all men before him because in such glory he died young and had his Acts set forth by such a one as Homer was From thence he passed forwards into the Dominions of Darius King of Persia who being the Son of Arsanus and the fourteenth King after Cyrus had the possession of the Monarchy of the whole Eastern part of the World The chiefest cause that moved Alexander to invade him was to be revenged of the damages and destructions wherewith the Predecessors of Darius had afflicted the Country of Greece and also for demanding Tribute of Philip his Father for the which he sent a proud and presumptuous Embassage calling himself The King of Kings and Kinsman of the Gods Lastly he had written to Alexander and called him his Vassal and gave Commission to his Lieutenants that they should beat that Mad Boy the Son of Philip with Rods and afterwards bring him to his Presence in Kings Apparel And furthermore that they should sink both Ships and Marriners and convey all the Souldiers that should be left alive beyond the Red Seas They therefore purposing to execute the Kings Commandment assembled their Power at the River of Granike which doth divide the Country of Troy from Propontides having to the number of 20000 Footmen and as many Horsemen with whom they had taken the ground on the other side of the River where Alexander must needs pass over whereof when he was advertised though he saw apparent danger in the Enterprize to fight in the water and the Ouze against his Enemies who had the advantage of the higher Bank yet upon a singular trust to his own good Fortune and the courage of his Souldiers he charged upon the Enemy At the first he was sore encountred and put in great danger of repulse but at length he vanquished and overthrew them In doing whereof there neither wanted policy in himself nor singular Manhood in his men There was slain in that Battel of the Persians twenty thousand Foot and two hundred and fifty Horse and of the Macedons but thirty four This Victory was greatly advantagious to Alexander's designe for thereby he won the City of Sardis being the chief strength the Persians had for the Mastering of the Seas unto which City and to all the rest of the Country of Lydia he gave liberty to live under their own Laws He got also under his possession the City of Ephesus which the fourth day after the Battel was abandoned by the Garrison which Darius set there In the mean season there came Embassadours from Magnetio and from the Triallians proffering the delivery of their Cities Parmenio was sent to them with three thousand Footmen and two hundred Horsemen with which Power he won Miletum that made-strong opposition And marching from thence towards Hilicarnassus he got all the Towns thereabouts at the first approach and afterwards besieged Hilicarnassus it self which with great travel he overcame at length and razed it to the ground As Alexander entred into Caria Ada the Queen of that Country who had been spoiled of all her Dominions by Oâ—ontobates Darius Lieutenant saving of one strong City called Alindaâ— met with Alexander and adopted him for her Son and Heir He would not refuse the Name and the proffer of her Liberality but did restore to her again the Command of her own City And besides for the Memorial of her Benevolence he put the whole Country of Caria under her Rule and Subjection From thence he marched into Licia and Pamphylia to the intent that by getting the possession of the Sea-coasts of those Countries he might cause the Sea-power of Darius to be of no effect When he had subdued the people of Pisidia he entered into Phrygia by which Country he was inforced to pass and marched towards Darius with whom he had a great desire to encounter having understood that he was coming against him with a formidable Army THE THIRD BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon ALexander in the mean season having sent Cleander to levy Recruits out of Peloponnesus established the Countries of Licia and Pamphylia and removed his Army to the City of Celenae Through this City there ran at the same time the River of Martia made famous by the Poetry of Greece whose Head springing out of the top of a high Mountain and falling down upon a Rock beneath makes almost deafning murmures flowing from thence and watering the fields round about without increase of any stream saving his own the colour whereof being like unto the calm Sea gave occasion to the Poets to feign how the Nymphs for the delight they took in that River did chuse their dwelling under that Rock So long as it runneth within compass of the walls it keepeth his own name but when it cometh without where the stream is more swift and vehement it is then called Lycus Alexander did enter into this Town being forsaken of the Inhabitants and perceiving they were fled into the Castle which he determined to win before he departed he first sent to summon them by an Herald who declared that except they would yield themselves they should suffer the extremity of the Law of Arms. They brought the Herald into an high Tower which was strong both by Nature and Art willing him to consider the height and strength thereof and to declare unto Alexander that he had not a full dimension of the strength of the place for they did know it to be impregnable and if the worst should fall yet were they ready to die in their Allegiance Notwithstanding their words when it came to the point that they saw themselves besieged and all things were scarce they took Truce for forty days with this Composition That if they were not rescued by Darius within that time they would render it up into his hands Which they did afterwards at the day appointed when they saw no Succours coming To that place there came Embassadours to him from Athens making request that such of their City as were taken prisoners at the Battel fought upon the River Granike might be restored to them To whom answer was made that when the Wars of Persia were once brought to an end both theirs and all others that were Greeks should be restored to their liberty Alexander had his present care and resolution always upon Darius who he knew had not yet passed the River Euphrates He assembled therefore all his Powers together purposing to adventure the hazard of the Battel The Country was called Phrygia that he passed through plentiful of Villages but scarce of Cities yet there was one of great Antiquity called Gordium the Royal Seat sometime of King Mydas The River of Sangaray doth run through it and it standeth in the mid-way betwixt the Seas of Pontus and Cilicia being judged to be the narrowest part of Asia by reason of the Seas which lye on both sides representing the form of an Island and if it were not for a finall point of
by their invocation But Aristander to whom he gave most confidence could do nothing in that case Alexander therefore condemning their Sacrifices which he thought then done out of time called for such as knew the Countrey they shewed him of another way that was plain and open enough but yet he liked it not he was so ashamed to leave his Souldiers unburied that were slain For amongst all other Ceremonies observed in the discipline of their Wars there was not any more religiously kept then the burying of the dead He caused therefore such prisoners as were lately taken to be called before him amongst whom there was one expert both of the Greek and Persian tongue who shewed to the King that he laboured in vain if he thought to convey his Army over the tops of those Mountains which he said began at Mount Caucasus and closed in the one side of Persia by the space of sixteen hundred Furlongs in length and one hundred and forty in bredth till such time as they descended unto the Sea which maketh another Fence where the Mountains ceased The Country lying at the foot of the Mountains he described to be plain fruitful and replenished with many fair Cities and Villages and that the River of Araxes running through the same falleth into another River called Medus bringing with it the Tributes of many smaller streams which River of Medus being much less then the same which it doth receive runneth from thence towards the South No place could be more abundant of grass the River every where cloathing with Flowers what it had bedewed with its waters The River was shadowed over with Plantain and Poplar-trees which by reason they stand somewhat high and the water runneth low in a deep channel seem to such as be afar off to be woods adjoyning to the mountains He accounted no Country in Asia to be more wholesome or to have a more temperate air then this both by reason of shadowy Mountains that evermore keep off the heat and also of the Sea which on that part being at hand with a constant temperature doth nourish the ground When the prisoner had made a description of the Country after this manner the King enquired of him whether he knew those things by report or else had seen them with his eyes He said that he had been a Herds-man and knew the Country very well and all the passages and that he had been twice taken prisoner once by the Persians in Lycia and now the second time by him Upon these words Alexander called an Oracle to memory whereby it was signified to him that a Lycian should be his Guide into Persia Wherefore promising to him such rewards as the present necessity required and as his estate was meet to receive he willed him to be armed after the Macedons manner and to be their Guide to shew them the way which way though he had declared to be streight and difficult yet Alexander made no doubt to pass it with a small number thinking it no difficult matter to pass that place for his glory which the Herds-men had passed often-times for the profit of pasture Then the guide left not to alledge the difficulties of the way specially for such as wear arms but the King said to him Take me for surety that not one of them that are appointed thee shall refuse to go where thou shalt pass That done he left Craterus with the charge of his Camp and he himself passed forwards with such Footmen as were accustomed to his person with those bands of whom Meleager had charge and with a thousand Archers on horseback taking first order with Craterus that he should keep his Camp in the same form it had been used before and cause many fires to be made of purpose that the Enemies might rather think him to be there still present he advised him further that if he perceived Ariobarzanes to get knowledge of his Enterprize and so to send part of his power to the stopping of his passage that then by pretending of an assault he should shew all the terrour he could to draw his Enemies from him to the defence of that place But if that he himself should deceive his Enemies and recover the Hill upon them that then upon the hearing of the alarm in the Camp of the Persians preparing themselves to resist him he should not doubt to pass that way from whence they were repulsed the day before judging they should finde no resistance the Enemies power being converted towards him In the third watch he set forwards in great silence without sounding of Trumpet and passed on by such a way as was shewed him by the Guide every Souldier that was light armed carrying three days Victuals But when he was on his way besides the wilde Rocks and sharp stones that caused them oft to fail their footing the Snow driven by the winde was a great impediment to them in their journey for they fell divers times down into pits and such as coveted to pull them out were often-times themselves drawn after The night also with the Country unknown and the Guide of whose fidelity they doubted increased much their fear considering that if they should not deceive their Enemies watch they should be taken and perish like beasts They considered also that both their safeguard and the Kings lay in the hands of a prisoner At length they came to a Mountain where the way towards Ariobarzanes lay on the right hand where he sent before under the guiding of such as they had taken prisoners Philotas Cenon Amintas and Polipercon with a band of the lightest armed whom he advised that forasmuch as they had both horsemen and footmen and the Country fertile and abundant in forrage that they should make no haste but pass forwards fair and easily and he with the Esquires of his body and the band of horsemen whom they called Agema was guided by another by-path far off from the place where his enemies kept their watch But the passage was so straight and so hollow that they suffered great trouble and vexation in passing thereof It was now mid-day and they were so wearied that of necessity they must take rest having so far to go as they had travelled already saving that the way was not altogether so difficult and rough He refreshed therefore his men with meat and sleep and in the second Watch did rise up and passed the rest of his journey without any great difficulty saving in that part where the Mountain began to fall aslope towards the plain their passage was there suddenly stopped by a great gull occasioned by the violence of the streams that ran down the Mountains by wearing away the Earth and besides the trees standing so thick and the boughs that grew one within another appeared before them as a continual hedge When they saw themselves stayed after this manner such desperation fell amongst them that they could scarcely abstain from tears the darkness being a great increase
power amongst the Sogdians Alexander as it hath been said before passed Mount Caucasus but for want of Corn his Army was brought to the extremity of hunger Instead of Oyl they were fain to anoint themselves with a juyce which they wrung out of Seseman every measure whereof was called Amphora and sold for 240 Deniers every like measure of honey for 390 and of wine for 300 and yet of the same very little to be had They have in that Country certain Vessels called Siry which the Inhabitants do use to hide so privily that they cannot be found except they be digged for within the earth The Country-men bury there their Corn after that manner for want whereof the Souldiers were fain to live with Herbs and such Fish as they caught in the Rivers But that kinde of food failing also they were inforced to kill their Carriage-Beasts and lived with the flesh of them until they came into Bactria the nature of the soil of which Country is of sundry kindes Some places are plentiful of Wood and Vines and abundant of pleasant fruit the ground is fat well watered and full of Springs and some as barren Those parts which be most temperate are sowed with Corn and the rest are reserved for feeding of Beasts But the greater part of that Country is covered over with barren Sands and withered up for want of moisture nourishing neither man nor bringing forth fruit but with certain windes that come from the Sea of Pontus The Sand in the plains is blown together in heaps which seem afar off like great Hills whereby the accustomed ways be so shut up that no signe of them can appear Therefore such as do possess those plains use to observe the stars in the night as they do who sail on the Seas by the course of them directing their journey The nights for the most part be brighter then the days wherefore in the day-time the Country is wilde and unpassable when they can neither finde any tract nor any way to go in nor mark nor signe whereby to pass the Stars being hidden by the Mist If the same winde chance to come during the time that men be passing it overwhelmeth them with Sand. Where the Country is temperate it bringeth forth great plenty both of men and horse so that the Bactrians may make thirty thousand Horsemen Bactria which is the head-Head-City of that Region standeth under a Mountain called Parapanisus The River called Bactria runneth by the Walls whereof both the City and the Country take their names Alexander being there in Camp received Letters out of Greece how the Lacedemonians and the whole Country of Peloponnesus had rebelled against him For they had not lost the Battel at such time as the Messengers were dispatched that brought the news of their revolt In the neck of these evil tidings there came another present terrour which was that the Scythians inhabiting beyond the River of Tanais were coming to aid Bessus At the same time also tidings came unto him of the Battel that Caranus and Erigius had fought with the Arians where Satribarzanes that was newly revolted being Chief of the Country seeing the Battel to remain equal on both sides rid into the forefront and plucked off his Helmet forbidding any of his side either to cast dart or strike a stroke and there made a challenge to fight hand to hand if any man durst come forth and prove his strength Erigius Captain to the Macedons was a man stricken in years but yet not inferiour to any young man in stoutness of stomack or strength of body who could not bear the proud arrogancy of Satribarzanes but stepping forwards and plucking off his Helmet shewed his hoary hair The day is come quoth he that I will either by the victory or by my honest death make tryal what kinde of men Alexander hath to his Friends and Souldiers and without more words he made towards his Enemy It could not be judged but that both Armies had stayed their hands by appointment for they gave back immediately on both sides to let them have free scope each party standing in expectation what should become of the Challenger for they could not but think themselves partakers of their adventure Satribarzanes first charged his Staff which Erigius avoided by bending his head aside but he in the midst of his Race struck the other with his Spear through the throat so that it came forth again at his neck Satribarzanes upon that stroak fell down from his Horse but yet made resistance till such time as Erigius plucked the Spear out of the wound and thrust it again into his mouth who to rid himself out of pain furthered his Enemies stroke Then the Arians seeing their Captain slain whom they had followed rather of necessity then of their own free wills called to remembrance Alexanders benefits and yielded themselves unto Erigius Alexander rejoyced much at the good success of this Enterprise doubting greatly the Lacedemonians but he did bear out their Rebellion stoutly saying That they durst never disclose their meaning until they knew he was come to the Confines of India Alexander having removed his Camp and going forwards in the pursuit of Bessus Erigius met him presenting the spoil of his Enemy as a memorial of his Victory Thereupon he committed the Rule of Bactria to Artabasus where with a Garrison he left his Carriage and with a power that was light and fit for travel he entred into the Desarts of the Susitans conveying his Army by night In the want of water that hath been declared before desperation moved them to thirst before they had desire to drink For by the space of four hundred furlongs they found no water at all The vapours of the Sun in the Summer-season did so burn the Land that when it began to wax hot it scorched all things as it had been with a continual fire And then the light being somewhat obscured by the Mist that rose out of the earth by the immoderate heat caused the Plains to have an appearance of the Main Sea Their journey in the night seemed tolerable because their bodies were somewhat refreshed with the Dew and the cold of the morning But when the day came and the heat rose then the drought drying up all their natural humours both their mouths and their bowels were inflamed with heat Then their hearts failed and their bodies fainted being in such a condition that they could neither stand still nor pass forwards A few that were taught by such as knew the Country had gotten water which refreshed them somewhat but as the heat increased so their desire grew again to drink There was no remedy but to give amongst the Souldiers all the Wine and Oyl that remained in store for drink was so sweet unto them that it took away the fear of any thirst to come But such as had greedily gulped in the water that they got became so heavy that they were neither able to bear their
wounds and the Physicians could not devise the cause of so strange a death for even the lightest hurts were incurable The Indians trusted that Alexander through his rashness might have come within that danger who by chance fighting amongst the foremost escaped unhurt Ptolomy was lightly wounded upon the left shoulder and being in a greater danger than the greatness of his wound shewed caused the King to be careful of him for he was near of kin unto him and some thought that Philip was his Father but it is certain that his mother was Philip his Concubine He was one of them that had the charge of the Kings person a valiant man of War and yet more famous in the arts of Peace he was moderate both in his apparel and living liberal easie to be spoken to and without any such height of minde as is accustomed to be in men descended of the Royal Blood by reason of which qualities it is uncertain whether he was better beloved of the King or of the Souldiers This was the first occasion he had to prove how the mindes of men were affectionate towards him for even in that danger the Macedons began to divine of his fortune whereunto afterwards he ascended They had no less care of Ptolomy than of the King himself who used him so familiarly that when he was wearied either with travel or care of minde he would â—it for his solace with Ptolomy and at that time caus'd his bed to be brought into his own chamber When Ptolomy was laid there he fell suddenly in a sound sleep in the which it seemed that a Dragon offered to him an herb out of his mouth for the healing of his wound and taking away of the venome When he awaked he declared his dream and shewed both the colour and fashion of the herb affirming that he could know it if any man could finde it out This herb was sought by so many that at length it was found and being put upon the wound the pain staightways ceased and the scar within short space was closed When the Indians were disappointed of the hope they had conceived that way they yielded themselves and their City From thence Alexander went into the next Country called Parthalia the King whereof called Meris left the City and fled into the Mountains so that Alexander took the same finding a wonderful prey of Sheep of Cattel and of Corn. There he took Pilots that knew the River and came unto an Island which stood in the midst of the stream where he was compelled to remain the longer because the Pilots being negligently kept were escaped away He sent therefore to seek out others but when he could finde not any there entred a vehement desire into his head to visit without any Guide the Ocean-Sea and the end of the world committing his own life and the lives of so many thousands to a River which none of them did know They sailed as men ignorant of all places they came unto either how far the Sea was distant from them what Nations did inhabit the Countries thereabouts or whether the Mouth of the River were navigable for Gallies or not In all these things they were led by a blinde and doubtful imagination having no other comfort in their rash Enterprize but only that they trusted to their continual felicity When they had gone forwards four hundred Furlongs the Ship-masters told the King that they felt the air of the Sea whereby they knew the Ocean was at hand Thereat he rejoyced greatly and exhorted the Mariners that they would with all the power they could make way with their Oars to bring him to the sight of the end of the World which he had so long desired Now said he our Glory is perfect when our manhood is such that nothing can stay us now the World is come into our hands without any further hazard of War or shedding of Bloud Now since the Bounds that Nature hath wrought be so near at hand we shall shortly see things unknown saving to the immortal gods Yet notwithstanding he set some men upon the Land to take some of the Country-men by whom he trusted to have known the certainty of the truth When they searched out their Cottages at length they found out some of the wisest who were hidden who being demanded how far the Sea was from them they made answer that they never heard it named but they said that within three days sayling they should come unto a place where a brackish water did corrupt the fresh by which words the Mariners understood that they meant the Sea of the nature whereof the people were ignorant then the Mariners rowed chearfully their desire growing ever the greater as they approached near unto the place which they hoped to be the end of their travel On the third day they came where the Sea and the River joyned together mixing with a small floud their waters that were of a contrary nature Then because the tide was somewhat against them they haled towards another Island standing in the midst of the River which being an easie place to land at the Macedons ran about to seek Victuals in surety as they thought being ignorant of the chance that came upon them About three of the clock according to its ordinary course the tide came rowling in from the Sea and with his force did drive the stream backward which at the first being but stayed was afterwards so vehemently repulsed that it caused the water to return backward with greater fury then a swift stream is accustomed to run The common sort that knew not the nature of the Ocean thought the same to be a wonderful thing and that it had been a token sent to them of Gods wrath and while they were in that imagination the Sea swelling more and more overflowed the Land which they saw before dry and as the water mounted the Ships and all the Navy was dispersed here and there Such as were upon land were amazed with the suddenness of the event and ran from all parts in great fear unto their Ships But in a tumult haste doth always hart and giveth impediment Some there were that went about to set forward their Ships others forbade rowing and removed not at all otherwhiles they made haste away and would not tarry to take in their company and they moving but slowly could make no way Some when they saw them press on Ship-board in such throngs for fear of taking in too many would receive none at all so that both the multitude and the small number were an equal impediment unto the haste they made The cry that some made in bidding men tarry and the noise that others made in willing them to go forwards with their voices that differed and agreed not in one effect took away the use both of their sight and hearing The Mariners could not help it whose words in the tumult could not be heard nor their commandments observed amongst men in fear and
victuals for their feeding whereby their small number was always sufficient when they came to fight Whereas Darius the Lord of so huge a multitude through the straitness of the ground wherein he was driven to give battel was compelled to use the fewness of men which he before had despised in the Enemy Alexander appointed to Abistamines the rule of Cappadocia and marching with his Army towards Cilicia came to the place called Cyrus Camp because Cyrus lodged there when he passed into Licia against King Croesus This place was distant about fifty furlongs from the Streight entring into Cilicia The Country-men use to call those Streights Pylae where the natural scituation of the place had made a Fortification as it were with mans hands When Arsenes Governour of Cilicia understood of Alexanders coming remembring what Memnon perswaded in the beginning of the Wars he put it in execution when it was too late wasting and destroying throughout Cilicia all such things as he thought might stand his Enemy in stead leaving the Country waste which he was not able to defend whereas it had been much better to have taken the Streight before his Enemies where from the Hills lying over the way he might without hazard have hindred his entry or have distressed his passage But he leaving a small number for the defence of the Streight retired himself back to waste the Country which his part had been to defend from destruction By his departure it came to pass that such as he left behinde thinking themselves betrayed would not so much as abide the sight of their Enemies when a much less number had been sufficient to have kept the passage for the scituation of Cilicia is such that it is environed about with a continual rough and steep Mountain which rising from the Sea on the one side and fetching a compass about joyneth again with the Sea on the other side Though the part of the Mountain which lyeth furthest from the Sea is plain and full of Rivers amongst the which two are most famous Pyramus and Cydnus but Cydnus most especial not so much for its greatness as the clearness of the water which from his first Spring runneth clearly through all the Country and hath no other River running into him to disturb the pureness of the stream for which cause it remaineth always clear and cold by reason of the Woods that do shadow all the banks Time hath consumed many Antiquities within that Country which are remembred of the Poets There may yet be seen the foundations of the Cities of Lirnessus and Cebestus with the Cave and Grove Corycian where Saffron groweth with many other things whereof now remaineth but only their name When Alexander entred the Streights before mentioned and beheld the scituation of them he never in all his life marvelled more at his own felicity confessing that it had not been possible for him to have passed if any had stood at defence against him for that with stones only he might have been overwhelmed the Streight besides being so narrow that there could not pass above four in front to the increase of which difficulty the tops of the Mountains hung over the way which in many places was broken and hollow with the streams that ran down from the Hills Alexander sent the Thracians that were light armed to scour and discover the ways for fear the Enemies should lie there in ambush and suddenly break forth upon him He appointed also a Band of Archers to take the top of the Hill which were willed so to march that they might be always in a readiness to fight After this manner he came to the City of Tarsus which was set on fire by the Persians because Alexander should finde no harbour there but Parmenio was sent thither with a choice number of Horsemen to quench the fire who understanding that the Enemies were fled away at the news of their coming entered into the City and by that means saved it from burning The River of Cydnus spoken of before did run through this City where the King arrived about mid-day it being in the Summer season at what time the heat is no where more violent then in that Country He took such delight in the pleasantness of the water that he would needs bathe his body therein to wash away the sweat and dust thereof and being very hot he entred naked into the water in the sight of all his Souldiers thinking it should be a contentation to them to see that the Garments about his body were no other but such as they commonly used themselves to wear He was no sooner entred but all the parts of his body began to shake and trâ—mble his face waxed pale and the lively heat was mortified in all parts of his body his Servants took him up and carried him into his Tent as one besides himself and at the extreme point of death then there was a great desolation and heaviness in the Camp they wept lamented and bewailed that such a King so Noble a Captain as had not been seen in any Age should be thus taken from them in the height of his Enterprize and after such a manner not in Battel slain by his Enemies but bathing in a River It grieved them that Darius now being at hand should obtain the Victory by such a chance without seeing of his Enemy and that they should be enforced to return back again as men vanquished by those Countries through which they had passed before as Conquerours in which Countries all things being destroyed by themselves or by their Enemies they must of necessity die for hunger though no man should pursue them It became a question amongst themselves who should be their Captain in flying away or what he were that durst succeed Alexander and though they might safely arrive at the Sea of Hellespont yet who should prepare them passage there When they had disputed these questions their argument by and by was turned into compassion towards their Prince lamenting as men out of their wits that such a Flower of Youth such force of courage as was in him that their King and Companion in Arms should after this manner be plucked from them In the mean season Alexander began to draw his winde somewhat better and when he came unto himself he lifted up his eyes and began to know his friends that were about him That the vehemency of his sickness somewhat asswaged was perceived in that he began to understand the pâ—â—il he was in But the solicitousness of his minde was a great hinderance unto his health for tidings came that Darius within five days would be in Cilicia He could not but take it grievously that such a Victory should be plucked out of his hands through his infirmity and that he should be taken as one tyed in Fetters and be put to some shameful and vile death He called therefore to him both his Friends and Physitians and said unto them Ye see in what an extremity of
