the Earth at once so likewise two such great Kingdoms cannot be at one time without the subversion of the world Therefore let him either this day yield himself or else prepare against the morrows fight nor let him perswade himself to have any other fortune then what he hath proved already The Embassadours replied That seeing he was resolved to proceed with War he did Royally that he was plain unto them and did not feed them with hope of peace Their request was therefore that they might be dispatched to their Prince to warn him to prepare himself likewise When they returned there was no way but to prepare for the fight Wherefore Darius sent for Mazeus with three thousand horsemen to keep the passages by which the Macedons should pass When Alexander had performed the Funerals of Darius wife leaving a small guard behinde with all such as were unprofitable for the fight he set forward towards his Enemies His footmen were divided into two Battels empaled with horsemen on both sides and his carriages were placed in the midst He sent Medinas with horsemen upon the spurs to discover where Darius was but he not daring to adventure far because Mazeus was there strongly quartered returned back and reported that there was nothing to be heard but the noyse of men and the neighing of horses Mazeus also the Scouts of Alexander being discovered gave intelligence to Darius of the approach of the enemy Darius who desired to try the event of the Battel in the open Plains commanded his Souldiers to be armed and put his Army in array of Battel Two thousand of the Bactrian and the Dahan horse and four thousand of the Arachosians and Susians did make the left Wing These were followed by a hundred hooked Chariots Next unto them was Bessus with a thousand Bactrian horse and two thousand of the Massagetae did back him on his rear To these the foot of many Nations not mixed but in distinct Regiments did joyn their formidable power after them Ariobarzanes and Oriobates with the Mardians and Sogdians did bring up the Army of the Persians This part of Darius Army was commanded in chief by Orsines descended from seven Persian Kings and deriving also his Original from the noble King Cyrus There were other Nations that followed these but hardly known to their own Neighbours After whom Cradates having fifty hooked Chariots placed a Band of Caspian horsemen before them and behinde them were the Indians and the other inhabiters of the red Sea rather names of men then good assistance This square was also empaled with the other fifty Chariots unto the which the mercenary Souldiers were joyned after them followed the men of Armenia the less then the Babylonians and next the Bellicans with such as inhabit the Cossean Mountains The Gortuans came next who sometime followed the Medians out of Euboia but at those days degenerated from their Country-customs The Pâ—â—ygians Cathonians and Parthians did close the rear In the Battel on the right hand were the people of the greater Armenia the Cadusians Cappadocians and Medians who had fifty hooked Chariots the sum of his whole Army was forty five thousand horsemen and two hundred thousand footmen When they were placed in order of Battel they marched forward ten furlongs and then were
commanded to make a halt Whilest the Persians after that manner tarried for their Enemies there fell a sudden fear amongst the Macedons whereof there appeared no cause and yet every man was amazed and a secret dread entred into their hearts The lightning that fell out of the air it being in the Summer-season seemed like fire and the flames suddenly appearing were thought to come from Darius Camp If Mazeus who was sent out to observe their coming had set upon them while they were in this fear he might have performed some notable act But he was slow in the enterprize and remained upon the top of an Hill contented that he was not assailed Alexander perceiving the terrour that invaded his Souldiers made a signe for them to slay and gave order that they should unarm themselves and refresh their bodies giving them to understand that there was not any cause why they should entertain so vain a fear seeing their Enemies were yet a good distance from them At length when he perceived they had recovered their spirits he exhorted them to receive courage and put on their armour but yet he thought nothing more expedient then to fortifie his Camp in the same place The next day Mazeus who had planted himself on a high Hill from whence he might behold his Enemies Camp either for fear or else because his Commission was but only to discover the motion of his Enemies returned again unto Darius Upon his departure the Macedons immediately possessed themselves of the Hill which he had forsaken the same being of more strength then the Plain where they remained before from whence they might behold their Enemies Camp And though the Mist which the moist Hills did cast forth took not away clearly the use of their prospect yet it hindred them to discern the division of their Enemies Battels and their order their multitude overspread the fields and the noise of their number did fill their ears though they were far off Then Alexander begun to revolve in his minde and to debate with himself one while Parmenio's Opinion and another time his own for he was come so far forth that he could not retire except he were Victorious without the great destruction of his Army The multitude of his Enemies moved him much in respect of his small numbers Yet on the other part remembred what great Acts he had done with them and how many Nations he had vanquished So that his hope surmounting his fear he thought it of all most dangerous to defer the Battel any longer lest desperation should grow amongst his men and therefore dissembling the matter he caused the Mercenary Horsemen and the Peons to pass on before and divided his Phalanx as it hath been said into two Battels and impaled the same with Horsemen on both sides By that time the Mist vanished and it waxing clear the order of his Enemies manifestly appeâ—red The Macedons then whether it were of courage or for that they were impatient to tarry any longer made such a shout as men of War use when they joyn in Battel The like was also made by the Persians Then the Woods and Valleys rebounded with the terrible sound The Macedons could not abstain any longer but would have gone forwards towards their Enemies But Alexander thought it better to fortifie his Camp upon that Hill and so commanded it to be intrenched about Which work being speedily performed he entred into his Tent from whence he might behold the Field Marshalled and the whole Army of his Enemies embattelled then the fashion and form of the danger that was at hand was presented before his eyes both Horsemen and Footmen glistered in their bright Armour and all things were prepared with extraordinary diligence He beheld the care of the Captains in his Enemies Camp how they did ride up and down to set things in order And many things that were but vain indeed as the noise of Men the neighing of Horses and the glistering of their Armour troubled yet the minde that was careful in expectation of the event Therefore whether it were that he was not fully resolved in his minde or else to prove the resolutions of such as were about him a Councel of War was called to advise what was best to do Parmenio who was the most experienced among all the Captains in the feats of War thought it good not to give his Enemies open Battel but rather to set upon them in the dead time of the night whereby he thought they might easily be discomfited supposing that they among whom there was such diversity of Customs and alteration of Language could never rally well together especially when in the dead of night they should have their quarters beaten up whereas in the day time the shape of the Scythians and Bactrians with their rough faces and long hair beside the hugeness of their bodies should appear terrible He alledged how Souldiers were more moved with the vain causes of fear and such as were of no moment then with such as were just causes indeed He declared also how their Enemies by reason of their great multitude should be able to inclose their small number round about and that they should not now fight in the Streights and narrow passages of Cilicia but in an open and large Plain They all in a manner agreed to Parmenio and Polipercon was directly of Opinion that the Victory consisted on the following of that counsel The King that before had upbraided Parmenio more bitterly then was expedient would not check him again but beheld Polipercon and said That Policy that you advise me pertaineth to Robbers and Felons for it is their propriety to work by darkness and deceit I will no more suffer that either Darius absence the streightness of the ground or the stealth in the night shall be an hinderance to my glory I am plainly determined to fight with him in the open day and had rather repent me of my Fortune then he ashamed of my Victory Besides this is to be considered that the Persians keep good Watch and stand armed always in a readiness to receive us whereof I have advertisement so that they cannot be deceived that way therefore there doth remain no more but that you prepare your selves to the Battel When he had by these words put them into courage he dismissed them from Counsel to refresh their bodies Darius conjecturing that his Enemies would have done that which Parmenio did perswade caused the Horses to stand ready bridled the whole night and the most part of his Host to continue armed and to keep good watch His Camp shone bright with the fires that were made and he himself with his Captains and Kinsfolks went about his Souldiers that stood in order and in Arms making invocation to the Sun to Mars and to the Everlasting Fire that they would inspire into them a fortitude of minde that might answer to the Ancient Glory and the Acts of their Predecessors And declared if the minde of man
law of Arms is observed Think not that the Scythians do confirm their friendship with any oath for they think they swear in keeping of their faith The custome of the Greeks is to justifie their doings by calling their gods to witness but we acknowledge Religion to consist in faith They that do not their due reverence unto men deceive the gods Think not those Friends to be necessary unto thee of whose good will thou shalt need to doubt Thou mayest use us as Keepers both of Europe and Asia for we should joyn with Bactria but that Tanais doth devide us and beyond Tanais our Dominion stretcheth so far as Thracia and the Fame is that Thracia confineth with Macedon Consider therefore whether it be necessary for thee or no to receive us as Friends or to visit us as Enemies to thy Empires These were the Scythians words to whom the King made Answer That he would both use his own Fortune and their Counsel that advised him well He would follow his Fortune he said because he had great confidence in it and other mens Counsel because he would do nothing unadvisedly nor upon the sudden Thereupon he dismissed the Embassadors and imbarked his Army in the Boats he had prepared In the foreparts of the Boats he set such as had Targets willing them to kneel upon their knees for their more safeguard against the shot of the Arrows And those were placed behinde them who had the charge of the Engines being both before and on both sides inclosed with armed mâ—n The rest that stood beyond the Engines being armed themselves defended with Targets such as rowed The same order was also observed in those Boats that carried over the Horsemen The greater part drew their Horses after them by the reins swimming at the stern of the Boats and such as were carried upon trusses filled with straw were defended by the Boats that rowed betwixt them and their Enemies Alexander with such men as he had chosen to be about his Person first lanched from the Land and directed his course to the further side The Scythians came against them with their Horsemen in order of Battel standing upon the brink of the further shore to oppose their landing whose shew being a terrour to the Macedons they had also another cause of fear in their passing over For the Boat-masters were not able to keep their course against the force of the stream And the Souldiers swaying to and fro for the doubt they had to fall in the water troubled the Mariners in the doing of their office By reason whereof the Macedons could not have scope to cast their Darts with any force taking more care how to place themselves out of peril then to annoy their enemies Their Engines stood them in great stead which seldome did shoot in vain against their Enemies that stood thick before them attempting to resist their landing When the Scythians saw them near the shore they did shoot an infinite number of Arrows into the Boats so that there was not almost any Target that had not many heads sticking in it At length the Boats arrived at the land then the Target-men did rise upon their feet and having more scope and surer footing threw their Darts more certainly and with greater force whereby perceiving their Enemies to shrink and rein back their Horses they leaped chearfully unto the land one exhorting and encouraging another and vigorously pursued them when they saw them to fall out of array By that time Alexanders Horsemen who had assembled themselves in Troops brake upon their Enemies and put them to great disorder In the mean season the rest being defended by them that were fighting landed and prepared themselves to the Battel Alexander with the stoutness of his courage supplied the impotency of his body His voice could not be heard when he spake and exhorted his men the scar of his wound not yet closed but all men might see him fighting wherefore every one used the office of a Captain in giving exhortation unto his fellows and ran upon their Enemies without respect of their own lives Then the Scythians could not endure any longer the countenance the force nor the cry of their Enemies but being all on Horseback fled away upon the Spur whom the King pursued eighty Furlongs notwithstanding that with great pain he endured his infirmity When his heart fainted he commanded his men that they should follow still in the chase as long as the day lasted and having not strength to sustain any further travel he returned into his Camp to rest himself The Macedons in their pursuit passed the bounds of Bacchus in monument of whom there were great stones set up of equal distance and high trees whose stocks were covered over with Ivy. But no bounds could be a stay to the Macedons being carried forwards in their fury for it was midnight before they returned again to their Camp who having killed many and taken a great number of prisoners did drive before them a thousand eight hundred Horses There were slain of the Macedons threescore Horsemen of the Footmen one hundred and about one thousand hurt This enterprise with the fame of the Victory falling in so good a season kept the greatest part of Asia in obedience which were at the point to have rebelled For they believed the Scythians to be invincible who being vanquished they judged no Nation able to withstand the power of the Macedons The Sacans after this Victory sent their Embassadours unto Alexander offering themselves to come under his obedience to the doing whereof they were not so greatly moved with fear of his Force as they were with report of his clemency used towards the Scythians after he had discomfited them For he delivered home all the prisoners without ransome to witness unto the world that he made War with those fierce Nations to shew his power and his vertue and not for any malice or to shew his wrath upon them That was the cause that he so gently received the Embassadors of the Sacans causing Excipinus to accompany them who being in the first flower of his youth was for that respect in great favour and samiliarity with Alexander In personage he resembled Ephestion but inferiour to him in pleasantness of speech After this Alexander giving order to Craterus to follow him by small journeys with the greater part of his Army he himself came to the City of Maracanda from whence Spitamenes who heard of his coming was fled into Bactria The King therefore making great journeys four days continually came into the place where under the conduct of Menedemus he had lost two thousand Footmen and three hundred Horsemen He caused their bones to be gathered together celebrating their Funerals after their Countrey manner By that time Craterus with the Phalanx was come to the King and to the intent he might punish with the Sword all such as had rebelled he divided his power into divers parts commanding them to burn in every place
