he repaired into the Tent where Darius mother was sitting by the dead body his sorrow there renewed when he saw her lie prostrate upon the ground that present misfortune calling to minde her passed calamities she took in her arms Darius two Daughters a comfort to her in their mutual dolour but that she was enforced to comfort them Her young Grand-child stood in her presence the more to be pitied because that for his youth he yet understood not the calamity that was growing on him A man would have thought that Alexander had wept for his own cause he lamented and would receive no comfort but abstained from meat and commanded all honour to be done to the dead corps after the Country-custome of the Persians Worthy he was thereby to receive the due reward of his meekness and continency He had only seen her once before which was on the day she was taken and then came not to visit her but Darius mother the excellency of her beauty was no provokement to him of lust but of glory Of those Eunuches that were about the Queen there was one Tyriotes who during this lamentation escaped by a Gate that was unwarded and fled unto the Persians Camp where he was by the Watchmen brought to Darius presence When Darius saw him lamenting and tearing his cloaths he was in a labouring expectation what his sorrow should be doubting what thing he might fear most Thy countenance quoth he declareth that some great mischief is happened Take heâ—d thou conceal nothing from my miserable ears I have learn'd to be unfortunate and it 's often-times a comfort to a man in his calamity to know his mishap Is it not the misusing of my wife and children that thou wouldest inform me with Which is the thing that I suspect most and fear to utter and which as I believe is also most grievous unto them Nothing less quoth Tyriâ—tes the same honour that was given unto them by your Subjects the like is used by him that is the Conquerour But your wife is the cause of my amazement who is even now dead When that word was once spoken there was nothing but lamentation and mourning throughout the Camp and Darius could not be otherwise perswaded but that she was slain because she would not consent to her misusement and in the vehemency of his sorrow cried out O Alexander what so great an offence have I committed against thee Whom of thy kindred have I slain that thou shouldest requite me with this cruelty Thou hast done it without any provokement of my part But be it so that thou dost move a just war against me is it thy part therefore to make war with women Tyriotes thereupon did swear by the immortal gods that there was no kinde of villany done unto her but that Alexander lamented her death and wept no less then he himself would have done Those words did drive him into a further suspicion and jealousie conjecturing that Alexander's behaviour had proceeded from the familiar conversation had betwixt them Therefore he commanding all persons from him saving only Tyriotes that lyes can take no place Torments streightways shall be brought before thee I require thee therefore if any reverence of thy Prince remain within thy heart tell me without compulsion the thing that I desire to know and am ashamed to enquire Is it possible being of the age that he is and having her in his hands that he should not attempt her Tyriotes offered himself to be racked in tryal of the cause and called the gods to witness that she was never used but chastly and reverently At length when he was throughly perswaded that his words were true he covered his face weeping a long space and afterwards the tears yet distilling down his cheeks uncovered it and holding up his hands to Heaven said O you gods whom I worship I require you chiefly to establish this Kingdom unto my self but if you have determined my ruine and decay then my request is that none may reign as King in my Dominion but even he that is so just an Enemy and so merciful a Conquerour And therefore though he had twice before required peace at Alexander's hands and prevailed not but had converted all his minde towards the Wars yet he was then so overcome with the continency of his enemy that he sent twelve of the chiefest of his blood as Ambassadours to treat with him upon conditions of peace Alexander calling a Councel gave them audience to whom the eldest spake in this manner That Darius hath now the third time demanded peace of you no power hath compelled him but your justice and continency hath invited him unto it He cannot perceive that either his Mother his Wife or Children were prisoners saving for the want of their company You take care of their chastities which remain alive like a Father You give to them the honour appertaining to them and suffer them to continue in their former estate I see that sadness in your countenance which I saw in Darius when I parted from him and yet he doth mourn for his Wife and you for your Enemie and if the care of her burial had not been you had now stood in Battel in readiness to fight against him Is it any marvel therefore if he require peace of such a man that is so friendly disposed towards him What shall they need to contend with arms between whom there remaineth no hatred In his former Treaty he offered that the River of Alys which boundeth upon Lydia should be the Confines of your Empire but now he proffereth you in Dower with his Daughter to be delivered out of hand all those Countries that lie between Hellespont and Euphrates For the performance of which his Promise and for the observing of Peace Occhus his Son now in your possession shall be the pledge