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
he honourably atchieved so that by punishing of their Sacriledge he got himself great Renown in all those parts But in the end observing both those Countries to be brought low with the War he found means to subdue the one and the other compelling as well the Overcomers as the Overcome to be his Tributaries Then he made a Voyage into Cappadocia where killing and taking prisoners all the Princes thereabout he reduc'd the Province to the subjection of Macedon He conquered Olinthus and after invaded Thrace For whereas the two Kings of that Country were at variance about the limits of their Kingdoms and chose him to be their Arbitrator he gladly took it upon him But at the day appointed for the Judgment he came not thither like a Judge with a Councel but like a Warriour with an Army and to part the strife expelled both Parties from their Kingdoms By this time young Alexander was twelve years of Age and began to take great delight in the feats of War shewing most manifest signes of a Noble Heart and an excellent apprehension He was very swift of foot and one day at a solemn game of Running called The Olympick Race being demanded by some of his Companions if he would run with them Gladly said he if there were Kings Sons to run with me On another time when certain Embassadours of the Persians came into Macedon Alexander who in his Fathers absence took upon him to entertain them and discoursing with them of divers things in all his communication there not passed not from him one Childish or vain word but he enquired of them the state of their Country the manners of the People the distances of the Ways the Power of the King and the order of his Wars with such like So that the Embassadours astonished thereat esteemed the Greatness of the Father to be much less then the Expectation of his Son and that his Courage was much greater then was to be looked for in one of his years As often as Tydings came that the King his Father had conquered any strong or rich Town or obtained any notable Victory he never seemed greatly joyful but would say to his Play-Fellows My Father doth so many great Acts that he will leave no occasion of any remarkable thing for us to do Such were his words such was his talk whereby it was easie to conjecture what a Man he would prove in his Age who so began in his Youth His delight was not set on any kinde of pleasure or greediness of gain but in the only exercise of Vertue and desire of Honour The more Authority that he received of his Father the less he would seem to bear And although by the great increase of his Fathers Dominion it seemed that he should have the less occasion of Wars yet he did not set his delight in vain pleasure or heaping up of treasure but sought all the means he could to use the feats and exercises of War coveting such a Kingdom wherein for his Vertue and Prowess he might purchase Fame and Immortality That hope never deceived Alexander nor any other that had either will or occasion to put the same in practise The Charge and Government of this young Prince was committed to sundry excellent Masters but chiefly to the Philosopher Aristotle whose Vertue Learning and Knowledge King Philip so much esteemed that he would often say he took no greater comfort in the birth of his Son then that he was provided with such a Master as Aristotle under whose Tuition he remained ten years Many things there hapned besides whereby it was conjectured that Alexander should prove a man of great valour For when his Father sent to Delphos to receive answer of the gods who should be his Successor the Oracle delivered That such a one should not succeed him only but also be Lord of the World whom Bucephalus would suffer to sit upon his Back This Bucephalus was a passing fair Horse fiery and full of courage whom Philip had bought of a Thessalian for thirteen Talents and because of his fierceness he kept him in a Stable impaled with iron Bars yet for all this he remained so full of spirit that none could approach to dress him whereof the King was so wary that he sought the means to be rid of the Horse It fortuned that Alexander came one day with his Father into the Stable What a Horse said he is spoiled here for want of good Horsemanship And so coming more near and gently clapping him without any great difficulty he got upon his Back and using both the Spur and the Rod to the uttermost he ran and managed him so up and down that the Horse seemed proud of his Rider and having rode his fill he brought the Horse back again As he alighted the King for joy imbraced and kissed him and with tears in his eyes said O Son seek out for some other Kingdom suitable to the greatness of thy heart for Macedonia cannot suffice thee So that even then the prudent Father did presage that all his possessions were far insufficient for his Sons heart After this King Philip determined to make War against all Greece for the maintainance whereof he thought it great advantage if he might first win Bizantium a famous City on the Sea Coast Wherefore committing the Charge and Government of his Realm to his Son being then fifteen years of Age he laid siege to the Town which made him great resistance When he had dispâ—nded all his riches and treasure about the siege he was driven to so narrow a shift that to furnish himself with money he became a Pyrate and roved on the Sea where he took 170 Ships the spoil whereof he divided among his Souldiers And least his whole Army should be detained about the siege of one City he selected the choicest Bands of all his Souldiers and marched into Chersonâ—sius where he took and put to sack many Towns and because his Son Alexander was then about eighteen years of age and had shewed an evident proof of his Vertue and Manhood in all his Attempts his Father sent for him thither to the intent that under him he might learn and exercise all the feats belonging to a Souldier and with him made a Voyage into Scythia upon no other quarrel but to spoil the Country Thus using the way of Merchants with the gain of one War he did bear out the charges of another After he brought the Country in subjection because no riches of gold nor silver was to be gotten there he brought from thence 20000 men women and children besides a great multitude of Cattel with 20000 choice Mares to make a Race in Macedon In his return he was encountred by the Tribals who denied him passage except they might have part of his Booty Whereupon debating of the matter from words they fell to fighting in which King Philip was so wounded in his Thigh that through the violence of the Thrust the Horse was run through
and love amongst his people that all affirmed by one consent how the Person of their King was changed and not his Vertue his Name was altered but not his Government In the beginning of his Reign Rebellion was made against him on all sides but immediately with an incredible courage and constancy of minde he appeased all the Tumults That matter set in order he went to Corinth in Peloponnesus where calling a General Councel of all the States of Greece he was Elected Captain General against the Persians who had afflicted Greece with many overthrows and at that present did posses the greatest Empire in the world His Father had designed this War before but by the prevention of death he brought not his intention to effect Whilest he was in preparation for this Enterprise he was informed how the Athenians the Thebans and Lacedemonians were revolted from him and were Confederate with the Persians by the perswasions of the Orator Demosthenes who was corrupted by them with a great sum of money For the Reformation whereof Alexander so suddenly advanced with his Army that when he came upon them they could scarcely believe he should be present having not received the least intelligence of his March In his way he treated with the Thessalians and used to them such gentle words and apt perswasions by putting them in remembrance of his Fathers benefit and of the Ancient Kindred between them by their discent from Hercules that by an Universal Decree of the whole Country he was created their Governour and they delivered up unto him all his Treasures and Revenues So great was the celerity that this young man used and his diligence so effectual that he made all such to fear him as before were revolted or had him in contempt As the Athenians were the first that failed so they first of all repented extolling with praises Alexanders young years which before they had despised above the vertue of the Ancient Conquerours They also sent Embassadours to require of him Peace whom he sore rebuked when they came to his presence but yet was content at length to remit their offence And although Demosthenes was chosen one of the Embassadours yet he came not in his sight but being on his way as far as Cytheron he returned again to Athens which either was for fear that he had so often inveighed against Philip and stirred the Athenians against him or else to take away the suspition of himself from the King of Persia of whom it was said he received a great sum of Gold to oppose the Macedons The same thing was objected against him by Aeschines in an Oration where he saith For the present the Kings Gold doth bear his charges but that cannot last him long seeing no riches can suffice his prodigal life When Alexander had pacified the Tumults that were begun in Greece before he would pass his Army into Asia he made a journey against the Peons the Tribals and the Illyrians because he understood they were conspiring together and bordered upon his Country and were accustomed to invade it upon every occasion he thought them to be no way neglected before he removed his Army from the City of Amphipolis He therefore marched against the Thracians who at that time were not under the Rule or Law of any In ten days he came to the Mount Heâ—tis in the top whereof he found them incamped with a Power to refâ—r his passage Instead of Trencher they had impâ—lâ—d themselves with their Carriages cross the Streights purposing there to withstand him and it they should be invaded any other way then by the Streights they did determine to roul their Carriages down the Hill upon the Macedons to break their array That Device was put in execution but the Souldiers had received before instructions by Alexander as occasion should serve either to open their array to let the Chariots and Wheels pass through them or else to fall flat upon the ground and by covering their bodies with their Targets to avoid the danger They followed their instructions and when the Chariots were passed by they with a great courage and shout mounted up against their Enemies and in a moment put them to slight When Alexander was passed the Mountain he entred into the Country of the Tribals as far as the River of Ligeus When Syrmus King of that Land understood of his approach he sent his Wife and his Children with such of his people as were not meet for the wars into in Island called Peuca scituate within the River of Danubius into which Island the Thracians bordering with the Tribals were fled also It was not long after that Syrmus himself fled thither in like manner The rest of the Tribals that were not with the King withdrawing themselves into an other Island where they kept themselves against Alexander But he by policy sought the means to draw them out of their strength whereby he slew of them to the number of three thousand and the rest fled away so that of prisoners but few were taken After this Battel he marched towards the River of Danubius to the Island whither the Thracians and the other Tribals were fled They made notable resistance against him which they might the better do by reason Alexander wanted Boats to pass into the Island the Banks whereof were so high and sleep that they would not be mounted on but with great difficulty the River running violently swift by reason that the Stream was there driven into a streight When Alexander perceived the impossibility to assault them he withdrew to another place where getting a few Boats in the night he passed over one thousand five hundred Horsemen and four thousand Footmen With that company he set upon a people called Getes who stood in order of Battel on the further side of the River with four thousand Horsemen and ten thousand Footmen of purpose to stop the Macedons passage But by their sudden coming over the Getes were so afraid that they did not abide the first assault It seemed to them a wonderful adventure for Alexander in one night without a Bridge to pass his Army over the broadest and deepest River in all Europe This struck such a fear and terrour in their hearts that they fled into the Woods Mountains and Desart places leaving their City desolate which was taken by Alexander Syrmus King of the Tribals with the Germans and the other Inhabitants upon the River of Danubius sent their Embassadours thither unto Alexander to enter with him into friendship and he condescending unto their requests inquired of the Germans what thing it was which in the world they doubted most thinking indeed that the terrour of his name had been the most fearful thing unto them But when they understood his meaning they answered That they doubted greatly the falling of the Skie with whose presumptuous answer Alexander was nothing moved nor further replied only he said the Germans were a proud people and thereupon dismissed them As he was going