up some white Cloath You shall see me then come forwards with my power and turn the Enemies from you towards me He shall have ten Talents for a reward who doth recover the top first and he that getteth up next shall have one less and the like order shall be observed with Ten of the first I am assured you regard not so much my liberalitie as my favour When they had heard the King speak after that manner they imagined the thing done and departing out of his presence they prepared strong Ropes and iron Hooks which they fastened to the Rocks and so climbed up The King brought them about the Rock whereas it seemed least steep and most plain to mount upon and in the second Watch willed them to pass forwards with good speed They being furnished with two days Victuals and armed only with Swords and Spears at first went forwards without any great difficulty but when they came to the steepness of the Rock some took hold of the broken crags to lift up themselves and some fastening their Hooks on the Rocks climbed up by the Ropes They were compelled to rest and stay divers times and so consumed that day in travel and fear When they had passed many difficult places further labours appeared the height of the Rock seeming to grow more and more When they failed either of their hold or of their footing it was a miserable thing to see how they fell down headlong shewing by their mis-fortune an example to others what was likely to come of them Notwithstanding at length through all these difficulties they got up unto the top where wearied with the travel of their continual labour and some with the hurts and maims they had received they slept all that night amongst the wild and rough Rocks unmindful of the peril they were in When it was day they awaked out of their deep sleep and beholding the valleys underneath them they were ignorant in what part of the Rock so great a multitude of their Enemies should lie But at length when they perceived by the smoke in what place they were they upon the points of two spears set up the signe that was appointed them and found that in their coming up they had lost two and thirty The King being careful not so much for the desire he had to win the Rocks as to save those whom he had exposed to so manifest a danger stood all day beholding the top of the Mountain and when the darkness of the night took away the prospect of the eyes he departed to refresh his body The next day before it was full light he perceived the white Cloth set up on the top of the Rock but the variety of the Air the Sun beginning to arise and yet clouded caused him to doubt a while whether his sight had failed him or not But when it was full and open day it was manifestly apparent and all doubt was removed Then he called Cophes by whom he had attempted their mindes before willing him once again to exhort them to be better advised and if so be that in the trust of their strength they would not submit themselves that then he should shew to them those Souldiers that had taken the Rock over their heads When Cophes came thither he began to perswade Arimazes to give up his strength thereby to win the Kings favour and not inforce Alexander to stay in the Siege of a Rock having so many weighty affairs in hand But he found him more obstinate and proud then he did before and willed Cophes to depart and move him no more on that subject Then he took Arimazes by the hand and required him to go with him out of the Cave When they were come where they might look about he shewed him those that were gotten to the top of the Rock and scorning then his pride he asked of him whether Alexanders Souldiers had gotten wings or no By that time the Trumpets were blown in the Macedons Camp they might hear the Alarm that was made in the Army which as many vain and trifling things are wont in the Wars to grow to great effect so it was the cause that they yeilded themselves for fear so troubled them that they could not consider the small number that were over their heads but called Cophes again in great haste who was departed away and sent with him unto Alexander thirty of the chief men authorized to yeild up the Rock with composition to depart in safety But Alexander notwithstanding that he doubted lest his Enemies discovering the fewness of his men might put them to distress yet trusting in the felicity of his own Fortune and offended with the pride of Arimazes would agree to no condition but that they should yeild simply Arimazes thereupon despairing more of his state then he had cause descended down to the Camp with the chiefest of the Nation that were of Kin to him All whom Alexander caused to be scourged with Rods and then to be crucified at the foot of the Rock The multitude that yielded with the money that there was taken were given in gift to the Inhabitants of the new Cities and the Rule of the said Rock was committed unto Artabasus with the Charge of the Country thereabouts THE EIGHTH BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon ALexander having won this Rock with greater Fame then Glory because his Enemies remained in no place certain it was necessary for him to separate his Power and so he divided his Army into three parts He gave the Charge of the one part to Ephestion to Cenon the other and took the third part unto himself His Enemies were not all of one Opinion for some of them seeing their opposition could not avail yielded themselves before the Fight to whom he gave the Cities and the Lands of those that continued still his Enemies But the Outlawries of Bactria with eight hundred Horsemen wasted the Villages of the Massagetes For the redress whereof Attinas Governour of that Country went against them with three hundred Horsemen not knowing that his Enemies lay in wait for him who planting their Ambushment in a Wood joyning to a great Plain had appointed some men to drive Cattel thereby to draw their Enemies with the greediness of the prey within danger of the Ambush When the Souldiers of Attinas saw the Drivers of the Cattel they pursued them without order so that when they were passed the Wood where the Ambushment lay their Enemies brake out upon them not fearing any such danger and slew them every one The fame of this Overthrow came immediately to Craterus who drew thither with the Horsemen But the Massagetes being fled before his coming he flew a thousand of the Dahans that took their part whereby the Rebellion of all the Country ceased Thus Alexander having subdued the Sogdians returned to Maracanda whither Berdes whom he had sent to the Scythians inhabiting about Bosphorus came to him with
reward was truly given them And the rule of the Rock with the Countrey thereabouts was committed to Sisocostus he himself going forwards with his Army from thence to Echâ—lima Alexander understanding that certain straights through the which he should pass were kept by one Erix with twenty thousand armed men he committed that part of his Army that were heavy laden to Cenon to be brought on by soft journeys and going before in person with the Slingers and Archers he put his Enemies to flight making the way clear for his Army to pass that followed after The Indians whether it were for the hatred they did bear unto their Captain or else to get the favour of the Conquerour killed Erix as he fled away and brought his head and his armour unto Alexander He considering the foulness of the act would not honour the doers for their example sake nor punish them because they served his purpose From thence by sixteen encampings he came to that part of the River called Indus where Ephestion had prepared all things in such sort as he had commission One Omphis was King of that Countrey who before had perswaded his Father to submit himself unto Alexander and immediately upon his Fathers death sent Embassadors unto him to know his pleasure whether he should take upon him as a King before his coming or else live privately in the mean season And although he was permitted to govern as a King yet he would not use the authority granted him until the King came He had caused Ephestion to be received in the best sort he could devise but notwithstanding he had not visited him because he would not commit his person to any mans fidelity but to the Kings When he understood of Alexanders coming he went towards him with his whole Power whose Elephants by small distances mixed in Battel amongst his Footmen shewed afar off like Castles At the first Alexander did not take him a Friend but as an Enemy and therefore set his Men in order of Battel and his Horsemen in wings in readiness to Fight When Omphis understood the errour of the Macedons he commanded his men to stay and putting his spurs to his Horse he rode forwards alone Alexander did the like not questioning whether he were a Friend or an Enemy but thought himself secure either through his own manhood or the others fidelity Their meeting as it appeared by their countenances was very friendly but for want of an Interpreter they could not speak together therefore after they had called one unto them the Indian King declared unto Alexander that the cause he met him with an Army was to put immediately his whole power into his hands and tarried not to intreat for any assurance by Messengers but upon trust only had committed both his Person and his Kingdom to him whom he knew to make War for the winning of Glory and Fame and therefore could not fear in him any perfidiousness Alexander rejoyced to see his simplicity and proffered him his right hand as a pledge of his promise and restored unto him again his Kingdom He presented unto Alexander fifty and six Elephants with many other Beasts of exceeding greatness and three thousand Bulls which is a Cattel of great value in those Countries and mâ—â—h esteemed by Kings Alexander enquired of 〈◊〉 whether he had under his Dominion more Souldiers 〈…〉 of the ground He answered that he was driven of necessity to have more Souldiers because he was at War with two Kings whose Kingdoms lay beyond the River of Hydaspis their names were Abiasares and Porus but the authority remained in Porus. He said that he was prepared and resolved to adventure the hazard of the Battel with such of them as should invade him first Hereupon Alexander granted unto Omphis both to take upon him the Diadem and the name of his Father that was called Taxiles the custom of the Countrey being such that the Name ever followed the Kingdom whosoever enjoyed it When he had received Alexander honourably in hospitality three days the fourth day he declared how much Corn he had delivered to Ephestion and to his Army presenting to the King and to all his Friends Crowns of Gold and besides of Coined Silver fourscore talents Alexander rejoyced so much in his good will that he both returned again to him his Gifts and gave him besides a thousand Talents of the spoil he brought with him with much Plate of gold and silver many garments after the Persian manner and thirty of his own Horses with the same furniture they did wear when he did ride upon them which liberality as it obliged Omphis so it greatly offended the minde of the Macedons For Meleager at Supper when he had well drunk said He was very glad that Alexander had yet found one in India whom he judged worthy to receive the Gift of a thousand Talents The King bearing in minde how much he had repented the slaying of Clitus for the rashness of his tongue refrained his anger but yet told him That envious men were ever Tormentors to themselves The next day the Embassadors of King Abiasares came unto Alexander who according to their Commission offered all things unto his will whereupon assurance being confirmed they returned again to their Master Alexander therefore thinking that through the greatness of his name Porus might be brought to do the like sent Cleochares to him to demand tribute and to summon him to come and do homage when he should enter the bounds of his Kingdom Porus made answer That of those two requests he would perform one which was to meet him at the entry of his Kingdom but that should be in Arms and with a Power Alexander therefore being determined to pass the River of Hydaspis Burzantes that had been Author of the Rebellion amongst the Arachosians was taken and brought to him bound with thirty Elephants an apt assistance against the Indians that are wont to put more trust in those beasts than in the trust of their own Nation Gamaxus King of a small portion oâ— India which had confederated with Barzantes was brought likewise bound unto him Wherefore committing them both to prison and the Elephants to Omphis he came unto the River of Hydaspis But Porus lay encamped on the further side to hinder his passage having fourscore and â—ive Elephants of huge strength oâ— body three hundred Waggons of War thirty thousand â—ootmen amongst whom there were many Archers whose shafâ—s as hath been said before were more heavy than they could wield Porus himself did ride upon an Elephant greater than all the rest who also being of a big stature appeared notable in his Armour that was garnished with gold and silver having also a courage equal to the strength of his body and so great a wisdom as was possible to be found amongst so rude a Nation The Macedons were not so much afraid with the sight of their Enemies as they were with the greatness of the River they had to