assigned to encounter with those that Darius had sent to take the top of the Mountain He willed Parmenio that as much as might be he should stretch out his Forces towards the Sea and withdraw as far as he could from the Hills which the Enemies had taken but such as had direction by Darius to take the Hills neither durst resist such as came against them nor yet compass about such as were passed by them but fled away at the first fight of the Slingers which thing chanced well for Alexander for it was the thing that he doubted most that they from the higher ground should invade the open side of his Battel which lay unslanked towards them The Macedons marched 32 in a rank for the streightness of the ground would not suffer them to move in a broader body but by little and little as the plain between the Mountains began to enlarge so they had liberty to make their Battels broader and also for the horsemen to march upon the sides When both the Battels were come within fight of each other the Persians first gave a terrible and rude shout which was again doubled by the Macedons not with their number which was far inferiour unto the Persians but with the râ—bound of the Hills and the Rocks which doubled every voice of theirs Alexander did ride up and down before the fronts of his Battels making a signe to his Souldiers with his hand that they should not make too much haste to joyn with their Enemies for bringing themselves out of breath and as he went by he used to every Nation sundry exhortations as he thought convenient for their dispositions and qualities He put the Macedons in remembrance of their ancient courage and the number of Battels that they had won in Europe that they were come thither by his conduct not only to subdue Asia but the uttermost bounds of the Orient He shewed them to be the people that were ordained to conquer the world and to pass the bounds of Hercules and Bacchus he declared that both Bactria and India should be theirs in respect of which the countries that they had yet seen were but trifles and these were to be gotten all with one Victory Their Travel he said should not now be in vain as it was in the barren Rocks of Illyria or in the Mountains of Thrace but in this Conquest the Spoil of the whole Orient was offered unto them for the getting whereof they should scarcely need to handle their Swords since the Battels of their Enemies wavered so already for fear that with their approach only they had almost put them to flight He recalled his Father Philip unto their memory how he conquered the Athenians with the Country of Boetia how he rased to the ground the noble City of Thebes he made rehearsal to them of the Battel won at the River of Granike and of all the Cities that he had taken or that had been yielded unto him with the Countries they had passed through and subdued When he came unto the Greeks he desired them to call to miâ—d the great Wars that had been made against their Country in times past by the Persians first by the pride of Xerxes and after by Darius who made destruction both by Sea and Land in such 〈◊〉 that the Rivers could not serve them for Drink 〈◊〉 the Earth furnish them with Victuals for Food He rehearsed also how the Temples of their gods had been by them polluted and consumed their Cities overthrown and all Truces broken which ought to be confirmed both by divine and humane Law when he passed by the Illyrians and Thracians which were accustomed always to theft and spoil he invited them to behold their enemies which glistered with gold and bare no armour but spoil for them to take he incouraged them to go forwards like men and pluck the prcy from those effeminate women and to make exchange of their craggy Rocks and Mountains full of snow for the plentiful grounds and lands of Persia By this time both Armies were advanced within the throw of their Darts and Darius Horsemen gave a fierce charge upon the right-hand-Battel of the Macedons For Darius desire was to try the Battel by Horsemen rightly judging that the chiefest power of his Enemies consisted in their square Battel of Footmen So that the Battel where Alexander remained was brought to the point of being inclosed round if he had not perceived the same in time and commanding two Bodies of his Horse to keep the top of the Hill he brought all the rest of them to the incounter of his Enemies Having then drawn the Thessalian Horsemen where they stood to fight he commanded their Capt. to bring them about behinde the Battels and there to joyn with Parmenio to perform with courage what he should appoint them By this time the Phalanx of the Macedons in manner inclosed about with their Enemies fought notably on all parts but they stood so thick and were so joyned one to another that they wanted 〈◊〉 to wield their weapons They were so mingled that in casting their darts they one letted another few lighting on their enemies and the most part falling on the ground without harm and being forced to joyn hand to hand they valiantly used the sword Then there was great effusion of blood for both the Armies closed so near that their Harness clashed together weapon against weapon and foined at one anothers faces with their Swords There was no place for the fearful or the coward to fly back but each set his foot to other and by fighting kept still their place till they could make their way by force and so always passed forwards as they had overthrown their Enemies As they were wearied and travelled thus with fighting they were ever received with fresh Enemies and such as were wounded might not depart out of the Battel as it had been seen elsewhere their Enemies assailed them so fiercely before and their fellows thrust on so hard behind Alexander that day did not only such things as pertained to a Captain but adventured himself as far as any private Souldier coveting by all means to kill Darius which he esteemed the greatest honour Darius rode aloft upon his Chariot giving great provocations both for his Enemies to assail him and for his own Men to defend him As Oxatres his brother appeared most notable amongst them all in his furniture and personage so in affection towards the King he exceeded far the rest especially in that case of necessity for when Alexander approached near he thrust in before Darius with the band of Horsemen whereof he had the charge and overthrowing divers he put many more to flight But the Macedons swarmed so about the King and were in such a courage by the Exhortation that each made to other that they charged again upon the Band of Horsemen Then the slaughter was great and the overthrow manifest about the Chariot of Darius the noblest of his Captains lay
that City was the first which either taught or learned letters They builded Cities and filled them with Inhabitants throughout the greatest part of the world as Carthage in Africk Thebes in Boetia and Cades in Spain upon the Ocean It is believed that by reason of their free course through all Seas and by visiting many strange Countries they had occasion to look out Seats in which to place their Youth wherewith they then abounded or else as some report the Inhabitants unwilling to dwell there by reason of many Earth-quakes were compelled by force of Arms to seek out new dwelling places But when many casualties had happened unto Tyre after this destruction being restored to its former height of flourish it now remaineth under the protection of the Roman Clemency About the same time Alexander received Letters from Darius wherein at last he was contented to name him King His request was that Alexander would receive his Daughter Saptina for his Wife with whom he offered in Dower all the Country between Hellespont and the River of Alys would reserve unto himself only such Kingdoms as lay from thence Eastward and if peradventure he should refuse to receive this offer he willed to consider that Fortune is not wont to continue long in one Estate and that the greater felicity men enjoy the greater envy doth attend them It was to be doubted he said lest he exalted himself through some vain affection like as Birds use to do whose natural lightness doth convey them to the Stars for there was nothing more difficult then in such young years to bear well the height and greatness of Fortune He willed him also to consider that there remained yet many Countries that he had not touched and that he should not meet him always in the Streights having to pass the River of Euphrates Tygre Araxes and Hydaspes which were as Bullwarks unto his Dominion and when he should come unto the Plains he would be ashamed of his small number He put him in remembrance how long it should be e're he could pass Media Hircania Bactria and the Indians that bordered on the Ocean Sea and likewise the Sogdians and Arachosians of whom men have no other knowledge then of their names only with other Nations lying towards Mount Caucasus and the River of Tanais And although no man should withstand him or give him Battel yet he should grow in age he said before he could pass so many Lands In the latter end he advised him not to call him forwards for he would come soon enough to his destruction Alexander made answer to those Letters by the Messengers that brought them to this effect That Darius offered to him that which was none of his own and made a proffer to give that which he had already lost For Lydia Ionia Aeolida and the Coast of Hellespont which he appointed in Dower were already become the Rewards of his Victory And as for Laws and Conditions those were wont to be given and appointed by the Victors and received of such as were overcome and if he were ignorant in which of those two Estates he were that he should adventure the Battel once again For he was not ignorant he said before he passed the Sea how Lydia and Cilicia were over small rewards for the making of such a War But his determination was to subdue and bring under his subjection both Persepolis the chief City of his Empire and also Bactria and Ecbatana with the uttermost bounds of the Orient He could fly no where but he was able to follow and therefore counselled him that he should not fright him with Rivers who had learned how to pass Seas Thus the Kings wrote one to another and in the mean season the Rhodians yeilded their City and their Haven unto Alexander who committed the Rule of Cilicia unto Socrates and the Country about Tyre unto Philotas Andromachus was made Parmenio his Deputy in Caria and Syria for Alexander minding to accomplish what he had begun commanded Ephestion that with his Navy he should sail along the Coast of Phenicia and so he came with his whole power to the City of Gaza About the same time there were solemn Triumphs and Plays at Isthmos accustomed to be celebrated by the confluence of all Greece In this a Councel was had and as the Wits of the Greeks be sudden they decreed to send twelve Embassadours unto Alexander for the carrying unto him a Crown of Gold in gratifying the Victory he had won and the Acts he had done for the safeguard and Liberties of Greece and yet a little before they hearkned how the Fame went and were ready to bend that way that Fortune inclined Alexander visited not in person all such Countries and Cities as refused to do their obedience unto him but made Conquest of them by his Deputies for Gales Mastered Paphlagonia Antigonus Liconia and Balachrus overcame Idarne who was Darius Lieutenant and won Miletuâ— Amphiterus and Egilachus with a Navy of an hundred and sixty Ships subdued all the Islands between Asia and Achaia and also by the consent of the Inhabitants got Tenedos always a Receptacle of the Persians They were at the point to have gotten Scios but that Pharnabasus Darius Deputy having intelligence of it did first apprehend all such as were of the Macedons Faction and committed the City with a small Garrison to Apolonides and Athenagoras that were inclined to the Persians Alexanders Captains for all this continued the Siege of the City not so much in trust of their own strength as in hope of the Faction they had within the City in which they were not deceived For through a Sedition which did arise between Apolonides and the Captains of the Men of War occasion was ministred unto the Macedons to enter the Town When the Gate was broken up and a Band of Macedons entred then the Citizens which before had devised to Rebel against the Persians took part with Amphiterus and Egilocus so that the Garrison of the Persians were slain and Pharnabasus with Apolonides and Athenagoras taken prisoners There were twelve Galleys taken with their Souldiers and Rowers besides thirty Ships and Vessels of Pyrates with three thousand Greeks that were in pay under the Persians the Greeks serving to recruit the Forces of the Macedons and the Pyrates being put to death the other Ships were added to their own Fleet. It chanced that Aristonicus the Usurper of Methyna ignorant of any such thing as chanced in the fore-part of the night came with certain Pyrates Ships to enter into the Haven of whom when the Watch demanded what he was he said he was Aristonicus and came to the succour of Pharnabasus They answered He was at rest and could not then be spoken withal but it should be lawful for him being their Friend to enter into the Haven for that night and speak with him when it was day Aristonicus was the first that entred and the ten Pyrate ships followed him But whiles they anchored their
security for the money they had imployed in the Wars He gave honour also according to their deservings unto the Kings of Cyprus who revolted from Darius unto him and had aided him with Ships at the Siege of Tyre Amphoterus his Admiral had Commission to drive the Persians out of the Isle of Creet but especially that he should rid the Seas of Pyrates who troubled and spoiled all the Islands whilest these two Princes Alexander and Darius converted their Powers the one against the other Having ordered these things he did dedicate to Hercules at Tyre a great standing Goblet and thirty Bowls of Gold That done he set his whole minde and care upon Darius causing it to be proclaimed that every man should set forwards towards Euphrates But Darius understanding that his Enemy was gone through Egypt into Africa stood in doubt whether he should stay about Mesopotamia or withdraw into the inner parts of his Kingdom judging that he in person should prevail with those remote Nations in bringing of them forwards to the War which his Lieutenants should not be so well able to effect Yet when Fame had published and he understood by assured advertisement that Alexander was returned out of Egypt and fully resolved to follow him with all his power into what Country soever he should go he then gave order that the force of all the furthest Nations should draw towards Babylon knowing the resolution of his Enemy he had to match withal Thither resorted both Bactrians Scythians and Indians for the power of other Countries were come thither before and having the double number of men that he had before in Cilicia he prepared Armour for them with diligence of which many of them wanted both Horsemen and Horses were armed with plates of Steel such as before had no Weapons but Darts had Swords and Bucklers given unto them and to increase the power of his Horsemen he delivered many Horses to be managed and broken by the Footmen He had prepared also two hundred Waggons set with Hooks which in those Countries were esteemed things of great force and judged to be of a wonderful terrour to the Enemy they were made with great long Spikes sticking out before and with Swords set overthwart on both sides The Wheels were also full of Iron Pikes right forth and of great Hooks both upward and downward wherewith all things were cut in sunder that came in their way When his people were thus furnished with Armour and provided sufficiently for the Wars he removed from Babylon keeping the River of Tygris on his right hand and Euphrates on his left hand He overspread with his Army all the Plains of Mesopotamia after that he had passed the River of Tygris and understanding that his Enemy was approaching he sent Satropaces before with a thousand chosen Horsemen and afterwards appointed six thousand to Mazeus to stop Alexander in the passage over the River who had also Commission to waste and burn all the Country where he judged his enemies should come thinking to famish them for want of victuals considering that they had no other provisions but what they got by plundering and by stealth they themselves having plenty brought of all things both by Land and the River Tygris At length he came to a village called Arbella which afterwards was famous by reason of his overthrow There he left the greatest part of his Victuals and Carriage and made a Bridge over the River of Licus and in five days conveyed over his Army as he had done before over Euphrates passing forwards from thence about fourscore furlongs he came to another City called Boumello and there encamped This Country served wonderful well for aranging of his Battels in the large Plains passable for Horses every-where and without shrubs or short brush to cover the ground withal having so free a prospect that the eye might discern things a great way off And if there appeared any Hills within the Plain Darius caused the same to be cast down and to be made level to the ground Such as by conjecture made report to Alexander of Darius power could not be credited for he could not think after so many slain there could be a greater power gathered together then he had before But he that doubted not any peril much less the multitude of them after the eleventh encamping came to the River of Euphrates over the which he made Bridges passing over his horsemen and afterwards his footmen For Mazeus that was sent against him with six thousand horsemen to hinder his passage durst not encounter him When he had continued there a few days not only to rest his Souldiers but also to confirm their mindes and to encourage them he set forwards resolutely against his enemies fearing that they would have retired back into the inward parts of Persia where he should have been inforced to follow them by waste places and desarts Therefore the fourth day he passed by Arbella and came to the River of Tygris All the Country beyond the River was on a smoak newly set on fire by Mazeus who burned all things where he came even as he had been an enemy Alexander at the first by reason of the darkness of the smoak stayed for fear of Ambushments But when they which were sent to scour the Country reported that all things were clear he appointed a few horsemen to prove the passage of the River who found the deepness at the first entry to come to the horse breast and in the midst of the stream to the horse neck There is no River in all the East-part of the world that runneth so violently which besides that the waters of other Rivers do run into it driveth down stones with the stream so that of its swiftness it is called Tygris which in the Persian tongue is to say an Arrow The footmen thereof divided into two Bands and holding their Armour over their heads were inclosed on both sides with the horsemen and so passed till they came to the deep of the channel without any great difficulty The King was the first amongst the footmen that passed over to the further side who with his hand seeing his voice could not be heard shewed the shallow places unto the Souldiers But they had much to do to keep their footing by reason of the stones whereupon they stumbled and of the violence of the water that took their feet away Such as carried burthens on their backs had the greatest travel not being able to stay themselves by reason of the trouble of their carriage were born down by violence of the stream And whilest every man went about to recover again his own there â—ell greater strife amongst themselves then they had with the stream and the heaps of fardels that every where flowed upon the water bare down many of them The King cryed to them that it was sufficient to keep their arms and let the rest go promising to recompence every man but they neither followed his counsel nor
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
the Mountains whereby men might get to the furthermost side 〈◊〉 the chief City of that Country and if he woâ—â— send but a sew that were light armed they miâ—t be brought to a place where they should appear above their enemies heads This counsel liked him so well that he made these Counsellours Guides for his Army and committed them to Tauron whom he appointed chief of the Enterprize He assigned unto him fifteen hundred mercenary Souldiers and one thousand Agrians with whom after the Sun was gone down he entred into his journey Alexander in thâ— third watch removed his Camp and by the Spring of the day had passed the Streights there he set his men in hand for the cutting down of Timber for making of Towers and all such other things as pertained to the assault of a City and so begâ—n his siege It was a difficult matter to make the aproach the City stood â—o high and the Rocks gave such impediment that the Souldiers were repuled and received many hurts contending both wth the Enemies and the scituation of the placâ— notwithstanding they gave it not over by reasn the King was always amongst the foremost aking if they were not ashamed being the Conqurours of so many Cities to be so long in the â—â—nning of a small Castle that was so obscure and unknown in the world As he was travelling amâ—gst the foremost with Darts and Arrows they â—ade many a shot at him from the walls but the â—ouldiers defended him with their Targets becauâ—â— they could not perswade him thence At lengtâ— Tauron appeared above the Castle of the City a whose sight his Enemies hearts fainted and 〈◊〉 Macedons more 〈◊〉 did assail them When 〈◊〉 saw themselves in this extremity and perceive their power not able to withstand the Maceas they became to divers dispositions For some were determined to die and many to fly away But the greater part retired themselves into the Castle from whence they sent unto Alexander thirty Embassadours to ask mercy But he returned a sad answer to them that there was no pardon to be obtained at his hands whereupon they being in the utmost danger of death and excluded from all other remedies sent unto Sisigambis by a privy way unknown to their Enemies making their request that she should vouchsafe to be a means to Alexander for the pacifying of his rigour towards them In her only they put their hope knowing how much Alexander loved her and that he esteemed her as if she had been his mother And they thought she would the rather incline to their desire because Madates that was Captain there had married her sisters Daughter whereby he became a Kinsman to Darius Sisigambis stood long in denial of their request shewing that it agreed not with her fortune to become an intercessour for others adding thereunto that she feared lest she might misuse his favours and make him weary of her importunities for she said that she had more remembrance that she was a prisoner then that she was a Queen But at length she was overcome with their solicitations and by her Letters made intercession unto Alexander after such sort that she first excused her self of her sute making and after required him that he would pardon them or at the leastwise that he would forgive her being Petitioner only for the life of such a one as was her Friend and Kinsman and now no longer an enemy but in readiness to submit himself This one thing is sufficient to declare the moderation and clemency that was then in Alexander for he did not only pardon Madates but also left the City untouched granting to all that were within it their liberty with enjoyment of their Lands and Goods without paying of any tribute More then this she could not have obtained of Darius being her Son When he had thus subdued the Vxians he united them to the Province of Susa and purposing to pass forwards he divided his Army into two parts whereof he committed the one to Parmenio to be conducted through the plain Country and reserving such a part as was pestered least with baggage he took the way of the Mountains which with a continual ridge runneth out in length from thence into Persia In his passage he plundered all the Mountain-Country and arrived the third day in the confines of Persia The fifth day he entred into the Streights of Pylae Susiae which were defended by Ariobarzanes with fifteen thousand Footmen who on the tops of the high and steep Rocks that hung over on both sides the way at the first kept themselves quiet on purpose pretending a fear until such time as the Army was entred into the narrowest of the Streights But when they saw the Macedons pass on forwards in contempt of them then they threw down great stones upon them which falling upon the undermost Rocks and there breaking in pieces rebounded amongst the Macedons falling with such violence that they distressed whole Regiments at once And besides this they did them great damage with shot of Arrows and Stones that they casted out of Slings Such as were men of courage were not so much grieved with the death and destruction that they saw there present as that they should be slain after such a manner like beasts caught in a pit whereas they could not be revenged upon their Enemies Their wrath hereupon was turned into such a rage that they ran up against the Rocks and there enforced themselves by taking hold and by heaving up of one another to mount up unto their Enemies But when they had caught hold of some outward part and thereby laboured to ascend by force of so many hands that fastened to it at once they pulled in sunder the thing they held by and fell down all together In this case they could neither remain go forwards nor yet defend themselves by any device they could make with their Targets seeing the stones were of such weight that were thrown down upon them Alexander was in great trouble of minde not only for the grief he received by the destruction of his men but much more for the shame that he had so rashly brought his men into such a dangerous straight He had been invincible before that day and never attempted any thing in vain He had passed the Streights of Cilicia without damage and opened to himself a new way by Sea into Pamphilia which felicity of his seemed to be now at a stay if not to retreat for he could perceive no other remedy then to return by the way he came He caused the retreat therefore to be sounded and gave order to his Souldiers to go close together and by casting their Targets over their heads to return the same way they came having then marched thirty Furlongs within the Straight When he returned and had planted his Camp in an open ground consulting what was best to do such a superstition invaded his minde that he called for the Priests and Diviners to help the matter
Country-men and for that cause they could as ill bear Alexanders cruelty then as in times past Bessus Treason By this means when the fear of death was put into their heads they were easily stirred to Arms to which before they were sufficiently inclined of their own mindes When Alexander was advertised of their doings he willed Craterus to besiege Cyropolis and he himself won another City of that Country by an assault that he gave to it on all parts at once and by a signe given caused all the Children to be put to death making the rest a prey for the Souldiers This done the City was razed to the ground to the intent that others by their example might be kept in obedience There were a valiant people called Memacenans who were determined to abide the Siege not only for their honesties sake but also for that they thought it most for their Surety For the mitigating of their wilfulness the King sent unto them fifty Horsemen to declare his Clemency towards such as submitted themselves and how inexorable he was unto such as he overcome by force Their answer was That they neither doubted the Kings Promise nor his Power But after their answer given they lodged them without the walls where entertaining them with great Chear until it was mid-night they set upon them and slew them all Alexander was no less moved with this Act then the cause required He therefore made an assault upon the City on all parts at once which he found furnished in such wise that he could not take it at the first attempt Wherefore he appointed Meleager and Perdicas unto the Siege thereof who then were besieging of Cyropolis minding to spare the same because it was builded by Cyrus for he had not so great admiration of any King that had Reigned in those parts as of him and Semiramis whose magnanimity of minde and great atchievements seemed to him to exceed the rest But the obstinate wilfulness of the Inhabitants stirred up his wrath for when he had taken the City he willed the Macedons to spoil it who had enough cause to be moved against them and so returned to Meleager and Perdicas There was not one City that did more valiantly abide the Siege then the same did for both the hardiest of the Souldiers that were slain and the King was brought in great danger being struck in the Neck with a stone so that his sight failed him and he was felled to the Earth and for the present lost his sense The Army lamented thinking he had been dead But he was invincible against those things which put other men in most fear for without tarrying he dressed his wound returning to the Fight and after anger had stirred up the eagerness he had of Nature he renewed the assault more fiercely then before At length a great piece of the Wall was overthrown by a Mine at which he brake in and put the whole City to Sack and Ruine He sent from thence Menedemus with 3000 Footmen and 800 Horsemen to the City of Maracanda which Spitamenes had newly taken and put out from thence the Garrison of the Macedons the Citizens not consenting to it But when they saw they could not withstand him it was of necessity for them to agree to his will Alexander in the mean season came to the River of Tanais where he inclosed about with a wall so much ground as his Camp did contain extending in compass 60 furlongs and named the same City Alexandria This was done with such expedition that within seventeen days after the walls were raised the houses also were builded and the whole work was performed in a very small season through the contention amongst the Souldiers who should perform his work first when the same was divided into portions amongst them The prisoners whose Ransoms Alexander paid to their Takes were appointed to inhabit this City the descent of whom after so long time are not worn out such favour hath been shewed them in the memory of Alexander The King of Scythia whose Empire was then beyond the River of Tanais judging that the fortifying upon the Rivers side should be as a Yoke to his Neck did send his Brother Carcasis with a great power of Horsemen to beat down the Fortification and to remove away the Macedons from the waters side That River divideth the Bactrians from the Scythians of Europe and is the limit which parteth Asia and Europe asunder But the Countries that the Scythians do inhabit do stretch as far as Thracia and lye betwixt the North and the East joyning with Sarmatia and possessing part of it The Country also that lieth beyond the River of Isther is inhabited by them their utmost bounds stretching to Bactria and to the furthest bounds of Asia Northwards where are wonderful great Woods and wilde Desarts But such of them as bounded near unto Tanais and Bactria wanted not much of the civility of other Nations This being the first time that Alexander had to do with these people when he saw that he had to enter into a War for the which he was not provided his Enemies riding up and down in his sight and he diseased of his wound especially not having the use of his speech which failed much by reason of his long abstinence and the pain in his Neck he called his friends to counsel and declared unto them that he was not troubled with any fear of his enemies but with the iniquity of the time the Bactrians rebelling and the Scythians provoking him when he was neither able to stand upon the ground nor strong enough to ride on Horseback nor yet in case to give advice or exhortation to his men In consideration therefore of the doubtful danger in which he saw himself involved he accused the gods complaining that he was then inforced to lye still whose swiftness before-time none was able to escape The danger grew so great that his own men believed he had counterfeited his sickness for fear And therefore he who since the overthrow of Darius had left Consultation with the Diviners and Prophets turned himself again to the vanity and superstition of men willing Aristander unto whom he was addicted most that he should try out by Sacrifice what his success should be The Custom of them who were called Aruspices was to consider the Entrails of the Beasts without the King and to make report of the signification In the mean season while they were searching secrets that way he willed Ephestion Craterus Erigius and others of his Friends to draw near about him lest by straining his voice he might break out his wound again and said thus unto them The danger I am in hath caused the time to serve better for mine Enemies then for me Necessity I see chiefly in the Wars doth go before Reason for it is seldom given to men to chuse their own time The Bactrians are revolted upon whose Shoulders yet we stand purposing to try what courage we are of by