condition of men My counsel is therefore that you send this Gold and Silver to levy Souldiers out of those Countries from whence they come Darius was a man of a milde and tractable disposition if the height of his Estate had not altered the goodness of his Nature which made him so impatient to hear the truth that he commanded Charidemus to be put straightways to death being a man that was fled to his protection and that had given him right profitable counsel When he was going towards his death he left not his liberty to speak but said There is one at hand that shall revenge my death for he against whom I have given thee counsel shall punish thee for not following my advice And thou being thus altered with the liberties thou hast being now a King shalt be an example to such as shall come after that when they commit themselves to Fortune they clearly forget their names Whilest Charidemus was speaking of these words they which had the charge committed unto them did put him to death whereof the King afterwards took over-late repentance confessing him to have spoken the truth and caused him to be buried There was one Thymones the Son of Menter a young man of great activity to whom Darius gave the charge of all the Forreign Souldiers in whom he had great confidence willing him to receive them at Pharnabasus hands and gave to Pharnabasus the Rule that Memnon had before Thus Darius being careful of the great business he had in hand whether it were through pensiveness of minde or that his fancy did divine things to come was continually troubled with Visions in his sleep He dreamed that the Macedons Camp was on fire and shortly after it seemed to him that Alexander was brought to his presence in such kinde of apparel as he himself did wear when he was first chosen King and that Alexander should be carried on Horse-back through Babylon and so vanish out of sight Hereupon the Interpreters of Dreams betokened good fortune to himself because of the fire that seemed to be in his Enemies Camp and for that Alexander without any vesture of a King appeared in the vulgar apparel of the Persians Others did interpret it otherwise that the Lightning in the Macedons Camp signified glory and victory to Alexander and also the enjoyment of the Empire of Asia which they made more clear forasmuch as Alexander appeared in the same Vestures that Darius did wear when he was chosen King Care besides and anxiety of minde as often chanceth brought things past again to remembrance It was rehearsed how Darius in the beginning of his Reign changed the Scabbard of his Sword from the Persian manner into the fashion that the Greeks used whereupon the Caldees did prognosticate that the Kingdom of the Persians should be translated to those whose fashion he had counterfeited Notwithstanding being glad of the interpretation of the Diviners which was every where published concerning his success and of the Vision that he seemed to have seen in his sleep he commanded his Army to march forwards towards the River of Euphrates It was the Ancient Custom amongst the Persians at Sun-rising to raise their Camp and a warning of their setting forwards to be by the sound of a Trumpet at the Kings Pavilion upon which there stood the Image of the Sun inclosed in Christal shining so bright that it might be seen thorowout the Camp The order of their marching was in this manner the Fire which they call Holy and Eternal was carried before on silver Altars next to them were the Diviners singing after their Country manner there followed three hundred sixty five young men in Scarlet Robes like in number unto the days of the year then came the Chariot consecrated to Jupiter drawn with white Horses and a great Horse following which they call The Horse of the Sun Such as did ride upon the Palfreys did wear white Garments bearing Rods of Gold in their hands Next in order came ten Chariots garnished and wrought with silver and gold The Horsemen of twelve Nations followed in sundry sorts of Armour then came a Company that the Persians called Immortal the riches of whose Apparel exceeded far the rest they had all Chains of Gold Coats embroidered with Gold and Sleeves set with Pearl These were followed within a small distance by a Band of fifteen thousand Souldiers called Doripherii reputed for the Kings Kinsmen and apparelled almost like Women more notable for the variety of the riches of their Garments then the Armour they did wear Such as were wont to receive the Kings Robes did ride next before the Chariot upon the which Darius did sit on high with great pomp and magnificence his Chariot being garnished on both sides with carved Images of their gods made of silver and gold the beams whereof were set with Pearls and precious Stones with two Images of Gold standing thereupon of a cubit length one opposite to the other and over their heads an Eagle of Gold displayed But amongst the rest the Kings Apparel seemed marvellously sumptuous which was of Purple empaled white with a Border imbroidered of Gold and Golden Faulcons so wrought as if they were fighting together He was girt Effeminately with a Girdle of Gold and the Sword that hung thereupon had a Scabbard of Pearl the Diadem which he did wear upon his head called by the Persians Cydaris had a Roll about it of white and green Next behinde the King came ten thousand Horsemen who had all their Spears plated with silver and their Spear-heads guilded He was inclosed on both sides with two hundred of the Blood Royal at whose backs there followed thirty thousand Footmen and after them four hundred of the Kings Coursers Within the distance of one furlong Sâ—â—ygambis the Mother of Darius was carried in one Chariot and his Wife in another the Train of their Women riding on Horseback Next to them wâ—nt fifteen Chariots wherein the Kings Children were carried and their Nurses and their Eunuchs which are greatly esteemed in that Country After them followed three hundred of the Kings Concubines all apparelled like Queens Then came six hundred Mules and three hundred Camels that carried the Kings Treasure guarded with a Band of Archers The Wives of the Kings Kinsmen and the other that were about the King came riding next and after them a great company of Slaves and Varlets Last came the Rereward lightly armed whereof every Captain severally with his own Company closed the Army such was the Order oâ— Darius 〈◊〉 But on the other side beholding Alexanders Army there was to be seen a great difference neither the Men nor the Horse glistered so with gold and precious Furnitures but only with the brightness of their Harness They were obedient to their Captains Command always in a readiness to stay or to advance neither oppressed with the multitude nor pestred with too much Baggage They wanted not in any place either ground for their encamping or
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
were able to conceive any tokens or signes of the gods favour or assistance it was no doubt but that they were bent on their side having already stricken a sudden fear amongst the Macedons which he said might be seen by their running here and there by the carrying and casting off their Armour and that the gods which took care of the Persians Empire were now determined to punish 〈◊〉 Cowards whose Captains quoth he being of no other sort then the rest are like unto those wilde Beasts which through the greediness of the 〈…〉 they do covet do fall into the snares that are set for them The like care was amongst the Macedons for as though the matter should have been tryed that night they passed it over in doubt and fear Alexander himself that was never seen in such fear before that time called for Aristander to make vows and prayers who in a white Garment carrying Verbenes in his hand with his head covered went before the King calling upon Jupiter Minerva and Victoria When he had thus performed his Sacrifice according to their Religion he returned into his Pavilion to rest the residue of the night yet he could neither rest nor sleep but continually debated with himself which way he should assail his Enemies One while he was of Opinion to give his first On-set upon that Battel of the Persians that should come on his right hand sometimes he determined to meet his Enemies in the very front and otherwhile whether it were better to encounter them on their left Battel At length his body became heavy with the travel of his minde and he fell into a sound sleep When the day appeared the Captains assembled about the Kings Pavilion to receive their charge where they stood amazed at the unaccustomed silence For they could not but wonder that he who was ever wont to call upon other men and to reprove such as were slow or negligent not to be then stirring in the extremity of the utmost danger And many were of opinion that he slept not but shrunk for fear yet for all that none of them that were about his person durst attempt to wake him In the mean seasonâ— the morning past away and the Souldiers might neither put on their Armour nor stand in order of Battel without commandment of their Chief When they had thus tarried a great while Parmenio gave commandment that they should fall to meat At length when the time came that of necessity the Army must be drawn into Battel he entred into the Kings lodging and called upon him divers times by his name but when he could not awake him with his voice he stirred him with his hand and said It is far forth day and your Enemies come forwards in order of Battel and your Souldiers being yet unarmed have not commandment given them what they should do Where is that chearfulness and courage of yours become which were wont to stir up even those who were most watchful Alexander made answer unto him Think you that I could sleep before that I had rid my self of the care that hindred me to take my rest And thereupon caused the Trumpet to sound to the Battel But when Parmenio continued still in his admiration that he in such a time could sleep so quietly It is no marvel quoth Alexander when Darius burned the Country wasted the Villages and destroyed the Victuals I could then in no wise be quiet But now what cause have I to fear seeing he now prepareth himself to fight He hath now fulfilled my desire resort you where your charge lieth and I will straightway come to give order amongst you and we will dispute this business afterwards He used seldom to take his friends advice when any doubt or danger was at hand When Parmenio was gone he armed himself and came forwards amongst his Souldiers They seeing him look so chearfully as they had not seen before time conceived by the courage of his countenance a certain hope of the Victory Then he caused the Trenches of his Camp