from thence against the Agrians and the Peans he was advertised that Clitus Bardelius had rebelled and had confederated with Glaucius the King of the Thaulaunts He had also intelligence that the people of Anteri would give him battel in his passage wherefore he committed to Lagarus King of the Agrians who was well beloved of King Philip and no less in the favour of Alexander the charge to go against the Anterians and promised him upon his return to give him his Sister Cyna in Marriage and Alexander himself with great celerity marched against Clitus and Glaucius whom in sundry battels he overcame Whiles Alexander was about these things he received intelligence that divers Cities in Greece and specially the Thebans had rebelled which thing moved him much and was the cause that he returned with speed to suppress these Commotions The Thebans in the mean season besieged the Castle of Thebes wherein was a Garrison of Macedons and endeavoured by all means to be Masters of it Alexander by great journeys advanced to their rescue and encamped with his Hoast near to the City Such as 〈◊〉 rule amongst the Thebans when they saw him come contrary to their expectation and doubting whether such aid should come to them from other Cities as was promised began to consult how to proceed At length by a general consent they determined to abide the adventure and extremity of the War The King in the mean season stood at a stay giving them space to be better advised and alter their resolution For he was of opinion that no one City would have made resistance against so great a Power as he had being above 30000 Footmen and 3000 Horsemen all old Souldiers and expert in the travels of War The trust of their experience and valour had caused him to undertake the War against the Persians Truly if the Thebans had given place to Fortune and time and would have required Peace they might easily have obtained his desire was so great to pass into Asia against the Persians But the Thebans being determined to try their force and not to make any suit fought against the Macedons far exceeding them in number with great resolution but whilest the Battels were joyning the Garrison of the Castle issued out upon the Thebans backs whereby being inclosed they were vanquished their City taken spoiled and utterly razed Which extremity Alexander used of purpose because he thought the rest of the Grecians being afraid by their example would be the more quiet while he should be in the Wars of Asia To gratifie the Phâ—â—eans and Plataeâ—ns his Confederates which brought many accusations against the Thebans he slew six thousand of them and sold thirty thousand as slaves the money thereof amounted to the sum of four hundred and forty Talents yet he spared all the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 the Poet whereby he would witness unto the world the favour he did bear unto learned men In this City of Thebes was a notable Woman called Timâ—â—lea whom when a Captain of Thrace did ravish and would have inforced her to confess her money she brought him to a Well where she said all her precious Treasure was hidden and whilest he stooped down to look into the Well she thrust him in and threw many great stones after him whereby he was slain For this Fact she being committed to Prison and afterwards brought before Alexander he asked her what she was She answered without fear that she was Sister to Thâ—â—genes who being Elected Captain General against King Philip his Father manfully died for the Liberty of Greece whose stoutness and 〈◊〉 the King marvelled so much that he caused her wiâ—h her Children to be set at liberty The Athenians had so great pity and compâ—ssiâ—n of the Estate of the Thebâ—ns that contrary to the Commandment of Alexander they received into their City such of them as escaped which King Alexander took in such displeasure that when they sent Embassadours the second time to demand peace he would not grant atonement upon any other conditions but that such Orators and Captains which had stirred them to Rebellion should be delivered unto his hands But at length it was so carried that the Orators were reserved and the Captains banished who straight fled to Darius King of Persia At such time as Alexander assembled the Grecians in Isthmos for the determination of his journey into Persia many Orators and Philosophers came to visit him Diogenes only that remained about Corinth kept himself away as one that esteemed Alexander nothing at all whereat he marvelled much and went himself to visit him as he was warming of himself in the Sun He asked Diogenes if he had need of any thing that he might do for him To whom Diogenes gave neither reverence nor thanks but willed him to stand out of his Sun-shine In whose behaviour and words Alexander took so great delight that turning to those that were with him he said If he were not Alexander he should wish to be Diogenes When he had put in order the affairs of Greece committing the Rule thereof together with the Realm of Macedon to the Government of Antipater whom he most trusted In the beginning of the Spring he marched to Hellespont with his whole Army which he transported into Asia with incredible speed and diligence When they were come to 〈◊〉 further shore Alexander with great force threw a Dart into the Enemies Land and as he was armed leaped out of the Ships with great joy and there sacrificed making petition unto the gods that they would vouchsafe to admit him King of that Land From thence he marched towards his Enemies and â—orbad his Souldiers to make any spoil of the Country perswading them to spare that which was their own and not to destroy that Land which they came to possess He had not in this Army above the number of 32000 Footmen and 5000 Horsemen and but 180 Ships wherefore it is hard to judge whether it be more wonderful that he conquered the World or that he durst attempt the conquest thereof with so small a power To such a dangerous Enterprize he chose not out the young men in the first slower of their Age but the old Souldiers of whom the most part for their long continuance in Wars should according to the Custom â—e set at liberty and excused from the service of the wars saving at their own pleasure And there was no Captain nor any other that did bear Oâ—fice in his Army under the age of sixty years so that the Souldiers seemed to be School-masters of the Wars and the Captains for their gravity appeared to be Senators in some Ancient Commonwealth which was the occasion that in the Fight none of them minded flying but every one confident of the Victory did not trust to his feet but to his hands Alexander who every where made Sacrifice did 〈◊〉 most solemnity at Troy upon Achilles Tomb of whom he was descended by the Mothers side He judged him most happy of
all men before him because in such glory he died young and had his Acts set forth by such a one as Homer was From thence he passed forwards into the Dominions of Darius King of Persia who being the Son of Arsanus and the fourteenth King after Cyrus had the possession of the Monarchy of the whole Eastern part of the World The chiefest cause that moved Alexander to invade him was to be revenged of the damages and destructions wherewith the Predecessors of Darius had afflicted the Country of Greece and also for demanding Tribute of Philip his Father for the which he sent a proud and presumptuous Embassage calling himself The King of Kings and Kinsman of the Gods Lastly he had written to Alexander and called him his Vassal and gave Commission to his Lieutenants that they should beat that Mad Boy the Son of Philip with Rods and afterwards bring him to his Presence in Kings Apparel And furthermore that they should sink both Ships and Marriners and convey all the Souldiers that should be left alive beyond the Red Seas They therefore purposing to execute the Kings Commandment assembled their Power at the River of Granike which doth divide the Country of Troy from Propontides having to the number of 20000 Footmen and as many Horsemen with whom they had taken the ground on the other side of the River where Alexander must needs pass over whereof when he was advertised though he saw apparent danger in the Enterprize to fight in the water and the Ouze against his Enemies who had the advantage of the higher Bank yet upon a singular trust to his own good Fortune and the courage of his Souldiers he charged upon the Enemy At the first he was sore encountred and put in great danger of repulse but at length he vanquished and overthrew them In doing whereof there neither wanted policy in himself nor singular Manhood in his men There was slain in that Battel of the Persians twenty thousand Foot and two hundred and fifty Horse and of the Macedons but thirty four This Victory was greatly advantagious to Alexander's designe for thereby he won the City of Sardis being the chief strength the Persians had for the Mastering of the Seas unto which City and to all the rest of the Country of Lydia he gave liberty to live under their own Laws He got also under his possession the City of Ephesus which the fourth day after the Battel was abandoned by the Garrison which Darius set there In the mean season there came Embassadours from Magnetio and from the Triallians proffering the delivery of their Cities Parmenio was sent to them with three thousand Footmen and two hundred Horsemen with which Power he won Miletum that made-strong opposition And marching from thence towards Hilicarnassus he got all the Towns thereabouts at the first approach and afterwards besieged Hilicarnassus it self which with great travel he overcame at length and razed it to the ground As Alexander entred into Caria Ada the Queen of that Country who had been spoiled of all her Dominions by Oâ—ontobates Darius Lieutenant saving of one strong City called Alindaâ— met with Alexander and adopted him for her Son and Heir He would not refuse the Name and the proffer of her Liberality but did restore to her again the Command of her own City And besides for the Memorial of her Benevolence he put the whole Country of Caria under her Rule and Subjection From thence he marched into Licia and Pamphylia to the intent that by getting the possession of the Sea-coasts of those Countries he might cause the Sea-power of Darius to be of no effect When he had subdued the people of Pisidia he entered into Phrygia by which Country he was inforced to pass and marched towards Darius with whom he had a great desire to encounter having understood that he was coming against him with a formidable Army THE THIRD BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon ALexander in the mean season having sent Cleander to levy Recruits out of Peloponnesus established the Countries of Licia and Pamphylia and removed his Army to the City of Celenae Through this City there ran at the same time the River of Martia made famous by the Poetry of Greece whose Head springing out of the top of a high Mountain and falling down upon a Rock beneath makes almost deafning murmures flowing from thence and watering the fields round about without increase of any stream saving his own the colour whereof being like unto the calm Sea gave occasion to the Poets to feign how the Nymphs for the delight they took in that River did chuse their dwelling under that Rock So long as it runneth within compass of the walls it keepeth his own name but when it cometh without where the stream is more swift and vehement it is then called Lycus Alexander did enter into this Town being forsaken of the Inhabitants and perceiving they were fled into the Castle which he determined to win before he departed he first sent to summon them by an Herald who declared that except they would yield themselves they should suffer the extremity of the Law of Arms. They brought the Herald into an high Tower which was strong both by Nature and Art willing him to consider the height and strength thereof and to declare unto Alexander that he had not a full dimension of the strength of the place for they did know it to be impregnable and if the worst should fall yet were they ready to die in their Allegiance Notwithstanding their words when it came to the point that they saw themselves besieged and all things were scarce they took Truce for forty days with this Composition That if they were not rescued by Darius within that time they would render it up into his hands Which they did afterwards at the day appointed when they saw no Succours coming To that place there came Embassadours to him from Athens making request that such of their City as were taken prisoners at the Battel fought upon the River Granike might be restored to them To whom answer was made that when the Wars of Persia were once brought to an end both theirs and all others that were Greeks should be restored to their liberty Alexander had his present care and resolution always upon Darius who he knew had not yet passed the River Euphrates He assembled therefore all his Powers together purposing to adventure the hazard of the Battel The Country was called Phrygia that he passed through plentiful of Villages but scarce of Cities yet there was one of great Antiquity called Gordium the Royal Seat sometime of King Mydas The River of Sangaray doth run through it and it standeth in the mid-way betwixt the Seas of Pontus and Cilicia being judged to be the narrowest part of Asia by reason of the Seas which lye on both sides representing the form of an Island and if it were not for a finall point of
which Alexander was come to the streight entring into Syria Darius came to the place which they call Pyla Amanica the Persians not doubting at all but that the Macedons would have forsaken the City of Issum and flie away for fear for certain of them that were weak and could not follow the Army were taken whom Darius through instigation of the Great men about him raging in barbarous cruelty caused their hands to be cut off and to be led about his Camp to the intent they might behold the multitude of his Army and after sufficient view taken he let them go to declare to Alexander what they had seen Darius removed and passed the River of Pyramus purposing to pursue after the Macedons which he thought had been flying away They who had their hands cut off came running in amongst the Macedons informing that Darius was advancing in great haste and fury There was scarcely any credence given to their words but to be more certain of it Alexander sent Spies towards the Sea-coast to know whether Darius were there in person or else had sent some other to make a shew of a power The Spies returning advertised that his whole Army was at hand and straightway the Fires might be seen which gave such a shew by reason they lay stragling so far abroad to get Forrage as though the whole Country had been on Fire When Alexander was ascertained of the truth he incamped in the same place where the tidings came unto him being marvellously glad because he knew he should fight especially in the streights being the thing he had always most desired But as it is commonly seen when danger and extremity is at hand that confidence is turned into fear so now he doubted not without great cause that Fortune might change upon him by whose favour he had done so great acts and considered her mutability by such things as she had taken from others and given unto him He saw there was now no prorogation of the time but that after one night passed the Victory should be determined On the other side he called to remembrance that the honour of the Victory was a reward that far exceeded the Adventure and as it was doubtful whether he should overcome or no so he was certain if overcome to die with honour and perpetual Glory When he had weighed thâ—se things he gave order that the Souldiers should refresh themselves and at the third Watch be armed in a readiness to advance He himself went up into the top of a Mountain with many Lights and Torches about him where he made sacrifice unto the gods after his Country manner And when the hour was come he appointed the Souldiers at the third sound of the Trumpet they should be in a readiness to march out to fight Exhortation was then given unto them to pass on with courage and confidence and by the break of day they were come to the Streights wherein their purpose was to prevent Darius By that time such as were sent before to scour the Country came in and reported that the Persians were within thirty Furlongs The Battels were then stayed and set in such order as they should fight As Alexander was advertised of Darius so was he advertised of Alexander by the Peasants of the Country who came fearfully running unto him declaring that Alexander was at hand These words were not believed for they could not think them to becoming whom they thought before to be fled But when they perceived that it was so indeed because they were in better order to pursue their Enemies then to encounter them in battel they were struck with a marvellous sudden fear Every man took him to his Armour in haste which haste and the calling that one made upon another did greatly amaze them Some run up to the tops of the hills to view the Macedons others fell to bridling their horses so that the Host full of diversity and not ruled by any certain government with their hurley-burley did put all things out of order Darius at first had appointed one part of his power to take the Mountains who setting upon his enemies backs might inclose them both behind and before and assigned another company to pass along the Sea-side which was on the right hand to keep his enemies doing on every part He gave order also that twenty thousand footmen with a Band of Archers should pass the River of Pyramus and give an onset that way but if they found any impediment why they might not do so then he willed them to retire into the Mountains and invade their Enemies on their backs but fortune which was of greater force than any policy determined those things that were well devised according as she thought good For some durst not for fear execute the thing that was commanded them and then the rest laboured in vain for where the members faâ—l the whole body is confounded The order of Darius Army stood thus arranged to fight his power was divided into two Battels one marching on the left-hand the other on the right Nabarzanes impaled the Battel on the right-hand with a great power of Horsemen and thirty thousand Slingers and Areâ—â—r Thymones was also in the Battel with 30000 mercenary Greeks being in very dâ—â—d Darius chiefest Force a power equal unto the 〈◊〉 of the Macedons In the Battel on the left-hand Aâ—istemâ—nes was in the fore front with thirty thousand Footmen having planted for his succour and relief such Nations as were counted most Valiant there were about the King being also in the Battel three thousand choice horsemen that were of the ordinary Guard of his Person and forty thousand footmen with the horsemen of Hercania and Media and the horsemen of other Nations were wings on both sides And besides these numbers there went before his Battel in a forlorn Hope six thousand slingers and casters of Darts All the plain ground between the Streights was filled with Men of War Darius Battel stood thus aranged from the Mountain down to the Sea-side The mother and wife of Darius with all the women were received in the middest of the Battel Alexander on the other side set his square Battel of footmen called the Phalanx being the Macedons chiefest force in the fore-front Nicanor the son of Parmenio was Captain of the Battel on the right hand and with him Cenos and Perdicas Meleager Ptolomeus and Amintas every one a Colonel of his own Regiment Parmenio and Craterus had the rule of the Battel on the left hand which stretched toward the Sea but Parmenio had the chief charge The Horsemen were set in wings to both those Battels the Macedons and Thessalian Horsemen being appointed to the right-hand Battel and the Horsemen of Pelopâ—nnesus to the Battel on the other side before which Battel there were also set Slingers with Archers among them and the Cretians that were lightly armed advanced before the main Battel The Band of Agrians that were lately come out of Greece were