for his part His request is to have his Mother and his two Daughters restored unto him for which you shall receive thirty thousand Talents Except I knew the moderation that is in you I would not be so bold to say that this is a time when you ought not only to grant peace but also to seek for it your self Look back and behold what a great thing you leave behinde you and foresee how much it is that you covet before you An Empire over great is dangerous and it is hard to hold that which you are not able to receive Do you not see that thâ—se Ships which be of exceeding greatness cannot well be governed Judge that to be the cause that Darius lost so much because that overmuch is the occasion of much less It is more easie to get many things then to keep a few How much more easily do our Hands catch then hold fast The very Death of Darius wise now doth shew that you have not so great occasion to shew mercy as you had before The Embassadours did withdraw into another place and he debated in Councel his opinion It was long
Red Sea It confineth on the West with other Ethiops which are called Simnoes Towards the North lieth a Nation called Nalamons who inhabiting upon a flat shore are accustomed to live upon the spoils of the Sea and lye always in wait upon the Coast to spoil such Ships as suffer wrack The people which inhabit about the Wood be called Ammonians and dwell in Cottages scattered abroad The midst of their Wood closed about with a triple Wall is unto them a Castle In the first Ward is the Palace of their Ancient Kings in the second their Wives Children and Concubines were lodged in which place the Oracle of Jupiter is also and the third is a place for their Men of War There is also another Wood having a Spring called the Fountain of the Sun which in the morning is luke-warm in the midst of the day cold and in the evening warm again at mid-night it is scalding hot and as it draweth towards day it diminisheth his heat more and more The same Effigies that is worshipped for Jupiter hath not the similitude of other Images that Crafts-â—â—â—â— do make for gods but is very like unto the fashion of a Navel having in the midst thereof an Emerald sâ—t about with Pearls When any answer is required the Priests carry the same in a Ship of Gold that hath many Plates of Silver hanging on both sides the Matrons and the Virgins follow after singing a strange Song after their Country manner whereby they believe they do oblige Jupiter to shew his Oracle manifest and true When Alexander was come unto the place the Eldest of the Priests who came to meet him saluted him in the Name of Jupiters Son for so he said his minde was that he should be called Whereupon Alexander forgetting the state of his Mortality said That he did both receive and acknowledge the Name Then he demanded further If the Empire of the whole World were appointed him by Destiny There the Prophet prepared before to Flattery answered That the whole World should come under his Obeysance After that he demanded Whether all such had suffered death that had murthered his Father The Priest answered That his Father could not be harmed by the Treason of any man but he said That all Philips Killers were put to death And one thing he added more That he should be Invincible till such time as he should depart to the gods Thereupon Alexander made Sacrifice and both offered unto the Idol and gave great gifts unto the Priests He permitted also his Friends to ask Counsel of the Oracle for such things as they would demand Yet they enquired no further but if it were Jupiters will that they should worship their King with Divine Honours To this it was answered Tâ—â—â— if they honoured their Victorious Prince as a god it should be acceptable unto Jupiter If he had with judgment weighed the Oracle he might have well perceived the untruth that was therein but whom Fortune hath brought to believe in her she maketh them many times more desirous of glory then able to receive it Alexander not only suffered but commanded himself to be called the Son of Jupiter and whilest he went about to encrease the Fame of his Acts he did corrupt and deface them with such vanity and the Macedons accustomed to be governed by Kings but yet reserving a greater shadow of Liberty then other Nations did withstand him more obstinately in affecting of his Immortality then was either expedient for him or them But these things shall be declared in time convenient I will proceed to declare the rest of his Acts. When Alexander was returned from Hammon and come to the Marish of Meotis scituate near unto the Isle of Pharos he viewed the nature of the place and was at the first determined to build a City within the Island But afterwards considering the Isle not to be large enough he chose out the ground where Alexandria now standeth called by the name of the Builder containing all that ground between the Mear and the Sea the walls whereof were in compass eighty furlongs When he had taken order for the building of this City leaving such behinde him as he had appointed for the performance thereof he departed unto Memphis He had a desire not unreasonable if it had been in time convenient to have seen both the inward parts of Egypt and also of Ethiopia and the affection he had to view Antiquities and the famous places of Mamnon and Tyton had near drawn him beyond the bounds of the Sun But the Wars he had in hand being of much more importance then any such idle Peregrination gave him no time to fulfil his fantasie therefore he appointed Aestilus a Rhodian and Peucestes a Macedon to the