to be cast down that the Souldiers might have free passage forth and in this manner did set his Battels in order The Horsemen of whom Clitus was Captain were set in the wing on his right-hand Battel to whom he joyned Philotas and other Captains The last Band of Horsemen was Meleagers which were next unto the square Battel of Footmen that the Macedons name Phalanx After the Phalanx followed the Agaraspides of whom Nicanor the Son of Parmenia was Captain Cenus with his Band was appointed to be a Relief Horestes and Lincestes advanced next and after them Polipercon that had the Rule of the Strangers and Phylagus who had the Rule of the Balacrons And this was the order of Alexanders Battel in the right wing whereof Amintas was Chief In the left Battel Craterus had the charge of the Peloponnesian Horsemen and with him also were the Bands of the Achaians Locrensians and Malaeans and the hindmost Troops were the Horsemen of Thessaly under Philip their Captain Thus the Horsemen covering the Foot made the Front of the Battel And lest their Enemies through their multitude should inclose the Battel about he planted a great Force behinde for a Reserve and set a Relief also upon the Wings not in Front with the rest but upon the sides to the intent that if the Enemies attempted to compass round about the Battels they should be ready to keep them in action Those that maintained the places of Reserves were the Agrians of whom Attalus was Captain and the Archers of Creet were joyned unto them Such as stood in the Rear of the Battel were ordered to turn their faces from the Frontwards because that being in a readiness every way the Battels in every place should be of an equal force They which stood with their faces contrariwise were the Illyrians and the Mercenary Souldiers with the Thâ—acians that were light armed These his Battels were so aptly set to move every way that such as stood in the hinder parts could not be inclosed about but might every way make their Front so the Front the Flanks and the Rear were all of like force When he had set his men in order after this manner he gave Commandment that if the Persians should attempt upon them with their Hooked Waggons with a cry or noise that then they should open their Battels and receive them with silence not doubting but that they should pass through without any harm if no man did resist them But if they should come without any shout or clamour that then they themselves should make a cry to fear the Horses withal and so with Pikes thrust them through on every side They which had the charge of Battels were commanded to extend them so much in bredth as possible they might lest by standing over-close they might be environed and yet not to stretch them so far out as to leave the Ranks void and thin in the midst The Carriage 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
believed in that fierceness of courage he pursued in the Chase more wisely then greedily For if he should have followed on still part of his Power yet fighting in the Field he should either have lost the Battel through his own fault or else have won the Victory through the prowess of another Or if after he had obtained the Victory he had shewed himself afraid of the Horsemen that he met he must either shamefully have fled or have been miserably slain Nor were his Captains to be defrauded of their due commendation for the wounds that they did receive were tokens of their Manhood Ephestions arm was wounded with a Spear Perdicas Cenos and Medinas with shot of Arrows were almost slain out-right And if we will give a true judgment of the Macedons that were there we must confess that he was a King worthy of such Ministers and they men worthy of so great a Master THE FIFTH BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon IF I should here make mention of the Wars that in the mean season intervened both in Greece Italy and in Thracia and of the Revolters that were checked and subdued by the appointment and Commission of Alexander the proceedings in Asia would thereby be interrupted which I thought most convenient to put wholly together until the death of Darius and then to joyn them in this work as they agree with the time I will first speak of those things that ensued after the Battel of Arbella where Darius arrived about mid-night and as it chanced the greater part of his friends whom he called all together and spake to them to this effect That he doubted not but Alexander and his Souldiers greedy of the abundance of the spoil which was in a readiness for them would visit such Cities and Countries of his as were most famous for their scituation and wealth which thing he said considering his estate could not but turn at length to his advantage His purpose was in a swift March to repair into the Desarts And seeing the uttermost bounds of his Kingdom were yet untouched he might easily repair his Power from thence to renew the War Let therefore that greedy Nation quoth he take my Treasure and satisfie their hunger with gold which shortly shall cause both the same and themselves also to be a prey unto us For he said he had learned by experience that the Flocks of Concubines and Eunuchs were nothing else but burdens and impediments which Alexander possessing and carrying about with him it would at the last make him inferiour unto them of whom before he was Victorious His Oration seemed to all men to be full of desperation for they saw thereby that the rich City of Babylon should be given up unto the Macedons and Susae shortly after with all other Ornaments of the Realm which were the cause of the War But he proceeded in perswading them how that men in adversity ought not to do things that should seem goodly in the speaking but necessary in the experience That Wars were made with Iron and not with Gold with men and not with the walls of Cities for all things follow them that are armed and in strength He shewed that his Ancestors famous for their Atchievements were afflicted after this manner in the beginning and yet recovered quickly again their former estate After he had spoken these words either for that they were thereby incouraged or else that they rather obeyed his Authority then liked his Counsel they followed him into the bounds of Media Shortly after Arbella was delivered up to Alexander which was full of Treasure and precious Moveables and besides the pay of the whole Army was left there The sickness that began in Alexanders Camp arising from the favour of the dead bodies which were scattered over all the Fields was the cause that he did the sooner remove The plain Country of Arabia famous with the abundance of sweet Odours there growing lay upon the right hand as they marched And so passing through the Country lying between Tygris and Euphrates which is so fat and plentiful a ground that the Inhabitants are fain to drive their Beasts from feeding lest a Surfeit should destroy them The cause of this fertility cometh by the moisture that issueth from both Rivers sweating by veins through the ground Both these Rivers have their beginnings in the Mountains of Armenia where they are distant twenty five hundred furlongs and so run forwards keeping their distance till they come near unto the bounds of Media and Gordia For there by little and little they draw more near together leaving less space betwixt them They inclose on both sides the Country that is called Mesopotamia from whence they run through the bounds of Babylon into the Red Sea After Alexander had changed his Camp four times he came to a City called Memnium where there is a Fountain within a Cave that belcheth out great plenty of Pitch So that it appears the Babylonians had their Cement from thence which they imployed about the making of their walls of an incredible bredth and compass As Alexander was going from thence towards Babylon Mazeus who was said before to have fled from the Battel came to meet him in most humble manner whereas committing his Children into his hands he yeilded himself and rendred up the City His coming was very grateful unto the King considering what travel he should have sustained in the siege of so strong a City if it had been kept against him And besides for so much as Mazeus was a man both famous and valiant and much commended for his atchievements in the last Battel and conceived his example should provoke others to do the like he received both him and his Children in gentle manner and yet gave order to his men that they should enter into the City in such Array of Battel as if they were presently to fight A great number of the Babylonians stood upon the walls desirous to behold him that was their new King but the most part went forth to meet him Bagistines that was Captain of the Castle and Keeper of the Kings Treasure because he would shew himself to be no less affectionate towards Alexander then Mazeus was strowed all the ways where he should pass with Flowers and Garlands and set Altars of Silver on both sides with Frankincense burning upon the same and all other kinde of sweet odours Next unto him came Droves of Beasts great number of Horses with Lyons and Pardals lying in their Dens which he brought as Presents to give unto Alexander and after them the Wise Men singing according to their Country manner The Caldeans followed next with their Diviners and Prophets and then the Musitians with several kindes of Instruments whose property was to sinâ— the praises of their Kings and the Caldeans who used to declare the motion of the Planets with the course and revolution of the times Last in order came the Babylonian Horsemen
who instantly required that at the least they might be suffered to bury the body It was denied them long by reason of Cleander who dreaded the Kings displeasure but because they began to wax more earnest intending to avoid matter of Sedition he cut off the Head which he sent to the King and left them the Body to bury This was the end of Parmenio a Noble-man both in War and Peace many things had he done without the King but the King without him did never any thing worthy of praise He served and pleased in all affairs a King most happy and fortunate and being threescore and ten years of age executed the Office of a Captain as lively as though he had been young in years and pretermitted not oftentimes the parts of a common Souldier He was quick in counsel doughty of deed well beloved of all Princes but most dear to the common sort of Souldiers Yet whether those things moved him to be King or else caused him to be suspected thereof it is yet to be doubted For whether the words that Philotas spake when he was overcome with the pains of his last torments were true or false or else that he sought an end of his pain by accusing himself falsly it was much doubtful seeing there was no such thing proved at such time as the matter was most fresh in memory Such as Alexander perceived to grudge at the death of Philotas were separated from the rest of the Army and put into one Cohort under Leonidas their Captain who in times past was of near familiarity with Parmenio The King did bear privy displeasure against them and therefore willing to prove the disposition of every man he gave warning throughout the Army that all such as would write into Macedonia and have their Letters surely conveyed should bring them to be carried with such as he would send Whereupon every man did write frankly to their Friends such things as were in their hearts Some shewed themselves to be offended with the long Wars and some seemed to be well pleased but all their Letters were intercepted as well of such as commended the King as of those that grudged at his doings Wherefore he willed such as by their Letters disclosed themselves to be weary of the travel of the Wars for their reproach to be put in a Regiment apart from the rest whereby he both gave them occasion to shew their hardness and besides removed the liberty of their tongues from the credulous ears of the rest Which rash device as all other things turned to the setting forth of the Kings felicity for in all extremities they shewed