dying honourably in the sight of their Prince For just as they received their deaths wounds so they fell without turning their backs Amongst them Atycies Romithres and Sabaces Governour of Aegypt having the charge of great numbers of men were overthrown and slain and about them there lay by heaps a huge number of the vulgar sort both of horsemen and footmen Of the Macedons also some were slain specially such as pressed most forward among whom the right shoulder of Alexander was lightly hurt with a sword In this throng the horses that drew Darius Chariot were thrust in with Pikes and growing outragious with the sense of pain began to struggle and overthrow their Master He fearing therefore to be taken alive leaped from the Chariot and was set upon a lâ—d Horse and so fled away casting his Diadem from his Head that he might escape unknown Then the rest of his Army were dispersed by fear and flying by such ways as were open for them they threw away the Armour which before they had taken for their defence of such a nature is fear that it refuseth the thing that should be its safeguard When Parmenio saw them fly he straight commanded the Horsemen to pursue them and put all his Enemies to flight that were on that part But on the other hand the Persians did put the Thessalian Horsemen to a fore distress for at the first shock they had broken one of their Troops yet for all that they wheeled about and rallying themselves they charged again the Persians with so much courage that they soon brake their Order and overthrew them with a great slaughter The Thessalians had herein a great advantage by reason that the Persians besides that they are armed themselves have their horses also barbed with Plates of Steel which was the cause they could not on the Charge or on the Retreat be so quick as the Thessalians were for the Thessalians by their celerity wherein the force of Horsemen chiefly consisteth had overthrown many of them before they could turn their horses about When Alexander understood that his men prevailed on their Enemies on that Wing likewise he adventured to follow in the Chase which he durst not do before he knew the Battel to be clearly won and the Enemies repelled on all sides Alexander had not about him above a thousand Horsemen with whom he slew many thousands of his Enemies for who is he that in an overthrow or Chase can number men Those few Macedons drove the multitude of their Enemies before them like sheep and the same fear that caused them to fly stayed them likewise in their flying The Grecians that were on Darius side under their Captain Amintas who sometime had been in great Authority with Alexander but then against him brake out from the rest and marched away in order of Battel but the Persians fled divers ways some directly towards Persia and some by unfrequented ways escaped by the Mountains and the Woods A few there were that recovered their former Camp which they could not defend any time against the Macedons who were Conquerours but the same immediately was won abounding with gold and silver and most rich Moveables appertaining not only to the Wars but to all voluptuousness and excess which riches whiles the Souldiers violently spoiled they strowed the ways full of Packs and Fardels in respect of the covetous desire they had to things of greater value But when they came unto the Women as their habiliments were more precious so the more violently they plucked them away Their bodies also were not free from their lust and inforcement the Camp every where being full of tumult and lamentation as chance befel every one The licentiousness of the Victors was such that their cruelty raged upon all Ages and Creatures and no kinde of mischief was wanting amongst them There might have been seen the variableness of Fortune when they which had prepared Darius Pavilion did now reserve and keep the same for Alexander as for their old Master For the Macedons had left that unspoiled according to their Ancient Custom which are ever wont to receive their King when he is Victorious into the Kings Pavilion that he hath vanquished The Mother and Wife of Darius that there were taken Prisoners moved all men to cast their eyes and inward contemplations towards them whereof the one deserved to be Reverenced for the Majesty that was in her and for her Age and the other for the excellency of her Beauty which through her misadventure was nothing stained She was found imbracing her little Son in her arms not yet of the age of six years born as an Inheritour to the Dominion which his Father had lost There lay also two young Virgins in his Grand-mothers lap even then marriageable who languished and lamented not so much through their own private sorrow as for the dolorousness of the old woman About the mother and the wife were a great number of noble Women that pulled their hair and tore their cloaths without respect of what appertained to their estate and unmindful of the calamity which Darius wife and his mother were come unto called them still by the name of Queens with such other titles of honour as they did before They all forgetting their own misery were diligent to enquire after the fortune of the field and what success the Battel had in which Darius was in person for if he were alive they could in no wise think themselves Prisoners But he by the changing of many horses was by that time fled far away There were slain of the Persian Army one hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand horsemen and of Alexanders Company only 504 hurt and 32 footmen and 150 horsemen killed So great a Victory was gotten with so small a loss Alexander that was wearied with pursuing of Darius when he perceived the night to draw on and that there was no hope to overtake him whom he followed returned into the Persians Camp which a little before his coming was taken by his men That night he made a banquet to such of his friends as he was accustomed to invite for the hurt on his shoulder whereof the skin was but smally perished did not hinder him from keeping company As they sate at meat suddenly they heard a pitiful cry with a strange howling and lamentation that put them all in great fear insomuch that they who kept the Watch about the Kings Pavilion fearing it to be the beginning of some great matter began to arm themselves The wife and mother of Darius with the other Noble women newly taken prisoners were the cause of this sudden fear by lamenting of Darius whom they supposed had been slain which suspition they conceived by one of the Eunuches who standing before their Tent-door saw a Souldier carry a parcel of Darius Diadem which he a little before had cast from his head When Alexander understood their errour he wept as it was said to consider Darius misfortune and the
Prisoners amongst whom Darius Mother was one were set in the top of an Hill with a small Guard about them The charge of the left Battel was committed unto Parmenio as was accustomed before-time and Alexander himself was in the Main Body When they were drawn near to one another one Byon came flying from the Persian Hoast in a full gallop and declared unto the King that Darius had planted iron Galtops where he thought his Horsemen should pass and by a certain signe shewed him the place because it might be avoided Alexander willed the Fugitive to be kept safe and assembled all his Captains together declaring the matter and exhorting them to make their Souldiers privy to the danger for eschewing the place pointed out to them But all that were in so great an Army could not hear the warning given the noise of both Armies taking away the use of the ears But Alexander riding betwixt the Battels gave Exhortation to the Captains and to all other that were within hearing He declared that there was but one hazard remaining to them that had passed through so many Countries in hope of the Victory which they were now ready to fight for Thereupon he reduced to their memory the Battels they had fought at the River of Granike in the Mountains of Cilicia and with what speed they had passed over both Syria and Egypt The rehearsal whereof put them in great hope and did intice them forwards to the desire of glory He shewed that the Persians being withdrawn from their former flying were now compelled to fight of necessity because they could fly no further and how that three days together amazed for fear they had remained still in one place with their Armour on their backs of whose despair he said there could be no greater argument then that they had set on fire their own Country confessing all to be their Enemies that they destroyed not He exhorted them not to fear the vain name of unknown Nations for it was a thing nothing pertinent which were called Scythians or which Caducians for being unknown Nations it was a sure token that they were men of no valour because such as be valiant could never be unknown in the world And contrariwise Dastards when they come forth of their Dâ—ns bring nothing with them but names of men whereas you quoth he that be Macedons have obtained by your Vertue and Manhood that there is no Country in the world ignorant of your Acts. He willed them to behold the evil order that was in their Enemies Host of whom some had no weapon but a Dart others a Sling to cast stones and very few had such Armour as they ought to have So that though there was a great number on the other part yet he said they had more on their side when they should come to fight hand to hand and that for his part he would not require any man to adventure himself except he were an example to him of Fortitude and Courage for he assured them that he would be seen fighting with the foremost knowing that so many wounds as he should get should be so many ornaments to his person He said they themselves knew that he would be no partaker of the prey but that it was ever his custom to bestow the rewards of his Victory upon the Souldiers His former words he shewed to be spoken to men of courage but if any were of another temper he was to inform them that they were come unto the place from whence they could not fly having left so many Countries behinde them which they had passed over and so many Rivers and Mountains at their backs so that now there was no way to their own houses and Native Country but such as they must make open with their own hands This was the Exhortation he gave unto the Captains and to such of the Souldiers as were next unto him Darius that was in his left-hand Battel accompanied with a choice Band of Horsemen and of Footmen despised the small number of his Enemies their Battels appearing to him thin and void of men when he saw their Wings stretched so far abroad He stood therefore on his Chariot on high and turning himself both on the right hand and the left he spake in this manner to such as were about him We that were not long since Lords of all the Countries lying between Hellespont and the Ocean Sea are compelled now to fight not for Fame and Glory but for our Safeguard and our Liberty which chiefly is to be esteemed This day shall either establish or make an end of the greatest Empire that hath been in any Age. At the River of Granike we fought with a small part of our Power When we were vanquished in Cilicia Syria was able to receive us and the Rivers of Tygris and Euphrates were as Bull-warks to defend our Kingdom But now we are come to that extremity that we have no place to fly unto if we be put to flight All things behinde our backs are wasted with this long War neither Cities are inhabited nor men left to till the ground Our Wives and our Children do follow this Army a prey ready for our Enemies except we put our bodies for the defence of such as be dear unto us So much as hath concerned me I have performed preparing such an Army as this huge Plain is able to receive I have distributed amongst you Horse and Armour providing that Victuals should not be wanting for such a multitude and have chosen an apt place to arange our Battels in All the rest remaineth in your hands do but dare to fight and the Victory is yours and despise you the Fame of the Enemy which is but a weak weapon against men of Valour It is rashness which hitherto ye have feared as a Vertue whereof when the first brunt is spent it waxeth dull as are Drones having once lost their stings This Plain hath disclosed their small number which the Mountains of Cilicia did hide You see how empty their Ranks are how thin their Wings be extended abroad how their Battels be empty and void of men and such as are in the Rear have already turned their backs They may be overthrown with your Horses feet though I send none against them but the Hooked Waggons And if we win the Battel we make an end of the War for they have no place to fly to They are shut in with Tygris on the one side and with Euphrates on the other and such things as before made for their purpose now are turned and do make clear against them Our Army is light and without much Baggage and they are laden with preys and booties we shall kill them as they are wrapt in spoils And the same one thing shall be both our gain and the cause of our Victory If any of you be moved with the Fame of the Nation you must think that the Armour with the outward shew and not the bodies of the