subdued I came into Asia not utterly to subvert the Nations nor make the one half of the world desart but to give the conquered cause not to repine at my Victorie This is the occasion they gladly fight for you and for your Kingdom spend their bloud who if they were proudly used would straight rebel against you That possession is durable which is kept by violence but the thanks of a benefit received endureth everlastingly If we purpose to enjoy Asia and not to make a progress only through it we must make them partakers of our clemencie and then their fidelitie shall make our Empire stable and perpetual and truly we have â—ow more then we can well wish or desire Covetousness is an unsatiable Disease especially when men desire to fill the vessel that runneth over But you will say that I mingle their customes with ours It is so And why Because I see in many Nations many things which we need not be ashamed to follow and so great an Empire as we have got cannot otherwise be aptly governed except we deliver some things to them and receive likewise some things back from them again One thing is to be laughed at that I should refuse Jupiter for my Father being so acknowledged by his Oracle as who saith the answer of the gods were in my power He proffered the name of his son unto me which was not a thing unseasonable for the Atchievements I intended I would wish that the Indians could believe me to be a god for the success in War standeth much by Fame and that which is falsely believed sometime worketh the effect of things that are true Do you note me given to excess and prodigality because I garnished your Armor with Gold and Silver My purpose was to shew to men accustomed to such things nothing to be more vile then such kinde of metal and to declare that the Macedons invincible in other things could not be overcome with Gold it self After this manner I shall blinde the eyes of the barbarous who are always wont at the first sight to wonder at things be they never so base and vile And in that we shew to make no estimation of it we shall declare to all men that we are not come for desire of Gold nor Silver but to subdue the whole world from which glory thou Traytor wouldest have bereaved me and betrayed the Macedons I being slain to the barbarous Nations I am exhorted to spare their Parents Although it was not expedient that they should know what I have determined of them and to the intent they might die with the greater grief if they have any care or memory of them yet long ago I have forborn the custome of putting the innocent Parents and kinsfolks of traytors to death with the offenders and I now profess to pardon them and have them all in the same estimation I had before I know thou wouldest have thy Master Calisthenes brought forth who only esteemed thee being of his complexion because thou desirest to hear pronounced from his mouth those railing words which even now thou didst vomit out against me If he had been a Macedon born I had brought him into the place with thee a worthy Master of such a Disciple but being born in another Countrey he is subject to another law When he had spoken these words he dismissed the Council and commanded all such as were condemned to be delivered to the Souldiers of their own Regiments who because they would declare by some cruelty the love they bare towards their Prince slew them by all torments Calisthenes also died upon the Rack innocent of the conspiracy against the Kings person but a man not pliable to the custom of the Court and abhorring from the disposition of Flatterers There was never any thing that brought the Greeks into a greater indignation against Alexander then that he not only killed but caused to be tormented to death and that without judgement a man indued with godly Manners and good Sciences and one by whom he was perswaded to live when he purposed to have died for sorrow that he had slain Clitus for which his cruelty repentance followed that came too late But lest he might nourish idleness apt for the sowing of seditious rumours he advanced towards India always more glorious in War than after his Victory The whole Country of India lieth chiefly towards the East containing more in length than it doth in bredth The North parts are full of Mountains and Hills but all the rest of the land is plain having many fair Rivers which running out of the Mount Caucasus do pass pleasantly through the Countrey Indus is more cold than any other of the Rivers whose water is not unlike the colour of the Sea But of all the Rivers in the Orient Ganges is most excellent which running from the South passeth directly through many great Mountains until that by the encountring with Rocks his course is turn'd towards the East where it is received into the red Sea The violence of the stream breaketh down his banks swallowing trees and much of the ground In many places the stream is kept in with the rocks on which it beateth but where the ground is more soft there the River becometh more large and maketh many Islands The greatness of Ganges is much increased by the River of Acâ—sines which both meet before they enter into the Sea at their meeting the water is violently troubled and whiles the one resisteth the others entry neither of them seem to give place to other Diardnes is a River of the less Fame because is runneth in the uttermost bounds of India but yet it bringeth forth Crocodiles as the Nile doth and also Dolphins with Monsters unknown to other Nations Crooked Erimanthus with his many turnings and reflexions is consumed by the Inhabitants with watering their ground which is the cause that when it draweth near the Sea it becometh very little and beareth no name There are many other Rivers that divide the Countrey but none of them are so famous as these because they do not run so far The North-winde doth blast and annoy those parts most that are next unto the Sea but those Windes are so broken with the tops of the Mountains that they cannot endamage the inward parts of the Countrey wherefore Fruits are very plentiful there and perfect But that Region doth so much differ from the ordinary course of time in other parts of the world that when other Countries are burned most with the Sun India is covered over with Snow And when other places are Frozen the Heat is there most intolerable and yet there appeareth not any natural cause why it should be so The colour of the Indian Sea not differing much from the water of other Seas did take his name of King Erithrus by reason whereof the ignorant Greeks took opinion that the water of those Seas was red The Land is very aboundant of Flax whereof the greater part of
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
of the Sun and the plenty of Springs keeping the ground moist there were also many Serpents seen whose Scales glistered like gold There was nothing more dangerous then the poyson proceeding from them for immediately upon the stinging death followed until such time as the Inhabitants of the Country shewed a remedy From thence through Desarts they came unto the great River Hidraores whereunto there joyned a great Wood which having such Trees as are not wont to be seen in other places was also full of wilde Peacocks Alexander removing his Camp from thence took a Town by assault and taking Hostages appointed them to pay Tribute After that he came to a great City builded after the manner of that Country which was both well walled and also invironed about with a deep Moat The Inhabitants came forth against Alexander and joyning their Chariots together in a front wherein their Custom was to fight they proffered him Battel Some used Darts some Spears and other Pole-axes and with great agility leaped to and from their Chariots when either they found an advantage to invade their Enemies or else would rescue their Fellows that were in distress This unwonted kinde of fighting put the Macedons at the first in a fear especially being hurt afar off by their Enemies and not able to come to fight with them hand to hand But after they had considered their disordered manner they esteemed not their force but inclosed their Enemies about and thrust their horses in with pikes and the sooner to defeat them they cut the Traces wherewith the Chariots were tyed to separate them asunder When they had after that manner lost eight hundred of their men they fled again into the City which the next day the Macedons did win by assault Some there were that saved themselves by flying who seeing the City lost swam over the water and filled all the Towns thereabout with fear They declared of what invincible force their Enemies were judging them in respect of their power rather to be gods then mortal men When Alexander had gotten that City he sent Perdicas with a part of his Army to destroy the Country and committing another part to Eumenes for the subduing of such as would not submit he with the rest of his power came unto a strong City to which many of the Inhabitants of the Country fled Notwithstanding that they sent to Alexander for peace yet they prepared nevertheless for the war by reason of a Sedition which rose amongst them which made them to be of divers Opinions some would rather have indured any extremity then yield and others thought they were not able to make resistance and whilest they differed so in Opinions and had no common consultation amongst themselves such as held Opinion to yield up the City opened the Gates and received in their Enemies And notwithstanding that Alexander had just cause of displeasure against the contrary Faction yet he pardoned them all and receiving their Hostages removed towards the next City When the Indians that stood upon the walls beheld the Hostages that were brought before the Army and perceived them to be of the same Nation they desired communication with them who declaring both the Kings Clemency and his Force it did move them to deliver up their City whose example the rest of the Cities did follow From thence he came into the Kingdom of the Sophites who are a Nation as the Indians think most excelling in wisdom best governed and who have the most civil Conversations amongst them The Children that are there begotten are not nourished and brought up according to the will of their Parents but by the order of such who have the charge committed unto them to view the state of the Infants If they perceive any not apt to become active or else wanting any of their limbs they cause them straightways to be killed They use to Marry without respect of Kindred they come of or greatness of Parentage making no choice but in the shape of the body which is the thing only esteemed amongst them The King himself was in the Chief City of that Country against which Alexander brought his power The Gates were shut and no man appeared in Arms upon the walls to make any defence wherefore he stood in doubt a great while whether the City was abandoned or whether the Inhabitants had kept themselves secret for some policy While he remained in that expectation suddenly the Gate was opened and the King who in goodliness of person excelled all the rest came forth with his two Sons He did wear a garment of gold and Purple impaled that covered the Calf of his leg the Sandals he did wear on his feet were set with precious stones All his arms were garnished with Pearls and he had hanging at his ears two precious stones which were excellent both for bigness and brightness he had in his hand a Scepter of gold set with precious stones called Berilli which after his salutation made with humble submission he delivered unto Alexander yielding both himself his Children and his Kingdom into his hands There were in that Country notable Dogs for the hunting of wilde Beasts but above all most eager on the Lyon the King therefore to shew their force and quality unto Alexander put four of them to a great Lyon who straightway took hold of him Then one who was accustomed to that Office took one of those Dogs by the Leg to pluck him off from the Lyon and because he would not lose his hold he cut off his Leg with a Sword but when the Dog hung nevertheless upon the Lyon he was cut in sunder by pieces till such time as he died having his teeth still fastened in the Lyons flesh such an eagerness had Nature wrought in those Creatures as it is committed unto memory In the compiling of this History sometimes I am inforced to write things that I can scarcely believe for I neither dare affirm the things whereof I doubt nor conceal such things as I have received for truth Alexander leaving this King within his own Kingdom came unto the River of Hydaspis and there joyned with Ephestion who had subdued the Country thereabouts One Phegelas was King of the next Nation who commanding his Subjects to continue the tilling of the ground as they were wont to do met Alexander with rich Presents refusing nothing that was commanded him When he had tarried with him two days and was determined the third day to have passed the River he found therein great difficulty by reason that the stream was so large and full of great stones He stayed therefore a while to be more fully advertised of the state of those Countries and of all such things as were necessary for him to know He understood by Phegelas how beyond that River there lay a Desart of ten days journey and next to that Desart the River of Ganges which was the greatest River in all the Orient He declared to him that beyond Ganges
out of order The Ships therefore did beat one against the other the Oars crashed asunder and every Ship either thrust forward or did put back one another No man would have judged it to be one Fleet but rather two Navies sighting a Battel upon the Sea The Sterns did strike against the poop such as went before troubled them that came after and at last the words of men in their choler came unto blows The tide had now over-flown all the Plains thereabout so that nothing appeared above the Waters save the Hills which seemed so many little Islands whereunto many did swim and left their Ships for fear Whilest the Navy was thus dispersed abroad and partly floated as they hapned in any valley and partly stuck in the ground as they lighted on the flats there came suddenly another terrour greater then the first For when the Sea began to ebbe the water fell back again into his wonted course with so great violence as it came forwards and restored the sight of the Land which before was drowned as in a deep Sea The Ships then forsaken of the water fell upon their sides and the Fields were strewed with broken boards and pieces of Oars The Souldiers durst not go forth to Land and yet were in doubt to tarry on Ship-board looking ever for some greater mischief to come then what they saw present or past They could scarcely believe what they saw and suffered which was a Shipwrack upon the land and a Sea within a River They thought no end could come of this calamity for they knew not that the Sea should shortly return again and set their Ships afloat And therefore they proposed to themselves Famine and all extremities The Monsters also of the Sea which after the water was past were left on dry land did put them in great fear The night approached and despair brought the King into a great agony yet no care could so overcome his heart that was invincible but he watched all night and sent Horsemen to the mouth of the River to bring him word when the tide came He caused two Ships that were broken to be amended and such as were overwhelmed to be hoised up again warning all men to lie in wait and be in a readiness against the water should arise When he had consumed all that night in watching and giving exhortation unto his men straightways the Horesemen returned on a main gallop and the tide at their heels which mildly increasing began to raise again their Ships and when it had once over-flown the Banks the whole Navy began to move Then all the Coast rebounded with the unmeasurable rejoycing that the Souldiers and Mariners made for their safeguard whereof they were before in despair When they saw the danger past they inquired one of another by what reason the Sea could so soon â—bb and flow and debated the nature of that Element which one while disagreed and another while was obedient and subject to the time The King conjecturing by the signes he had seen before that after the Sun-rising the tide would serve to his purpose at mid-night with a few Ships did sail down the Stream and passing out at the mouth of the River he entred four hundred Furlongs into the Sea and being Master of his desires he there made sacrifice to the gods of the Sea who were worshipped in those Countries and returned again unto his Navy On the next day he returned backwards against the Stream and arrived at a salt Lake the nature whereof being unknown deceived many that rashly entred into the water for their bodies by and by became full of scabs which disease taken by some the contagion thereof infected many others but they found that Oyl was a remedy for the same Alexander lying still with his Army waiting for the Spring of the year sent Leonatus before by Land where he thought to pass to dig Wells because the Country was very dry and destitute of water In the mean time he builded many Cities and commanded Nearchus and Onesicritus that were most expert in the Discipline of Sea-service with his strongest Ships to pass into the Ocean and to go so far forwards as they might with surety to understand the nature of the Sea and willed them at their return to land either within that River or else within Euphrates When the Winter was well passed he burned those Ships which were unserviceable and conveyed his Army by Land After â—ine Incampings he came into the Country of the Arabitans and from thence in nine days came into the Country of the Gedrosians who being a free Nation by a general Counsel had amongst them yielded themselves of whom there was not any thing demanded saving only Victuals The fifth day he came into a River which the Country-men call Barabon beyond which there lay a barren Country greatly destitute of water through the which he passed and entred amongst the Horitans There he betook the greater part of his Army to Ephestion and divided the Souldiers that were light armed to Ptolomy and Leonatus and so they wasted the Country with three Armies at once and took a great booty Ptolomy turned towards the Sea Leonatus on the other hand and Alexander himself in the midst In that Country he builded also a City and brought men out of Arrachosia to inhabit it From thence he came amongst the Indians who lying upon the Sea-coast do inhabit a great Country that is waste and desart They use no Traffique Commerce nor Conversation with any of their Neighbours but the desartness of their Country made them savage being wilde of their own nature Their nails and hair are never cut they made their Houses of the Shells of Fishes and of other things that the Sea casteth up and being clad with the skins of wilde Beasts do â—eed on Fishes dried with the Sun and such Monsters as the Sea doth cast upon the Land Here the Macedons consumed their Victuals and first endured scarcity and afterwards extream hunger searching out in every place the roots of the Palms which is the only Tree that groweth in that Country But when that kinde of nourishment failed them they killed their Carriage-beasts and abstained not from their Horses insomuch that lacking Beasts to bear their Baggage they were inforced to consume with fire those Spoils of their Enemies which had caused them to travel into the uttermost bounds of the Orient After their Famine there followed a Pestilence for the unaccustomed nourishment of the unwholesome meat they did eat with the travel of their journey and the anxiety of their mindes did spread Diseases amongst them in such sort that they could neither continue in a place nor yet go forwards without great destruction Hunger oppressed them when they tarried and the Pestilence was more vehement ever as they went forwards The Fields therefore were strewn full of men that were half dead and half alive and such as were but half sick were not able to follow the Army
unto that height of power was the Son of Amintas a man indued with wisdom courage and all other vertues of a Noble Captain This Amintas had by Euridice his Wife three Sons Alexander Perdicas and Philip who was the Father of Great Alexander and a Daughter called Eurione The Queen Euridice being enamoured with one that had married her Daughter conspired the death of the King her Husband to the intent to have married with her Son-in-Law and to make him King which thing she had brought to effect had not the Treason and Lasciviousness of the Mother been opportunely revealed by the Daughter After the death of Amintas Alexander the Eldest Son enjoyed his Fathers Kingdom who in the beginning of his Reign was so assailed on all sides that he was driven by force to purchase Peace of the Illyrians with Money and by giving his Brother Philip in Hostage And afterwards by the same Pledge he made a like Peace with the Thebans which was the occasion that Philip did attain to such Excellency of Knowledge and Wisdom for by reason that he was committed to the custody of Epaminondas who was a valiant Captain and an excellent Philosopher he was brought up in the exercise of honest Disciplines and Princely matters greatly profiting under a Scholar of Pythagoras School whom Epaminondas kept in his house for the instruction of his Son In the mean season Alexander was slain by the means of Euridice his Mother whose former Treason King Amintas her Husband had pardoned in respect of the Children had between them little thinking that she would afterwards have been their destruction For when Alexander was dead she caused in like manner her other Son Perdicas to be slain which Perdicas left behinde him one Son being a young Babe About the same time Philip the youngest Brother having by good hap slipt away from his Guardian Epaminondas returned into Macedon and not taking upon him the Name of King remained a great while no otherwise but as a Protector to his young Nephew Nevertheless afterwards by occasion of sundry mischiefs growing in the State the same being such as might not well attend the Majority of the young King Philip appearing to be a man of singular activity and of no less skill in feats of War then in knowledge of Philosophy was compelled by the people to take upon him the Kingdom of Macedon which as then stood in great difficulties and danger of ruine This was done 300 years after the building of Rome and in the 105 Olympiad In the beginning of his Reign he was environed with infinite troubles for all the Neighbouring Countries as it were by a general Conspiracy moved War against him and at one time sundry Nations combined together out of sundry parts to assail his Kingdom Wherefore considering that it stood him upon to move discreetly not being able to Match them all at once he pacified some with fair promises others with money and the weakest he withstood by force By this means he both made his Enemies afraid and confirmed the hearts of his people whom he found discouraged and sore amazed These things he wrought with great Artifice and â—ineness of wit in such sort that he diminished not any part of his Honour Estate or Reputation determining nevertheless as time should serve to deal with every one apart His first War was with the Albenians whom he overcame by Wit and Policy And whereas it lay in his power to have put them all to the Sword he set them all at liberty without Ransom By which point of Clemency though it was but counterfeit being done for fear of a greater War at hand yet it procured him great Estimation and Authority After that he subdued the Peons and from them turned his Power against the Illyrians of whom he slew many thousands and conquered the famous City of Larissa That done he moved War against the Thessalians not for any desire of their goods or spoil of their Country but out of a policy to add to his strength the force of their Cavalry which in those days were accounted the chiefest in the world This he happily effected for being suddenly assailed they were soon brought to subjection and Philip joyning the force of their Horsemen unto his Footmen he made his power invincible After all these things being brought to pass he took to Wiâ—e Olympias one of the Daughters of Neoptolemus King of the Molossi This Marriage was concluded by the means of Arisba who had the Government of Olympias and not long before had married her other Sister Troas This Marriage which he intended for his security turn'd afterwards to his subversion for thinking to have made himself strong by the affinity of Philip he was at last by him deprived of the whole Kingdom and ended his life miserably in Exile Not long after this Marriage King Philip dreamed that he saw an excellent Medal fastened to the Wâ—mb of his Wife and to his seeming the lively Image of a Lyon thereupon By which Dream the Divines did interpret that his Wife was conceived of a Childe that should be of a Lyons heart and courage which interpretation pleased him highly Afterwards at the assault of a City called Methronâ— by shot of an Arrow he lost his right eye whereof though the displeasure was great yet was he content upon their submission to take them to mercy He won also the City of Pagus and annexed the same unto his Kingdom He invaded the Land of the Tribals and at one instant conquered it with all the Countries thereabout Thus having made his Kingdom strong by subduing his Neighbours at his return home his Wife Olympias was delivered of his Son Alexander on the eighth of the Ides of April Of these good fortunes the King rejoyced no less then reason was having established his Country at home subdued his enemies abroad and gotten an Heir to succeed him in his Kingdom he could have desired no more of God if the minde of man could ever be satisfied which the more it hath the more it coveteth As Dominion increaseth so doth also the desire to have more which was well seen in Philip that still did compass how to grow great by taking from his Neighbours and lay always like a Spy waiting an occasion how to catch from every man whereunto he had an opportunity offered by the Cities of Greece for whiles one did covet to subdue another and through ambition were at strife who should be chief by one and one be brought them all into subjection perswading the smaller States to move War against the greater and to serve his purpose contrived the ways to set them altogether by the ears But at length when his practises were perceived divers Cities fearing his increasing power confederated against him as their Common Enemy but chiefly the Thebans Nevertheless necessity compelling they chose him afterwards to be their Captain General against the Lacedemonians and the Phoceans who had spoiled the Temple of Apollo This War
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
Land that doth lye betwixt those Seas they would joyn both together Alexander having brought this City under his obeysance entred into the Temple of Jupiter where he saw the Chariot wherein Mydas the Builder of the City was accustomed to ride The same in the furniture and outward appearance differed little from other common Chariots but there was in it a thing notable which was a Cord folded and knit with many knots one so intricate within another that no man could perceive the manner of it neither where the knots began nor where they ended Hereupon the Country men had a Prophecy That he should be Lord of all Asia that could undo that endless Knot This possest the King with a marvellous desire to become the fulfiller of the Prophecy there stood a great number about him both of Phrygians and of Macedons the one part of them expecting the event and the other fearing the rash presumption of their King for as much as they could perceive by no reason how the Knot should be undone The King himself also doubting that the failing of his purpose in that matter might be taken as a token of his evil Fortune to come after he had considered the thing What is the matter quoth he which way it be undone and striving no longer how to unknit it he with his Sword cut the Cords asunder thereby either illuding or else fulfilling the effect of the Prophecy This being done Alexander purposed to finde out Darius wheresoever he went and to the intent to leave all things clear behinde his back he made Amphitorus Captain of his Navy upon the Coast of Hellespont committing the charge of the Field-Army to Egilochus They two had Commission to deliver the Islands of Lesbos Scios and Coos from the hands of the Persians and for the provision of their charges had appointed to them fifty Talents and sent to Antipater and such others who had the Governance of the Cities of Greece sixty Talents He gave order that such as were his Confederates should with their own power of Ships defend the Seas of Hellespont according to the League betwixt them It was not yet come to his knowledge that Memnon was dead whom he most suspected well knowing that if he moved not against him no man should be his stop before he came to Darius Alexander came to the City of Ancira where he made his Musters and so entred into Paphlagonia whereunto the Grecians border of whom it is said the Veneti in Germany are descended all this Country submitted to him and gave him Pledge being excused from Tribute seeing they never paid any to the Persians Calas was Captain there who taking with him the Band of Souldiers that were lately come out of Macedon marched into Cappadocia but Darius hearing of the death of Memnon was no less moved therewith then the case required for then all other hope set apart he determined to try the matter in person for he condemned all things that had been done by his Deputies believing Courage and Conduct to be wanting in many of them and that Fortune had failed in them all He came therefore to Babylon where he encamped and assembled all his Forces together in sight of the City because he would shew the greater Courage and using the ensample of Xerxes in taking of his Musters he entrenched so much ground about as was able to receive ten thousand men within the which he lodged in the night such as had been mustered in the day and from thence they were bestowed abroad in the plain Country of Mesopotamia The number of his Horsemen and Footmen were innumerable and they yet seemed in sight to be more then they were There were of the Persians an hundred thousand of whom thirty thousand were Horsemen of the Medians ten thousand Horsemen and thirty thousand Footmen of the Bactrians two thousand Horsemen with broad Swords and light Bucklers and ten thousand Footmen with like weapons There were of the Armenians forty thousand Footmen and seven thousand Horsemen The Hircanians of great estimation amongst those Nations had six thousand Horsemen The Dervicens were forty thousand Footmen armed with Pikes whereof part had no heads of Iron but the points of them dried in the fire There were also of the same Nation two thousand Horsemen There came from the Gaspian Sea eight thousand Footmen and two hundred Horsemen And with them of the rude Nations of Asia two thousand Footmen and four thousand Horsemen To the increase of these numbers there were thirty thousand Mercenary Souldiers that were Greeks Haste would not suffer to call for the Arachosians Sogdians and Indians with others the Inhabitants of the Red Sea Nations which had names scarcely known to their own King Thus Darius wanting nothing less then the multitude of men greatly rejoyced to behold them and puffed up with the vanity and flattery of the great men which were about him turned to Charidemus of Athens an expert Man of War who for the displeasure that Alexander did bear him was banished the Country and asked him if he thought not that company sufficient to overthrow the Macedons Whereat Charidemus without respect of the Kings pride or of his own Estate answered Peradventure Sir you will not be content to hear the truth and except I tell it presently it shall be too late hereafter This great preparation and mighty Army of yours gathered of the multitudes of so many Nations raised up from all parts of the Orient is more fearful to the Inhabiters hereabouts then terrible to your Enemies Your men shine in Colours and glister in Armour of Gold exceeding so much in riches that they which have not seen them with their eyes cannot conceive any such thing in their mindes But contrariwise the Macedons being rough Souldiers without any such excess be terrible to behold The Fronts of their Battels stand close together always in strength furnished with Pikes and Targets for defence That which they call the Phalanx is an immoveable square of Foot wherein every Band stand close to each other joyning weapon to weapon Every Souldier is obedient to that which is commanded ready at his Captains call whether it be to follow his Ensigne to keep his Array to stand still to run to fetch a compass to change the order of the Battel to fight on this side or that side every Souldier can do these things as well as the Captains And because you shall not think Gold and Silver to be so effectual to this matter they began and observed this Discipline Poverty being Master when they be weary the ground is their bed they are satisfied with such meat as they finde by chance and they measure not their sleep by the length of the night Think you the Horsemen of Thessaly the Achaians and Aetolians which be invincible Men of War will be repulsed with Slings or Staves burned in the fire It behoveth you to have like Force to oppose and to be served of the same