themselves the râ—adiest and the most forward and whilest they coveted to redeem their reproach their valiant doings could not be hidden in so small a number being separated by themselves These things being ordered after this manner he appointed a Ruler over the Arians and proclaimed his journey against the Araspians who by changing of their names were called Evergitans since the time that they relieved Cyrus Army with Lodging and Victuals being afflicted with cold and penury It was the fifth day before he entred into their Country where he understood that Satribarzanes who took Bessus part was with a power of Horsemen entred again amongst the Arrians He sent against him Caranas and Erigius and in their aid Artabasus and Andromachus with six thousand Greek Footmen and six hundred Horsemen Alexander continued threescore days in setting order amongst the Evergitans upon whom he bestowed a great sum of money for the notable â—â—delity they shewed towards Cyrus and leaving Amenides to be their Governour who was Darius Secretary he went to subdue the Arachosians who border upon the Sea of Pontus The Men of War who were under Parmenio his Rule came then to Alexander being six thousand Macedons with two hundred of the Nobility five thousand Greek Footmen and two hundred Horsemen which were the chief force of their power To these Arachosians Memnon was appointed Lieutenant with four thousand Footmen and six hundred Horsemen Alexander from thence entred with his Army into a Country not known unto such as bordered upon it for the Inhabitants would not have conversation with any other people They were called Paramisadans being a very rustical kinde of men and most rude amongst all the Barbarous Nations the hardness of the Country had so indurated their dispositions They lye most towards the cold North-Pole joyning with the Bactrians upon the West and bending towards the Indian Sea upon the South They used to build their houses of Brick and because the Land is full of barren Mountains and void of Timber they make their whole houses of the same which beginning broad beneath groweth ever more narrow towards the top and like the Keel of a Ship where the holes are made above to receive light Such of their Pines and Trees that bring forth fruit which they will preserve from the violence of the cold they cover with earth during the Winter-seasons and when the Snow is vanished away they restore them again to the Air and to the Sun The earth was there covered with Snow and frozen so hard that there remained no signe of any Bird or Beast within the Country The Air besides was so dark that little light appeared but the earth being covered as it were with a 〈◊〉 ihadow men could scarcely discern things very near at hand The Army being brought into this Country destitute of Tâ—llagâ— suffered all the discommodities and miseries that might be end 〈◊〉 both of hunger cold weariness and despair There were many of them that died for cold and the Snow destroyed their feet but especially it took away the sight of many When they were wearied and not able to travel any further they laid themselves down upon the frozen Snow and having once left the motion of their bodies which stirred in them their natural heat they were straightways so benummed with cold that they could not rise again till they were lifted up by their Companions and there was no remedy for it but to compel them to go forwards for then by stirring of themselves their natural heat was revived and they recovered again some strength Such as recovered the Cottages wherein the Country-men dwelled were very well refreshed but the darkness was so great that the houses could not be otherwise discerned then by the smoak The Inhabitants that had never seen Strangers before amongst them when they beheld the armed men coming suddenly upon them were amazed for fear and brought forth whatsoever they had to save their bodies from violence Alexander marched on foot amongst his men rasing such as were down and relieving such as he saw afflicted with the cold with his own cloaths He was seen one while in the Van another while in the middest and sometime in the Rereward to the great travel of his body At length they came to places better manured where he refreshed his Army with plenty of victuals and there
Armour nor go forwards so that they seemed most happy who had gotten no water at all for such as had taken of it inordinately were inforced by vomit to put up the same again As Alexander carefully in this calamity stood with his Friends that were perswading him to have respect to himself for that he only and the greatness of his heart should be some relief unto them in his adversity there came two Souldiers who going before with such as had taken up the Camp had found water and were carrying of it in Bottles unto their Sons which were sore afflicted for want of drink behinde in the Army When they saw the King one of them opened his Bottle and filling a Cup presented the water to the King who receiving it at his hand demanded to whom they carried that water they said to their Sons Then he restored the Cup again full as it was given him and said I will not drink alone for so little cannot be divided amongst us all Make you haste therefore to carry to your Sons that you have gotten with your travel But Alexander travelled so long that before night he came to the River of Oxus The more part of the Army not able to follow for feebleness were left far behinde to the intent therefore that such as followed after might know where the Camp was he caused a fire to be made on the top of an hill and gave order that when the Vaward had refreshed themselves with meat and drink they should fill their Bottles with water and go back with the same to relieve their fellows The breath of such as drank intemperately closed up and they died immediately The number of these men was greater then ever Alexander lost in any Battel but he would neither put off his Arms refresh himself with meat or drink nor ease his body but stood in the way where his Army passed not departing till the last man was come into the Camp He watched all that night and passed it over in great trouble of minde and the day that ensued brought no release of his care for there were neither Boats to pass the River withal nor could he make any Bridge seeing there was no Wood growing nigh at hand But at length he found out a device whereunto only necessity did inforce him They took Beasts skins and stuffed them full of Straw whereupon they laid themselves and so swimmed over the River Such as first recovered the further side stood in order of Battel till the rest were passed over by which means in six days he conveyed over his whole Army Having passed the River of Oxus his purpose was to go forwards in the pursuit of Bessus till he understood such things as had chanced among the Susitans There was one Spitamenes whom Bessus chiefly honoured of all his friends But there are no benefits that can stay a man given up to perjury which in him was the more tolerable because he judged no mischief too great for him who had slain his Prince for the revenge of Darius was a fair colour to his offence But it is to be thought that his present fortune was more envied then his past actions were hated When it was known that Alexander had advanced over the River of Oxus Spitamenes did associate with him in counsel for his enterprise Dataphernes and Catenes whom Bessus specially trusted They agreed to the Designe more readily then he would desire them and taking to them eight young men that were strong of personage used this kinde of policy Spitamines repaired to Bessus and getting him alone informed him that he had found out how Dataphernes and Catanes had conspired to deliver him into Alexanders hands whereas he said he had prevented them while they were about their purpose having taken them both and put them fast in prison Bessus then thinking himself much bound unto him for so great a good turn gave him many thanks and for the desire he had to be revenged of his Enemies willed Spitamenes to bring them to his presence He caused their hands to be bound behinde their backs and to be brought by such as were privy to their Confederacy When they came in Bessus presence he beheld them with a full countenance and rose up to have struck at them But then they left their counterfeiting and straightways inclosing Bessus about bound him he strugling in vain and pulled the Diadem from his Head tearing the Garments from his Back which sometimes belonged to his Prince whom he had slain When he saw himself in this condition he confessed that the gods had righteously revenged his Treason and perceived by the Plague they sent him that they both favoured Darius and were friends to Alexander whose Enemies evermore preferred his Victory It is uncertain whether the multitude would have assisted Bessus or not but that Spitamenes had given forth that it was done by Alexanders appointment whereby he put them into a fear being yet doubtful of minde and set Bessus upon an horse on the which he brought him unto Alexander who in the mean season had chosen out 900 such as by reason of their Age were not meet for the Wars and gave to every Horseman two Talents and to every Footman three thousand Deniers That done he dispatched them home and gave thanks unto the rest because they promised to tarry with him until he had brought his Wars to an end Bessus was presented unto him at a little Town whereof the Inhabitants are called Branchidans who in times past by the Commandment of Xerxes when he came out of Greece were brought from Miletum and placed there because that in his favour they had violated a Temple called Didyma They had not altogether forgotten their Country Customs but had mixed their tongue which by little and little degenerated from their own Language and had not yet attained fully that Country-speech They received the King with great joy yeilding themselves and their City unto his will Whereupon he called to him the Milesians that served him in his Wars who bare an ancient hatred against this Generation of the Branchidans and left it to them to determine whether they would save them for the Country sake or else destroy them for the injury they had done them in times past But when the Milesians could not agree in Opinion he said he would order the matter himself The next day when the Brandichans came to meet him he returned them all again into the City and commanded the Footmen to inclose the City round and entred with such as he had appointed for that purpose and by a token given he put all to the Sword and razed the City as a Receptacle of Traytors they being without Armour in every place Neither the Affinity of their Tongue nor any prayer or intercession could mitigate their Enemies cruelty who after the destruction of the Town did cast down the Walls to the ground so that no memory of them doth remain That done they did