wonderfully that the Victory should be thus taken out of his hands and that Darius had better fortune in flying then he in following In the mean sâ—ason the fame of Darius overthrow was brought unto Mazeus wherefore though before he had the upper hand yet he was so stricken with fear at his Fellows misfortune that he made a slack pursuit upon their Enemies Parmenio was ignorant of the cause why the fight did slack so willingly on their part and boldly using the occasion called the Thessalian Horsemen unto him and said See you not how our Enemies that even now gave us a fierce onâ—set suddenly be afraid I see the fortune of our King doth give us the Victory All the Field is strowed with the Persians that be slain Why do you therefore stay Are you not good enough for men that fly They saw that his words had some appearance of truth and therefore by and by they took courage and putting their Spurs to their Horses gave a full charge upon their Enemies who retired not by little and little but marched away a great pace and they wanted nothing of flying saving that they had not yet directly turned their backs yet for all that in so much as Parmenio knew not what was become of the King nor of his Battel he stayed and would not pursue after them Mazeus having liberty given him to fly at his leisure passed the River of Tire not the next way but by a further compass about with more surety and recovered the City of Babylon with the remainder of that vanquished Army In the mean season Darius with a few that accompanied him in his slight came to the River of Licus where passing over he stood in doubt whether he should break the Bridge or no for it was shewed him that his Enemies were at hand but considering how many thousands of his men by the breaking thereof should become a prey to his Enemies he left the Bridge standing and at his departure said That he had rather open the way to them that pursued him then to shut it against them that fled after him But Darius left not his flying till he came to Arbella where he arrived about mid-night Who is able to conceive in his minde or express in words the manifold chance in this discomfiture the slaughter that fell both upon Captains and Souldiers the chasing of them that were put to flight and the destruction in general and in particular Fortune heaped together in that one day the chances of the whole world Some took the way that came next to hand others fled into the Woods and sought out by-ways to escape such as had them in the chase There was a confusion of Horsemen and Footmen mixed together withouâ— any head the armed with the unarmed and the whole with the hurt At length the compassion that one had of another was turned into fear and they that could not follow were left bewailing themselves one to another But Thirst chiefly afflicted the wounded and wearied who lay along every where in the ways where any water was gasping after it with open mouth and when for greediness they had gulled in the troubled water they began to swell when the Mud once entred into their Intrails and being thus not in case to move the Enemy came and stirred them up with fresh wounds Some when the Brooks near hand were taken up by others sought out for Springs in every secret place Nor were there any Puddles so dry or so far out of the way that could be hidden from the thirst of them that searched them out The old men and women were heard howling and crying in all the Villages near the way side how Darius was yet their King Alexander as it hath been said before pursuing the Chase was come to the River of Licus at which the multitude of the Flyers were more then could pass the Bridge so that many when their Enemies pursued them leaped into the water and there laden with their Armour and wearied with sighting and flying were consumed in the stream But within a while neither the Bridge nor the River were able to receive the throung that continually increased by their indiscreet flying For when fear had once entred into their hearts they doubted only that which put them first in fear The Macedons were very eager in pursuit of their Enemies and required Alexander that he would not suffer his Enemies to escape free away But he to stay them alledged that their weapons were dull their hands wearied their bodies faint in the long pursuit and the night besides fast approached on them But in very deed the care of his other Battel which he thought to be yet fighting caused him to return to their succour He had not so soon turned his Ensignes but that certain Horsemen brought him word from Parmenio that he likewise had put his Enemies to flight He was not in so great danger all that day as when he was coming towards his Camp for there were but few that followed him and they were out of order as men that rejoycing of the Victory judged all their Enemies either to be fled or slain in the Field Suddenly there appeared a Band of Persian Horsemen coming against them which at the first stayed but afterwards perceiving the small number of the Macedons gave a charge upon them The King rode foremost rather dissembling then despising the peril he was in But his perpetual felicity never failed him in his extremities for at the first encounter he strake the Captain of the Persians who in eagerness of the fight unadvisedly came against him through with a Spear When he with that blow was stricken to the ground Alexander slew the next unto him with the same Staff and after him divers others When his Company saw their Enemies amazed with his doings they brake upon them and threw many to the earth yet they for their parts were not unrevenged for the whole Battel did not so earnestly fight as that small Band assembled so by chance But at length when they saw flying in the dark to be more safe unto them then fighting they fled away in divers Companies Alexander having escaped this extraordinary peril brought his men in safeguard unto his Camp There were slain of the Persians which came to the knowledge of them that had the Victory forty thousand and of the Macedons less then three hundred which Victory Alexander won more by his own Vertue then by any fortune and with hardiness and courage more then through any advantage of the ground for he both ordered his Battels politickly and fought manfully With great wisdom he contemned the loss of the Baggage considering the weight of the whole matter to consist in the Battel it self Whilest the fortune of the Field remained doubtful he used himself as assured of the Victory and when he had put his Enemies in fear he ceased not till he had set them flying and that which scarcely can be
whose sumptuous furniture both for themselves and their Horses tended more to voluptuousness and delicacy then to any magnificence Alexander that was inclosed about with armed men willed that the Babylonians should come behinde his Footmen and he riding aloft in his Chariot entred into the City and afterwards into the Palace where the next day he surveyed Darius his Wardrobe and his Treasures The beauty and pleasantness of that City gave just occasion to Alexander and such as were with him to admire it much Semiramis was the Builder thereof or as some affirm Belus whose Palace is to be seen there The walls are made with Brick interlined with Fitch they are thirty two foot in bredth so that two Carts may easily go upon them on front They are in height one hundred Cubits and the Towers are ten foot higher then the Walls the compass of the whole work about is three hundred sixty eight furlongs being builded as it is left in memory in so many days The houses stand the bredth of an Acre distant from the walls they are contiguous house to house by the space of ninety furlongs in other places not joyned near to one another but for some considerations so divided asunder The rest of the ground is sowed and tilled to the intent that if any Forreign Power come against them they should be able to be relieved by the fruit thereof The River of Euphrates doth run through the midst of the City and is kept in on both sides with walls of a wonderful workmanship But the great Channels made of Brick and fastened with Pitch instead of Mortar and wrought low within the ground to receive the violence of the Stream do exceed all the rest of the works there made for except the same were of quantity and largeness to receive the water when the Stream floweth over the Banks that are made to keep it in its violence would beat down the houses of the City There is also over the River a strong Bridge which joyneth both parts of the City together counted amongst the marvellous works of the Orient For because that Euphrates is so full of Sand and Owse there can hardly ground be found to lay that Foundation upon and the Stream besides casteth up such heaps of Sand against the Bridge that it is an impediment for the water freely to pass and therefore the River beateth upon the Bridge with greater force then if it had his free course There is also a Castle that is twenty furlongs about the Towers whereof are thirty foot deep within the ground and fourscore foot in height above the ground where also the Wonders are to be seen so often mentioned in the Greek Poets for in the same are whole Groves of Trees set by wonderful Art as if hanging in the Air and so high as are the tops of the Towers which Trees are marvellously beautiful and pleasant through their height and shadow which they make The whole weight of them is sustained and borne up by huge Pillars made of Stone upon which there is a Floor of square stone that both upholdeth the Earth that lieth deep on the Pillar and also the humour wherewith it is watred The trees that grow thereupon are eight cubits about and as fruitful as if they grew on natural Earth And although that process of time by little and little doth not only destroy things made with hands but also the very works of nature yet this work for all it is oppressed with the roots of so many trees and burthened with the weight of so much earth doth yet remain unperished being sustained up with twenty broad walls distant eleven foot one from another When these trees are seen afar off they seem to be a wood growing upon a mountain It is said that the King of Syria reigning in Babylon builded this work for his wives fancy who for the love she had to Groves and shadowy places moved her Husband in doing thereof to counterfeit the pleasantness of nature Alexander tarried longer here then in any other City which corrupted more the discipline of the Macedons in their Wars then any other place For nothing was more licentious then the manners and customes of the City nor was any other place more abundantly furnished of all things wherewith men are allured and stirred to excess of pleasure The Parents and Husbands were contented that their children and wives should for gain embrace such strangers as came amongst them The Kings and Nobility of Persia delight much in plays and banquetting but the Babylonians are specially addicted unto wine and drunkenness where the women use a custome that in the beginning of the Feast their apparel seemeth civil and demure but afterwards by little and little they put off their uppermost garments and laying aside all modesty they at last discover themselves naked Which vile custome is not used by harlots only but by all women in general who esteem the making of their bodies common but civility and good manners in this voluptuousness the Conquerour of Asia wallowed by the space of thirty four days whereby he became much the weaker to have done other enterprizes if there had been an enemy to have stood against him But to the intent the damage should be the less perceived he increased his power with a new supply out of Macedonia For Amintas the son of Andrâ—menes brought him from Antipater six thousand footmen and five hundred horsemen and with them five hundred of the Thracian horsemen and thirty five hundred footmen of the same Nation He had also out of Peloponnesus four thousand footmen and four hundred eighty horsemen being all mercenary Souldiers Amintas also brought him fifty of the young men of the Nobility of Macedonia to attend upon Alexanders person whose office it was to serve the King at Table and to bring him his horse when he went to Battel They accustomed to be about him when he hunted and kept watch by course at his chamber-door These were they who afterwards proved great Captains and out of whose lions the Rulers of the men of War did come Alexander appointed Agathon Captain of the Castle of Babylon with seven hundred Macedons and three hundred mercenary Souldiers and left 〈◊〉 and Apolidorus Governours of the City and Countrey to whom he assigned two thousand footmen and one thousand Talents giving them Commission to levy more Souldiers He made Mazeus that gave the City into his hands Lieutenant of the whole and caused Bagistines that yielded up the Castle to follow him in his Wars Armenia was given to Mithrenes that betrayed the City of Sardis and to encourage his men to enterprize new atchievements he gave out of the treasure of Babylon to every Macedon Horseman five hundred Dâ—niers to every Horseman of the strangers five hundred and to every Footman two hundred When he had set all these things in order he came into the Countrey called Atrapene which being plentiful of all things and abounding in Victuals
by their invocation But Aristander to whom he gave most confidence could do nothing in that case Alexander therefore condemning their Sacrifices which he thought then done out of time called for such as knew the Countrey they shewed him of another way that was plain and open enough but yet he liked it not he was so ashamed to leave his Souldiers unburied that were slain For amongst all other Ceremonies observed in the discipline of their Wars there was not any more religiously kept then the burying of the dead He caused therefore such prisoners as were lately taken to be called before him amongst whom there was one expert both of the Greek and Persian tongue who shewed to the King that he laboured in vain if he thought to convey his Army over the tops of those Mountains which he said began at Mount Caucasus and closed in the one side of Persia by the space of sixteen hundred Furlongs in length and one hundred and forty in bredth till such time as they descended unto the Sea which maketh another Fence where the Mountains ceased The Country lying at the foot of the Mountains he described to be plain fruitful and replenished with many fair Cities and Villages and that the River of Araxes running through the same falleth into another River called Medus bringing with it the Tributes of many smaller streams which River of Medus being much less then the same which it doth receive runneth from thence towards the South No place could be more abundant of grass the River every where cloathing with Flowers what it had bedewed with its waters The River was shadowed over with Plantain and Poplar-trees which by reason they stand somewhat high and the water runneth low in a deep channel seem to such as be afar off to be woods adjoyning to the mountains He accounted no Country in Asia to be more wholesome or to have a more temperate air then this both by reason of shadowy Mountains that evermore keep off the heat and also of the Sea which on that part being at hand with a constant temperature doth nourish the ground When the prisoner had made a description of the Country after this manner the King enquired of him whether he knew those things by report or else had seen them with his eyes He said that he had been a Herds-man and knew the Country very well and all the passages and that he had been twice taken prisoner once by the Persians in Lycia and now the second time by him Upon these words Alexander called an Oracle to memory whereby it was signified to him that a Lycian should be his Guide into Persia Wherefore promising to him such rewards as the present necessity required and as his estate was meet to receive he willed him to be armed after the Macedons manner and to be their Guide to shew them the way which way though he had declared to be streight and difficult yet Alexander made no doubt to pass it with a small number thinking it no difficult matter to pass that place for his glory which the Herds-men had passed often-times for the profit of pasture Then the guide left not to alledge the difficulties of the way specially for such as wear arms but the King said to him Take me for surety that not one of them that are appointed thee shall refuse to go where thou shalt pass That done he left Craterus with the charge of his Camp and he himself passed forwards with such Footmen as were accustomed to his person with those bands of whom Meleager had charge and with a thousand Archers on horseback taking first order with Craterus that he should keep his Camp in the same form it had been used before and cause many fires to be made of purpose that the Enemies might rather think him to be there still present he advised him further that if he perceived Ariobarzanes to get knowledge of his Enterprize and so to send part of his power to the stopping of his passage that then by pretending of an assault he should shew all the terrour he could to draw his Enemies from him to the defence of that place But if that he himself should deceive his Enemies and recover the Hill upon them that then upon the hearing of the alarm in the Camp of the Persians preparing themselves to resist him he should not doubt to pass that way from whence they were repulsed the day before judging they should finde no resistance the Enemies power being converted towards him In the third watch he set forwards in great silence without sounding of Trumpet and passed on by such a way as was shewed him by the Guide every Souldier that was light armed carrying three days Victuals But when he was on his way besides the wilde Rocks and sharp stones that caused them oft to fail their footing the Snow driven by the winde was a great impediment to them in their journey for they fell divers times down into pits and such as coveted to pull them out were often-times themselves drawn after The night also with the Country unknown and the Guide of whose fidelity they doubted increased much their fear considering that if they should not deceive their Enemies watch they should be taken and perish like beasts They considered also that both their safeguard and the Kings lay in the hands of a prisoner At length they came to a Mountain where the way towards Ariobarzanes lay on the right hand where he sent before under the guiding of such as they had taken prisoners Philotas Cenon Amintas and Polipercon with a band of the lightest armed whom he advised that forasmuch as they had both horsemen and footmen and the Country fertile and abundant in forrage that they should make no haste but pass forwards fair and easily and he with the Esquires of his body and the band of horsemen whom they called Agema was guided by another by-path far off from the place where his enemies kept their watch But the passage was so straight and so hollow that they suffered great trouble and vexation in passing thereof It was now mid-day and they were so wearied that of necessity they must take rest having so far to go as they had travelled already saving that the way was not altogether so difficult and rough He refreshed therefore his men with meat and sleep and in the second Watch did rise up and passed the rest of his journey without any great difficulty saving in that part where the Mountain began to fall aslope towards the plain their passage was there suddenly stopped by a great gull occasioned by the violence of the streams that ran down the Mountains by wearing away the Earth and besides the trees standing so thick and the boughs that grew one within another appeared before them as a continual hedge When they saw themselves stayed after this manner such desperation fell amongst them that they could scarcely abstain from tears the darkness being a great increase