better advised he willed him to be content with his own Inheritance and he would joyn in Amity with him and become his Friend in which point he was ready to enter into Treaty with him Alexander did write to him again after this manner Darius whose Name thou ownest wrought heretofore great destruction upon the Greeks inhabiting the Coast of Helleâ—pont and upon the Greek Colonies in Ioniâ— which are Greek Cities and passed from thence to the Sea with a great Army to make War against Greece and Macedon And also King Xerxes thy Predecessor came to subdue us with infinite numbers which being vanquished in a Battel on the Sea left notwithstanding Mardonius behinde him in Greece to destroy their Cities and burn their Countries It is manifest besides that Philip my Father was slain by such as were corrupted thereunto with your money You undertake always unjust Wars and being clad in Arms go about for all that to circumvent men with Treason as thou of late having such a number of men in thy Army didst attempt my death with the promise of a 1000 Talents I am not therefore the beginner of the Wars but only do repel such injuries as are offered me in doing whereof through the help of the gods who favour alway the right I have brought the greater part of Asia under my subjection and having overcome thee in Battel by force of Arms there is no cause that I should grant thee any thing because thou hast not observed towards me the Law of Arms yet if thou wilt come and submit thy self I promise thee that I will deliver both thy Mother Wife and Children for I both know how to get the Victory and how to use such as I Overcome But if thou fearest to commit thy self to us I will give thee safe Conduct to come freely As for the rest when thou writest to me remember that thou writest not only to a King but also unto him that is thy King He sent this Letter by Thersipus and marched from thence into Phâ—nicia where the City of Biblon was yielded unto him and so came unto Sydon which was a City of great Magnificence by reason of the Antiquity and Fame of the Builders The same was under the Dominion of Strato and supported by the power of Darius who yielding more by the constraint of the people then of his own good will was thought unworthy to Reign there Alexander made a Grant to Ephestion that he should make such a one King whom the Sydons thought most worthy of that Honour There were divers Noble young men in that City that had familiarity with Ephestion of whom he thought to have chosen one King but they refused his offer affirming that none might enjoy that Dignity except he were descended of the Blood Royal. Ephestion wondered at the magnanimity that was in them in despising the thing that others sought for by Sword and Fire and said Continue you still in that vertuous minde who are the first that have understanding how much better it is to refuse then to receive a Kingdom Chuse you therefore such a one of the Blood Royal that may remember he hath received the Rule at your hands But when they saw divers gaping for it and for the greediness they had to Reign they fell to flattering of such as were near to Alexander they resolved that there was none more fit for that Dignity then one Abdolominus who being of the Ancient Blood of the Kings for poverty was inforced to dwell in a small Graunge without the City His honesty was the cause of his poverty as it is to many other and being exercised in his daily labour he heard no noyse of the Wars that troubled all Asia They of whom we spake before came into his Garden with Garments to apparel him like a King and found him weeding of his ground whom they saluted King and said You must make exchange of the vileness of your apparel with these rich Roâ—es we here present you Wash thy body that is now covered with Dust and take upon thee the Heart of a King and in this Fortune whereof thou art worthy shew the same moderation and continency as at this present And when as thou shalt sit in thy Regal Seat having in thy hands the power of the life and death of thy people do in no wise forget the Estate thou wert in when thou took'st the Kingdom upon thee nor yet for what purpose thou didst receive it The matter seemed to Abdolominus like a Dream who asked them if they were mad that would mock him after that manner But when he saw them affirm by Oaths the thing to be in earnest he washed himself and receiving the Garment which was of Purple and Gold he went with them into the Palace The Fame as it is accustomed in such a case did notably abroad of this subject some favoured the cause and some did disdain it but such as were rich did upbraid his poverty and base Estate to such as were near about Alexander who caused the King to send for him and when he had long beheld his behaviour he said Your personage doth not disagree from the Fame of your Linage but I desire to know with what patience you did sustain your poverty I would to God quoth he I could bear my prosperity in like case now when I am a King Thâ—se hands did get that I desired and having nothing I lacked nothing His words caused Alexander to conceive of him a marvellous good Opinion so that he gave unto him not only the riches stuff and furniture appertaining to the King before but also many things that were taken from the Persians adding to his Dominion all the Country near about that City In the mean season Amintas who heretofore fled from Alexander to Darius and now he escaped in the last Battel did come to Tripolis with four thousand Greeks where he imbarqued and sailed to Cyprus thinking the World to be such then that every one might enjoy what he could get as if it had been his own Inheritance His purpose was to go into Egypt thinking there to become an Enemy both to Darius and to Alexander and to comply with the world according as time should serve To bring therefore his Souldiers to think well of his Enterprize he declared how the Governour of Egypt was slain in the Battel and that the Persians left there in Garrison were but a small number of little force and without any 〈◊〉 He shewed how the Egyptians used to Rebel against their Governours wherefore they were sure to be received as Friends For necessity quoth he hath inforced us to prove our Fortunes which failing us in our first hope we must now conceive that the time to come shall be much better then the Fortunes we now enjoy They all agreed with one voice that he should lead them where he pleased Whereupon thinking not good to pretermit the occasion whiles they were high with hopes he
conveyed them to Egypt and entred the Haven at Pelusium under pretence that he had been sent thither by Darius When he had got Pelusium he set forwards towards Memphis at the Fame of whose coming the Egyptians being a light Nation and more apt to raise a Coil then to maintain it when it was once begun ran to him out of all their Towns and Villages with an intent to destroy all the Persians who notwithstanding the fear they were in did not leave the defence of the Country but fought with the Greeks and were put to flight After this Victory Amintas besieged Memphis and his men destroyed so all the Country thereabouts that they left nothing unspoiled Whereupon Mazeches though he perceived his men much amazed with the fear of their late overthrow yet when he saw his Enemies scattered abroad and without order being overcome with security and the pride of their late Victory he at length perswaded his men to issue out of the City and in setting upon their Enemies to recover again what they had lost Which advice being good of it self being thoroughly followed took most fortunate success for they slew at that time both Amintas and all his company This punishment he suffered for the offence committed to both Princes being neither faithful to Alexander whom he forsook nor to Darius to whom he fled Darius Captains who escaped from the Battel of Issum gathering together such men as were scattered abroad and such power beside as they could levy in Cappadocia and Paphlagonia did attempt to recover again the Country of Lydia Antigonus was Governour for Alexander there who notwithstanding that he had taken many Souldiers out of the Garrisons of Alexander yet he so little esteemed his Enemies that he doubted not to adventure the Battel The Persians there received the like Fortune they did in other places and attempting the Fight in three sundry Countries were vanquished in them all At the same time the Navy of the Macedons which Alexander had sent for out of Greece meeting Aristimones whom Darius had appointed to make War upon the Coast of Hellespont sought with and drowned all his Ships Pharnabasus Darius having exacted money of the Misonians and put a Garrison in Scios passed into the Isle of Andros with a hundred Ships and from thence he sailed to Shiphnus and putting Men of War into all the Islands exacted of them money The greatness of the War that was in hand between two of the most puissant Princes of Asia and Europe did draw both Greece and Creet to Arms Agis the King of Lacedemon gathered together eight-thousand Greeks that were come home out of Cilicia and moved War against Antipater that was Governour of Macedonia The Cretians following sometime one part and sometime another received one while a Garrison of Macedons and another while of Lacedemonians to lye amongst them But those Wars were of no great importance for all mens eyes were fixed upon the Wars that were between Alexander and Darius whereupon all the rest did depend The Macedons had subdued all Syria and Phenice Tyre only excepted which being the greatest and most notable City of all that Country shewed that they esteemed themselves worthy rather to joyn with Alexander as Friends then to become his Subjects for when he was come near unto them and incamped upon the main Land which is divided from their City with a small Arm of the Sea they sent to him by their Embassadours a Crown of Gold for a Present with great plenty besides of victuals for his Army He received their Gifts as from his Friends and gave gentle Answers unto the Embassadours but he shewed himself much desirous to make Sacrifice unto Hercules whom the Tyrians specially worshipped and the Macedon Kings supposed themselves to be descended of him being admonished as he said by an Oracle The Embassadours made answer That there was a Temple of Hercules without their City in the place which they call Palaetiron whereas he might do Sacrifice at pleasure At those words Alexander could not refrain from anger whereunto he was much subject but fell in a great passion I perceive now quoth he because ye dwell in an Island ye trust so much in the scituation of your City that ye despise my Land power But I will shortly make you understand that you are scituated upon the Main Land and therefore trust to it that if ye receive me not in I will enter into your City by force When the Embassadours were dismissed with this answer such as were near about the King perswaded them that they should not exclude him whom all Syria and Phenicia had received But they had entertained such a confidence for that their City stood in the Sea being divided eighty furlongs from the Main Land that they absolutely determined to abide the Siege That Sea of theirs is much subject to the South-West-winde which at every Storm made the Waves beat so high against the shore that it would not suffer the Macedons to make any work for the uniting the Main Land to the City it being scarce possible to work any thing there when the weather was most calm The first work that the Macedons began was by and by thrown down with the vehemency of the Seas that were driven by the winde nor could they make any Fort so strong within the Sea but that it was washed away and brought down by beating of the Waves and when the Windes blew violently they would bring the Seas clean over the work There was another difficulty no less then this for by reason that the Walls were environed about with the deepness of the Sea they could raise no Engine to shoot but afar off out of the Ships nor was there any ground about the City whereupon Ladders might have been reared against the walls or approach made unto them by Land Alexander had no Ships and if he had any and would have coveted to bring them to the walls yet by reason of the unstableness of the water they might with shot easily have been kept off But amongst many other things the Tyrians were wonderfully encouraged by the coming of the Embassadours sent from Carthage to celebrate a yearly sacrifice for the Tyrians being the builders of Carthage were ever since that time had in Veneration of them as their Parents and first Founders Those Embassadours exhorted them in any wise to continue the Siege and promised them shortly aid which thing they alledged might easily and soon be done for so much as at that time all the Seas were full of the Carthaginian ships Upon this encouragement they determined to abide the extremity and placed their Engines upon the Towers and walls dividing their Engines amongst the Youth of the City The Artificers whereof the City had greâ—t plenty were divided into Work-houses to make all such things as were necessary for the Wars There were devised certain Instruments wherewith they might pull down the Works that their Enemies made called Harpagons and
also Crows of Iron named Corvi with all other things that might be invented for the defence of the City But a strange thing is reported that when the Iron was put in the Forge and blown in the Fire the same was seen to be full of drops of blood which Wonder the Tyrians did interpret as a token of good Fortune towards themselves and as a signification of destruction towards their Enemies A like wonder was seen among the Macedâ—ns for when a certain Souldier was breaking of his bread drops of blood appeared therein whereat Alexander being astonied Aristander that was most cunning of all the Dâ—viners did interpret thus the matter If the blood had appeared outwardly then it had signified evil fortune to the Macedons but in as much as it was found within it betokened destruction to the City they went about to conquer Alexander considering his Nâ—vy to be far from him and that a long Siege should be an impediment to his other affairs sent Officers of Arms into the City to perswade them unto peace whom the Tyrians against the Law of Nations did drown in the Sea Their uâ—â—ust death stirred Alexander so much that he then utterly determined to go forwards with the Siege But before he could make his approach it was of necessity for him to make a Peer or Land-work whereby they might pass from the main Land to the City But in the making thereof there entred great despair into all mens hearts considering the deepness of the Sea which they saw not poâ—â—iâ—le to be filled scarcely by any Divine power for they thought no Stones so great no Trees so high nor any Country to have such plenty as might suffice for the building of a Bank in such a place considering the Sea remained always troubled and the narrower the place was between the City and the Land so much more greater was the violence of the waters But Alexander who had the policy to allure his Souldiers to what effect he pleased declared that Hercules appeared unto him in his sleep and gave him his hand proffering him to be his Captain and his Guide for his entrance into the City Thereunto he added the killing of his Embassadours whereby they had violated and broken the Law that all Nations observed and that there remained but one City which stayed his Victory thereupon he divided the work amongst his Captains that every one might apply his own Band and put the work more forward There were great plenty of stones at hand of the ruines of the old City where Tyre stood before and for the making of Boats and Towers Timber was brought from Mount Libanus The work did rise from the bottom of the Sea like a Mountain but it was not yet brought to the High-water mark and the further the Peer was brought from the Land unto the Seaward so much the sooner the Sea did swallow up the materials whereof the Peer was made Whiles the Macedons were thus about their work the Tyrians would come about them in small Vessels and give them words of reproach and scorn as they were now become goodly Men of War that would be made Pioniers and carry burthens upon their backs And they asked them if they thought Alexander to be greater then the god of the Sea But their reproach did not hinder but increase the chearfulness of the Souldiers in their pain and travel insomuch that the work in a short space surmounted above the water and increasing much in breadth approached near unto the City Then the Tyrians seeing the hugeness of the work in the increase whereof they saw themselves deceived little thinking that it would have grown to such a pass in little Vessels came rowing about the Peer and drove the Souldiers with shot from their working and because they could easily bring their Boats suddenly forwards return soon again they hurt many of the Macedons without any danger to themselves inforcing them to leave their work and fall to their own defence For remedy whereof and to avoid their Enemies shot they were compelled to stretch out Beasts skins upon Poles like Sails and set those between them and their Enemies and besides at the head of the Peer they raised up two Towers from whence with shot and casting of Darts they kept off the Boats that came about them On the other side the Tyrians would land men with their Boats far out of the sight of the Camp and kill such as were carrying of stones The Peasants of Arabia also did set upon certain of the Macedons that were scattered abroad in Mount Libanus where they slew and took divers that was one cause which moved Alexander to divide his Army and lest he might seem to remain idle about the Siege of one City he appointed Perdicas and Craterus to take the charge of the work he had in hand and marched himself in person into Arabia with such part of his power as was most apt for his present purpose In the mean season the Tyrians prepared a great ship laden with stones and gravel behinde so that the fore-part sloated above the water which ship anointed over with pitch and brimstone they brought suddenly by sailing and force of Oars unto the Peer and there remaining the Marriners set the ship on fire and then leaped into the Boats which followed after to receive them The ship thus set on fire so inflamed the Wood-work pertaining to the Peer that before any rescue could come the fire had taken the Towers of the Peer and all the rest of the Works that were made in the head When they who leaped into the Boats saw the matter take such effect they put betwixt the Timber and other void places both Fire-brands and all such things as might give nourishment and increase to the fire So that the Towers and all the rest being on a flame many of the Macedons were consumed therewith and the rest forsook their Arms and threw themselves into the Sea The Tyrians that were more desirous to take them alive then to kill them with staves and stones did so beat them on the hands as they were swimming that for weariness they were glad to be taken up into their Boats The Towers were not consumed with fire only for it chanced also the same day a terrible winde to rise which blowing from the Sea brought the Waves with such violence upon the Peer that with often beating of the Seas the joynts that knit the work together began to loose and to leave their hold then the water that washed through brake down the whole work in the midst so that the heaps of stones which were before sustained by the Timber and Farth cast betwixt them being broke asunder the whole work fell to ruine and were carried away into the Deep By that time Alexander was returned out of Arabia and scarcely found any remainder or token that any such work had been In that case as it is ever used in things that chance evil one laid
ships the Watchmen drew the Chain again over the Haven and then called up such as lay near about them whereupon none of them durst resist but were all taken prisoners and delivered to Amphiterus and Egilocus From thence the Macedons passed to Mytelene which was kept by Chares of Athens with a Garrison of two thousand Persians but when he was not able to endure the Siege he yeilded up the City on composition to have their lives saved and to depart to Imbross Darius despairing of peace which he thought to have obtained by his Letters and Embassadours gave his minde to Muster a new Army and freshly to renew the War Therefore he commanded the Captains and Rulers of his men to have a Rendevouze at Babylon and that Bessus Governour of the Bactrians should come thither with all the power he could make The Bactrians are the most hardy people among those Nations rough men and much abhorring the delicateness of the Persians For by reason that they border upon the Scythians which is a Warlike Nation they are accustomed to live by spoil and are conversant continually in Arms But Bessus who was suspected of Treason affecting the Kingdom and who would not be content with a second place put Darius in great jealousies who having an inkling that he aspired to be King feared his Treason Bessus having no other way but by that to bring his purpose to pass Alexander wrought all the ways he could to obtain knowledge where Darius was and into what Country he was gone and yet could not get any intelligence by reason of a Custom amongst the Persians who are accustomed with a marvellous fidelity to keep close their Princes secrets in the uttering whereof neither fear of death nor hope of reward can cause them to bring forth a word This was an Ancient Discipline which the Kings there used among their Subjects in punishing with loss of life the lavishness of the tongue which is there more grievously chastised then any other crime Nor is there in those parts any Vertue looked for at any mans hands who hath not the gift of secresie whereof Nature hath given a facility in man This was the cause that Alexander was ignorant of all things that his Enemies did and therefore continued his Siege before Gaza Betis was Captain there who was a man of notable Fidelity towards his Prince and with a small Garrison defended the City that was of a large compass Wherefore Alexander perceiving the advantage of the Scituation caused many Mines to be made for the lightness of the ground covered the designe having neither Rocks nor Stones to give any impediment They began their Mines on that side where they within could not behold them and to avoid the suspition of any such work in hand he caused an approach to be made to the Walls with Towers that he had made of Timber but the ground would not serve for their carrying and removing by reason of the looseness of the Sand whereinto the Wheels sunk and was the cause that the Joynts of the Towers brake asunder About the carriage of them many were hurt and much trouble they had both in withdrawing of them and in setting them forwards When he perceived he could not prevail by that means he drew off his men for that time But the next day he environed the City round about to give an assault on every part at once and before he returned out of his Camp he made Sacrifice after his Country manner requiring the aid of the gods It chanced as he was so doing that a Raven flying by let fall a Clod which she carried in her Claws upon the Kings Head where it brake in pieces and the Raven flew unto the next Tower where her feathers were so entangled with pitch that she could not fly away but was taken by the sâ—anders thereabouts This was thought a matter worthy on which the Diviners should consult for he himself was not free from the Superstition of such things Therefore Aristander to whom he gave most credit did interpret the same to be a signe of the destruction of that City but yet there was some peril he said appearing towards the Kings person for which cause he perswaded Alexander that he should not go about any exercise that day Though it grieved him much that one City should be a stay and impediment unto him for his free passage into Egypt yet he obeyed the Prognosticators and caused all his men for that day to retire The Enemies took courage at their departure thinking fear to be the cause why they came not forwards and issuing out of the City they set upon the Rear But they were more fierce in the beginning of the skirmish then constant in the maintaining of it for when they saw the Macedons rally themselves they stayed and pursued no further Alexander hearing the Alarm and quite forgetting the peril that was prophecied unto him at his Friends request put on his Armour which he was seldom accustomed to do and resorted thither where the skirmish was most hot There he was known by a certain Arabian that was one of Darius Souldiers who took upon him a desperate enterprize to kill Alexander and therefore making his pretence to be as a Fugitive from the Persians kept his Sword secret underneath his Target and fell down on his knees before him who judging that he had fled to him for succour commanded that he should be received among his own men But the Arabian therewithal made a violent thrust at the King with his Sword which he stepping aside a little did avoid it from his throat and cut off the Arabians hand that missed of the thrust Alexander then judged that he had clean escaped the peril that should have chanced to him that day But as I think Destiny cannot be avoided for whiles he was eager in fight amongst the foremost he was shot with an Arrow which passed through his Corslet and did stick in his shoulder Philip his Physitian did pluck it out and great abundance of blood did follow whereof every man was afraid for so much as they never saw an Arrow pass so far through any Armour before But he never changed countenance nor colour but causing the blood to be â—â—enched and his wound to be wrapped up continued still in the skirmish amongst the foremost either suffering or dissembling his pain But when the blood that was stayed for the time did break out again and the wound which for the newness thereof grieved him not much began to swell and rankle as the blood waxed cold then he began to faint and fall down and was taken up by such as were next unto him and carried into his Tent. Betis that perceived this and supposing him to be slain retired unto the City with great joy and triumph But Alexanders wound being yet unhealed he caused a Mount to be cast up as high as the top of the Walls and the Walls to be cast down in divers
Red Sea It confineth on the West with other Ethiops which are called Simnoes Towards the North lieth a Nation called Nalamons who inhabiting upon a flat shore are accustomed to live upon the spoils of the Sea and lye always in wait upon the Coast to spoil such Ships as suffer wrack The people which inhabit about the Wood be called Ammonians and dwell in Cottages scattered abroad The midst of their Wood closed about with a triple Wall is unto them a Castle In the first Ward is the Palace of their Ancient Kings in the second their Wives Children and Concubines were lodged in which place the Oracle of Jupiter is also and the third is a place for their Men of War There is also another Wood having a Spring called the Fountain of the Sun which in the morning is luke-warm in the midst of the day cold and in the evening warm again at mid-night it is scalding hot and as it draweth towards day it diminisheth his heat more and more The same Effigies that is worshipped for Jupiter hath not the similitude of other Images that Crafts-â—â—â—â— do make for gods but is very like unto the fashion of a Navel having in the midst thereof an Emerald sâ—t about with Pearls When any answer is required the Priests carry the same in a Ship of Gold that hath many Plates of Silver hanging on both sides the Matrons and the Virgins follow after singing a strange Song after their Country manner whereby they believe they do oblige Jupiter to shew his Oracle manifest and true When Alexander was come unto the place the Eldest of the Priests who came to meet him saluted him in the Name of Jupiters Son for so he said his minde was that he should be called Whereupon Alexander forgetting the state of his Mortality said That he did both receive and acknowledge the Name Then he demanded further If the Empire of the whole World were appointed him by Destiny There the Prophet prepared before to Flattery answered That the whole World should come under his Obeysance After that he demanded Whether all such had suffered death that had murthered his Father The Priest answered That his Father could not be harmed by the Treason of any man but he said That all Philips Killers were put to death And one thing he added more That he should be Invincible till such time as he should depart to the gods Thereupon Alexander made Sacrifice and both offered unto the Idol and gave great gifts unto the Priests He permitted also his Friends to ask Counsel of the Oracle for such things as they would demand Yet they enquired no further but if it were Jupiters will that they should worship their King with Divine Honours To this it was answered Tâ—â—â— if they honoured their Victorious Prince as a god it should be acceptable unto Jupiter If he had with judgment weighed the Oracle he might have well perceived the untruth that was therein but whom Fortune hath brought to believe in her she maketh them many times more desirous of glory then able to receive it Alexander not only suffered but commanded himself to be called the Son of Jupiter and whilest he went about to encrease the Fame of his Acts he did corrupt and deface them with such vanity and the Macedons accustomed to be governed by Kings but yet reserving a greater shadow of Liberty then other Nations did withstand him more obstinately in affecting of his Immortality then was either expedient for him or them But these things shall be declared in time convenient I will proceed to declare the rest of his Acts. When Alexander was returned from Hammon and come to the Marish of Meotis scituate near unto the Isle of Pharos he viewed the nature of the place and was at the first determined to build a City within the Island But afterwards considering the Isle not to be large enough he chose out the ground where Alexandria now standeth called by the name of the Builder containing all that ground between the Mear and the Sea the walls whereof were in compass eighty furlongs When he had taken order for the building of this City leaving such behinde him as he had appointed for the performance thereof he departed unto Memphis He had a desire not unreasonable if it had been in time convenient to have seen both the inward parts of Egypt and also of Ethiopia and the affection he had to view Antiquities and the famous places of Mamnon and Tyton had near drawn him beyond the bounds of the Sun But the Wars he had in hand being of much more importance then any such idle Peregrination gave him no time to fulfil his fantasie therefore he appointed Aestilus a Rhodian and Peucestes a Macedon to the Government of Egypt assigning them four thousand Souldiers for defence of the Country and gave Polymen thirty Galleys to keep the Mouth of Nile He made Apollonius Ruler of that part of Africa which joyneth unto Egypt and Cleomines Receiver of the Tributes in both Countries This new City was soon replenished with a great multitude for Commandment was given to all Countries thereabouts to send Inhabitants unto Alexandria It is said that when the King according to the Macedons Custom used the Ceremony of steeping Barley at the raising of the Walls the Birds came and fed thereupon which being taken by many for an unlucky Token it was answered by their Diviners That there should be great resort of strangers to that City and that it should give nourishment to many Lands As the King went down the River of Nile Hector the Son of Parmenio desirous to follow him was drowned for the Vessel that carried him sunk being crowded with over-many men He strived long with the Stream but his garments gave impediment to his swimming so that his breath was near gone before he could recover the shore where for want of succour he died whose unfortunate chance Alexander took grievously as one that did bear him special favour and therefore caused his body to be honourably buried The death of Andromachus Lieutenant of Syria whom the Samaritans had burned alive was the increase of Alexanders sorrow for the revengement whereof he made all the haste he could and at his coming into Samaria had the Authors of the act delivered into his hands whom he put to death and then placed Memnon in Andromachus Room He delivered into the Methinians hands Aristonicus and Crijolaus who usurped over them whom they after many grievous torments did hang over their walls That done he gave Audience to the Embassadours of the Athenians the Rhodians and the Scots The Athenians did gratifie unto him his Victory and required that such Greeks as were taken prisoners might be restored to liberty The Rhodians and the Scots complained of their Garrisons He granted to them all their requests and restored to the Mytelens all their Pledges encreased their Territory and Dominion in respect of the fidelity they shewed unto him and gave them