our behaviour towards the Scythians If we leave off with doubtful fortune and not meddle with them who of their own minde have provoked us we shall at our return be had in contempt of them whom we intend to visit But if we shall pass the River of Tanais and by the destruction of the Scythians shew our selves invincible every where who will then doubt but Europe will lye open and give Obedience to us being Victors He is deceived that doth measure by any distance the bounds of glory we intend to pass There is but one River that letteth us now for bringing of our Power over into Europe which if we shall effect what an estimation shall it be for us whiles we be subduing of Asia to set up the Monuments of our Victories as it were in a new World joyning so soon together with one Victory that which Nature seemeth to have divided with so great a distance But if we shall stay never so little and give ground the Scythians will then come after us and pursue us in the Rear Are there no more but we who have passed Rivers There are many Inventions yet remaining amongst our selves whereby we have gotten many Victories But fortune of the War doth teach policy to such as are overcome we have shewed a President of late to swim over Rivers upon Bottles which thing if the Scythians cannot do the Bactrians shall teach them It is but the Power of one Nation that now cometh against you all the others stand yet in a stay to understand of our doings So that by eschewing a Battel we shall nourish War and be compelled to receive those blows which lye in us to give to others The reason of my advice is manifest But whether the Macedons will suffer me to use my own disposition I much doubt because since I received this Wound I have not ridden on Horseback nor gone on Foot If you will follow me my Friends I am recovered I have strength enough to endure these things and if the end of my life be at hand wherein can I spend it better These words that he spake were uttered with a broken and weak voice so that they could scarcely be heard of such as were next him But when his meaning was perceived all that were present went about to divert him from so rash an Enterprise But Erigius wrought chiefly in the matter who perceiving that his Authority could not prevail against the Kings obstinate minde attempted to work him by Religion which he judged of greater force For he declared that the gods were against his determination who had signified great peril to ensue if he passed the River He said he had understood that thing by Aristander who told him at his coming into the Pavilion what he had perceived in the Entrails of the Beasts Alexander at these words was wonderfully troubled with anger and shame when he saw the secrets of that Religion brought to light which he thought to have kept secret to himself and therefore caused Erigius to go aside and Aristander to be called in unto him whom he beheld in the face and said I seem to thee rather a private man then a King I commanded thee to sacrifice and thou hast declared the signification thereof to others and not to me For Erigius by thy report knoweth the secrecie appertaining to me But surely I believe that through his own fear he devised an interpretation of himself Therefore let me hear from thy own mouth what thou hast found in the Entrails to the intent that thou shalt not deny what thou hast spoken Aristander thereupon was amazed and looked pale not able to answer one word for fear But at length the same fear that made him hold his peace invited him to speak and lest the prolonging of the Kings expectation might provoke him unto further wrath he answered I said quoth he that there was in the Enterprise great danger and difficulty bu 〈…〉 〈…〉 your attempt should not be in vain there is nothing that I have perceived by my Science that troubleth me so much as the love I bear to you for I both consider your infirmity and what a moment consisteth in your person fearing you should not be able to endure the things that fortune is disposed to give unto you When Alexander heard him speak after that manner he willed him to have confidence in his fidelity to whom Fortune had granted glory in greater things and thereupon dismissed him Afterwards as the King was debating with such as he consulted with before by what means he should pass the River Aristander came amongst them affirming that he had found the Entrails contrary to what he did before with as likely signes of good success as any that ever he saw shewing them then as great causes to rejoyce as he did before to fear But immediately hereupon Alexander received news that much impaired that felicity he was wont to have in all his proceedings Menedemus being sent as it hath been said before to besiege Spitamenes the Author of the Bactrian Rebellion when he understood of his Enemies coming both in avoiding to be inclosed within the Walls and trusting besides to take some advantage of the Macedons he laid an ambuscado to intrap them There was a Wood through the which they should pass very apt for the purpose where he laid the Dahans who were accustomed to carry two armed men upon one Horse from whence they used to leap down by course and because the swiftness of the Footmen was little inferiour to the Horsemen they troubled greatly the order of the Horsemens fight Spitamenes gave order to them that when they should enter into the Wood they should environ them on all sides which they performed according to his appointment Menedemus seeing himself inclosed on all parts and not equal in number unto his Enemies resisted a great while crying out to the Souldiers that there remained no hope to them being intrapped after that manner but by making slaughter upon their Enemies to receive the comfort of an honest death Menedemus rode upon a strong Horse charging oft-times upon his Enemies whereby he brake their order and made great slaughter till such time as he being laid at on all parts received many wounds and fainted for want of bloud Then he exhorted Hispides that was one of his Friends to leap upon his Horse and escape away and with that word he swounded and fell from his Horse to the ground Hispalis might have got away but after he had lost his friend he determined there to die taking no other care but how to lose his life with the ruine of his Enemies Wherefore he put his Spurs to his Horse and ran in amongst them where he fought notably and at length was slain When the rest saw his overthrow and the loss of their Captains they recovered an Hill where Spitamenes did besiege them thinking to subdue them for want of Victuals There were slain in the Battel two Thousand
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
hand and cut down the Wood to make them great fires the flame whereof took hold of the Sepulchres belonging to the City which by reason they were made of Cedar they were soon set on fire and never left burning till they were all consumed The fire made both an Alarm in the City and in the Camp for the Citizens thereby judged that their Enemies would make some attempt against them and the Macedons perceived by the barking of the Dogs and the noise of the men that the Indians would salley out upon them Wherefore Alexander issuing out of his Camp in order to Battel â—lew such as attempted the Fight Thereupon they within the City became of divers opinions some were minded to yield and others thought good to adventure the extremity When Alexander understood of their division he caused his men to abstain from slaughter and only to maintain the Siege At length they were so wearied with the discommodities of the War that they yielded themselves They affirmed their original to be from Bacchus who indeed builded their City at the foot of a Mountain called Meroe the quality of which Mountain being reported to Alexander by the Inhabitants he sent Victuals before and passed thither with his whole Army incamping upon the top thereof The Mountain grew full of Vines and Ivy abounding with Springs that flowed out in every place The same was also plentiful of many kinds of Apples of most pleasant taste the ground also brought forth Corn without cultivation There grew plenty of Lawrel-trees with many kindes of wilde fruit I cannot impute it unto any motion of religion but rather to plenty and wantonness that caused Alexander to repair thither where of the Ivy and the Vine-leaves were made Garlands by the Souldiers who ran up and down the Hills after a dissolute manner all the hollows and valleys thereabout rebounding with the voice of so many thousands of men calling upon Bacchus to whom that place was dedicate which license and liberty being begun of a few was spread so suddenly through the whole Army that the Souldiers scattered abroad without order lay here and there reposing themselves upon the grass and leaves that they had gathered together as it had been a time of quiet and most assured peace which licentiousness of the Souldiers rising by chance Alexander did not withstand but ten days together made Feasts to Bacchus during which time he plentifully banqueted his whole Army Who can therefore deny but that greatness of fame and glory is oftentimes a benefit rather of fortune than of vertue for their Enemies had no heart to set upon them whiles they were drowned in this excess of banqueting drunkenness and sloth but were as much afraid of their drunkenness as if they had heard their cry encounting with them in Battel which felicity preserving them here did afterwards defend them after the same manner in the middest of their Enemies returning as it were in triumph from the Ocean Sea when they were given all to feasting and to drunkenness When Alexander descended from the Mountain he went to a Countrey called Dedala which the inhabitants forsook and fled to the Woods and wilde Mountains and therefore he passed from thence into Acadera which he found both burned and abandoned likewise of the inhabitants whereby of necessity he was compelled to use the War after another manner For he divided his Army into divers parts and shewed his power in many places at once By which means he oppressed them before they could provide for themselves and subdued them to their utter ruine Ptolomeus took most Cities but Alexander won the greatest and afterwards joyned again his Army together which he had thus divided That done he went forwards and passed a River called Choaspe where he left Cenon to besiege a rich City called Bezira and he himself went to Mazage where Aassacanus being dead had left the Dominion both of the Countrey and the City to his Mother Cleophes There were three hundred thousand Footmen to defend that City which was both well fortified and strong of scituation being inclosed upon the East with a swift River having steep Banks defending the City that it could not be approached on that side Upon the South and the West parts nature as it were for the once had planted high Rocks lying betwixt them and deep hollows and pits made many hundred years before where the Rocks ceased there began a Ditch of Wonderful depth and wideness The Wall wherewith the City was inclosed was 35 Furlongs in compass whereof the nether parts were builded of stone and the upper parts of clay yet the stones were mixed with the clay to the intent that the frail substance clinging to the harder the one should binde the other and lest the Earth washed upon with the rain might fall all together there were stanchings of Timber put betwixt to stay the whole work which covered over with boards was a way for men to go upon Alexander beholding this kinde of fortification was uncertain what to do For he saw he could not approach to the Walls but by filling of those Ditches and hollow places and that he could not otherwise fill them than by making of a Mount which was the only way he had to bring his Engines to the Walls but whiles he was viewing the Town after that manner he was struck from the wall with an Arrow on the thigh which he pulled out and without wrapping of his wound he called for his horse and letted not for his hurt to give order for such things as he thought expedient But at length when by hanging of his leg the bloud drew from the wound and waxed cold whereby his hurt began to pain him he then said he was called the son of Jupiter but yet he felt in himself the infirmities of a diseased body Notwithstanding he would not return into the Camp before he had viewed what was necessary and gave order for all things he would have done After the Souldiers had received their orders by plucking down of Houses without the Town they got great plenty of stuff to make the Mount withal and by casting stocks of trees on heaps into the ditches and hollow places the Mount within nine days was raised up to the top of the walls and the Towers were planted upon the same such was the labour and diligence that the Souldiers used in this business The King before his wound was closed up took the pains to see how the Works went forwards and when he perceived them in such height he commended the Souldiers for their diligence and caused things to be brought to the walls by reason of which they that defended the walls were sore afflicted with shot and by reason they had not seen any such kinde of work before they were wonderfully amazed especially when they beheld the towers of such bigness to come forwards and yet could not perceive by what means they were moved they therefore judged it to be done