Government of Egypt assigning them four thousand Souldiers for defence of the Country and gave Polymen thirty Galleys to keep the Mouth of Nile He made Apollonius Ruler of that part of Africa which joyneth unto Egypt and Cleomines Receiver of the Tributes in both Countries This new City was soon replenished with a great multitude for Commandment was given to all Countries thereabouts to send Inhabitants unto Alexandria It is said that when the King according to the Macedons Custom used the Ceremony of steeping Barley at the raising of the Walls the Birds came and fed thereupon which being taken by many for an unlucky Token it was answered by their Diviners That there should be great resort of strangers to that City and that it should give nourishment to many Lands As the King went down the River of Nile Hector the Son of Parmenio desirous to follow him was drowned for the Vessel that carried him sunk being crowded with over-many men He strived long with the Stream but his garments gave impediment to his swimming so that his breath was near gone before he could recover the shore where for want of succour he died whose unfortunate chance Alexander took grievously as one that did bear him special favour and therefore caused his body to be honourably buried The death of Andromachus Lieutenant of Syria whom the Samaritans had burned alive was the increase of Alexanders sorrow for the revengement whereof he made all the haste he could and at his coming into Samaria had the Authors of the act delivered into his hands whom he put to death and then placed Memnon in Andromachus Room He delivered into the Methinians hands Aristonicus and Crijolaus who usurped over them whom they after many grievous torments did hang over their walls That done he gave Audience to the Embassadours of the Athenians the Rhodians and the Scots The Athenians did gratifie unto him his Victory and required that such Greeks as were taken prisoners might be restored to liberty The Rhodians and the Scots complained of their Garrisons He granted to them all their requests and restored to the Mytelens all their Pledges encreased their Territory and Dominion in respect of the fidelity they shewed unto him and gave them
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
Country-men and for that cause they could as ill bear Alexanders cruelty then as in times past Bessus Treason By this means when the fear of death was put into their heads they were easily stirred to Arms to which before they were sufficiently inclined of their own mindes When Alexander was advertised of their doings he willed Craterus to besiege Cyropolis and he himself won another City of that Country by an assault that he gave to it on all parts at once and by a signe given caused all the Children to be put to death making the rest a prey for the Souldiers This done the City was razed to the ground to the intent that others by their example might be kept in obedience There were a valiant people called Memacenans who were determined to abide the Siege not only for their honesties sake but also for that they thought it most for their Surety For the mitigating of their wilfulness the King sent unto them fifty Horsemen to declare his Clemency towards such as submitted themselves and how inexorable he was unto such as he overcome by force Their answer was That they neither doubted the Kings Promise nor his Power But after their answer given they lodged them without the walls where entertaining them with great Chear until it was mid-night they set upon them and slew them all Alexander was no less moved with this Act then the cause required He therefore made an assault upon the City on all parts at once which he found furnished in such wise that he could not take it at the first attempt Wherefore he appointed Meleager and Perdicas unto the Siege thereof who then were besieging of Cyropolis minding to spare the same because it was builded by Cyrus for he had not so great admiration of any King that had Reigned in those parts as of him and Semiramis whose magnanimity of minde and great atchievements seemed to him to exceed the rest But the obstinate wilfulness of the Inhabitants stirred up his wrath for when he had taken the City he willed the Macedons to spoil it who had enough cause to be moved against them and so returned to Meleager and Perdicas There was not one City that did more valiantly abide the Siege then the same did for both the hardiest of the Souldiers that were slain and the King was brought in great danger being struck in the Neck with a stone so that his sight failed him and he was felled to the Earth and for the present lost his sense The Army lamented thinking he had been dead But he was invincible against those things which put other men in most fear for without tarrying he dressed his wound returning to the Fight and after anger had stirred up the eagerness he had of Nature he renewed the assault more fiercely then before At length a great piece of the Wall was overthrown by a Mine at which he brake in and put the whole City to Sack and Ruine He sent from thence Menedemus with 3000 Footmen and 800 Horsemen to the City of Maracanda which Spitamenes had newly taken and put out from thence the Garrison of the Macedons the Citizens not consenting to it But when they saw they could not withstand him it was of necessity for them to agree to his will Alexander in the mean season came to the River of Tanais where he inclosed about with a wall so much ground as his Camp did contain extending in compass 60 furlongs and named the same City Alexandria