intolerable but yet he advanced forward in 〈…〉 is Enterprize to the place appointed In his march he came unto a Country that was covered with Snow and frozen by the violence of the great cold The melancholy of the Wilderness put the Souldiers that were wearied with travel in such a terrour that they imagined they had seen the uttermost bounds of the world For when they beheld all things waste and no signe appearing of the habitation of men they were amazed and made request to return again before that the Light and Elements should fail them The King would not chastise them being in this terrour but leaped from his Horse and marched on foot before them in the Snow and the Ice Which thing when his Friends saw they could not for shame but follow then the Captains did the like and finally the Souldiers The King was the first that made himself a way by breaking the Ice with a Pick-Axe whose example the rest did follow At length having passed the desolate Woods they found here and there some appearance of habitation and discovered Flocks of Sheep When the Inhabitants who dwelled in the Cottages dispersed thereabouts saw armed men advancing whom they judged to be their Enemies thinking they had been inclosed about they slew such as were not able to follow them and fled themselves to the Mountains that were full of Snow But at length by communication with such as they took prisoners their wildness was somewhat mitigated and they yielded themselves to Alexander who did them no hurt at all When he had conquered all that part of Persia and brought the Towns under his obedience he came into the Countrey of the warlike Mardians who did differ much from the rest of the other Persians in their manner of living They with their wives and children did dig themselves Caves in the Mountains and lived with the flesh of sheep and wilde Beasts nor had the women any appearance or disposition more soft or milde then the men their shagged hair hung down before upon their faces and their garments came but to their knees the bands of their Slings were fillets for their fore-heads which they used both for ornament and defence This Nation for all their uncivility could not escape from being subdued with the same force of fortune that others were so that on the thirtieth day after he departed from Persepolis he returned to it again Then he gave rewards to his friends and to all the rest according to their deservings distributing in a manner all the riches which he found within that City But all the excellent vertues of his minde his Princely qualities wherein he excelled all Kings that constancy in all dangers that dexterity in contriving and performing all Enterprizes the keeping of his promise with those that submitted his clemency towards prisoners and that temperance in lawful and accustomary pleasures were all defaced through the intolerable desire and delight he had in drinking For notwithstanding that his Enemy my which contended with him for the Empire did make then great Levies for the Wars and was gathering his power together and although the people newly conquered were not yet in a quiet subjection yet he gave himself continually to feasting and banquetting where women were ever present not such to whom men had respect for honesty but Harlots who had in the Camp more liberty then beseemed the discipline of men of War Amongst them there was one Thais who upon a day in her drunkenness affirmed to Alexander that he should wonderfully win the favour of the Greeks if he would command the Palace of Persepolis to be set on fire the destruction whereof she said they greatly desired for so much as the same was the Seat of the Kings of Persia which in times past had destroyed so many of their Cities When the drunken Harlot had given her Sentence a second and a third they being likewise drunk confirmed her words Alexander who then had in him more inclination to heat then patience said Why do we not then revenge Greece and set this City on fire They were all high with Wine and rose immediately upon those words to burn that City in their drunkenness which the men of War had spared in their fury The King himself first and after him his Guests his Servants and his Concubines set fire on the Palace which being builded for the most part of Cedar became suddenly on a flame When the Army that was encamped near unto the City beheld the fire which they thought had been kindled by some casualty they came running to quench the same But when they saw the King there present nourishing the flame they poured out the water which they brought and helped likewise to increase the fire Thus the Palace that was the Head of the whole Orient from whence so many Nations before had fetched their Laws to live under the Seat of so many Kings the only Terrour sometimes of Greece that had set forth a Navy of ten thousand Ships and Armies that overflowed all Europe who made Bridges over the Sea and undermined Mountains where the Sea hath now his course was consumed and had his end and never rose again in all the Ages that did ensue for the Kings of Macedonia made choice of other Cities which are now in the hands of the Parthians The destruction of this City was such that the Foundation thereof at this day cannot be found but that the river of Arraxes doth shew where it stood which was distant from Persepolis twenty furlongs as the Inhabitants rather do believe then know The Macedons were ashamed that so Noble a City was destroyed by their King in his drunkenness yet at length it was turned into a work that carried gravity in the performance and they were content to think it expedient that the City should have been so destroyed But it is certain that when Alexander had taken his rest and was better advised he repented him of this deed and said That the Persians should have done the Greeks more harm if it had been his chance to have Reigned in Xerxes stead The next day he gave thirty Talents for a reward to him that was his Guide into Persia and from thence he advanced forwards into Media where a new supply of Souldiers of whom Plato of Athens had the Conduct came to him out of Cilicia being five hundred Footmen and a thousand Horsemen When he had by this means increased his power he determined to pursue Darius who was come to Ecbatana the Head City of Media and was purposed from thence to have passed into Bactria But fearing to be prevented by the speed which his Enemies made he altered his purpose and his journey Alexander was not come near by fifty hundred furlongs but he could not think any distance sufficient to defend him against his celerity and therefore prepared himself rather to fight then to fly He had with him thirty thousand Footmen amongst whom there was four thousand
Greeks whose Fidelity never failed in all his adverse Fortune He had also four thousand Archers and Slingers besides thirty three hundred Bactrian Horsemen which were under Bessus charge being Governour both of the City of Bactria and the Country Darius with those Forces withdrew a little from the high-way and commanded such as had charge of the Carriage to pass on before He called a Councel where he spake to this effect If Fortune had matched me with Cowards and with such as preferred a vile life before an honest death I would rather have held my peace then at this instant consume words in vain But I have had greater experience then I could wish both of your valour and fidelity towards me So that I for my part ought rather to seem worthy to have such Friends as you are then to doubt whether ye yet remain the same men towards me ye were before For of so many thousands that were under my Empire you only have followed and adhered to me Though I have been twice overthrown in the Field and twice inforced to fly away your fidelity and your constancy doth make me think that I remain still a King Traytors and Fugitives do reign in my Cities not for that they be thought worthy of such honour but that you might be provoked by their rewards to revolt against me Notwithstanding you have chosen rather to follow me in my misfortune then be partakers of the felicity of the Conquerours You are worthy whom the Gods shall reward if I may not as undoubtedly they will There can no Posterity be so silent nor Fame so ungrateful which shall not with due commendations extol you to the Stars Though I had within me thoughts of Flight whereunto my heart never agreed yet I have now conceived such a trust of your Vertue and Manhood that I purpose to advance against my Enemy How long shall I be as a banished man within mine own Dominion and flie from a strange and Forreign Prince within the bounds of mine own Kingdom When may I by hazarding the Battel either recover what I have lost or else die an honourable death Except peradventure it seemeth better to some men that I should submit my self to my enemies will and by the Example of Mazeus and Mithrenes receive by Petition the Dominion of some one Nation wherein I judge that Alexander had rather follow the inclination of his glory then of his wrath No let the gods never grant that it may lie in a mans power either to take away or give unto me this Diadem upon my head nor that I lose this Empire so long as I have breath For in this I am resolved that my Life and my Kingdom shall end both together If this minde if this resolution remain in you there is none of you that can want liberty there is none that shall be compelled to endure the arrogancy of your Enemies Every mans right hand shall give unto himself either a revenge or an end of his evils I my self am an Example of Fortune and therefore it is not without cause that I look for a better change And if the worst fall out that the gods do continue against us in our Wars that be lawfull and honest yet this cannot be denied but that we may manfully and honestly die I require and conjure you by the honour of our Predecessours who with such Fame and Glory have possessed the Kingdomes of the whole Orient by those men to whom Macedon sometimes was tributary by so many Navies of Ships sent into Greece and by so many Victories won that ye will take such courage unto you as may seem worthy your Nobility and your Nation and that with the same constancy of minde wherewith you have endured things past you attempt whatsoever Fortune shall produce hereafter I am resolved for my part to purchase to my self a perpetual Fame either by Victory or by some notable Adventure in the Fight When Darius had spoken these words the representation of the present peril so amazed them all that they were not able either to shew their advice or to speak a word until such time as Artabasus the most ancient of his Friends who before-time had been with King Philip began to declare his resolution We are come into the Field quoth he with you that are our King in our most precious Apparel and richest Armour with intent to win the Victory and we do neither despair of Victory nor do we refuse to die To those words all the rest with one voice seemed to agree saving Nabarzanes who being present in that Councel with Bessus and of his Opinion conspired a Treason so prodigious that the like hath seldom been heard of Their determination was by force of the Souldiers they had under their charge to put their King in hold with this purpose that if Alexander pursued them to deliver him then alive into his hands to win thereby his favour as a thing which they thought he would greatly esteem But if they could escape conveniently then they were in minde to kill Darius and dividing the Kingdom betwixt them renew again the War against the Macedons They having imagined this Treason long before in their mindes Nabarzanes thought this an occasion to make a preparative to his wicked intent by this perswasion which he uttered I am confident quoth he that I shall speak what at the first appearance shall not be grateful unto your ears But Physitians use to cure Diseases that be great with sharp and bitter Medicines And the Ship-Masters when they fear a Ship-wrack accustome to redeem such things as may be saved with the destruction and loss of the rest Yet this what I shall perswade unto is not to your detriment but an Expedient by what means you may preserve your self and your Kingdom We make a War wherein the gods seem manifestly to be against us and fortune ceaseth not obstinately to pursue us It is needfulâ— therefore that we lay new Foundations and seek out men who have other Fortunes My Opinion is that you deliver up your Kingdom unto some mans hands who shall have the Name of King so long as your Enemies are within Asia And when they be once departed which my minde giveth me to be shortly he shall restore unto you the same again The Country of Bactria is yet untouched the Indians and Sacans be at your appointment so many People so many Armies so many thousands of Horsemen and Footmen have their Forces in readiness to renew this War So that a much greater Force remaineth then that which the War hath consumed Why do we then like Beasts wilfully run to a destruction that is not necessary It is the property of such as are men of courage rather to despise death then to hate life and oftentimes by weariness of travel Cowards are driven to take little regard of themselves but Vertue leaving nothing unproved and Death being the end of all things it is sufficient if we