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
rather made an exchange for a new labour being put forth amongst this wilde Nation to make the Ocean Sea open to him with their blood and to be drawn beyond the Sun and the Stars They were compelled they said to visit those places that Nature coveted to remove from mans knowledge They grudged that to their new Armour there were new Enemies raised up whom if they should vanquish and put to flight they could not see what benefit they should receive thereby but only darkness and obscurity of the Air which always covered the deep Sea replenished with multitudes of Monsters wallowing in those immoveable waters in which dying Nature did faint away The King little moved for himself was much troubled for these passions of his Souldiers wherefore he assembled them all together declaring of how feeble a force those Nations were whom they feared so much and who only remained and were an impediment to them having passed over so many Countries to attain to the period of their travels and to the end of the world He shewed how that in respect of their former fear he had left his Enterprise over Ganges with the Conquest of the Nations inhabiting beyond the same and had directed his journey this way whereas their glory shall be as great and their danger less seeing the Ocean was in a manner within sight the Air whereof he felt blowing in his face He required them therefore that they would not envy the glory he sought by passing the bounds of Hercules and Bacchus seeing that with so little pain they might give unto their King perpetual Fame and Immortality In doing whereof they should depart out of India as Conquerours whereas otherwise they should seem to â—ly away from thence It is the property of all multitudes and specially of Men of War to be drawn with every little motion amongst whom as sedition doth soon arise so it is soon pacified There was never a more chearful cry made of any Army before then the Souldiers now made to Alexander who willed him to lead them wheresoever he would and make himself equal in glory unto them whose Acts he did emulate Alexander rejoycing in the willingness that appeared in his Souldiers removed straight ways towards his Enemies who were the stoutest people of all the Indians They prepared themselves manfully for the Wars and chose for their Captain one of the Oxidracans who was of an approved Manhood he incamping at the foot of a Mountain made fires all abroad to cause his number to appear the greater and went about in vain to fear the Macedons when they were at rest by making of alarms with their cryes and manner of howling When the day appeared Alexander having an assured confidence to obtain the Victory commanded the Souldiers to put on their Armour and chearfully to fall in order of Battel But the Indians whether it were for fear or by reason of some sedition risen amongst them suddenly fled into the Desart Mountains whom Alexander followed in vain and not able to overtake them took their Carriage After this he came to the City of the Oxidracans whereunto great numbers were fled as well in trust of the strength of the place as of their own power As Alexander was about to make the approach Demophon his Diviner admonished him that he should either defer the assault or else not meddle with it at all for there appeared signes that his life should be in jeopardy When Alexander had heard his words he beheld him and said If any man should interrupt thee when thou art busie about thy Science or considering of the Entrails should not he seem unto thee to be troublesome and his coming to be ungrateful Yes truly said he So art thou now unto me said Alexander for having so great actions in hand of more moment then the Entrails of Beasts I finde no greater impediment then a Superstitious Diviner And as soon as he had spoken the word he caused them to rear up the Ladders and whilest other men sticked and stayed at the danger he mounted up the wall in his own person The same was very narrow on the top not divided with loops as is commonly used but inclosed with one whole and continual Battlement round about which caused it to be the more hard to scale Alexander therefore having no convenient place to stand for his defence stayed upon the wall receiving upon his Target the Darts that were cast at him from all parts His Souldiers could not get to him they were so beaten from the walls by the shot that came from above Yet at the last when they saw their King given up into their Enemies hands shame overcame their imminent danger But their overmuch haste became their hinderance and was the cause why they could not come to the rescue of their King For whiles every man coveted to ascend the Ladders they were so heavily laden that they brake asunder and such as were mounted upon them fell down again deceiving Alexander of his only hope so that in the sight of all the Army he stood destitute on the walls as in a Desart without any aid or succour and had wearied his left arm with which he held his Target in receiving the Darts thrown at him His friends cryed unto him to leap down unto them who stood in readiness to receive him But he giving no car unto them undertook an incredible enterprise and such a one as hath not been heard of before deserving rather the report of rashness then of any fame that might sound to his glory for with a desperate leap he cast himself into the City that was full of his Enemies For before he could recover his feet again it was likely either he should have been slain or taken alive But he by chance so conveyed his body that he fell upon his feet and fought with such as came against him Fortune so provided that he could not be enclosed about by reason of an old tree which as it had been of purpose stood near the wall whose broad boughs being full of leaves covered him from above and the greatness of the stock kept his enemies from coming at his back and upon the forefront he received the darts that were cast against him with his Target For though there were never so many that contended with him afar off yet durst there no man come near unto him and the boughs kept off the arrows and darts as well as his Target did In this extremity the greatness of Alexanders Fame chiefly fought for him and next of all desperation a great encouragement for a man to die honestly At length through the multitude of his enemies that continually flocked about him both his Target was laden with shot his Helmet was broken with stones and his legs fainted and failed under him by reason of his continual travel which when his enemies perceived they without fear drew more near unto him of whom he received two with his sword in such sort
things that he was offended with them that would not worship him and given more vehemently to wrath than was expedient that he altered his habit and apparel into the fashion of strangers and counterfeited the custom of those whom he had subdued and despised before his Victory these were Vices to be attributed to the greatness of his fortune As the heat of youth stirred him unto anger and to the desire of Drinking so age might have mitigated again those distempers Notwithstanding it must needs be confessed that though he prevailed much by his Vertue yet ought he to impute more unto his Fortune which only of all mortal men he had in his own power How often did she deliver him from the point of Death How did she protect him with perpetual Felicity when he had rashly brought himself into peril And when she had decreed an end to his glory she even then was content to finish his life staying his fatal destiny until he had subdued the Orient visited the Ocean and fulfilled all that mans mortality was able to perform To this so great a King and so noble a Conqueror a Successor was wanting and it was a task of too great an importance for any one man to take it upon him his Name and Renown was so great amongst all Nations that they were counted most noble who could be partakers though it were never so little of his prosperous Fortune But to return again to Babylon from whence this digression hath been made They who had the Guard and Custody of Alexanders person called into the Court such as had been his chief Friends and Captains of the men of War after whom there follow'd a great multitude of Souldiers desiring to know who should be Successor unto Alexander The throng of the Souldiers was such that many of the Captains were excluded and could not enter into the Court. A Proclamation therefore was made whereby all men were forbidden to enter except such as were called by name But because their commandment seemed to want authority it was but little regarded and the multitude at first began to make a doleful cry and lamentation But immediately the desire they had to understand the event stopped their lamentation and procured silence Then Perdiccas brought forth in sight of all the people the Kings Chair of Estate wherein Alexanders Diadem his Royal Habiliments and his Armour was laid amongst which Ornaments Perdiccas also laid down the Kings Signet delivered to him the day before at the sight whereof they began to weep and to renew again their sorrow Then said Perdiccas Lo here is the Ring wherewith he was accustomed to Seal such things as pertained to the Government of his Empire which as he delivered to me I so restore it again to you And though no affliction can be devised by the gods were they never so much offended comparable to this yet considering the greatness of the Acts which he hath done we must think that as the gods sent such a man so to reign in the world his time being expired that was appointed they have called him back again to the place from whence he came Forasmuch therefore as nothing more of him remaineth capable of immortality let us perform the Rites pertaining to his Body remembring in what City we are amongst what kinde of people and what a King and Governour we have lost We must consider and consult how to maintain our Conquest amongst those men over whom it is gotten for the doing whereof it is needful for us to have a Head but whether the same shall be one or many it doth consist in you You are not ignorant that a multitude of men of War is a Body without life Six months are now passed since Roxaue was conceived with childe we desire of the gods that she may bring forth a Son which may enjoy this Kingdom when he cometh to Age In the mean season appoint you by whom you will be governed When Perdiccas had spoken these words Nearchus rose up and said There is no man can deny but that it were requisite that the Succession should continue in the Blood Royal but to look for a King that is not yet born and to pass over one that is born already is not expedient for such men as the Macedons are nor yet doth serve the necessity of the time There is a Son whom Alexander begot on Barsines whâ—t should hinder why the Diadem may not be set upon his Head Nearchus discourse was acceptable to no man therefore the Souldiers according to their custom clashed their Spears against their Targets and continued making a noise And when he would not forsake his opinion but obstinately maintained the same it had almost bred a sedition which being perceived by Ptolomy he spake after this manner Neither the Son of Roxane nor of Barsines is an Issue meet to reign over the Macedons whose names we should be ashamed to mention within Europe their mothers being Captives Have we subdued the Persians to that end to become subject to such as are descended of them That was it which Darius and Xerxes being Kings of Persia did labour for in vain with so many millions of men of War and with so many Navies This therefore is my opinion that Alexanders Chair of Estate be set in the middest of his Court and that all such as were accustomed to be of Counsel with him assemble together so often as any business requireth to be consulted on and that the Captains and Rulers of the Army be obedient to that Order whereunto the greatest number do assent There were some agreed with Ptolomy but few with Perdiccas Then Aristonus spake in this manner When Alexander was demanded to whom he would leave his Kingdom he willed the worthiest to be chosen Whom judged he worthy but Perdiccas to whom he delivered his Ring This was not done at such a time as he was alone but when all his Friends were present he did cast his eyes amongst them and at length châ—se out one to whom he delivered it For this cause I think it right that the Kingdome be committed to Perdiccas Many agreed to his opinion so that the Assembly cried out to Perdiccas that he should 〈…〉 amongst them and take up the Kings Signet But he stayed between ambition and modesty thinking the more modesty he used in the obtaining the thing he so much desired they would be so much the more earnest to proffer it to him When he had stood a good while at a stay doubting what to do at length he drew back and stood behinde them who sate next to him When Meleager who was one of the Captains saw the stay that Perdiccas made he took courage on his seeming unwillingness and said Neither the gods will permit nor men will suffer that Alexanders Fortune and the weight of so great an Empire should rest upon his shoulders I will not rehearse that there are many present more noble than he is and of