whose sumptuous furniture both for themselves and their Horses tended more to voluptuousness and delicacy then to any magnificence Alexander that was inclosed about with armed men willed that the Babylonians should come behinde his Footmen and he riding aloft in his Chariot entred into the City and afterwards into the Palace where the next day he surveyed Darius his Wardrobe and his Treasures The beauty and pleasantness of that City gave just occasion to Alexander and such as were with him to admire it much Semiramis was the Builder thereof or as some affirm Belus whose Palace is to be seen there The walls are made with Brick interlined with Fitch they are thirty two foot in bredth so that two Carts may easily go upon them on front They are in height one hundred Cubits and the Towers are ten foot higher then the Walls the compass of the whole work about is three hundred sixty eight furlongs being builded as it is left in memory in so many days The houses stand the bredth of an Acre distant from the walls they are contiguous house to house by the space of ninety furlongs in other places not joyned near to one another but for some considerations so divided asunder The rest of the ground is sowed and tilled to the intent that if any Forreign Power come against them they should be able to be relieved by the fruit thereof The River of Euphrates doth run through the midst of the City and is kept in on both sides with walls of a wonderful workmanship But the great Channels made of Brick and fastened with Pitch instead of Mortar and wrought low within the ground to receive the violence of the Stream do exceed all the rest of the works there made for except the same were of quantity and largeness to receive the water when the Stream floweth over the Banks that are made to keep it in its violence would beat down the houses of the City There is also over the River a strong Bridge which joyneth both parts of the City together counted amongst the marvellous works of the Orient For because that Euphrates is so full of Sand and Owse there can hardly ground be found to lay that Foundation upon and the Stream besides casteth up such heaps of Sand against the Bridge that it is an impediment for the water freely to pass and therefore the River beateth upon the Bridge with greater force then if it had his free course There is also a Castle that is twenty furlongs about the Towers whereof are thirty foot deep within the ground and fourscore foot in height above the ground where also the Wonders are to be seen so often mentioned in the Greek Poets for in the same are whole Groves of Trees set by wonderful Art as if hanging in the Air and so high as are the tops of the Towers which Trees are marvellously beautiful and pleasant through their height and shadow which they make The whole weight of them is sustained and borne up by huge Pillars made of Stone upon which there is a Floor of square stone that both upholdeth the Earth that lieth deep on the Pillar and also the humour wherewith it is watred The trees that grow thereupon are eight cubits about and as fruitful as if they grew on natural Earth And although that process of time by little and little doth not only destroy things made with hands but also the very works of nature yet this work for all it is oppressed with the roots of so many trees and burthened with the weight of so much earth doth yet remain unperished being sustained up with twenty broad walls distant eleven foot one from another When these trees are seen afar off they seem to be a wood growing upon a mountain It is said that the King of Syria reigning in Babylon builded this work for his wives fancy who for the love she had to Groves and shadowy places moved her Husband in doing thereof to counterfeit the pleasantness of nature Alexander tarried longer here then in any other City which corrupted more the discipline of the Macedons in their Wars then any other place For nothing was more licentious then the manners and customes of the City nor was any other place more abundantly furnished of all things wherewith men are allured and stirred to excess of pleasure The Parents and Husbands were contented that their children and wives should for gain embrace such strangers as came amongst them The Kings and Nobility of Persia delight much in plays and banquetting but the Babylonians are specially addicted unto wine and drunkenness where the women use a custome that in the beginning of the Feast their apparel seemeth civil and demure but afterwards by little and little they put off their uppermost garments and laying aside all modesty they at last discover themselves naked Which vile custome is not used by harlots only but by all women in general who esteem the making of their bodies common but civility and good manners in this voluptuousness the Conquerour of Asia wallowed by the space of thirty four days whereby he became much the weaker to have done other enterprizes if there had been an enemy to have stood against him But to the intent the damage should be the less perceived he increased his power with a new supply out of Macedonia For Amintas the son of Andrâ—menes brought him from Antipater six thousand footmen and five hundred horsemen and with them five hundred of the Thracian horsemen and thirty five hundred footmen of the same Nation He had also out of Peloponnesus four thousand footmen and four hundred eighty horsemen being all mercenary Souldiers Amintas also brought him fifty of the young men of the Nobility of Macedonia to attend upon Alexanders person whose office it was to serve the King at Table and to bring him his horse when he went to Battel They accustomed to be about him when he hunted and kept watch by course at his chamber-door These were they who afterwards proved great Captains and out of whose lions the Rulers of the men of War did come Alexander appointed Agathon Captain of the Castle of Babylon with seven hundred Macedons and three hundred mercenary Souldiers and left 〈◊〉 and Apolidorus Governours of the City and Countrey to whom he assigned two thousand footmen and one thousand Talents giving them Commission to levy more Souldiers He made Mazeus that gave the City into his hands Lieutenant of the whole and caused Bagistines that yielded up the Castle to follow him in his Wars Armenia was given to Mithrenes that betrayed the City of Sardis and to encourage his men to enterprize new atchievements he gave out of the treasure of Babylon to every Macedon Horseman five hundred Dâ—niers to every Horseman of the strangers five hundred and to every Footman two hundred When he had set all these things in order he came into the Countrey called Atrapene which being plentiful of all things and abounding in Victuals
caused the King to tarry the longer there And lest idleness should be any abatement to the courage of his men he contrived a way to stir up their spirits and to keep them occupied by appointing Judges to try out such as had shewed themselves most valiant in the Wars to whom he assigned Rewards due to their deservings There were Eight found out whose manhood appeared above the rest and the charge of one thousand Men was committed to every one of them who were then called Chiliarchi this was the first time they put one Thousand into a Regiment for before this they were divided only into five hundred which was not counted any great preferment or reward of service The number of them were great that came to plead their right in this behalf who before the Judges that gave sentence brought in a testimony of their atchievements whereby it could not be unknown which of them had justly purchased such honour or not The first place was adjudged to the elder Adarchias for his valiantness in the Battel at Alicarnasson where he chiefly did restore again the fight when the young Souldiers had given it over The second place of honour was given to Antigonus and Philotas Angâ—us obtained the third the fourth was adjudged to Amintas the fifth to Antigonus Amintas the Son of Lyncesters obtained the sixth Theodorus the seventh and Hellanicus the last He also profitably altered many things that were used by his Predecessours in the discipline of War For whereas before the Horsemen of every Country were in several Bands by themselves he without respect of any Nation appointed them such Captains as he thought expedient And whereas at the removing of the Camp warning was wont to be given by a Trumpet the sound whereof in any noise or tumult could not be sufficiently heard he caused an high Pole to be always set up before his Pavilion on the top whereof an Ensigne was fastened apparent to all men the other tokens which they observed were fire in the night and smoak in the day As he was marching towards Susa Abulites that was Ruler of that Region either by Darius commandment thinking by means of the spoil either to divert Alexander or by his own free will sent his Son to meet him proffering the delivery of the City The young man was intreated very gently and by his conduct Alexander passed forwards till he came to the River Hydaspâ—s which is esteemed to be a very delicate water Abulites there met Alexander with many and Princely gifts and presented him among other things Dromedaries that were wonderfully swift and with twelve Elephants that Darius had sent for out of India to be a terrour to the Macedons which now were become an increase of their strength When the riches of the Conquered was come into the hands of the Conquerour he found in that City an incredible Treasure fifty thousand Talents of massie silver uncoyned which Riches gathered together in the space of many years by divers Kings for their succession and posterity came thus in a moment into the hands of a forreign Prince Alexander being lodged within the Palace did sit down in Darius seat which being higher thâ—n served for his stature by reason his feet could not reach to the ground one of the Kings Pages put a board for him underneath to tread upon whereat one of the Eunuches that belonged to Darius looked heavily and fetched a deep sigh whose sadness when Alexander perceived he enquired of him the cause He answered that when he beheld the board whereon Darius was wont to eat employed to so base a use he could not behold it without grief Alexander being ashamed so much to misuse the thing that before was had in such râ—verence caused the same to be taken away But Philotas made request he should not do so but rather take it as a divination of his good luck and fortune that the Table whereon his Enemy did eat should now become subject to his 〈◊〉 Alexander purposing from thence to pass into Persia committed the City of Susa to Archelaus with three thousand men of War and to Zenophilus the charge of the Castle leaving such Macedons as were aged there in Garison but bestowed the keeping of the Treasure unto Celicrates and restored to Abulites the Government and Principality of the Countrey of Susae leaving within the City the Mother and the Children of Darius And for as much as Alexander had at the same time plenty of cloth of Purple sent him out of his Country with Garments ready made after the Macedons manner for the honour he 〈◊〉 to Sisigambis whom he had in reverence as if she had been his mother he thought good to present part of them unto her with the persons that used to made them and willed that if she liked them she should accustome her Neeces to make the like and give them for Presents At the declaring of which Message the tears flowed down her eyes which declared the gift not to be acceptable to her for the Persian Ladies take nothing in more contempt then to put their hands to Wool When report was made to Alexander in what sort she had received his Present he thought the rudeness meet to be excused and her to be comforted therefore he came to visit her and said This Garment which I wear was both of the gift and making of my sisters our Customes brought me into errour Therefore I desire you that you will not take mine ignorance in evil part I trust that otherwise I have observed sufficiently all things which I knew to be your Customes When I understood that it was not lawful for the Son to sâ—t in the Mothers presence except she doth give him leave I would never whensoever I came into your presence sit until you willed me so to do You would oftentimes have fillen down and worshipped me but I would not sufer you but have ever 〈…〉 and given you the name due to my 〈…〉 Olympias When the King with these words 〈…〉 her he depâ—â—â—ed and by four encampâ—â—â—â— came unto a River that the Countrey-men call 〈◊〉 which springing in the Mountains of the Vxians it runneth 〈◊〉 down amongst the Rocks with woody bank by the space of fifty furlongs but then descenâ—ng into a plain it become 〈◊〉 navigable and so runeth with a more quiet stream and in a softer gound by the space of six hundred Furlongs tâ— such time as it doth enter into the Persian Sea Alexander passing this River with nine Thousand Footmen of the Macedons with the Agrians thâ— mercenary Greeks and with four Thousand Tracians came amongst the Vxians whose County is near unto Susae and stretcheth out into Persiâ— leaving betwixt it and Susae a narrow streight Madates had the rule of that Country who wasuch a man as was rare at that time for he deterred to abide all extremities for his duties sake â—uch as knew the Country did inform Alexandâ— that there was a privy way through
of their terrour seeing they could not enjoy any benefit of the Stars for if any gave light the same was taken away by the shadow of the trees And the use of the ear could not serve for one to receive counsel and comfort from another the winde whirling amongst the leaves and the shaking of the boughs making an amazing noise But at length the day increasing in its light diminished the terrours that the darkness of the night had made Then by fetching a little compass about they passed the hollow gull and every man began to be a guide to himself At last they got up on the top of the Hill from whence they might behold their Enemies in their Camp Then the Macedons shewed themselves stoutly in their Armour appearing suddenly on their backs when they mistrusted no such thing and there slew such as came first to encounter with them So that on the one part the grievous noise of them that were slain and the miserable shrick of such as ran in for succour amongst their own company put the rest to slight without making any resistance When the Alarm was once heard in the Camp where Craterus lay the Army by and by passed forward to go through the Streights in the which they were repulsed the day before Philotas also with Polipercon Cenos and Amintas who were gone the other way arrived at the same time and gave a further terrour unto their Enemies When the Persians saw their Enemies assailing them in all parts at once though they were so opprest with their sudden invasion that at the first they were in doubt what to do yet at length they assembled together and fought notably necessity stirring up the faintness of their hearts for often-times despair is the cause of good hope They being unarmed closed with them that were armed and with the weight of their bodies pulled their Enemies to the Earth and killed divers with their own Weapons Ariobarzanes with forty Horsemen and five thousand Footmen that kept about his person brake through the Battel of the Macedons to the great slaughter of his own men and his Enemies and by making haste recovered Persepolis the chief City of the Countrey But when he was excluded from thence by such as were within he renewed again the Fight with such as were with him and so was slain By that time Craterus that made all the speed he could was come unto them Alexander fortified his Camp in the same place where he did discomfite his Enemies For though they were all fled and he certain of the Victory yet because he found his way stopped in many places with great and deep Ditches he thought good to use circumspection and not to make too great a speed not so much by fear of his Enemies Force as by reason of the nature of the ground which he found apt for them to lay ambushments against him As he was passing forwards he received Letters from Tyridates the keeper of Darius Treasure signifying that the inhabiters of Persepolis hearing of his coming were about to spoil the Treasure and that therefore he should haste to prevent it for the way was ready enough notwithstanding the River of Araxes interposed There was no vertue in Alexander more commendable then his celerity which he shewed specially in this for leaving his footmen behinde he travelled all night with his horsemen and by day-light came to the River of Araxes there he found many Villages and Houses whose Timber being taken down a Bridge was raised in a moment by the help of stones which were found in the bottom of the River When Alexander had passed the River and came near unto the City a company met him so miserable as seldom have been found in any memory They were Greeks to the number of four thousand whom the Persians heretofore had taken prisoners and afflicted with divers kindes of torments For some of them had their feet cut off some their hands and others their ears but all were marked in the flesh with hot Irons The Persians having maimed and deformed them after this manner kept and reserved them still as a memory of their despite towards the Nation But when they saw they should come under the obedience of another Prince they suffered the Greeks to meet Alexander They seemed rather to be Specters then men for nothing could be discerned or known but their voice The compassion of their wretched estate caused the beholders to let fall no fewer tears then they did themselves For it could not appear which of them were most miserable though their afflictions were divers But when they had cried out before Alexander that Jupiter the revenger of Greece had opened their eyes in beholding him that should deliver them they judged then all their gifts as one Alexander wiped the tears from his eyes and willed them to be of good chear for that they should both see their Countrey and their Friends and he encamped at the same place where he met them being two furlongs from Persepolis The Greeks drew themselves together to consult what was best for them to demand of Alexander and when some were of opinion to ask dwelling places within Asia and others had more minde to return into their Countries Euctemon the Cymaean spake thus unto them We that even now were ashamed to put our heads out of the prison and darkness we were in to make suit for our own aid and relief are become of such simplicity that we presently desire to shew unto Greece as a pleasant spectacle our deformities and maims whereof we have as much cause to be ashamed as to be grieved You must think that such bear their miseries best who can finde the means to hide them most and that there is no Countrey so familiar to men that be unfortunate as solitariness and forgetfulness of their former estate For they which make an account of their Friends pity and compassion know not how soon their tears may dry up no Creatures can love those faithfully whom they abhor For as calamity of her own Nature is full of complaint so Felicity is always proud and every one doth use to think of his own Fortune when he judgeth of his Neighbours For except we had all been in misery one of us long ago had been weary of another What marvel is it then though men in felicity seek alwaies their equals My opinion is therefore that we who as men long ago were as dead in this life seek us a place wherein we may hide our maimed members and whereas exile may conceal our horrible deformities If we shall return into our Countrey being in this case how can we but be unwelcome to our Wives whom we married young Or shall our Children or our Brethren now acknowledge us being the vomits of so many Prisons and though all things should there succeed as we could wish yet how small a number of us are able to travel through so many Countries How is it possible for
Greeks whose Fidelity never failed in all his adverse Fortune He had also four thousand Archers and Slingers besides thirty three hundred Bactrian Horsemen which were under Bessus charge being Governour both of the City of Bactria and the Country Darius with those Forces withdrew a little from the high-way and commanded such as had charge of the Carriage to pass on before He called a Councel where he spake to this effect If Fortune had matched me with Cowards and with such as preferred a vile life before an honest death I would rather have held my peace then at this instant consume words in vain But I have had greater experience then I could wish both of your valour and fidelity towards me So that I for my part ought rather to seem worthy to have such Friends as you are then to doubt whether ye yet remain the same men towards me ye were before For of so many thousands that were under my Empire you only have followed and adhered to me Though I have been twice overthrown in the Field and twice inforced to fly away your fidelity and your constancy doth make me think that I remain still a King Traytors and Fugitives do reign in my Cities not for that they be thought worthy of such honour but that you might be provoked by their rewards to revolt against me Notwithstanding you have chosen rather to follow me in my misfortune then be partakers of the felicity of the Conquerours You are worthy whom the Gods shall reward if I may not as undoubtedly they will There can no Posterity be so silent nor Fame so ungrateful which shall not with due commendations extol you to the Stars Though I had within me thoughts of Flight whereunto my heart never agreed yet I have now conceived such a trust of your Vertue and Manhood that I purpose to advance against my Enemy How long shall I be as a banished man within mine own Dominion and flie from a strange and Forreign Prince within the bounds of mine own Kingdom When may I by hazarding the Battel either recover what I have lost or else die an honourable death Except peradventure it seemeth better to some men that I should submit my self to my enemies will and by the Example of Mazeus and Mithrenes receive by Petition the Dominion of some one Nation wherein I judge that Alexander had rather follow the inclination of his glory then of his wrath No let the gods never grant that it may lie in a mans power either to take away or give unto me this Diadem upon my head nor that I lose this Empire so long as I have breath For in this I am resolved that my Life and my Kingdom shall end both together If this minde if this resolution remain in you there is none of you that can want liberty there is none that shall be compelled to endure the arrogancy of your Enemies Every mans right hand shall give unto himself either a revenge or an end of his evils I my self am an Example of Fortune and therefore it is not without cause that I look for a better change And if the worst fall out that the gods do continue against us in our Wars that be lawfull and honest yet this cannot be denied but that we may manfully and honestly die I require and conjure you by the honour of our Predecessours who with such Fame and Glory have possessed the Kingdomes of the whole Orient by those men to whom Macedon sometimes was tributary by so many Navies of Ships sent into Greece and by so many Victories won that ye will take such courage unto you as may seem worthy your Nobility and your Nation and that with the same constancy of minde wherewith you have endured things past you attempt whatsoever Fortune shall produce hereafter I am resolved for my part to purchase to my self a perpetual Fame either by Victory or by some notable Adventure in the Fight When Darius had spoken these words the representation of the present peril so amazed them all that they were not able either to shew their advice or to speak a word until such time as Artabasus the most ancient of his Friends who before-time had been with King Philip began to declare his resolution We are come into the Field quoth he with you that are our King in our most precious Apparel and richest Armour with intent to win the Victory and we do neither despair of Victory nor do we refuse to die To those words all the rest with one voice seemed to agree saving Nabarzanes who being present in that Councel with Bessus and of his Opinion conspired a Treason so prodigious that the like hath seldom been heard of Their determination was by force of the Souldiers they had under their charge to put their King in hold with this purpose that if Alexander pursued them to deliver him then alive into his hands to win thereby his favour as a thing which they thought he would greatly esteem But if they could escape conveniently then they were in minde to kill Darius and dividing the Kingdom betwixt them renew again the War against the Macedons They having imagined this Treason long before in their mindes Nabarzanes thought this an occasion to make a preparative to his wicked intent by this perswasion which he uttered I am confident quoth he that I shall speak what at the first appearance shall not be grateful unto your ears But Physitians use to cure Diseases that be great with sharp and bitter Medicines And the Ship-Masters when they fear a Ship-wrack accustome to redeem such things as may be saved with the destruction and loss of the rest Yet this what I shall perswade unto is not to your detriment but an Expedient by what means you may preserve your self and your Kingdom We make a War wherein the gods seem manifestly to be against us and fortune ceaseth not obstinately to pursue us It is needfulâ— therefore that we lay new Foundations and seek out men who have other Fortunes My Opinion is that you deliver up your Kingdom unto some mans hands who shall have the Name of King so long as your Enemies are within Asia And when they be once departed which my minde giveth me to be shortly he shall restore unto you the same again The Country of Bactria is yet untouched the Indians and Sacans be at your appointment so many People so many Armies so many thousands of Horsemen and Footmen have their Forces in readiness to renew this War So that a much greater Force remaineth then that which the War hath consumed Why do we then like Beasts wilfully run to a destruction that is not necessary It is the property of such as are men of courage rather to despise death then to hate life and oftentimes by weariness of travel Cowards are driven to take little regard of themselves but Vertue leaving nothing unproved and Death being the end of all things it is sufficient if we
who inhabit upon the Bospheron Sea are ascribed to be in Asia and such as be in Europe possess the Countries lying on the left part of Thrace so far as Boristhenes and from thence right forth so far as the River Thanais that parteth Europe and Asia It is certain that the Scythians of whom the Persians be descended came not from Bospheron but out of Europe There was a Noble City in those days called Hecatonphilos builded by the Greeks where Alexander remained with his Army conveying Victuals thither from all parts Among the Souldiers lying in idleness there arose suddenly a rumour which entred into their heads without any certain Author or beginning which was that Alexander satisfied with the Acts he had done purposed immediately to return into Macedon This Fame was not so soon blown abroad but that they ran like mad-men to their lodgings and trussed up their Baggage and their Stuff making such preparation to depart that every man judged warning to be given to remove and that the thing had been done by appointment The tumult that did rise in the Camp by lading of Carriage and by the calling which one made to another came unto the Kings ears This rumour obtained the sooner credit by the dispatch of certain Greek Souldiers whom Alexander had dismissed into their Country with the gift of six thousand Deniers to every Horseman Thereupon occasion was given to think that the War had been at an end Alexander whose purpose was to pass into India and the uttermost bounds of the Orient was no less displeased at this rumour then the case required And therefore calling before him the Captains of his Army with the tears in his eyes he made a great complaint unto them that in the middle course of his glory he should thus be pulled back and compelled to return into his Country rather as a man vanquished then as a Victor Which misfortune he said he could not impute to his Souldiers nor judge that their cowardliness did give an impediment to his proceedings but that it was only the envy of the gods that put so sudden a desire of their Country into the mindes of valiant men who within a while should have returned with greater glory and fame Thereupon they all promised to travel in Reformation of the matter offering themselves in all things were they never so difficult to do as he would have them And they promised also the obedience of the Souldiers if so be that he would make some gentle and apt Oration to pacifie them who were never yet seen to depart from him in any desperation or disturbance of minde if they once beheld the chearfulness of his Countenance and the courage proceeding from his heat He promised so to do and required in the multitude an inclination to give ear unto him When all things were prepared which were thought expedient for this purpose he assembled all his Army together and made this Oration unto them When ye consider my Souldiers the greatness of the Acts which ye have done and the manifold Conquests that ye have made it is no marvel at all that ye be inclined to quietness and fully satisfied with Fame and Glory For not to speak of the Illyrians and Tribals of Boetia Thracia and Sparta of the Achaians and Peloponnesians whom I have subdued part in person and the rest by appointment I will not make rehearsal of the War we began at Hellespont and how we delivered from servitude the Barbarous Nations the Ionians and Aeolides and got unto our possession Caria Lydia Cappadocia Phrygia Paphlagonia Pamphilia Pysidia Celicia Syria Phenicia Armenia Persia Media and Partheniae We have gotten more Countries then others have taken Cities and yet I am sure the number of them have caused me to leave some of them unrehearsed If I could think that the possession of these Lands that we have conquered in so short time could remain sure unto us then my Souldiers I would though it were against your wills break from you to visit my house and my home to see my Mother my Sisters and my Country-men to enjoy there the Land and Glory that I have gotten with you where the joyful Conversation of our Wives our Children and Parents our peace and quietness and a sure possession of things gotten through our valour do tarry for us as large rewards of our Victory But if we will confess the truth this new Empire which we have not yet at Commandment but is kept as it were by way of intreaty doth require a time that this stiff-necked people may learn to bear our yoke and by framing their dispositions to more Humunity bring their cruel nature to a more civil conversation Do we not see that the Corn in the field asketh a time for its ripening and though the same be without sense yet hath it its course to be brought to perfection Do you believe that so many Nations not agreeing with us in Religion in Custom nor in one use of Language accustomed to the Empire and Name of another man will be conquered and brought to subjection with the winning of one Battel No trust me they are kept under with fear of our Power and do not obey us of their own good wills And they which shew you obedience when ye be here amongst them when you be absent will be your Enemies You must think that you have to do with wilde Beasts which being fierce of Nature when they be first taken must be shut up and tamed by time Hitherto I have reasoned with you as though we had conquered the whole Dominion that pertained to Darius which is nothing so for Nabarzanes possesseth Hircania and the Traytor Bessus not only enjoyeth Bactria but also threatneth us The Sogdians Dahans Massagetes Sagans and the Indians remain yet in their own Liberty and Jurisdiction who shall not see our backs so soon turned but they will follow in our Rear They all have a certain Friendship and Amity one with another but we are all Strangers and Forreigners unto them There is no Creature but that will more gladly be obedient to Rulers of his own Nation then to Forreigners be their Government never so terrible We are driven therefore of necessity to purchase that we have not or else to loose that we have already gained As Physitians that in sick bodies will leave no humour that may hurt so likewise we must cut away whatsoever shall be an impediment unto our Empire Have you not seen great fires to arise from small sparks not regarded We may not neglect any thing in our Enemies whom the more we despise the more strong we make them And because you should not think it such an impossibility for Bessus to make himself King where a King is wanting you shall understand that Darius came not to his Empire by Inheritance but got into the Seat of Cyrus by the benefit of Bagoas his Eunuch We commit 〈◊〉 heinous offence my Souldiers if we make war against