This was done with such expedition that within seventeen days after the walls were raised the houses also were builded and the whole work was performed in a very small season through the contention amongst the Souldiers who should perform his work first when the same was divided into portions amongst them The prisoners whose Ransoms Alexander paid to their Takes were appointed to inhabit this City the descent of whom after so long time are not worn out such favour hath been shewed them in the memory of Alexander The King of Scythia whose Empire was then beyond the River of Tanais judging that the fortifying upon the Rivers side should be as a Yoke to his Neck did send his Brother Carcasis with a great power of Horsemen to beat down the Fortification and to remove away the Macedons from the waters side That River divideth the Bactrians from the Scythians of Europe and is the limit which parteth Asia and Europe asunder But the Countries that the Scythians do inhabit do stretch as far as Thracia and lye betwixt the North and the East joyning with Sarmatia and possessing part of it The Country also that lieth beyond the River of Isther is inhabited by them their utmost bounds stretching to Bactria and to the furthest bounds of Asia Northwards where are wonderful great Woods and wilde Desarts But such of them as bounded near unto Tanais and Bactria wanted not much of the civility of other Nations This being the first time that Alexander had to do with these people when he saw that he had to enter into a War for the which he was not provided his Enemies riding up and down in his sight and he diseased of his wound especially not having the use of his speech which failed much by reason of his long abstinence and the pain in his Neck he called his friends to counsel and declared unto them that he was not troubled with any fear of his enemies but with the iniquity of the time the Bactrians rebelling and the Scythians provoking him when he was neither able to stand upon the ground nor strong enough to ride on Horseback nor yet in case to give advice or exhortation to his men In consideration therefore of the doubtful danger in which he saw himself involved he accused the gods complaining that he was then inforced to lye still whose swiftness before-time none was able to escape The danger grew so great that his own men believed he had counterfeited his sickness for fear And therefore he who since the overthrow of Darius had left Consultation with the Diviners and Prophets turned himself again to the vanity and superstition of men willing Aristander unto whom he was addicted most that he should try out by Sacrifice what his success should be The Custom of them who were called Aruspices was to consider the Entrails of the Beasts without the King and to make report of the signification In the mean season while they were searching secrets that way he willed Ephestion Craterus Erigius and others of his Friends to draw near about him lest by straining his voice he might break out his wound again and said thus unto them The danger I am in hath caused the time to serve better for mine Enemies then for me Necessity I see chiefly in the Wars doth go before Reason for it is seldom given to men to chuse their own time The Bactrians are revolted upon whose Shoulders yet we stand purposing to try what courage we are of by
where they marched and to kill all the children The Countrey of the Sogdians for the most part is waste by reason of the great desarts that stretch overthwart the Countrey The River called Politimetum passeth almost through the length of it and runneth a space violently in a narrow channel and then is received into a hole of the Earth from whence it passeth underneath the ground the course of it being manifest by the noise of the water that may be hear and yet on all the ground under which so great a River doth run there doth not appear any moisture put forth Of the Captives that were taken among the Sogdians there were thirty of the most Noble brought to Alexander who understanding by an Interpreter that by the Kings commandment they should be put to Execution began as men in mirth to sing and dance and by a certain wanton motion of their bodies expressed a great joyfulness of the minde Alexander marvelling that they took their death with such stoutness and magnanimity of heart called them unto him enquiring why they expressed so great a joy when they had death before their face They answered That if they had been put to death by any except by such a one as he was they should have taken their death sorrowfully But now seeing they should be restored to their Predecessours by a King that was Conquerour of all Nations they rejoyced in their honest death as the thing all men should wish and desire The King then marvelling at their magnanimity I enquire of you quoth he if you can be content to live and become Friends to him by whose benefit you shall receive life They said That as they never were his Enemies but as they were provoked by occasion of the Wars even so if he would make an experiment of them rather by a benefit then an injury they would labour not to be overcome in good will nor in doing any thing that pertained to their duty He asked what pledge they would give of their promise They answered Their Lives they had received should be their Pledges ready to be yielded again when it was required Therein they brake no promise for such as returned home into their Countreys kept the people in good obedience And four of them that were appointed to be of the Kings Guard gave place