might well have stood when it was divided into Parts feâ—â— to ruine For this cause the people of Rome justly must confess themselves bound unto their Prince for the felicity they injoy who as a Star in the night appeared unto them that were almost lost Surely it was not the rising of the Sun but of him that gave light unto the world in darkness for without such a Head the Members that were at variance must needs have failed How many Fire-brands did he quench How many drawn Swords did he cause to be sheathed How great a Tempest did he pacifie with the sudden calm of his presence The Empire now doth wax verdant and flourishing let me desire without envy that his house may continue many Ages and his Posterity for evermore But to return again to the order of the History from whence I was brought through the contemplation of our Universal Felicity Perdiccas judged the only hope of his own safeguard to consist in the death of Meleager thinking it necessary to prevent him being a man both variable unfaithful given to innovation and besides his mortal Enemy But with deep dissimulation he kept his purpose secret to the intent that with less difficulty he might oppress him unawares He therefore did suboâ—â— privily certain of the Troops under his own Command to complain openly as though it were without his privity that Meleager should be made equal with him in Authority which words of the Souldiers when they reported unto Meleager he became in a great rage and declared them to Perdiccas who seemed to wonder at it and to be passionately sorry for it and finally they agreed amongst themselves that the Authors of such seditious words should be apprehended When Meleager perceived Perdiccas so conformable he imbraced him and gave him thanks for his fidelity and benevolence then in a consultation betwixt them both they devised how to destroy such as wrought this division betwixt them for the bringing of which to pass they agreed the Army should be purged according to their Country-custom To the doing whereof they seemed to have a sufficient occasion by reason of the late discord amongst them The Kings of Macedon in the lustration of their Army were accustomed to use a kinde of Ceremony dividing the bowels of a Dog into two parts and to cast the same in the uttermost bounds of the field on which they intended to muster their Army the Souldiers within those bounds were all to stand armed the Horsemen the Mercenary Souldiers the Phalanx and every one apart The same day that this Ceremony was put in execution the King stood in order of Battel with the Horsemen and the Elephants against the Footmen of whom Meleager had the Rule When the Troops of Horsemen began to move the Footmen were suddenly possessed with a great fear and by reason of the late discord conceived a suspition that the Horsemen did intend no good unto them wherefore they stood a while in doubt whether they should retire into the City or not by reason that the fields served best for the Horsemen At last they stood still with a fix'd resolution to fight if any should offer them violence When the Battels were almost met and only a small distance left whereby the one part was divided from the other the King by the provocation of Perdiccas with a Band of Horsemen did ride along by the Foot requiring the delivery of such to be executed as were the Authors of the Discord whom in very deed he ought to have defended and threatned if they refused their delivery to bring against them both the Horsemen and the Elephants The Footmen were amazed with the suddenness of the mischief which they looked not for and there was no more counsel nor courage in Meleager then in the rest but they all judged it most expedient for them to abide the adventure of that request and to expect rather then to provoke Fortune When Perdiccas saw them astonied and in fear he severed out to the number of three hundred of such who followed Meleager when he brake out of the Assembly that was first made after Alexanders death who in the sight of the Army were cast to the Elephants and there trampled to death with their feet of which Philip was neither the Author nor the Forbidder but thought to claim that for his own act which should appear best in the end This was a signification and a beginning unto the Macedons of the Civil Wars that insued Meleager understanding over-late the deceipt of this fine Plot because there was no violence offered unto his person stood at first quietly within the Phalanx but shortly after when he saw his Enemies abusing to his destruction the Name of him whom he had made King he despaired of his own safety and fled into a Temple But the Religion of the place could not so defend him but that he was there slain Perdiccas hereupon brought again the Army into the City and calling a Councel of all the principal Personages it was agreed so to divide the Empire that the King should remain as Chief of the whole Ptolomy was to be Lieutenant in Egypt and Africa and to have the Rule of the Nations there that were under the Macedons Dominion Syria and Phenicia were appointed to Laomedon Cilicia to Philotas Lycia with Pamphylia and the greater Phrygia were assigned to Antigonus Cassander was sent into Caria and Menander into Lydia the less Phrygia that joyneth unto Hellespont was Leonatus Province Eumenes had Cappadocia and Paphlagonia who was commanded also to defend that Country so far as Trapezunt and make War with Arbates who only remained an Enemy to the Empire Media was appointed Python and Thracia to Lysimachus with other Nations thereabouts bordering upon the Sea of Pontus It was ordained also that such as should be the Governours over the Indians Bactrians Sogdians and the other Nations lying upon the Ocean and Red Seas should in matter of Justice use Regal Jurisdiction It was decreed that Perdiccas should remain with the King and have the Governance of the Men of War that followed him Some believe that these Provinces were thus distributed by Alexanders Testament but we have found the same to be false though some Authors do affirm it The Empire being thus divided into parts every one might well have defended his proportion if any bounds could contain mens immoderate desires for they who before were but servants to a King did not long after under a specious colour invade one anothers Kingdoms being all of one Nation and having certain bounds to their Dominions allotted to them But it is hard for men to be contented with that they have in possession when occasion is proffered them of more for the first things always appear of no value when men are in hope of greater things to come so that every one of them thought it an easier matter to increase his Kingdom then it was at the first to get it Alexanders Body in the mean season lay seven days unburied for whiles every man had care for the establishing of the State their mindes were drawn from the performing of the Solemn Office to the Dead There is no Country more fervent in heat then Mesopotamia for the Sun there burneth so hot that it killeth the Beasts that are without covert and burneth up all things as it were with fire And to the increase thereof there are but few Springs of water and the Inhabitants use such policy in hiding of those they have that strangers can have no use of them Notwithstanding this when Alexanders Friends had the leisure to take care of the dead Body and came to visit the same they found it without infection corruption or change of colour the same chearfulness of spirit which he had alive being not yet departed out of his countenance Then the Egyptians and the Caldeans were commanded to imâ—alm his Body after their manner who at the first as though he had been alive shewed a fear to put their hands to him but afterwards making their prayers that it might be lawful for mortal men to touch him they purged his body and filled it with sweet Odours and afterwards laid him upon a Hâ—rse of Gold and set a Diadâ—m upon his head It is recorded that he died of Poyson and that Ioâ—la Antipaters Son being one of his Ministers had given him the same Alexander oftentimes would say That Antipater coveted the Estate of a King affecting more greatness then pertained to a Lieutenant and that through the glory of the Victory he had gotten of the Lacedemonians was become so proud that he claimed all things committed to him as his own It is thought also that Craterus was sent to kill him with those old Souldiers that were dismissed It is certain that there is a Poyson in Macedonia found in a water called Styges of such force that it consumeth Iron and will not be contained in any thing except in the Hoof of a Horse or Mule which Poyson was brought by Cassander and delivered to his Brother Iolla who presented it in the drink which the King last drank However these things are reported the power of them of whom the rumour was spread shortly after oppressed the infamy thereof for Antipater became King both of Macedonia and Greece who afterwards took away by death the Kings Off-spring all being slain who had any Alliance to him although in the most removed Consanguinity Ptolomy who had the Rule of Egypt conveyed Alexanders Body to Memphis which within few years after was removed to Alexandria where all Honour is given to his Memory and his Name FINIS