Darius and put him down for the intent to give his Kingdom unto his servants yea and to such a one as attempted so vile an act against his Master at such a time as he had most need of help and whom we being his Enemies would have spared He being his subject put him in chains as a Captive and finally slew him because he should not be preserved by us Shall you suffer such a man as this to reign No let us make all the speed we may to see him crucified 〈◊〉 to shew unto all Kings and Nations a Justice done 〈◊〉 one that so vilely falsified his faith If the report should come unto you in your own Countries that the same man was destroying of the Greek Cities about Hellespont how sorry would you then be and how much would you lament that Bessus should enjoy that which you have got and usurp the rewards of your Victory Then would you make haste to recover your own then would you bend your selves to the Wars But how much better is it now to oppress him while he remaineth in such fear and is uncertain what way to take Shall we forbear to spend four days to come to him that have marched over such Snows that have passed so many Rivers that have climbed so many Mountains to whose journey the flowing-Sea could be no impediment nor the Streights of Cilicia could shut up our way Now all things are made plain and open and we stand in the entry of our Victory There are but a few Fugitives and Killers of their Master that do remain What more notable work can you leave unto your Posterity to be registred by Fame unto your glory then to revenge such as were Traytors to Darius You shall thereby shew that when you were Enemies unto him yet your hatred ended with his death and that no wicked man can escape your hands Which thing if you bring to pass how much more obedient do you think the Persians will be unto you when they perceive you to take just Wars in hand and that it was not with Bessus name whereat ye are offended but with his sins and treacheries His Oration was received of the Souldiers with such gladness that they straightways desire him to lead them whither he would And he that knew well enough how to make use of this opportunity immediately advanced into Parthenia and came to the bounds of Hircania leaving Craterus with those Regiments whereof he had the Rule and six thousand Horsemen of whom Amintas had the charge with the like number of Archers to defend Parthenia from the incursion of the barbarous Nations He appointed Erigonus with a small power to attend upon his Carriages willing him to pass with them through the plain Country and he himself with his Footmen and with the rest of his Horsemen marched forwards a hundred and fifty furlongs and incamped in a Valley at the entry into Hircania In the same place are great woods full of high and thick Trees and the bottom of the Valley is very fruitful by reason of the Springs that come forth of the Rocks Out of the foot of the Mountains there ariseth a River called Zieberis which within three furlongs of the head is divided by a Rock standing in the midst of the Stream causing the water to go two sundry ways which afterwards coming into one Channel runneth more violently then before by reason of the fall from the Rocks And suddenly it sinketh into the ground and so runneth hidden by the space of three hundred furlongs and then cometh forth again as it were out of a new Spring being then in bredth thirteen furlongs and as it runneth forwards groweth more narrow and falleth into another stream named Rhydago The Inhabitants of the Country affirm that any thing cast in where the Stream sinks into the ground will appear and come out at the next Mouth of the River For the proving of which conclusion Alexander caused two Bulls to be cast in where the water sank down whose bodies were found by such as were appointed for the purpose to appear where the Stream brake out again In this place he refreshed his Army four days during which time Nabarzanes who was Confederate with Bessus in killing of the King did write Letters to him to this effect How that he was no Enemy to Darius but counselled him ever to do such things as he judged most profitable and for his faithful counsel was put in danger of his life by him who against all reason intended to commit the custody of his person to Strangers condemning thereby the fidelity of his own Nation which they had kept unspotted towards their Kings the space of two hundred and thirty years Therefore seeing himself in that danger he took counsel of the present necessity and alledged that nothing was more dear to miserable Mortality then life for the love whereof he was driven to this extremity in committing an act which necessity rather compelled him to do then his own disposition For in a general Calamity every man seeks after his own Fortune If he would command him to come to his presence he said he would not refuse to do it for he could not fear that so great a King would violate his promise seeing one god is not used to deceive another But if he should seem unworthy of his assurance there were many Countries for him to fly unto for all men having vertue in them count always that for their Country where they make their residence Alexander made no stay to give him his word after such sort as the Persians used to receive promise which was safely to come and go Notwithstanding he marched in order of Battel sending ever Scouts before to discover the Country The light armed were appointed to the Vaward the Phalaux followed after and the Baggage behinde For by reason they were a warlike Nation and the Country hard to enter upon it caused the King to be circumspect The same Valley stretcheth to the Caspian Sea the Banks thereof resembling the Horns of the Moon before it cometh to the full the Sea lying betwixt them like a great Bay Upon the left hand the people inhabit that are called Cercetes which lye open towards the North and upon the other part the Leucosirians Mossynes and Chalibes and the Plains of the Amazons lye towards the West The Sea which some call the Caspian Sea and some the Hircanian being more sweet then any other bringeth forth Serpents of a wonderful bigness and Fishes differing in colour much from all the rest There be divers of opinion that the Lake of Meotis should run into this Sea which they conjecture by the water thinking the same to receive its sweetness of the Lake Towards the North the Sea groweth into a Beach and shooteth forth his waters far upon the Land which rising high make many Mears and Plashes And as by a constant course of the Planets they flow out so at a certain time by
levelled which he cut through the Woods This work went so well forward that the Inhabitants despairing of ability to defend their Country yeilded themselves to the King who receiving their Pledges committed them to the keeping of Phradates and from thence the fifth day he returned again to his Camp There he gave to Artabasus the double honour that Darius did unto him and sent him home again into his Country After that he came to the City of Hircania where Darius Chief Seat was Nabarzanes upon assurance came thither bringing with him great gifts and amongst the rest presented unto Alexander an Eunuch called Bagoas of singular Beauty being in the first flower of his Youth whom Darius used and afterwards Alexander at whose intercession especially he did pardon Nabarzanes The Nation of the Amazons being near unto Hircania as hath been said before did inhabit the Plains of Themyscire about the River of Thermodoon and had a Queen reigning over them called Thalestris which kept under her Dominion all the Countries between Mount Caucasus and the River of Phasis She for the great affection she had to see Alexander travelled out of her own Country and being come near where he was sent certain before to declare that a Queen was come of desire to visit him and to enjoy the private familiarity of his company When liberty was given her to come to his presence she caused all the rest of her Band to stay and she came forwards attended only by three hundred women As soon as she perceived Alexander she leaped from her Horse carrying two Javelins in her hand The Amazons apparel is such that it doth not cover all their bodies for their breasts are bare on the left side and their garments which they use to knit up with a knot come not to their knees One Breast they always reserve untouched wherewith they nourish their Women-Children but their right Breasts they use to â—ear to make them more apt to draw their Bowsâ— and cast their Darts Thalestris looked upon Alexander with a bold countenance and observed in her beholding of him that his personage answered not to the Fame that she had heard of his Acts for the Barbarous Nations gave great Veneration to the Majesty of the Personage thinking none to be sufficient for the doing of great Acts but such as Nature had indued with great personages It was demanded of her if she had any request to make unto Alexander Whereat she abashed not to confess that she was come thither to have Children by him thinking her self a personage worthy of whom he should get Heirs to inherit his Kingdom wherein she covenanted that if it were a Woman she would keep it still and if it were a Man-Childe she would restore it to the Father Alexander enquired of her if she would go forwards with him in his Wars But therein she excused her self that she had left no order for the defence of her Kingdom But she continued still in declaration of the cause of her coming and required that her expectation therein might not be in vain The Womans Appetite seemed to be more vehemently given to Lust then the Kings was yet she obtained of him to stay for that cause and he consumed thirteen days in satisfying her desire That done she departed to her own Kingdom and Alexander marched into Parthenia which was the place where he first shewed manifestly the Vices that were in him There he turned his Continency and Moderation being the most excellent Vertues appearing in any kinde of Estate into Pride and Voluptuousness not esteeming his Country-Customs nor the wholesome temper that was in the Discipline of the Kings of Macedon For he judged their civil usage and manner to be over-base for his greatness but did counterfeit the height and pomp of the Kings of Persia representing the greatness of the gods He was content to suffer men there to fall down flat upon the ground and worship him and accustomed the Conquerours of so many Nations by little and little to servile offices coveting to make them like unto his Captives He ware upon his Head a Diadem of Purple interpâ—led with white like as Darius was accustomed and fashioned his Apparel after the manner of the Persians without scrupulosity of any token that it signiâ—iâ—d for the Conquerour to change his Habit into the fashion of him whom he had vanquished And though he boasted that he wore the spoils of his Enemies yet with those spoils he put upon him their evil manners and the insolency of the minde followed the pride of the Apparel Besides although he sealed such Letters as he sent into Europe with his accustomed Seal yet all the Letters he sent abroad into Asia were sealed with Darius Ring So it appeared that one minde could not bear the greatness that appertained to two He apparelled also his Friends his Captains and his Horsemen in Persian apparel whereat though they grudged in their mindes yet they durst not refuse it for fear of his displeasure His Court was replenished with Concubines for he still maintained three hundred and sixty that belonged to Darius and amongst them were Flocks of Eunuchs accustomed to perform the natural use of Women The old Souldiers of Philip naturally abhorring such things manifestly withstood to be infected with such volupâ—uousness and strange Customes Whereupon there rose a general talk and opinion throughout the Camp that they had lost more by the Victory then they had won by the War For when they saw themselves overcome with such excess and Forreign Customs so to prevail amongst them they judged it a slender reward of their long being abroad to return home in the habit of Prisoners They began to be ashamed of their King that was more like to such as were subdued then to them that were Victorious and that the King of Macedon was become the Prince of Persia and one of Darius Courtiers When he understood that the chief of his friends and his men of War were much offended at his doings he went about to recover favour again with gifts and liberality but the rewards of servitude are ungrateful to free men And therefore lest it might turn into a sedition he thought good to break the maginations increased by idleness with the exercise of War whereof an apt occasion was given Bessus investing himself as a King took upon him the name of Artaxerxes drawing to his part the Scythians and others that were the Inhabitants of the River Thanais which things were reported to him by Nabarzanes whom he had received into his favour and given the Rule of the Country he had before When he had determined this new Expedition he found his Army so over-charged and laden with Spoil and other Furniments of Voluptuousness that they could scarcely move Wherefore he commanded the Baggage and Stuff of the whole Army to be brought together into one place excepting only such things as were very necessary The place was large and plain to which the
remained in Camp till such time as the Souldiers that were left behinde did overtake their Fellows Then he went forwards with his Army to the Mount Caucasus which divideâ—â— all Asia into two parts For on the one side 〈◊〉 stretcheth towards the Sea of Cilicia and on the other side to the Caspian Sea to the River of Araxes and the Desarts of Scythia To this Mount Caucasus there joyneth another Mountain called Taurus next unto it in bignesâ— which riseth from Cappadocia and passing by Ciâ—â—cia closeth with the Mountains of Armenia Out of these Mountains joyning thus together as it were in one continual ridge all the Rivers in Asia do descend some of them running into the Red Sea some into the Caspian and Hircanian Sea and other unto the Sea of Pontus In seventeen days Alexander with his Armies passed Mount Caucasus where in a Rock that is ten furlongs in compass Antiquity fained that Prometheus lay bound At the foot of this Mountain Alexander chose out a place to build a City wherein he placed seven thousand of the most Ancient Macedons and such others whose service he would not use any more in the Wars and called the same Alexandria But Bessus that was put in fear with Alexanders celerity made sacrifice unto the gods of his Country and according to the custom of those in the midst of his Banquets he consulted with his friends and his Captains for the maintenance of the Wars And when they were well charged with Wine they extolled greatly their own power despising the rashness of their Enemies and their small number But chiefly Bessus was most arrogant in his words who puffed up with pride by reason of the Kingdom he had newly got by Treason began to declare How that Darius by his folly had increased his Enemies Fame who would needs fight with them in the Streights of Cilicia when by retiring back he might have drawn them before they had been aware into Desart places and there have put Rivers and Mountains between his Enemies and him and amongst the same so inclosed them that they could by no possibility have fled away and much less make any resistance Wherefore he said he was resolved to retire back amongst the Sogdiâ—â—â— where the River of Oxus should be as a Wall betwixt him and his Enemies till such time as he might assemble a strong power of the Nations thereabout knowing very well that the Chorismians the Dahans and Sacans the Indians and Scythians inhabiting beyond the River of Tanais would come to his assistance of whom there was none so low that any Macedon with the top of his head could reach to his shoulders They all in their drunkenness assented to him affirming that only to be the wisest way whereupon Bessus caused the Wine to be carried about plentifully as if by a Sea of Drink he intended to arrive to Victory There was at that Feast one Cobares a Median who in the Art Magick if it be an Art and not rather a deceit of some vain man was more notable by his profession then by his knowledge but otherwise a moderate and an honest man he making a preamble before his discourse said He was not ignorant how much better it were to be obedient to others counsel then to be a counsel-giver For such as are followers of other mens judgments are sure to have no worse fortune then the rest but such as are Authors and perswaders of any matter commonly prepare their own peril and therewith delivered the Cup he had in his hand and proceeded thus The Nature of Man in this respect may be called perverse because every one can see better into other mens affairs then into his own Their counsels must needs be always full of perturbations who take their own advice for fear is an impediment to some desire unto other and to many a self-love of the thing that they have devised I will not speak of pride nor impute it unto any man ye have seen by experience how every one doth esteem that thing only to be best which he himself hath invented The Diadem of a King that you wear upon your head is a great burthen which though it be born moderately the weight thereof will oppress the bearer It is not fury can avail in this case but wise and prudent counsel When he had spoken those words he rehearsed a Proverb commonly used amongst the Bactrians which is That a fearful Dog doth bark more then bite and that the deepest Rivers do run with least noise which things I have rehearsed because such prudence may appear as remained amongst the Barbarous As he talked after this manner such as heard him wondred to what end his discourse would tend Then he began to shew his advice which was more profitable to Bessus then grateful Alexanders celerity quoth he is such that he is come in a manner to the entry of your Court he can remove his Army before you can remove this Table You say that you will draw your assistance from his River of Tanais and that you will put Rivers betwixt you and your Enemies I would know if he be not able to follow wheresoever you shall fly If the way be indifferent it must needs be mâ—st easie and assured to the Conquerour And though you think fear doth make much speed yet hope is more swift It were therefore methinks expedient to procure the favour of him that is the Mightiest and yield your self to the Stronger Howsoever he shall accept it your Fortune is more like to be better that way then to remain still an Enemy Consider that you possess another mans Kingdom and therefore you may the better depart therewith For ye cannot be a just King till ye receive the Kingdom of him that is able to give it and take it away This is faithful counsel wherefore it is not necessary to delay the execution thereof The Horse that is of Noble courage will be governed by the shadow of a Rod but the dull beast is not pricked forwards with the Spur. Bessus that was fierce of nature and well set forwards with drink became in such a fury at his words that he could scarcely be withheld by his Friend from slaying Cobares for he pulled out his Sword to have done the deed and departed out of the Feast in a great rage But Cobares in the tumult escaped away and came unto Alexander Bessus had eight thousand Bactrians armed attending upon him who so long as they judged by the intemperateness of the Air in these parts the Macedons would rather have gone into India then into Bactria were very obedient to his Commandment But when they understood that Alexander was coming towards them every one shrunk away and forsook Bessus Then he with a Band of his own Family who were yet faithful unto him passed the River of Oxus burning such Boats as carried him over because the same should not serve his Enemy in following him and assembled a new
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
not only cut down the Woods wherein they used their Sacrifice but also plucked up the Trees by the Roots that the ground might be left barâ—en and desolate If the same things had been done against the very Offenders the revenge might have been thought righteous But to lay the fault of the Predecessors upon their Posterity it is judged as a cruel act being there were not any of them then present that had ever seen Miletum or done to Xerxes any kinde of pleasure As Alexander removed from thence towards the River of Tanais Bessus was brought before him spoiled of all his Garments whom Spitamenes led in a Chain put about his Neck a pleasant sight to behold as well to the Barbarous as to the Macedons When Spitamenes was come with him into Alexanders presence he said I have brought here unto you the Killer of his own Master after the same manner that he himself 〈◊〉 the example wherein I have both revenged 〈◊〉 that was my King and you also that now have gained the Soveraignty Let Darius open his eyes and rise from Death to behold this sight who was unworthy of such an end and worthy to behold and receive such a Spectacle as this After Alexander had given Spitamenes thanks he turned himself unto Bessus and said What beastly fury moved thee to take thine own Prince Prisoner and afterwards to kill him having so well deserved of thee Of which thy doings thou shalt receive a sufficient reward by usurping the counterfeit Name of a King He had no heart to make answer or to excuse his offence saving that he said He took upon him to be a King because he might deliver him the possession of the Country which thing if he had omitted some other he said would have taken it in hand Then Alexander called for Oxatres Darius Brother whom he had placed about his person and committed Bessus to his keeping to the intent he should cut off his Ears and Nose and hang him upon a Cross causing his own men to shoot him through with Arrows and so preserve his body that Birds should not touch him Oxatres promised to perform all the rest saving the keeping away the Birds which for the desire he had to set forth Catenes cunning he affirmed that none could so well keep them away as he who did shoot so assuredly that he could strike the Birds flying in the Air And though it was a cunning not so much to be marvelled at in a Nation so expert in shooting yet it was greatly admired by such as did behold him and it was great honour unto the doer He gave rewards unto such as were the Apprehenders of Bessus but he deferred his punishment because he minded to put him to death in the same place where he slew Darius In the mean season the Macedons going a forraging without order were overthrown by the Enemies that came running down the next Mountains They took more then they did kill and driving their prisoners before them retired again unto the Mountains There were of them to the number of twenty thousand who accustomed to live by Theft using Slings and Bows in their Fight whom while Alexander did besiege and in a Skirmish pressed upon the foremost he was stricken with an Arrow in the midst of his Leg where the Head did stick fast The Macedons that were sorrowful and amazed for their Kings hurt carried him into his Tent of whose departure out of the Field his Enemies were not ignorant for they might behold all things from the Mountains The next day they sent Embassadours to Alexander whom he admitted to his presence and unfolding his wounds whereby he thought to dissemble the greatness thereof he shewed his Leg unto them When they were commanded to sit down they said That hearing of his hurt they were as sorrowful for it as his own Subjects which should well be known for if they could finde out the person that did the deed he should be delivered into his hands They could not they said but judge them sacrilegious persons who would fight with gods of whose number they supposed him to be and therefore were determined to yield themselves Thereupon he gave them assurance and receiving again his men that were taken prisoners he admitted them to be his Subjects That done he removed his Camp and was carried in a Litter for the bearing whereof the Horsemen and Footmen contended together the Horsemen alledged it to be their Office because the King used to fight amongst them and the Footmen alledged that in as much as they used to carry the wounded Souldiers they thought no reason their Office should be taken from them chiefly when the King should be carried Alexander therefore in so great contention of both parties thought it a difficult matter for him to give sentence because the judgment should be grievous to them that should be put by their Office and therefore ordered that they should carry him by course From thence the fourth day he came unto a City called Maracanda the Walls whereof were threescore and ten furlongs about but the Castle was without any Wall He set a Garrison in the City and then burned and destroyed the Country thereabouts Embassadours came unto him thither from those Scythians which are called Avians who had been free since the time that Cyrus was among them but yet they shewed themselves then ready to be at his Commandment They were known to be the most righteous people of all the barbarous Nations as men that never used to make War but when they were provoked whose moderation and temperance in using of their liberty made the Inferiours equal unto the Superiours Alexander received them gently and sent Penidas a Friend of his to those Scythians that inhabited within Europe to forbid them to pass the River of Tanais without his appointment He had also a secret Commission to view the scituation of that Country and to visit those Scythians that inhabited about Bosphorus He willed him besides to chuse out a place upon the brink of Tanais where he might build a City to remain as a Fortress for the subduing of the people that he intended to visit But this designe was delayed by the Rebellion of the Sogdians who had also drawn the Bactrians to their part There were of them seven thousand Horsemen whose Authority the rest followed For the subduing of whom Alexander caused Spitamenes and Catones the Betrayers of Bessus to be sent for thinking by their means to bring the Country again to his obedience and to suppress those who had made this stir But they who were judged meet to stay the Rebellion and were sent for to that intent were the chief Authors of that Rebellion for they caused it to be noised abroad that Alexander had sent for the Bactrian Horsemen of purpose to destroy them all which Commission they said being appointed to them they would not execute because they thought it too foul an act to commit against their
Footmen and three Hundred Horsemen which misadventure Alexander with great policy kept secret commanding them that departed from the Field upon pain of death not to publish this Defeat But when he could not bear out any longer a countenance contrary to his heart he went alone to his Pavilion which he had set of purpose upon the Rivers side There he walked all night devising with himself what was best to do and divers times he lifted up his Tent to behold the Fires in his Enemies Camp thereby to conjecture their number When the day appeared he put on a Corslet and came forth among the Souldiers being the first time they had seen him since he received his hurt They bore such a veneration unto their King that with his presence only they put away the remembrance of the fear which caused them before to shrink and rejoyced so heartily that when they saluted him the tears distilled from their eyes and earnestly desired the Fight which they had before â—â—used He took order there amongst them that the Horsemen and such as were of the square Battel of Footmen should be carried over in Boats and that the light armed should swim upon Bottles The business required not much more to be spoken neither could the King say much more by reason of his infirmity for the Souldiers went about it with such chearfulness of minde that within three dayes they had finished twelve Thousand Boats When all things were prepared in readiness for their Passage there came twenty Embassadors of the Scythians riding by the Camp who required that it might be reported to the King that they had something in Commission to declare unto him When they were received into his Pavilion and commanded to sit down they fixed their eyes continually upon the Kings countenance whereby it was thought that weighing the greatness of his courage by his personage which they saw present it appeared unto them but small in respect of the Fame they heard of him The wits of the Scythians are not rude and without knowledge as other barbarous Nations are For it is said that many of them attain to such Learning as it is possible for a Nation being always in exercise of the Wars Their words spoken unto Alexander are left in memory who though they differ from the manner of us who live in more civil times and frame our selves to more humanity yet the fidelity of the matter is not to be despised though the phrase of their Speech is rough And therefore I shall declare uncorruptly the words which the Eldest of these Embassadors did speak after this manner If the gods had given thee a Body according to the unsatiable desire of the minde the world should not be able to receive thee but thou shouldest touch the Orient with one hand and the Occident with the other which thing once obtained thy care should be to become equal to the gods Thus thou dost covet the thing thou art not able to compass From Europe thou goest into Asia and from Asia to Europe It must come to pass that if thou doest overcome all mankinde thou must make war with Woods and Snows with Rivers and wilde Beasts What art thou ignorant that Trees do grow till they are great and then are plucked up from the root in a moment He is a fool that coveteth fruit and considereth not the height of the Tree whereon it groweth Take heed lest whiles thou dost labour to attain to the top thou fallest with the Bough which thou doest imbrace The â—ion hath been sometime the food of small Birds and the Rust doth consume the Iron There is nothing so sure that is not in danger of its inferiour What have we to do with thee we never touched thy Countrey Is it not desired by us that live in the waste Woods to be ignorant what thou art and from whence thou comest for we can neither be subject to any man nor do desire to rule over any creature And because you shall not be ignorant of the state of our Nation we have certain gifts in proper to us as the yoak of Oxen the Plough the Spear the Bow and the Boal which are the things that we use both with our Friends and against our Enemies We give unto Friends of the fruits got with our labours With the Boal we sacrifice wine unto the gods with the Bow we strike our Enemies afar off and with the Spear near at hand After that sort in times past we overcame the King of Scythia and afterwards the King of Persia and Media making the way open to us into Egypt But thou who doest glory that thou art come to be a perseâ—uter of Thieves art a â—obber of all Nations that thou comest amongst Thou hast taken Lydia possessed Syria enjoyed Persia and hast the Bactrians under thy power Thou hast visited the Indians and now stretchest forth thy ravenous hands unto our cattel Why dost thou covet that wealth which causeth thee to be poor Thou art the first of all men who with abundance hast prepared â—unger for thy self and the more thou hast the more greedily doest thou covet the things thou hast not Doest thou not remember how long thou didst stay about Bactria And whiles thou didst go about to subdue them the Sogdians began to rebell Thus War doth grow unto thee out of Victory for be thou never so great and puissant above any other yet there are none that can endure to be governed by a stranger Pass now Tanais thou shalt perceive what breadth it heareth and yet thou shall never overtake the Scythians whose poverty is swifter than thy Army carrying the spoil of so many Nations For when thou shalt think us to be afar off thou shalt see us within thy Camp with like swiftness we follow and flie away I hear that our desarts are scorned by the Greek Proverbs we covet rather desarts and places unhabited then Cities plentiful Countries Therefore hold thou thy fortune fast for she is fickle and cannot be kept against her will Fallow the counsel that is good especially when the time doth serve But a bridle to thy felicity and thou shalt govern it the better We say that fortune is without feet that she hath only hands and wings but when she putteth fâ—rth her hand she will not suffer her wings to be touched If thou art a god give benefits to mortal men takâ— not away the commodities they have already If thou art a man consider thine own estate it is foolishness to remember those things which cause thee to forget thy self Such as by War thou makest thine enemies by peace thou mayest make thy friends The most firm friendship is amongst them that be equal and they seem equal who have not yet made any trial of their Force Take heed thou takest them not for thy friends whom thou didst subdue and bring to subjection There is no friendship between the Lord and the Slave and in peace the