to none of the Macedons in love or affection towards their Prince When he had ordered all things among the Sogdians he left Peucolaus there with three thousand men of War and removed into Bactria from whence he commanded Bessus to be carried to Ecbatana there to suffer death for the killing of Darius About the same time Ptolomeus and Menidas brought three thousand Footmen and a thousand Horsemen of mercenary Souldiers and one Alexander came to him out of Lycia with three thousand Footmen and five hundred Horsemen Asclepiodorus had levied the like number out of Syria Antipater sent eight thousand Greeks amongst whom there were five hundred Horsemen When he had thus recruited his Army he went about in every place to quiet those stirs that had been raised up by the Rebellion and having slain them that were the Authors and Beginners thereof the fourth day he came to the River of Oxus which being a water unwholsome to be drunk because it is troubled and full of mud the Macedons fell to digging of Wells and when by digging deep they could finde no water a Spring suddenly appeared in the Kings Tent which because it was not found at the first they feigned it to come by miracle Therewith the King was well pleased and contented men should believe that the same was sent by the gift of God When he had passed the Rivers of Ochus and Oxus they came unto a City called Marginia near unto the which he chose out places for the building of six Towns whereof he planted two towards the South and four towards the East every one distant not far from another to the intent that their mutual assistance in time of need should not be far to seek They were all scituate upon high hills as bridles to keep under those wilde Nations But now they have forgotten their original and are subject to those they were wont to rule The King having subdued all the Country one Rock only remained which Arimazes a Sogdian had taken with thirty thousand armed men and furnished the same with Victuals for two years The same Rock was thirty furlongs in height and an hundred and fifty in compass being in all parts steep and broken having one streight path only to pass up unto it In the mid way to the top it had a cave which was narrow and dark in the entry but by little and little it waxed wider and had more lodgings within for a great multitude and was besides so full of Springs that when they met together they ran down the Rock like a great River Alexander beholding the strength of this place and the difficulty to win it determined to depart from thence But there entred suddenly into his heart a desire to weary Nature and to work against her power Yet before he would attempt the fortune of any Siege he sent Cophes the Son of Artabasus to perswade them to surrender it Arimazes upon trust of the strength of the place answered in all things arrogantly but especially in that he asked if Alexander could flie Which words being reported to the King did put him in such a fury that straightways he called for such as he used to consult withal declaring the pride and presumption of Arimazeus and after what manner he had scorned him But shortly he said he would devise such a Policy that he would make him think that the Macedons had wings He commanded therefore that out of the whole Army they should chuse out and bring to him three hundred of the most light young men had been accustomed to drive beasts amongst the Rocks and streight paths of the Mountains whereupon they brought such to the King as both for lightness of body and hardiness of heart were most meet for that purpose unto whom he said My Fellows of mine own Age with you have I won Cities that were counted inexpugnable and have passed the tops of Mountains covered continually with Snow With you I have gone through the streights of Cilicia and have without weariness sustained the violence of the cold whereby I have experience of you and you of me The Rock you see hath but one entry which our Enemies do observe the rest they neglect They keep no Watch but towards our Camp If you diligently search you shall find some way to bring you to the top Nature hath made nothing so high but that it may be attained to by the industry of man In putting things in proof whereof others have despaired we have gotten Asia into our possession contrive you the means to get up unto the top which when you have taken you shall give a token to me by setting
man would have judged that the whole Wood had been on a flame for there was scarcely space â—eft betwixt the fires for men to stand Then their nummed joynts began to be moved with the heat and their spirits which were oppressed by the force of the cold began to have their free recourse some recovered the Cottages which necessity caused them to seek out in the uttermost part of the Wood and the rest recovered the Camp which was planted in a moist ground but by that time the Shower was ceased the Tempest had consumed one thousand Souldiers with Varlets and Slaves It is said that divers were frozen to death leaning against Trees and yet seemed as though they had been living and speaking together It chanced that a common Souldier of the Macedons who had much pain to go and carry his Armour came at last into the Camp where the King was who notwithstanding that he was chaâ—ing of his own body against the fire yet he did rise out of his Chair and pulling off the nummed Souldiers Armour who was almost past his remembrance he set him down in his Seat He a great while knew not where he sate or who had received him but at length when his natural heat came to