filled both the Kings lodging and also the whole Camp with mourning and lamentation and divers brake into the place where Darius was and tearing their cloaths bewailed his case with a great lamentation When the cry came unto the Persians they were so amazed with fear that they durst neither put on their Armour lest they might give occasion to the Bactrians to set upon them nor could they remain quiet lest they might so wickedly leave their King Then were clamours heard throughout the Camp of divers sorts without any Head and without any appointment Such as pertained to Nabarzanes and Bessus deceived by such lamentation as they heard brought tydings to the rest that the King had killed himself Whereupon they repaired thither so fast as they could gallop and such Followed after as were chosen to be Ministers of their Mischief When they were entred into the Kings Pavilion because the Eunuchs declared that he was alive they commanded him to be bound Thus he who before was carried in a Chariot and honoured of his men like a god was made a prisoner by his own Servants without any Forreign Power and put into a vile Cart and covered over with Beasts skins and spoil was made of the Kings Stuff in such sort as if it had been taken in the Wars When they had laden themselves with the Prey got after so soul a manner they conveyed themselves into their Countries But Artabasus with those of whom he had the charge and with the Greek Souldiers took their way towards Parthina thinking to be more sure any where then in the Fellowship of those Traytors The Persians whom Bessus had overcome with so many fair promises specially because they had no other man to follow joyned themselves to the Bactrians and the third day overtook them But to the intent Darius should not want such honour as was due to his Estate Bessus caused him to be bound with Golden Fetters such were the despites that his Fortune made him subject unto And for that he should not be known by his Apparel they covered the Cart with foul Hides of Beasts and caused unknown men to drive it forwards and lest by enquiry in the Army he might be discovered such as had the charge of him followed afar off When Alexander heard that Darius was removed to Ecbatana he left the way that he was in and with all the speed he could make followed after Darius who was said to be gone into Media But when Alexander was come to Taba which is the Chief City of Paratacene it was there shewed him by Fugitives that came out of Darius Camp how he was fled with all speed into Bactria and afterward understood the matter more certainly by Bagistines of Babylon who could not say directly that Darius was used as a prisoner but said that either he was in danger of death or of captivity Alexander upon that intelligence called his Captains together and shewed them that he had a great Enterprize but such a one as the travel was very short Darius he said was not far off forsaken of his own men and either taken as a prisoner or else slain in whose person he shewed the whole Victory to consist and the greatness of the matter to be a reward of their haste making They all cryed with one voice that they were ready to follow him wheresoever he should go and that he should not spare their labour nor their peril Whereupon he conveyed his Army forwards with marvellous speed rather in Post then after the common order of Marching neither resting day nor night till they passed five hundred furlongs and came to the Bridge where Darius was taken There Melun Darius Interpreter who by reason of his sickness could not follow the Army was taken by Alexanders celerity who feigning that he fled from his Master declared the whole matter But how great soever his desire was to overtake his Enemies it was necessary for him to give his men rest in their travel So that determining to leave the rest of his Army behinde he did chuse out six thousand Horsemen and added to them three hundred called Dimichas that were Footmen heavy harnessed but yet riding on Horseback and when the occasion required alighted and fought on foot When Alexander was taking order about these things Orsellus and Mithracenes who for the hatred they bare to Bessus for his Treason fled from him declared to the King that the Persâ—ans were but five hundred furlongs off and proffered to guide him by a nearer way Their coming was grateful to the King for by their Conduct in the beginning of the night he took his journey with such Horsemen as he had appointed willing his Foot-Battel to follow after with all speed possible He marched forwards in a square Battel and kept such an order that the first might joyn with the last and such as came behinde relieve them that went before When they had passed three hundred furlongs on their way Broculus the Son of Mazeus that sometime had been Governour of Syria met Alexander and declared that Bessus was within two hundred furlongs marching with his men out of all order as one that did cast no doubts It seemed to him he said that they went towards Hircania wherefore if haste were made they might soon be overtaken and found dispersed out of all Array And by reason he affirmed also that Darius was yet alive Alexander that was hot before in the pursuit was with his words much more quickned forwards so that he caused them to put Spurs to their Horses and in a gallop followed so fast that they might hear the noise of their Enemies as they marched but the dust that did rise obsured their sight and therefore he stayed a while till the dust was vanished away Then both Bessus perceived the Macedons and they saw the Persians as they fled notwithstanding they had not been able to have marched with them if Bessus had had as great courage to fight as he had to betray his Master For besides that they exceeded the Macedons in number and power the Macedons fore-wearied and over-travelled should have had to do with them that were lusty and fresh But the Name of Alexander and his Fame which was of great moment in the Wars put them in such fear that they could not stay themselves Then Bessus and others that were Partners in this Conspiracy came to the Cart where Darius was and perswaded him to leap on Horseback and fly from his Enemies that were at hand But he cryed out that the gods were come to his revenge and calling for the assistance of Alexander said That in no wise he would go with Traytors Whereat they were so stirred to wrath that they threw darts at him and left him wounded in many places of his body They thrust the Beasts into their bodies that drew the Cart to the intent they should not be able to pass forwards and slew his two Servants that did attend upon
him When they had committed this act they thought it expedient to disperse themselves in their flying and so Nabarzanes took his way to Hircania and Bessus to Bactria with a few Horsemen that each of them had in their Company When their Souldiers were thus forsaken of their Captains they were scattered here and there as their fear did lead them There were only five hundred Horsemen who assembled themselves together and stood in a doubt whether it were better to resist or to fly Alexander understanding the fear his Enemies were in sent Nicanor before with part of his Horsemen to keep them on work and he with the rest followed after There were slain to the number of three thousand of such as stood on their defence and the rest were driven in flocks like beasts from killing of whom Alexander commanded his men to abstain Amongst all the prisoners there was none that was able to shew the Cart that carried Darius for every one was so desirous to finde him that as they saw any Cart they sought him therein and yet they could not perceive by any means what was become of him Alexander made such haste that scarcely three thousand Horsemen followed him of all his Cavalry but great numbers of the Persians fell into their Laps that followed behinde It is scarcely to be believed that there should be more prisoners taken then there were men to take them But Fortune in that fear had so taken away their sense that they could not consider their own multitude nor the small number of their Enemies In the mean season the Beasts which drew Darius Waggon having no man to govern them were swerved out of the high-way and wandring here and there had drawn Darius four furlongs from the place where he was wounded into a Valley where they fainted by reason of their heat and their hurts There was a Spring at hand which certain that knew the Country had shewed to Polistratus a Macedon that was overcome with thirst and while he was drinking the water out of his Helmet he espied the Beasts that were thrust in with Darts and marvelling that they were not rather carried away then hurt after that manner he looked and found in the Waggon the body of a man half alive and at length perceived it was Darius that lay there sore wounded and drawing his last breath Then Polistratus brought to him a Persian whom he had taken prisoner whom when Darius knew by his voice to be of his Country he said That he took it for some comfort in his present fortune that he should speak before he died to one that understood him and not utter his last words in vain He required him to declare unto Alexander that though he had never deserved any thing at his hands yet it was his chance to die greatly his Debtor and had thanks to give him for the favour and goodness that he had shewed towards his Mother his Wife and his Children to whom he had not only granted life but also the Reverence due to their former Estate and Dignity whereas he of his own Kinsmen and Friends to whom he had given both Life and Lands was now by them bereaved of all He prayed therefore that he might always be Conquerour and that the Empire of the whole world might come into his hands requiring that he would not neglect to take revenge of so foul an act not only for his cause but for an example and for the honour of other Princes which should be a thing worthy of him and profitable to his Successors in time to come When he had spoke these words he fainted and calling for water after he had drunk said to Polistratus that presented it unto him Whatsoever thou art this is unto me the last misery in all my adverse chance that I am not able to requite this benefit but Alexander shall reward thee and the gods shâ—ll requite him for his great Humanity and Clemency shewed towards mine unto whom thou shalt give my hands as a Pledge of a Kings Promise Having spoken these words and given Polistratus his hand he died When his sayings were reported to Alexander he repaired where the dead Corpse lay and with tears lamented that it was his chance to die a death so unworthy of so great a personage and taking off his own Cloak to cover the dead body he adorned the same with all things that pertained to a King and sent it to his Mother Sisigambis to be buried in such sort as the Country manner was to bury Kings and to be laid amongst the rest of his Predecessoâ—rs THE SIXTH BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon A great part of the Sixth Book is defective wherein was contained the Cause of the War betwixt the Lacedemonians and Macedons with the preparation of both Nations to the Battel that was fought betwixt Antipater Alexanders Lieutenant in Macedonia and the Kings of the Lacedemonians HE pressed forwards where the fight was most dangerous and put the greater part of his Enemies to flight Then such as were Conquerours before began to fly till they had drawn their Enemies greedily following them out of the streight into a more plain ground In the Retreat many of them were slain but when they had once recovered such a ground where they might stay and fall in order the Battels joyned equal on both sides Amongst them all the King of the Lacedemonians appeared most notable in all mens eyes not so much by the beauty of his Armour and goodly Personage as through the greatness of his courage wherein only he could not be overcome He was assailed at on all parts both near at hand and afar off Yet for all that he endured long in Arms against his Enemies avoiding their strokes part with his Target and part with his Body till such time as he was thrust through both Thighs with a Spear when by great â—â—â—usion of blood he was not able any longer to endure the fight Then the Esquires of his body took him up upon his Target and carried him into their Camp when with great pain he indured the stirring of his wounds The Lacedemonians for all their Kings departure gave not over the fight but as soon as they could recover any ground of advantage they rallied themselves and received stoutly their Enemies that came full upon them There is not sound in any memory of a Battel more vehemently fought then that where the Armies of two Nations that were most excellent in the Wars contended together for the Victory not yet inclining to any part The Lacedemonians called to minde their Ancient Manhood and Prowess and the Macedons considered their present estimation they had in the world The Lacedemonians strived for their liberty and the Macedons for the Soveraignty the one part lacked a Captain and the other room to fight in The manifold adventures and chances that fell that day encreased both the hope and fear of both
their Garments are made The twigs of the Trees are so tender that they receive the Prints of Letters like wax The Birds by teaching counterfeit the voices of men There are many Beasts which are not bred among other Nations Rhinocerots are there bred but not brought forth The Elephants of that Countrey are stronger than those that are made tame in Africk and their highness doth answer to their strength The water of the Rivers doth carry down Gold and run mildely without any great fall The Sea doth cast upon the Shore both Pearls and precious Stones whereof proceeded the cause of their great Riches for after their Merchandize was once known to other Nations the purgings of the Seas were highly esteemed as the fansie of man would make the price The dispositions of the men as in all other places are according to the scituation of the Countries they dwell in They make their Garments of Linnen Cloth which cover their bodies down to their feet They binde Sandals under their feet and wear Rolls of Linnen about their Heads Such as are in any Degree either of Nobility or Riches have precious Stones hanging at their Ears and they cover all their Arms with Bracelets and Ornaments of Gold They use great curiosity in Combing of their Heads which they cut very seldome They shave without any form of gravity all parts of their Face saving their Chin. But the excess of voluptuoasness which they call magnificence used by them doth exceed the vices of all Nations When their will is to be seen abroad their servants carry about them Perfuming Pans of Silver and fill all the ways where they go with sweet Savors they themselves are born in Litters of Gold hanging with pearls and the Garments they wear are of gold and purple empaled together The armed men follow their Litter and such as are of their Guard among whom are Birds born upon boughs which they teach always to sing when they are conversant in earnest matters In the Kings Palace are pillars of gold carved about with vines of gold wherein the Images of those Birds they delight in most are artificially wrought The Court is open to all comers When the Kings do comb and dress their heads they use to give answer to the Embassadors and execute justice upon their people When their Sandals are taken off their feet are anointed with sweet odours The greatest travel they take is when they hunt wilde Beasts inclosed in Parks which they strike whiles their Concubines are singing and dallying with them the Arrows they shoot are of two cubits long which do not the effect of the force they are shot withal by reason of their weight which is an impediment to their swiftness wherein the property of the Arrow chiefly consisteth In small journeys they use to ride on horseback but when they are to travel further they are carried upon Elephants whose huge bodies are covered all over with gold And because no vice should be wanting in their corrupt manners great numbers of Concubines do follow them in golden Litters The Queens have their companies separate by themselves who in all excess of voluptuousness are nothing inferiour to the Kings It belongeth to the women there to dress meat and they also serve men with wine whereof there is great plenty among the Indians When the King hath largely drunk and is fallen into a sleep his Concubines use to carry him into his Chamber calling upon their gods in a Hynâ—â— after their Countrey manner Who would think that amongst all these vices there were any regard of vertue there are amongst them a rough kinde of people whom they call wise men who count it the most glorious thing to prevent their