where they marched and to kill all the children The Countrey of the Sogdians for the most part is waste by reason of the great desarts that stretch overthwart the Countrey The River called Politimetum passeth almost through the length of it and runneth a space violently in a narrow channel and then is received into a hole of the Earth from whence it passeth underneath the ground the course of it being manifest by the noise of the water that may be hear and yet on all the ground under which so great a River doth run there doth not appear any moisture put forth Of the Captives that were taken among the Sogdians there were thirty of the most Noble brought to Alexander who understanding by an Interpreter that by the Kings commandment they should be put to Execution began as men in mirth to sing and dance and by a certain wanton motion of their bodies expressed a great joyfulness of the minde Alexander marvelling that they took their death with such stoutness and magnanimity of heart called them unto him enquiring why they expressed so great a joy when they had death before their face They answered That if they had been put to death by any except by such a one as he was they should have taken their death sorrowfully But now seeing they should be restored to their Predecessours by a King that was Conquerour of all Nations they rejoyced in their honest death as the thing all men should wish and desire The King then marvelling at their magnanimity I enquire of you quoth he if you can be content to live and become Friends to him by whose benefit you shall receive life They said That as they never were his Enemies but as they were provoked by occasion of the Wars even so if he would make an experiment of them rather by a benefit then an injury they would labour not to be overcome in good will nor in doing any thing that pertained to their duty He asked what pledge they would give of their promise They answered Their Lives they had received should be their Pledges ready to be yielded again when it was required Therein they brake no promise for such as returned home into their Countreys kept the people in good obedience And four of them that were appointed to be of the Kings Guard gave place to none of the Macedons in love or affection towards their Prince When he had ordered all things among the Sogdians he left Peucolaus there with three thousand men of War and removed into Bactria from whence he commanded Bessus to be carried to Ecbatana there to suffer death for the killing of Darius About the same time Ptolomeus and Menidas brought three thousand Footmen and a thousand Horsemen of mercenary Souldiers and one Alexander came to him out of Lycia with three thousand Footmen and five hundred Horsemen Asclepiodorus had levied the like number out of Syria Antipater sent eight thousand Greeks amongst whom there were five hundred Horsemen When he had thus recruited his Army he went about in every place to quiet those stirs that had been raised up by the Rebellion and having slain them that were the Authors and Beginners thereof the fourth day he came to the River of Oxus which being a water unwholsome to be drunk because it is troubled and full of mud the Macedons fell to digging of Wells and when by digging deep they could finde no water a Spring suddenly appeared in the Kings Tent which because it was not found at the first they feigned it to come by miracle Therewith the King was well pleased and contented men should believe that the same was sent by the gift of God When he had passed the Rivers of Ochus and Oxus they came unto a City called Marginia near unto the which he chose out places for the building of six Towns whereof he planted two towards the South and four towards the East every one distant not far from another to the intent that their mutual assistance in time of need should not be far to seek They were all scituate upon high hills as bridles to keep under those wilde Nations But now they have forgotten their original and are subject to those they were wont to rule The King having subdued all the Country one Rock only remained which Arimazes a Sogdian had taken with thirty thousand armed men and furnished the same with Victuals for two years The same Rock was thirty furlongs in height and an hundred and fifty in compass being in all parts steep and broken having one streight path only to pass up unto it In the mid way to the top it had a cave which was narrow and dark in the entry but by little and little it waxed wider and had more lodgings within for a great multitude and was besides so full of Springs that when they met together they ran down the Rock like a great River Alexander beholding the strength of this place and the difficulty to win it determined to depart from thence But there entred suddenly into his heart a desire to weary Nature and to work against her power Yet before he would attempt the fortune of any Siege he sent Cophes the Son of Artabasus to perswade them to surrender it Arimazes upon trust of the strength of the place answered in all things arrogantly but especially in that he asked if Alexander could flie Which words being reported to the King did put him in such a fury that straightways he called for such as he used to consult withal declaring the pride and presumption of Arimazeus and after what manner he had scorned him But shortly he said he would devise such a Policy that he would make him think that the Macedons had wings He commanded therefore that out of the whole Army they should chuse out and bring to him three hundred of the most light young men had been accustomed to drive beasts amongst the Rocks and streight paths of the Mountains whereupon they brought such to the King as both for lightness of body and hardiness of heart were most meet for that purpose unto whom he said My Fellows of mine own Age with you have I won Cities that were counted inexpugnable and have passed the tops of Mountains covered continually with Snow With you I have gone through the streights of Cilicia and have without weariness sustained the violence of the cold whereby I have experience of you and you of me The Rock you see hath but one entry which our Enemies do observe the rest they neglect They keep no Watch but towards our Camp If you diligently search you shall find some way to bring you to the top Nature hath made nothing so high but that it may be attained to by the industry of man In putting things in proof whereof others have despaired we have gotten Asia into our possession contrive you the means to get up unto the top which when you have taken you shall give a token to me by setting
up some white Cloath You shall see me then come forwards with my power and turn the Enemies from you towards me He shall have ten Talents for a reward who doth recover the top first and he that getteth up next shall have one less and the like order shall be observed with Ten of the first I am assured you regard not so much my liberalitie as my favour When they had heard the King speak after that manner they imagined the thing done and departing out of his presence they prepared strong Ropes and iron Hooks which they fastened to the Rocks and so climbed up The King brought them about the Rock whereas it seemed least steep and most plain to mount upon and in the second Watch willed them to pass forwards with good speed They being furnished with two days Victuals and armed only with Swords and Spears at first went forwards without any great difficulty but when they came to the steepness of the Rock some took hold of the broken crags to lift up themselves and some fastening their Hooks on the Rocks climbed up by the Ropes They were compelled to rest and stay divers times and so consumed that day in travel and fear When they had passed many difficult places further labours appeared the height of the Rock seeming to grow more and more When they failed either of their hold or of their footing it was a miserable thing to see how they fell down headlong shewing by their mis-fortune an example to others what was likely to come of them Notwithstanding at length through all these difficulties they got up unto the top where wearied with the travel of their continual labour and some with the hurts and maims they had received they slept all that night amongst the wild and rough Rocks unmindful of the peril they were in When it was day they awaked out of their deep sleep and beholding the valleys underneath them they were ignorant in what part of the Rock so great a multitude of their Enemies should lie But at length when they perceived by the smoke in what place they were they upon the points of two spears set up the signe that was appointed them and found that in their coming up they had lost two and thirty The King being careful not so much for the desire he had to win the Rocks as to save those whom he had exposed to so manifest a danger stood all day beholding the top of the Mountain and when the darkness of the night took away the prospect of the eyes he departed to refresh his body The next day before it was full light he perceived the white Cloth set up on the top of the Rock but the variety of the Air the Sun beginning to arise and yet clouded caused him to doubt a while whether his sight had failed him or not But when it was full and open day it was manifestly apparent and all doubt was removed Then he called Cophes by whom he had attempted their mindes before willing him once again to exhort them to be better advised and if so be that in the trust of their strength they would not submit themselves that then he should shew to them those Souldiers that had taken the Rock over their heads When Cophes came thither he began to perswade Arimazes to give up his strength thereby to win the Kings favour and not inforce Alexander to stay in the Siege of a Rock having so many weighty affairs in hand But he found him more obstinate and proud then he did before and willed Cophes to depart and move him no more on that subject Then he took Arimazes by the hand and required him to go with him out of the Cave When they were come where they might look about he shewed him those that were gotten to the top of the Rock and scorning then his pride he asked of him whether Alexanders Souldiers had gotten wings or no By that time the Trumpets were blown in the Macedons Camp they might hear the Alarm that was made in the Army which as many vain and trifling things are wont in the Wars to grow to great effect so it was the cause that they yeilded themselves for fear so troubled them that they could not consider the small number that were over their heads but called Cophes again in great haste who was departed away and sent with him unto Alexander thirty of the chief men authorized to yeild up the Rock with composition to depart in safety But Alexander notwithstanding that he doubted lest his Enemies discovering the fewness of his men might put them to distress yet trusting in the felicity of his own Fortune and offended with the pride of Arimazes would agree to no condition but that they should yeild simply Arimazes thereupon despairing more of his state then he had cause descended down to the Camp with the chiefest of the Nation that were of Kin to him All whom Alexander caused to be scourged with Rods and then to be crucified at the foot of the Rock The multitude that yielded with the money that there was taken were given in gift to the Inhabitants of the new Cities and the Rule of the said Rock was committed unto Artabasus with the Charge of the Country thereabouts THE EIGHTH BOOK OF QVINTVS CVRTIVS Of the Acts of Alexander the Great King of Macedon ALexander having won this Rock with greater Fame then Glory because his Enemies remained in no place certain it was necessary for him to separate his Power and so he divided his Army into three parts He gave the Charge of the one part to Ephestion to Cenon the other and took the third part unto himself His Enemies were not all of one Opinion for some of them seeing their opposition could not avail yielded themselves before the Fight to whom he gave the Cities and the Lands of those that continued still his Enemies But the Outlawries of Bactria with eight hundred Horsemen wasted the Villages of the Massagetes For the redress whereof Attinas Governour of that Country went against them with three hundred Horsemen not knowing that his Enemies lay in wait for him who planting their Ambushment in a Wood joyning to a great Plain had appointed some men to drive Cattel thereby to draw their Enemies with the greediness of the prey within danger of the Ambush When the Souldiers of Attinas saw the Drivers of the Cattel they pursued them without order so that when they were passed the Wood where the Ambushment lay their Enemies brake out upon them not fearing any such danger and slew them every one The fame of this Overthrow came immediately to Craterus who drew thither with the Horsemen But the Massagetes being fled before his coming he flew a thousand of the Dahans that took their part whereby the Rebellion of all the Country ceased Thus Alexander having subdued the Sogdians returned to Maracanda whither Berdes whom he had sent to the Scythians inhabiting about Bosphorus came to him with
Embassadours of that Country Phratarus also who had the chief Rule of the Massagetes and Dahans which Nations were joyned by Affinity together sent certain Messengers to Alexander offering to be at his Commandment The Scythian Embassadours made request that Alexander would marry their Kings Daughter and if the Affinity pleased him that he would suffer the Princes of the Macedons to enter into Marriage likewise with the Noble-mens Daughters of their Country promising that the King should come in person to visit him He heard gently both the Embassages and still continued in that place till Ephestion and Artabasus came unto him and then joyning his Power again together he advanced into the Country that is called Baxaria There is nothing more esteemed in that Nation then to have great Droves of wilde Beasts inclosed in Parks which are very pleasant and full of Springs Those Parks are inclosed in Walls and Towers builded within them to be Lodges for the Hunters There was one Park in that Country that had remained unhunted during the time of four mens Ages into which Alexander entered with his whole Army chasing the wilde Beasts in every quarter Amongst the rest there was a Lyon of a vast bulk that came running towards Alexander which when Lysimachus who afterwards was King standing next to Alexander perceived he stepped before him to receive the Lyon with his Hunting Spear But Alexander plucked him back and willed him to withdraw saying That he was able to kill a Lyon as well as Lysimachus For you are to understand that this Lysimachus on a time hunting in Syria killed by himself alone an huge Lyon but yet he was torn to the very bones under the left shoulder and put in great danger of his life which being that which Alexander meant he performed with his Sword no less then he promised for he did not only receive the Lyon but killed him with one stroke Thereupon the Fable did rise how Alexander should have cast Lysimachus to a Lyon But though Alexander his chance was good herein yet the Macedons knew that by the Custom of his Country he should not have hunted on Foot without the chiefest of his Nobility and Friends about him He killed within that Park four thousand wilde Beasts and there did feast his Army returning afterwards to Maracanda Artabasus there excusing himself by his Age that he was unapt for the Rule of that Country Alexander committed the same to Clitus being the man that defended him with his Target when he was fighting bare-headed at the River of Granike and there cut off Rhosaceris hand that was in a readiness to strike the King He was an old Souldier to Philip his Father and notable by many feats of War that he had done Hellanice his Sister was Alexanders Nurse whom he loved no less then his own Mother For these causes he committed the strongest part of his Empire to his fidelity The King that purposed to set forward his journey the next day made the same night a Solemn Banquet wherein being too great a Boaster of himself when he was hot with Wine he began to set forth the Acts that he had done in such sort that his words offended the ears of such as knew them to be true The Ancient Men kept silence until such time as he began to deface the Acts of Philip his Father vaunting the notable Victory of Cheronese to be his own deed the glory whereof he said was taken from him by the malice and envy of his Father For he alledged how in the Mutiny which rose between the Macedons and the Greek Souldiers when Philip lay hurt of a wound which he received at a Fray and thought he could be no otherwise secure then to counterfeit himself to be dead he defended his body with his Buckler and slew them with his own hand who ran upon his Father to have killed him which act he said his Father never gladly would confess nor ever could abide to acknowledge his safeguard to come by his Son He also declared how after the journey he made by himself into Illyria in writing unto his Father he did ascribe the Victory unto himself having overthrown his Enemies when he was away He said that in his Opinion it deserved but small commendations to make a journey into Samothracia when Asia ought to have been spoiled and burnt Nor he thought no man worthy of praise indeed but such as do so great Acts as may exceed all mens credit The young men that were present were glad to hear these words and such other like but they were ungrateful to the Ancient especially for Philip's sake under whom they had long served Then Clitus who likewise was not very sober turned to such as were beneath him rehearsing some verses of Euâ—ipides whereof the King might rather hear the found then the words The effect of them was That the Greeks did evil who in the Monuments of their Victories did subscribe only the Names of their Kings who usurped that Glory unto themselves which other men did win by shedding of their own blood Alexander therefore judging his words to have been worse then they were inquired of such as were next him what Clitus said But when they kept silence Clitus with a louder voice rehearsed in order Philip's Acts and the Wars he made in Greece preferring them before any Acts done since that time Whereupon there did rise a confusion between the young men and the old But the King inforcing a patience himself when he heard Clitus deface his praise conceived a wonderful wrath in his minde Yet it seemed that he would have bridled his passion if Clitus would have made an end of his presumptuous talk But when he would not cease he gave occasion to Alexander to be further moved Clitus then did proceed so far forth that he durst defend Parmenio his case and preferred the Victory that Philip won of the Athenians before the destruction of Thebes And going further and further not only through drunkenness but even by a frowardness of a contentious minde at length he said If we must die for thee Clitus is not the first for they receive greater rewards of thy Victory that can most shamefully deface thy Fathers memory The Country of the Sogdians is given unto me that hath so often rebelled and now is not only unsubdued but such a one as by no means can be brought to subjection I am placed among those wilde Beasts that be of so uncivil a disposition But I could pass over things pertaining unto my self if the Souldiers of Philip were not despised forgetting that if the old Atharias had not turned again the young men when they gave over the fight we had yet sticked about Alicarnazus How is it then that Asia is conquered with these young men But I see it is true what your Vncle said in Italy He chanced upon Men and you upon Women There was nothing that Clitus spake or did in his rashness that moved more
a Country called Zenippa that confineth on the Scythians which being well inhabited and full of Villages doth with the plentifulness thereof not only detain the Inhabitants to dwell there still but also inviteth strangers to come amongst them The same was a refuge to the Outlaws of Bactria that still rebelled But after Alexanders coming was known they were driven forth by the Country-men and two thousand and two hundred of their Horsemen which were accustomed to live by Theft and Spoil in time of Peace made worse not only by the War but also by despair of forgiveness and their wilde dispositions did give an On-set suddenly upon Amintas who was Darius Lieutenant The Battel was long doubtful betwixt them but finally they lost seven hundred of their number whereof three hundred were taken prisoners and turned their backs to the Victors not without revenge for they flew of them fourscore besides three hundred and fifty that they wounded and yet notwithstanding after this second Rebellion they obtained pardon When Alexander had brought them to his obedience he came with his whole Army into a Country called Naura the Lord whereof was called Sisimethres who had two Sons by his own Mother it being lawful there for the Parents to have the Carnal Knowledge of their Children The same Sisimethres with 2000 armed men fortified and kept the Straight at the entry of the Country where it was most narrow The passage was defended both with a River and a Rock through the which Rock the way was made by force of hands The light is received in at the Entry but further inward there is none but only such as men bring with them From this Rock there goeth a Vault underneath the ground that hath issue into the Fields which is not known but to such as are of the same Country Though this straight was naturally strong and defended besides by a strong Power it withheld not Alexander to attempt it who brought Engines which they call Arietes to beat down their Fortification and with Slings and shot of Arrows did force his Enemies from the places of their defence When he had driven them away he passed through the Works he had won and made approach to the Rock but the Stream that grew out of the force of united waters falling from the Mountain was an impediment to him therein It seemed a wonderful work to fill the Chanel of the River yet he caused Trees and Stones to be brought to the place When his Enemies that never had seen any such thing before beheld the Work suddenly to rise like a Mountain they were put into a marvellous fear by which the King supposing they might have been brought to render it up sent one Oxiartes of the same Nation to perswade Sisimethres to render the Rock and in the mean season to put them in more terrour he caused Towers of Wood to be brought forwards and did shoot from the Engines with such violence out of the same that the Enemies forsaking all other strengths retired into the top of the Rock Oxiartes finding Sisimethres in this fear perswaded him rather to prove Alexanders Benevolence then his Power and seeing that all Creatures submitted to him that he alone should not be his hinderance marching now with his Victorious Army into India whereby he should turn other mens plagues upon his own neck Sisimethres would have been contented to follow his advice but that she who was both his Mother and his Wife affirmed how she would rather die then commit her self into any mans hand and therefore he being ashamed that the love of Liberty should remain more in a Woman then in him being a Man he altered his purpose taking that way which was more honest then sure and dismissing him that was the Mediator for Peace he determined utterly to abide the extremity of the Siege Yet when he had well weighed his Enemies Power and his own together he began again to repent him of his Wives Counsel it being more rash then profitable and made suit that Oxiartes would return proffering then to commit himself to the Kings Will only requiring of Oxiartes that he would not utter his Wives Opinion for fear lest that he should not obtain her pardon He sent therefore Oxiartes before and he came after with his Wife his Children and all his Kinsfolk without tarrying for any assurance promised to him by Oxiartes Alexander hearing of their approach sent his Horsemen before to cause them to stay and to tarry for his coming And when he was come to the place where they did abide he offered Sacrifice to Minerva and Victoria restoring unto Sisimethres his former Rule and Authority putting him in hope of a greater Country if he would faithfully continue in his Friendship and took his two Sons presented to him by the Father to serve him in his Wars Alexander left his Footmen to subdue such as had not yet yeilded and went forwards with his Horsemen into other parts The way was craggy and difficult which at at first they indured indifferently but afterwards when their Horse-hoofs were torn and they utterly soundred many were not able to follow but rode dispersed and out of order the weariness of their travel so much overcame shame The King notwithstanding changed often his Horse and pursued without intermission his Enemies that fled before him by reason whereof all the Noble young men that were wont to accompany him were left behinde saving only Philip Lysimachus Brother who then being in the flower of his youth and of great likelihood to become an excellent man followed on Foot the King that did ride on Horseback by the space of fifty furlongs Lysimachus divers times for all that proffered him his Horse but in no wise he would depart from the King notwithstanding that he had his Corslet on and all his Armour When the King passed through the Wood where his Enemies lay in Ambushment he sought notably and protected the Kings person fighting with his Enemies But after they were put to flight and driven out of the Woods the greatness of his courage which had sustained him in the heat of the Fight fainted with his body and being all on a sweat he leaned himself to a Tree which could not so much stay him but that he fell to the earth and being taken up again by the Kings hands he immediately after did shrink down and died The King being sorrowful for his death received some other intelligence no less to be lamented for before he came to his Camp he was advertised of the death of Erigius one of the most Noble of his Captains whose Funerals were celebrated with great Pomp and Ceremonies of Honour From thence he determined to go unto the Dahans where he understood that Spitamenes was But Fortune that never ceased to favour him did unexpectedly finish that journey of his as she did many others Spitamenes was inflamed with an excessive love to his Wife whom he carried with him in all
their Garments are made The twigs of the Trees are so tender that they receive the Prints of Letters like wax The Birds by teaching counterfeit the voices of men There are many Beasts which are not bred among other Nations Rhinocerots are there bred but not brought forth The Elephants of that Countrey are stronger than those that are made tame in Africk and their highness doth answer to their strength The water of the Rivers doth carry down Gold and run mildely without any great fall The Sea doth cast upon the Shore both Pearls and precious Stones whereof proceeded the cause of their great Riches for after their Merchandize was once known to other Nations the purgings of the Seas were highly esteemed as the fansie of man would make the price The dispositions of the men as in all other places are according to the scituation of the Countries they dwell in They make their Garments of Linnen Cloth which cover their bodies down to their feet They binde Sandals under their feet and wear Rolls of Linnen about their Heads Such as are in any Degree either of Nobility or Riches have precious Stones hanging at their Ears and they cover all their Arms with Bracelets and Ornaments of Gold They use great curiosity in Combing of their Heads which they cut very seldome They shave without any form of gravity all parts of their Face saving their Chin. But the excess of voluptuoasness which they call magnificence used by them doth exceed the vices of all Nations When their will is to be seen abroad their servants carry about them Perfuming Pans of Silver and fill all the ways where they go with sweet Savors they themselves are born in Litters of Gold hanging with pearls and the Garments they wear are of gold and purple empaled together The armed men follow their Litter and such as are of their Guard among whom are Birds born upon boughs which they teach always to sing when they are conversant in earnest matters In the Kings Palace are pillars of gold carved about with vines of gold wherein the Images of those Birds they delight in most are artificially wrought The Court is open to all comers When the Kings do comb and dress their heads they use to give answer to the Embassadors and execute justice upon their people When their Sandals are taken off their feet are anointed with sweet odours The greatest travel they take is when they hunt wilde Beasts inclosed in Parks which they strike whiles their Concubines are singing and dallying with them the Arrows they shoot are of two cubits long which do not the effect of the force they are shot withal by reason of their weight which is an impediment to their swiftness wherein the property of the Arrow chiefly consisteth In small journeys they use to ride on horseback but when they are to travel further they are carried upon Elephants whose huge bodies are covered all over with gold And because no vice should be wanting in their corrupt manners great numbers of Concubines do follow them in golden Litters The Queens have their companies separate by themselves who in all excess of voluptuousness are nothing inferiour to the Kings It belongeth to the women there to dress meat and they also serve men with wine whereof there is great plenty among the Indians When the King hath largely drunk and is fallen into a sleep his Concubines use to carry him into his Chamber calling upon their gods in a Hynâ—â— after their Countrey manner Who would think that amongst all these vices there were any regard of vertue there are amongst them a rough kinde of people whom they call wise men who count it the most glorious thing to prevent their own death and they use to burn themselves while they are alive It is imputed for a great shame to such as either cannot well stir for age or have not their perfect health if they prolong their life till their natural death approach nor is there any honour given to those bodies that die for age They think the Fires to be defiled if the bodies be not alive that are burned in them Such as live in Cities after a civil manner attain to the most knowledge of the motion of the Stars and of the prophecy of things to come nor can they think that any man doth shorten his life that looketh for death without fear They esteem those for gods whom they begin once to worship and especially trees the violating of which they forbid upon pain of death They number fifty days to the month and notwithstanding limit their years as they do in other places They note not their times by such course of the Moon as is commonly used that is from the full Moon but from the first quarter when she beginneth to be horned and by counting after the same manner they make their accounts more uncertain There are many other things reported of them with which I thought not necessary to interrupt the order of this History As Alexander entred into India the Princes of the Countrey addressed themselves unto him submiting themselves and declaring that he was the third man being begotten of Jupiter that came into their Countrey They said that Hercules and Bacchus were not known to them but only by fame but they rejoyced that they might behold him present with their eyes Alexander received them with all the gentleness he could devise and willed them to accompany him because he would use them as Guides in his Journey But when he saw that the whole Nation came not he sent Perdicas and Ephestion with part of his Army before to subdue such as would not submit themselves and willed them to go forwards till they came to the River of Indus and there to make Boats in which he might transport his Army and because they had to pass many Rivers the Boats were so devised that they might be taken asunder and carried in Carts and afterwards joyned together again He appointed Craterus to follow him with the Phalanx and he with such Horsemen and Footmen as were light armed marched before and being Encountred on his way he Fought a small Battel and drove his Enemies into the next City When Craterus was come to the intent he might strike terrour amongst those people that had not yet proved the Macedons Force he commanded that when they won the City they should kill both man woman and childe and burn the same to the ground but as he was riding about the Walls he was hurt with an Arrow Notwithstanding the City was won and all put to the Sword the very houses not escaping the cruelty of the Conquerours After this he subdued an obscure Nation and came to a City called Nisa It chanced that whiles they incamped in a Wood before the City there fell a cold in the night which more afflicted the Macedons than ever it had done before in any other place against the which they prepared the remedy that was next at