all Asia to carry the Spoils of so many Nations within your bellies only and to return home to your Wives and Children not being able to shew any of the Rewards of your Victorie Many of ye in the way shall be compelled to pawn your Armour if you forsake this good hope which you might receive at my hand These are the goodly men of War that I shall want who of all their Riches have nothing left them but only their Concubines The waâ— lies open for your departure Get you gone out of my sight I with the Persians will defend your backs when you are gone I will hold none of you Deliver mine eyes you ungrateful Country-men of the sight of you Shall your Parents and Children think you receive you with joy when they shall see you return without your King Shall they covet to meet such as are fugitives and forsakers of their Prince I shall 〈…〉 at your departure and wheresoever you shall be I shall desire to be revenged honouring always and preferring above you those whom you have left here with me Now you shall know of what force an Army is that is destitute of a King and what moment doth consist in me alone When he had spoken these words he leaped in a fury from the Judgment-seat and ran into the throng of the armed men where he took with his own hands such as had mutined most against him of whom there being not any that durst make resistance he delivered thirteen to his Guard to be safely kept Who would have thought that an Assembly who a little before had spoken unto their Prince with such audacity and rigour could have been so suddenly appalled with fear and seeing their Companions led to execution durst none of them make the least attempt to oppose him But the inordinate liberty they used before and seditious violence was then so staid that not one of them durst resist the King running amongst them but were all astonied for fear and stood like men amazed with doubtful imaginations looking what he would determine of themselves Whether it were the reverence they bare to his Name because the Nations that live under Kings are accustomed to honour them as gods or whether it were the Majesty of his Person or else his own assured Constancy executing his Authority with such violence that did put them in such fear but they shewed a notable example of Patience for they not only not stirred at the execution of their Companions whom they knew to be put to death in the night-time but were more diligent in performing their duties than they were before pretermitting nothing pertaining to obedience and the natural affection towards their Prince For on the next day they came to the Court and being not suffered to enter but all shut out saving the Souldiers of Asia they made a sorrowful cry and lamentation which spread over all the Camp protesting That they would not live if the King continued still in his wrath But he that was obstinate in all things which he had once conceived in his head having commanded the Macedons to keep still in their Camp did assemble the strange Souldiers together to whom by an Interpreter he made this Oration At what time I came first out of Europe into Asia my trust was to bring many noble Nations and a great power of Men under my Empire and Dominion wherein I was not deceived For besides that Fame reported you to be the men of Valour I have found in you one thing more which is an inâ—â—â—parable Obedience Fidelity and Affection towards their Prince I thought Voluptuousness had oâ—â—â—flown all Vertues amongst you and that through your great felicitie you had been drowned in Pleasures But I finde otherwise and perceive that none do observe the Discipline and Order of the Wars better than you nor execute the same with more activity and resolution and being manful and valiant men they embrace Fidelitie as well as Fortitude This I do but now confess but I knew it long ago which was the cause that I chose you out of the Youth of so many Nations to be my Souldiers and did incorporate you amongst mine own People causing you to wear the same Armour but your Obedience towards Authoritie appeareth much better in you than in them Therefore I have joyned to my self in Marriage the Daughter of Oxares who is a Persian not disdaining to beget Children upon a Captive And afterwards desiring abundantly to increase the Issue of my body I took to Wife the Daughter of Darius and was the Author that my near Friends should beget Children upon their Captives minding by this holy Covenant to exclude the difference between the Conquerour and the Conquered Wherefore you must now think that you are not Souldiers by me adopted but more natural and that Asia and Europe is one Kingdom without any difference I have given unto you Armour after the manner of the Macedons I have brought all strangeness and novelty into a custom and now you are both my Country-men and my Souldiers in all things receiving one form and fashion I have not thought it unseemly for the Persians to shadow the Customs of the Macedons nor for the Macedons to counterfeit the Persians seeing they all ought to be under one Law and Custom who should live under one King When he had made this Oration he committed the custody of his Person unto the Persians he made them of his Guard and his Officers of Justice by whom when those Macedons who had given the occasion of this Sedition were led bound unto Execution one of them who was more ancient and of greater estimation than the rest spake after this manner How long will you give place unto your will in executing us after this strange manner Your Souldiers and your own Country-men are drawn to Execution by their own Prisoners before their cause is heard If you have judged us worthy of death at leastwise change the Ministers of your wrath This was a good admonishment if he had been patient to hear the truth but his wrath was grown into a fury so that when he saw those who had the charge of them to stay a little as willing to respite the Execution he caused the Prisoners to be tumbled into the River and there drowned Notwithstanding the cruelty of this punishment the Souldiers were not moved to any sedition but repaired in great numbers to their Captains and unto such as were near about the King requiring That if there yet remained any infected with the same Offence that he should command them to be put to death proffering their bodies to be punished and executed at his own will After it was known that the dignity of being the Kings Lieutenant was given unto the Persians and that they were distributed into divers Orders with such names given unto them as were unto the Macedons and that the Macedons were rejected with reproach they could not then longer contain themselves nor the
dolour they had conceived in their hearts but with a great throng prâ—ssed to the Court wearing only their nethermost Garments and leaving their Weapons without the Gate in token of repentance there with weeping and all tokens of humility they made request to be admitted to the Kings presence beseeching that he would vouchsafe to pardon their Offence and to pacifie his wrath with the death of so many of them as he should think good rather than to suffer them to live in such a reproach which except he would release they protested they would never depart out of the place When these things were declared unto Alexander he caused the Court-gates to be opened and came forth amongst them where beholding their lamentation and repentance and the posture of their miserable affliction he could not abstain to weep a long time with them and in consideration of their modesty forgave them their former offences and after he had moderately told them their faults and again comforted them with gentle words he discharged many from the Service of the Wars and sent them home magnificently rewarded writing to Antipater his Lieutenant in Macedonia that he should assigne them the chief places in the Theatres at Triumphs and publick Shews where they should sit with Garlands on their heads willing that their Children after their deaths should enjoy their Fathers Pay He appointed Craterus to be their Ruler to whom also in the place of Antipater he had committed the Government of Macedonia Thessalia and Thracia Antipater being sent for to repair unto him with a supply of young Souldiers Alexander had received Letters before both from him and Olympias his Mother by which there appeared to be some discontents between them For his Mother accused Antipater that he went about to make himself King and Antipater did write how Olympias did many things otherwise than did become her Antipater did take his calling away so grievously to heart that he conspired thereupon to poyson Alexander who having accomplished what he resolved to have done advanced to Ecbatana in Media to set in order the necessary Affairs of his Empire and there ordained solemn Triumphs and Feastings It chanced that Ephestion whom the King entirely loved and used in the place of a Brother did die at the same time of a Fever whose death Alexander took more heavily than may well be credited committing in his grief many things that were unbeseeming the Majesty of a Prince He commanded Ephestions Physician to be hanged as though he had died through his negligence He lay imbracing of the dead body and could hardly be taken away by his Friends but continued his sorrow night and day There are many other things written on this Subject which are scarcely credible but it is certain that he commanded Sacrifice to be made unto him as to a god and consumed in his Burial and in making of his Tomb above twelve thousand Talents As he was returning to Babylon the Chaldean Prophets met him on the way exhorting him not to enter into the City for it was signified That if he went thither at that time he should be in great peril of his life Notwithstanding he regarded not their Admonitions but went forward in his Journey according as he was appointed for he understood that Embassadours were come thither from all Regions and tarried for his coming the terrour of his name was so spread through the world that all Nations shewed an obsequiousness towards him as though he had been appointed to be their King This caused him to make haste to Babylon to keep there as it were a Parliament of the whole World When he was come thither he received the Embassadours gently and afterwards dismissed them home again There was about the same time a Banquet prepared at the house of one Thessalus Medius whereunto the King being invited came with such as were appointed to keep him company But he had no sooner drunk of Hercules Cup but that he gave a deep groan as though he had been struck to the heart and being carried out of the Feast half dead he was so tormented with pain that he required a Sword to have killed himself His Friends did publish abroad that drunkenness was the cause of his disease but in very deed it was prepared Treason the infamy whereof the Power of his Successors did oppress The poyson prepared long before was delivered by Antipater unto his Son Cassander who with his brethren Philip and Iolla were accustomed to serve the King at meat he was warned that he should not commit the said Poyson to any Person except it were to Thessalus or to his own brothers Philip and Iolla who were both accustomed to take the assay of the Kings Cup and having the poyson ready in cold water mixed it with Wine after they had tasted it When the fourth day was come the Souldiers partly because they suspected he was dead and partly because they could not endure to want long his sight came sorrowfully unto the Court desiring to see the King who by his commandment were admitted unto his presence by such as had the charge of his person When they beheld him lying in that estate they made great sorrow and lamentation for he seemed not to them to be the same whom they were accustomed to behold but rather a dead Corpse If their grief were great the sorrow of them who stood next to the Bed appeared much greater whom when Alexander beheld to lament after that sort he said unto them When I shall depart you shall finde a King worthy of such men as you are It is a thing incredible to speak how that during the Souldiers of his whole Army came to visit him he never altered his countenance nor gesture but continued in that presence which he gave unto the first unto the last man When he had dismissed the multitude as though he had been discharged of all debt of life he lay down to rest his weak body and his voice beginning to fail him he commanded his Friends to draw near unto him then taking his Ring from his Finger he delivered it to Perdiccas and gave therewith a commandment that his Body should be conveyed to Hammon They demanded to whom he would leave his Kingdom he said To the worthiest By which words it appeared that he foresaw the Contention that was like to ensue upon his death Perdiccas moreover demanded of him when he would have divine Honours done unto him At such time said he as you shall finde your selves in Felicity These were the last words Alexander spake and shortly after he died Immediately after his death the Court was full of howling and lamenting and by and by as it had been in a desart place all things were hush and a sorrowful silence was spread over all grief being converted into imagination what the event should be The young men of the Nobility that were accustomed about the Kings person could not bear the greatness of their dolour