own death and they use to burn themselves while they are alive It is imputed for a great shame to such as either cannot well stir for age or have not their perfect health if they prolong their life till their natural death approach nor is there any honour given to those bodies that die for age They think the Fires to be defiled if the bodies be not alive that are burned in them Such as live in Cities after a civil manner attain to the most knowledge of the motion of the Stars and of the prophecy of things to come nor can they think that any man doth shorten his life that looketh for death without fear They esteem those for gods whom they begin once to worship and especially trees the violating of which they forbid upon pain of death They number fifty days to the month and notwithstanding limit their years as they do in other places They note not their times by such course of the Moon as is commonly used that is from the full Moon but from the first quarter when she beginneth to be horned and by counting after the same manner they make their accounts more uncertain There are many other things reported of them with which I thought not necessary to interrupt the order of this History As Alexander entred into India the Princes of the Countrey addressed themselves unto him submiting themselves and declaring that he was the third man being begotten of Jupiter that came into their Countrey They said that Hercules and Bacchus were not known to them but only by fame but they rejoyced that they might behold him present with their eyes Alexander received them with all the gentleness he could devise and willed them to accompany him because he would use them as Guides in his Journey But when he saw that the whole Nation came not he sent Perdicas and Ephestion with part of his Army before to subdue such as would not submit themselves and willed them to go forwards till they came to the River of Indus and there to make Boats in which he might transport his Army and because they had to pass many Rivers the Boats were so devised that they might be taken asunder and carried in Carts and afterwards joyned together again He appointed Craterus to follow him with the Phalanx and he with such Horsemen and Footmen as were light armed marched before and being Encountred on his way he Fought a small Battel and drove his Enemies into the next City When Craterus was come to the intent he might strike terrour amongst those people that had not yet proved the Macedons Force he commanded that when they won the City they should kill both man woman and childe and burn the same to the ground but as he was riding about the Walls he was hurt with an Arrow Notwithstanding the City was won and all put to the Sword the very houses not escaping the cruelty of the Conquerours After this he subdued an obscure Nation and came to a City called Nisa It chanced that whiles they incamped in a Wood before the City there fell a cold in the night which more afflicted the Macedons than ever it had done before in any other place against the which they prepared the remedy that was next at
his Darts and to be almost past his remembrance stirred the Beast to fly away whom Alexander followed with all the speed hâ— could But his Horse being thrust through with many wounds fell down dead under him wherefore while he was about to change and take another he was cast far behinde In the mean season the Brother of Taxiles that was sent by Alexander unto Porus began to exhort him that he should not be so obstinate to prove the extremity but rather yield himself unto the Conquerour But he notwithstanding that his strength was almost decayed and his bloud failed yet stirred up at a known voice he said That he knew him to be the Brother of Taxiles a Traytor to his King and his Country and with that word took a Dart which by chance was not fallen from him and threw it so at Taxiles Brother that it passed through the midst of his Breast into his Back and having shewed this last proof of his Manhood he fled again more fast then before But when the Elephant through many wounds that he had received fainted in like sort then he stayed and turned his Footmen towards his Enemies that pursued him By that time Alexander was come near unto him who understanding the obstinacy of Porus willed none to be spared that made resistance whereupon every man threw their Darts against Porus and the Footmen that stood in his defence insomuch that at length he was so oppressed that he began to fall from his Elephant Then the Indian who was his Governour thinking that Porus desired to have alighted caused the Beast after his accustomed manner to bâ—nd towards the earth who submitting himself all the rest as they were taught bowed down their bodies likewise which was the cause of Porus taking and of the rest When Alexander saw Porus on the ground he caused him to be spoiled thinking he had been dead and divers ran about him to pull off his Armour and his Vesture which thing when the Elephant saw he began to defend his Master running upon the Spoilers and endeavoured to lift him up again upon his back whereupon they all setting upon the Elephant slew him and laid Porus in a Cart whom when Alexander did behold to lift up his eyes he being moved with no hatred but with compassion said unto him What fury possest thee hearing the Fame of mine Acts to hazard the Battel with me and my Power seeing Taxilis was so near an example of the Clemency that I use to such as submit themselves To whom he made this answer Forasmuch as I am demanded a Question I will answer as freely as I am spoken unto Knowing mine own strength and not having proved thine I thought no man of greater Power then my self but now the success of this Battel hath declared thee to be the Mightier and yet therein I do impute to my self no little felicity that I have won the second place and am next unto thee He was asked moreover his Opinion after what manner he thought good the Victory should be used Vse it quoth he after such sort as this days fortune shall suggest unto thee wherein there hath been sufficient proof shewed how transitory is the felicity of man This Admonishment availed him more then if he had submitted himself or made suit for his life For when Alexander saw the greatness of his courage and his heart so void of fear that it could not be broken with any adversity he was moved not only to give him his life but also honourably to entertain him for as long as he lay diseased of his wounds he took no less care for the curing of them then if he had fought in his quarrel and when he was once healed contrary to that which all men looked for he received him amongst the number of his friends and inlarged his Kingdom greater then it was before There was nothing in Alexanders nature more perfect or more constant then that he would ever have Vertue in admiration when it was such that it deserved true praise and glory especially when he saw the same in his Enemy But when it was found in any of his own men it was somewhat cross unto him thinking that their fame might be a destruction to his own greatness which he ever thought to grow greater as they were of greatness whom he subdued THE NINTH BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon ALexander rejoycing in this so Noble a Victory whereby he saw the Confines of the Orient opened unto him offered up Sacrifice to the Sun and to cause his Souldiers to be more willing to go forwards in finishing the rest of the Wars he assembled them together and after he had commended their doings he declared how in the last Battel they had defeated and broken the force of the Indians Power and should finde from thenceforth nothing but a plentiful prey For he said that in the Country whereunto he was going the riches chiefly remained which were so much spoken of throughout the world in respect whereof the spoils of the Persians were but trifles and that occasion was now given them not only to fill their own houses but also Macedonia and Greece with Pearls with precious stones with Gold and with Ivory The Souldiers being desirous both of Riches and Glory because they had never found his words vain promised him to do whatsoever he would have them Whereupon he dismissed them full of good hope and set them about the making of Ships to the intent that having overcome all Asia he might visit the Ocean Sea that was in the end of all the world The Mountains next at hand were plentiful of Timber to make Ships withal in cutting down whereof the Macedons found Serpents of such bigness as they had not seen before and also Rhinocerotes Beasts that be seldom found in any other place which name was given to them by the Greeks for in the Indian Language they are otherwise called Alexander builded a City upon either side of the River Hydaspis which once performed he gave to every one of his Captains a Crown of Gold and a thousand pieces of Gold besides preferring and rewarding every one according to their quality degree and deserving Abiasares who had sent Embassadours unto Alexander before the Battel fought with Porus did send Embassadours to him now again offering to do all things that he would appoint so that he might preserve his body at liberty for he desired not to live except he might remain a King and he thought himself unfit to Reign after he had once been a Captive He returned answer to Abiasares That if his coming should be grievous he would not stick to visit him in Prison Having thus vanquished Porus and passed the River of Hydaspis he marched forwards into the inner-parts of India which was a Country full of great Woods and high Trees the Air very wholesome and temperate the shadow of the Trees mitigating the heat
there inhabited two Nations called Gangaridans and Pharasians whose King was called Aggramenes who used to come to the Field with twenty thousand Horsemen two hundred thousand Footmen two thousand armed Waggons and three thousand Elephants which were counted of all to be the greatest terrour These things seemed incredible unto Alexander and therefore he inquired of Porus if the things were true that had been told him He confirmed Phegelas report concerning the force of the Nation but he said their King was not descended of Noble Blood but of the basest of men his Father being a Barber who with great pain did get his daily bread until he came in favour with the Queen who preferred him to the King her Husband who was afterwards slain by his Treason Then he under a pretence to become Tutor unto the Children usurped the Kingdom to himself and putting the Children to death did beget him that was now King being in hatred and disgrace with the people as one that followed more the manners of his Fathers former Estate then such as did be seem the Dignity of a Prince When Alexander heard Porus affirm this he was in great trouble of minde not that he regarded the multitude of his Enemies or the force of their Elephants but the greatness of the Rivers and the scituation of the Country so difficult to enter He thought it a hand Enterprise to seek out Nations so far inhabiting the uttermost bounds of the World Yet on the other side the greediness of glory and the unsatiable desire of Fame made no place seem too far nor any Adventure to be over-hard He doubted also that the Macedons who had passed so many Countries and were grown old in war would not be content to follow him over so many Rivers and against so many difficulties of Nature lying in their way For he judged that since they abounded and were laden so with Spoil they would rather seek to injoy such things as they had got then to travel any further to purchase more He could not think the same desire to be in his Souldiers that was in himself for he compassed in his minde how to get the Empire of the whole world into which he had but yet made his entry whereas they wearied with travel and thinking to have past all peril looked to injoy with speed the fruit of all their labour Yet for all that his desire at last overcame his Reason so that assembling his Army together he spake unto them after this manner I am not ignorant my Souldiers how that there are now many rumours spread amongst you by the Indians purposely to bring you in fear but the vanity of their lying is not so new a thing that it is able any more to deceive you The Persians after that manner would have made the Streights of Cilicia and the Plains of Mesopotamia terrible unto you yea and put you in fear of the Rivers of Tygris and Euphrates and yet we waded over one of them and passed the other by a Bridge Fame never reporteth things truly but maketh them to be greater then indeed they are Even our Glory though it be grown to a certain perfection yet it is more in Fame then in effect Which of you of late did think that you should have been able to endure the Elephants shewing afar off like Castles Who thought I could have passed the River of Hydaspis when it was reported to be much greater then it was We should long ago my Souldiers have fled out of Asia if Tales could have caused us to turn our backs Think you that the Flocks of Elephants to be greater then the Herds of Beasts you have seen in other places seeing they are so rare in the world so strange to be taken and so much difficulty in the making of them tame The same vanity that hath reported them to you to be of such numbers hath numbred also the Horsemen and the Footmen of your Adversaries Concerning the Rivers the more broad they are the more gently they do run for such as are narrow and of small breadth are always most violent in their course where contrariwise the broad Rivers pass their course more mildly But you will peradventure say that all the peril is at the landing where your Enemies shall wait for your arrival Whatsoever the River be the hazard is all one at the shore But imagine that all these things were true whether is it the greatness of the Beasts or the multitude of the men that putteth you in fear As concerning the Elephants we have had experience of them of late how more violently they rage against their own party then against us Why should we fear them but only make less the greatness of their bodies with such weapons as we have prepared for the purpose What matter is it whether they are of the like number that Porus had or whether they are three thousand seeing we perceive that when two or three are wounded the rest begin to fly away And forasmuch as they cannot well be governed when they are but few when there are so many thousands together they must needs be an impediment one to another and breed a confusion amongst themselves they are so unwieldy by reason of their huge bodies that they be neither apt to pass forwards nor yet to fly I have always so little esteemed them that when I have had plenty of them I would never use them knowing very well that they are more dangerous to such as imploy them then to their Enemies But peradventure it is the multitude of their Horsemen and Footmen that move you Were you never wont to fight against such numbers or is it the first time you have encountred with disordered multitudes The River of Granike is a witness how invincible the power of the Macedons is against any multitude and so is Cilicia that flowed with the Persians blood and Arbella whose Plains are strowed with their bones You too late begin to number the Legions of your Enemies after that with your Victories you have made Asia a Wilderness When you passed over the Hellespont you should then have considered your small numbers Now the Scythians do follow us we have did at hand from the Bactrians and we supply our power with the Sogdians yet for all that it is not these men in whom I put my confidence I have a regard unto your force I reserve your manhood about me as a Pledge and assurance of my atchievements So long as I stand in the field amongst you I will neither weigh my self nor mine Enemies do you but shew an appearance that there is hope in you and chearfulness We are not newly entred into our travels but have passed all our labours being come unto the rising of the Sun and to the Ocean Sea except our own sloth be our impediment from thence having subdued the world we shall return Conquerours into our Country Do not you as those negligent Husbandmen that lose their