him and he perceived it to be his Kings Seat and the King to be there present he was afraid and did start up again But Alexander beheld him in the face and said Perceivest thou not now my Souldier with how much better condition thou livest then the Persians do under their Kings for it is death to them to sit in the Kings Seat and the same hath been the safeguard of thy life The next day he called his friends and the Captains of his Army together promising to restore to them whatsoever they had lost wherein he performed his promise for Sisimethres bringing unto him many Beasts of burthen with 2000 〈◊〉 and a great number of Sheep and Oxen he distributed all amongst the Souldiers wher in he both restored to them their loss and also delivered them from their hunger The King gave great thanks unto Sisimethres and commanding his Souldiers to carry six days Victuals ready dressed he marched against the Sacans where he destroyed all their Country and of the Booty there taken he gave thirty thousand sheep in gift to Sisimethres From thence he came unto a Country belonging to a Noble Prince called Cohortanus who subjected himself unto the King and he again restored his Country to him exacting nothing of his but that of his three Sons he should send two of them to serve him in his Wars But Cohortanus offerâ—d to him all three and made a feast unto Alexander with such sumptuousness as belongâ—d to the manner of their Country therein all the pleasures being shewed that could be devised Thirty Virgins of the Noble-mens children were brought in 〈◊〉 Alexander amongst whom there was Cohortanus Daughter called Roxane who in beauty and excellency of personage and comelinâ—ss of apparel 〈◊〉 amongst those Nations excelled all the rest And notwithstanding that they were all of excellent Beauty with whom she was accompanied yet she drew all mens eyes towards her and especially the Kings who could not well now govern his affections in such prosperity of fortune it being an infirmity which the frailty of man seldome can avoid Thus he who beheld the Wife of Darius and her two Daughters to whom Roxane was not comparable with no other desires then he might have beheld his Mother was so overcome with the love of a young Virgin being but of mean Parentage if she should be compared to the Bloud of Kings that he affirmed it to be a thing necessary for the Establishment of the Empire for the Persians and Macedons to marry together by which only means shame might be taken from the vanquished and pride from the Conquerours He also shewed a president how Achilles from whom he was descended joyned himself with a Captive And lest his doings should be counted lasciviousness he resolved to take her to him by the way of marriage The Father joyful of this which he looked not for gladly confirmed the Kings words who in the heat of his desire caused Bread to be brought forth according to the custom of his Country the same being the most Religious Ceremony of Marriage amongst the Macedons This Bread was cut asunder with a Sword and each of them made of it a Sacrifice It is to be thought that such as established the Customs of that Nation coveted by a moderate Diet to shew to them that were the gatherers of great Riches with how small a thing they ought to content themselves Thus he who was both King of Asia and Europe joyned himself in Marriage with a Maid brought in at a Masque to beget upon a Captive one that should Reign over the Victorious Macedons His friends were ashamed that he should chuse upon drink a Father-in-law among them whom he had lately subdued But after Clitus death all the liberty and freedom of speech being taken away they seemed to agree with their countenances as with the most apt instrument to declare the consent of their mindes After this was done he prepared his journey towards India purposing to visit the Ocean Sea And because he would leave nothing behinde him that might be an impediment to his expedition he took order for thirty thousand young men to be levied out of all the Provinces and to be brought to him armed minding to use them both as Pledges and as Souldiers He sent Craterus to pursue Haustanes and Gateues of whom the one was taken and the other slain Polipercon also subdued the Country that was called Bubacen and having set all things in order he set his whole imagination upon the War of India which was counted to be a very rich Country and to abound both with Gold Pearls and Precious Stones things appertaining as much to Voluptuousness as Magnificence and it was said that the Souldiers there had their Targets made of Ivory and of Gold And therefore lest he who thought himself to excel the rest should be surpassed in any point he caused his Souldiers to garnish their Targets with Plates of Silver and the Horsemen to beautifie their Bridles with Gold and Silver There were one hundred and twenty thousand armed men that followed Alexander in the War When all things were ripe for what he long before conceived in his evil-disposed minde he thought it time to compass how he might usurp the name and honour of a god and so willed himself not only to be called but also to be believed to be the Son of Jupiter as though his power had been as well to restrain mens thoughts as their tongues His intent was that the Macedons should fall prostrate on the ground and worship him after the same manner that the Persians did their Kings and to such his desire there wanted not pernicious flattery the perpetual poyson of Princes whose Estates have more
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