reward was truly given them And the rule of the Rock with the Countrey thereabouts was committed to Sisocostus he himself going forwards with his Army from thence to Echâ—lima Alexander understanding that certain straights through the which he should pass were kept by one Erix with twenty thousand armed men he committed that part of his Army that were heavy laden to Cenon to be brought on by soft journeys and going before in person with the Slingers and Archers he put his Enemies to flight making the way clear for his Army to pass that followed after The Indians whether it were for the hatred they did bear unto their Captain or else to get the favour of the Conquerour killed Erix as he fled away and brought his head and his armour unto Alexander He considering the foulness of the act would not honour the doers for their example sake nor punish them because they served his purpose From thence by sixteen encampings he came to that part of the River called Indus where Ephestion had prepared all things in such sort as he had commission One Omphis was King of that Countrey who before had perswaded his Father to submit himself unto Alexander and immediately upon his Fathers death sent Embassadors unto him to know his pleasure whether he should take upon him as a King before his coming or else live privately in the mean season And although he was permitted to govern as a King yet he would not use the authority granted him until the King came He had caused Ephestion to be received in the best sort he could devise but notwithstanding he had not visited him because he would not commit his person to any mans fidelity but to the Kings When he understood of Alexanders coming he went towards him with his whole Power whose Elephants by small distances mixed in Battel amongst his Footmen shewed afar off like Castles At the first Alexander did not take him a Friend but as an Enemy and therefore set his Men in order of Battel and his Horsemen in wings in readiness to Fight When Omphis understood the errour of the Macedons he commanded his men to stay and putting his spurs to his Horse he rode forwards alone Alexander did the like not questioning whether he were a Friend or an Enemy but thought himself secure either through his own manhood or the others fidelity Their meeting as it appeared by their countenances was very friendly but for want of an Interpreter they could not speak together therefore after they had called one unto them the Indian King declared unto Alexander that the cause he met him with an Army was to put immediately his whole power into his hands and tarried not to intreat for any assurance by Messengers but upon trust only had committed both his Person and his Kingdom to him whom he knew to make War for the winning of Glory and Fame and therefore could not fear in him any perfidiousness Alexander rejoyced to see his simplicity and proffered him his right hand as a pledge of his promise and restored unto him again his Kingdom He presented unto Alexander fifty and six Elephants with many other Beasts of exceeding greatness and three thousand Bulls which is a Cattel of great value in those Countries and mâ—â—h esteemed by Kings Alexander enquired of 〈◊〉 whether he had under his Dominion more Souldiers 〈…〉 of the ground He answered that he was driven of necessity to have more Souldiers because he was at War with two Kings whose Kingdoms lay beyond the River of Hydaspis their names were Abiasares and Porus but the authority remained in Porus. He said that he was prepared and resolved to adventure the hazard of the Battel with such of them as should invade him first Hereupon Alexander granted unto Omphis both to take upon him the Diadem and the name of his Father that was called Taxiles the custom of the Countrey being such that the Name ever followed the Kingdom whosoever enjoyed it When he had received Alexander honourably in hospitality three days the fourth day he declared how much Corn he had delivered to Ephestion and to his Army presenting to the King and to all his Friends Crowns of Gold and besides of Coined Silver fourscore talents Alexander rejoyced so much in his good will that he both returned again to him his Gifts and gave him besides a thousand Talents of the spoil he brought with him with much Plate of gold and silver many garments after the Persian manner and thirty of his own Horses with the same furniture they did wear when he did ride upon them which liberality as it obliged Omphis so it greatly offended the minde of the Macedons For Meleager at Supper when he had well drunk said He was very glad that Alexander had yet found one in India whom he judged worthy to receive the Gift of a thousand Talents The King bearing in minde how much he had repented the slaying of Clitus for the rashness of his tongue refrained his anger but yet told him That envious men were ever Tormentors to themselves The next day the Embassadors of King Abiasares came unto Alexander who according to their Commission offered all things unto his will whereupon assurance being confirmed they returned again to their Master Alexander therefore thinking that through the greatness of his name Porus might be brought to do the like sent Cleochares to him to demand tribute and to summon him to come and do homage when he should enter the bounds of his Kingdom Porus made answer That of those two requests he would perform one which was to meet him at the entry of his Kingdom but that should be in Arms and with a Power Alexander therefore being determined to pass the River of Hydaspis Burzantes that had been Author of the Rebellion amongst the Arachosians was taken and brought to him bound with thirty Elephants an apt assistance against the Indians that are wont to put more trust in those beasts than in the trust of their own Nation Gamaxus King of a small portion oâ— India which had confederated with Barzantes was brought likewise bound unto him Wherefore committing them both to prison and the Elephants to Omphis he came unto the River of Hydaspis But Porus lay encamped on the further side to hinder his passage having fourscore and â—ive Elephants of huge strength oâ— body three hundred Waggons of War thirty thousand â—ootmen amongst whom there were many Archers whose shafâ—s as hath been said before were more heavy than they could wield Porus himself did ride upon an Elephant greater than all the rest who also being of a big stature appeared notable in his Armour that was garnished with gold and silver having also a courage equal to the strength of his body and so great a wisdom as was possible to be found amongst so rude a Nation The Macedons were not so much afraid with the sight of their Enemies as they were with the greatness of the River they had to
there inhabited two Nations called Gangaridans and Pharasians whose King was called Aggramenes who used to come to the Field with twenty thousand Horsemen two hundred thousand Footmen two thousand armed Waggons and three thousand Elephants which were counted of all to be the greatest terrour These things seemed incredible unto Alexander and therefore he inquired of Porus if the things were true that had been told him He confirmed Phegelas report concerning the force of the Nation but he said their King was not descended of Noble Blood but of the basest of men his Father being a Barber who with great pain did get his daily bread until he came in favour with the Queen who preferred him to the King her Husband who was afterwards slain by his Treason Then he under a pretence to become Tutor unto the Children usurped the Kingdom to himself and putting the Children to death did beget him that was now King being in hatred and disgrace with the people as one that followed more the manners of his Fathers former Estate then such as did be seem the Dignity of a Prince When Alexander heard Porus affirm this he was in great trouble of minde not that he regarded the multitude of his Enemies or the force of their Elephants but the greatness of the Rivers and the scituation of the Country so difficult to enter He thought it a hand Enterprise to seek out Nations so far inhabiting the uttermost bounds of the World Yet on the other side the greediness of glory and the unsatiable desire of Fame made no place seem too far nor any Adventure to be over-hard He doubted also that the Macedons who had passed so many Countries and were grown old in war would not be content to follow him over so many Rivers and against so many difficulties of Nature lying in their way For he judged that since they abounded and were laden so with Spoil they would rather seek to injoy such things as they had got then to travel any further to purchase more He could not think the same desire to be in his Souldiers that was in himself for he compassed in his minde how to get the Empire of the whole world into which he had but yet made his entry whereas they wearied with travel and thinking to have past all peril looked to injoy with speed the fruit of all their labour Yet for all that his desire at last overcame his Reason so that assembling his Army together he spake unto them after this manner I am not ignorant my Souldiers how that there are now many rumours spread amongst you by the Indians purposely to bring you in fear but the vanity of their lying is not so new a thing that it is able any more to deceive you The Persians after that manner would have made the Streights of Cilicia and the Plains of Mesopotamia terrible unto you yea and put you in fear of the Rivers of Tygris and Euphrates and yet we waded over one of them and passed the other by a Bridge Fame never reporteth things truly but maketh them to be greater then indeed they are Even our Glory though it be grown to a certain perfection yet it is more in Fame then in effect Which of you of late did think that you should have been able to endure the Elephants shewing afar off like Castles Who thought I could have passed the River of Hydaspis when it was reported to be much greater then it was We should long ago my Souldiers have fled out of Asia if Tales could have caused us to turn our backs Think you that the Flocks of Elephants to be greater then the Herds of Beasts you have seen in other places seeing they are so rare in the world so strange to be taken and so much difficulty in the making of them tame The same vanity that hath reported them to you to be of such numbers hath numbred also the Horsemen and the Footmen of your Adversaries Concerning the Rivers the more broad they are the more gently they do run for such as are narrow and of small breadth are always most violent in their course where contrariwise the broad Rivers pass their course more mildly But you will peradventure say that all the peril is at the landing where your Enemies shall wait for your arrival Whatsoever the River be the hazard is all one at the shore But imagine that all these things were true whether is it the greatness of the Beasts or the multitude of the men that putteth you in fear As concerning the Elephants we have had experience of them of late how more violently they rage against their own party then against us Why should we fear them but only make less the greatness of their bodies with such weapons as we have prepared for the purpose What matter is it whether they are of the like number that Porus had or whether they are three thousand seeing we perceive that when two or three are wounded the rest begin to fly away And forasmuch as they cannot well be governed when they are but few when there are so many thousands together they must needs be an impediment one to another and breed a confusion amongst themselves they are so unwieldy by reason of their huge bodies that they be neither apt to pass forwards nor yet to fly I have always so little esteemed them that when I have had plenty of them I would never use them knowing very well that they are more dangerous to such as imploy them then to their Enemies But peradventure it is the multitude of their Horsemen and Footmen that move you Were you never wont to fight against such numbers or is it the first time you have encountred with disordered multitudes The River of Granike is a witness how invincible the power of the Macedons is against any multitude and so is Cilicia that flowed with the Persians blood and Arbella whose Plains are strowed with their bones You too late begin to number the Legions of your Enemies after that with your Victories you have made Asia a Wilderness When you passed over the Hellespont you should then have considered your small numbers Now the Scythians do follow us we have did at hand from the Bactrians and we supply our power with the Sogdians yet for all that it is not these men in whom I put my confidence I have a regard unto your force I reserve your manhood about me as a Pledge and assurance of my atchievements So long as I stand in the field amongst you I will neither weigh my self nor mine Enemies do you but shew an appearance that there is hope in you and chearfulness We are not newly entred into our travels but have passed all our labours being come unto the rising of the Sun and to the Ocean Sea except our own sloth be our impediment from thence having subdued the world we shall return Conquerours into our Country Do not you as those negligent Husbandmen that lose their
at your hand Here the Ocean Sea doth meet us and if we mistake not we are come to the utmost place where your Fortune leads you I had rather speak these things before then behinde your back for I seek not so much to win the favour of the Souldiers as I desire that you should rather hear the voice of them speaking then the murmure of them complaining When Cenus had made an end of his Oration there arose a cry and lamentation which in confused voices every where call'd Alexander their King their Father and their Lord. Then the other Captains and especially the more ancient of them who by reason of their age had the more honest excuse and greater authority made the like request so that the King was not able in that obstinacy either to chastise them or asswage them Therefore uncertain what to do he leaped from the Judgment-Seat and commanding his lodging-door to be shut he admitted no man to come unto him but such as were accustomed to be about his person Two days he consumed in this angry melancholy and the third day he came forth amongst his men causing twelve Altars of square stone to be set up as a Monument of his journey and willed the Trenches of his Camp to be made wider and the places where the Souldiers lay to be inlarged greater then served for the bigness of their bodies thinking by form and shape of things thus increased to leave a deceitful Wonder to Posterity From thence he returned by the way he had passed before and incamped near unto the River of Acesines Cenus chanced there to die whose death the King lamented but yet he said that for so few days he had made an over-long Oration as though he alone should have returned into Macedon By that time the Navy of Ships which he had appointed to be made stood in readiness and aflote and Memnon in the mean season brought him out of Thrace 6000 Horsemen and besides from Harpalus 7000 Footmen with twenty five thousand Arms that were wrought with silver and gold which he distributed amongst his men and commanded the old to be burned purposing to pass unto the Ocean Sea with a thousand Ships But before he departed he reconciled by Affinity Porus and Taxiles betwixt whom there was a new discord risen upon their old hatred He had obtained of them great aid both in making and the furnishing of his Fleet. During the time he was about this business he builded two Cities the one whereof he called Nicea and the other Bucephalon naming the latter by the name of his Horse that was dead He gave order that his Elephants and Carriages should pass by Land and he sailed down the River proceeding every day about forty furlongs so that he might always land his power in such places as he thought convenient At length he came into a Country where the Rivers of Hydaspes and Acesines do joyn together and do run from thence into the bounds of a Nation called Sobions They declared that their Predecessors came from Hercules Army who being left there sick did inhabit the Country They were cloathed in beasts skins using Clubs for their weapons And though they had left the customs of the Greeks yet there appeared many things amongst them that declared from whence they were descended Here the King landed and marched two hundred and ten furlongs within the Country which he wasted and took the chiefest City in the same There were forty thousand men that stood in defence against him upon a Rivers side but he passed the water putting them to flight and after they fled into the City he wan it by force The young men were all slain and the rest sold as slaves After that he assaulted another City where he was repulsed by the great force of the Defendants and lost many of his men But when the Inhabitants saw that he continued still the Siege despairing of their safeguard they set fire on their houses and destroyed themselves their Wives and Children which fire when the Macedons quenched they kindled the same again It seemed a strange contention the Citizens to destroy their own City and their Enemies labouring to preserve it the Wars so contrarily changed the Laws wrought in man by nature The Castle was saved wherein a Garrison was left Alexander went about this Castle by water which was invironed with three of the greatest Rivers in all India Ganges excepted Indus passing on the North-side and Acesines running into Hydaspes upon the South Where these Rivers met the waters rose like surges of the Sea being full of Mud and Ouze which by the course of the water were driven upon the shore for all that the Rivers are broad yet the Channels are but narrow wherein the Ships must pass The waves did rise so high and thick breaking sometimes upon the Poops and sometime upon the side of the Ships that the Marriners began to vail their Sails but they were so troubled through fear and the violent swiftness of the stream that they could not order their tackling so that two of their greatest Ships were drowned in sight and the smallest Vessels which were less able to be governed were driven upon the shore without any harm The King chanced upon the place where the Waves swelled highest wherewith his Ship was so tossed and traversed that the Helm could not direct its course wherefore the King fearing to be drowned pulled off his garments being ready to cast himself into the water and his Confidents did swim near thereabout being ready to receive him It appeared to him doubtful which peril was the greatest either to swim or to continue still aboard But the Marriners laboured wonderfully with their Oars adding all the force that lay in mans power to cut through the Waves by whose importunate travel the water seemed to divide asunder and to give place so that at length they got out of the surges and yet not able to bring the Ship to the shore dashed upon the next flat it appearing that the Ships and the Stream had fought a Battel together Alexander having escaped this peril set up to every River an Altar whereupon he offered due Sacrifice and that done he past forwards thirty furlongs From thence he came into the Country of the Sudricans and Mallians who being accustomed to be at war among themselves were then joyned in Society They assembled in Arms to the number of nine thousand Footmen ten thousand Horsemen and nine hundred armed Waggons whereof when the Macedons were advertised who believed that they had passed all perils seeing a fresh War arise with a new fresh Nation they were amaz'd with a sudden fear and began again with seditious words to repove their King They alledged that he would lately have compelled them to pass the River of Ganges to make war upon those Nations inhabiting beyond the same which enterprise though it were left they had not for all that ended the War never the more but
will have it so I am come of such a Stock that I ought to desire many things before long life I pray you to remember that we are come into these Countries where the name of a Woman is celebrâ—ted for her Vertues What Cities did Semiramis build What Nations did she subdue And what great Works did she accomplish We are not yet become equal unto 〈◊〉 Woman in glory and yet you would have me to be satisfied with it Be the gods favourable unto our purpose for there remains for us yet greater things to do And it is the next way to make those Countries which we have not yet touched to become ours if we esteem nothing to be of small value where there is any occasion to purchase glory Let it be your care to preserve me from the evil conspiracy of my own people and then there are no adventures in the War shall put me in fear Philip was more sure in the Front of the Battel abroad than in the Theatre at home he oftentimes avoided the force of his Enemies but he could not eschew the violence of his own Subjects And if you consider the end of other Kings you shall number more that have been slain by their own men than by any Forreign power But because there is an occasion now offered me to utter that which I have long conceived in my minde it shall be the greatest fruit I can receive of my travels if my Mother Olympias when she departeth this life might be consecrated to immortalitie if she depart in my time I will do it my self but if I shall be prevented by death remember you to perform what I have determined Having spoke these words he dismissed his Friends from him and continued many days in the same place Whilest these things were doing in India the Greek Souldiers that had lands and habitations appointed them at Catabactria through a sedition that chanced amongst them rebelled against him not so much for any hate they did bear to Alexander as for fear of punishment For they killed divers of their chief Rulers and assembling in force together took the Castle of Bactria that was negligently kept and procured the Bactrians to rebel with them Athenodorus was the Chief among them who took upon him the name of a King not so much for the desire of the Kingdom as by authority to make himself of power to convey himself and others home into his own Country But one Bicon of his own Nation became his Enemy and conspiring against him did invite him to a Banquet where he was slain by one Boxus Macerianus The next day following Bicon assembled the Greeks together perswading them that he slew Athenodorus but in his own defence whose purpose was to have destroy'd him But there was some that perceived his policy and the suspition was spread amongst the rest so that the Greeks fell to arms on purpose to slay Bicon But such as were chief mitigated the wrath of the multitude and contrary to his expectation he was delivered from that present peril Yet he could not be so contented but within a while after he conspired them that saved his life whose falshood being known they took both him and Boxus determining that Boxus should be put to death out of hand and that Bicon should end his life by torments As they were tormenting him the Greek Souldiers suddenly in a fury for what cause it is uncertain ran to arms the noise of whom being heard by them who had the charge of Bicon they set him at liberty fearing that the coyl had been raised for his deliverance He naked as he was came running amongst the Greeks where they were assembled whose miserable estate so changed their mindes that they willed him immediately to be set at liberty By this means Bicon being twice delivered from death returned into his Country with the Greeks abandoning the Colony whereunto he was appointed by Alexander These things were done in the Confines of Bactria and Scythia In the mean season the King of the two Nations which we spake of before sent an hundred Embassadors unto Alexander who being honourable Personages did ride in Waggons richly apparelled having garments of linnen Cloth embroidered with Gold and empaled with Purple They declared that the cause of their coming was to yield themselves their City their Country and their Liberties which they had kept inviolately for so many Ages to his will and appointment of which their submission the gods they said were Authors and not any fear for they were contented to yield themselves before they had proved their power with him The King called a Councel and received them under his protection appointing them to pay such Tribute as they did before pay to the Arachosians and besides to send two thousand five hundred Horsemen to serve him in his Wars all which things they performed obediently This done he made a great Feast whereunto he invited those Embassadours and his Lords he used therein sumptuous preparation ordaining an hundred Beds of Gold to â—at upon which being set a small distance one from another were drawn about with Curtains garnished with Gold and Purple In that Feast there was shewed and set forth all the great excâ—ss and voluptuousness which either by long custom was used amongst the Persians or by corruption was taken up amongst the Macedons the vices of both these Nations being there mingled together There was at that Feast one Dioxippus of Athens a noble Champion and by reason of his excellent force well known unto the King of whom certain envious and malicious persons betwixt earnest and jest said That he did nothing but fat his body like an unprofitable beast and when others went to the Battel he would anoint his body with Oyl and prepare himself to eat Amongst others that used evil words of despite against him there was at the same Feast one Horratus a Macedon who in his drunkenness challenged Dioxippus that if he were a man he should fight the Combate with him the next day upon life and death where the King should judge either him to be rash or the other too much a Coward Dioxippus laughing to scorn the pride and arrogancy of the Souldier accepted his proffer The next day they were more earnest to go unto the Combate than they were before in making the Challenge when the King saw them so bent and that they would not leave their purpose he consented to their will There were great numbers of men assembled at the Combate amongst whom there were many Grecians who favoured Dioxippus part The Macedon came into the Lists armed at all points holding in his left hand an Iron Buckler and a Spear and in his right hand a casting-Lance and having his Sword girt to his side was furnished as though he should have fought with many men at once Dioxippus came forth anointed with Oyl with a Garland upon his head and having a red Cloth wrapt about his left arm he held
in his hand a great knotty Cudgel The diversity of their Weapons brought every man into a wonderful expectation for they thought it not only a rashness but a madness for Dioxippus who was naked to encounter the other who was armed The Macedon thinking to kill his adversary before they should come to fight hand to hand threw at him his Lance which Dioxippus avoided by bending of his body and before that he could charge his Pike he leaped to him and with his Cudgel brake the same asunder when the Macedon had lost both his Weapons he began to draw his Sword but Dioxippus prevented him with a close and taking both his feet from under him threw him upon the earth and there plucking his Sword from his side set his foot upon his neck and held up his Cudgel to have struck out his brains if the King had not caused him to stay his hand This Triumph ended with displeasure both unto the Macedons and unto Alexander himself especially because this thing was done in the presence of the Indians fearing lest the valour of the Macedons famed so much in the world might thereby grow into contempt Hereupon Alexander grudging at Dioxippus had his ears open to the Accusation of those who did envy him They within a few days after had caused a golden Cup purposely to be conveyed out of the way which the Ministers having imbezelled they made complaint to Alexander of the loss thereof Oftentimes men shew less constancy in their countenance than in the offence it self for in their complaint Dioxippus perceiv'd by their looks that they noted him as the Thief which he could not endure but parting out of the Feast after he had written a Letter to the King he killed himself Alexander was very sorry for his death which he took for no token of repentance but rather of indignation For it afterwards appeared through the overmuch rejoycing of his Enemies that he had been falsly accused The Embassadours of the Indians that were dismissed home within a few days after returned again presenting unto Alexander three hundred Horses one thousand and thirty Waggons every one drawn with four Horses certain Vestures of Linnen-cloth a thousand Indian Targets and one hundred Talents of Iron Lions of a rare bigness and Tygers that were tame the Skins of great Lizards and the Shells of certain Fishes The King then commanded Craterus to conduct his Army along the River whereupon he sailed and embarquing such as were accustomed to accompany him he with the stream passed into the Bounds of the Mallians and from thence came unto the Sabracans who were a Nation of great power not ruled by Kings but by a Government of the People They had gathered together six thousand Footmen and six thousand Horsemen and five hundred armed Waggons and had chosen three Captains that were approved men of War But when such as inhabited next unto the River the Banks being full of Villages saw all the River as far as they could view over-spread with Ships and the Armour glistering of so many men of War they were amazed at the strangeness of the fight and thought that some Army of the gods or else Bacchus whose name was famous amongst those Nations had been come amongst them The cry of the men of War with the clashing of the Oars and the strange noise of the Mariners exhorting one another filled their fearful ears They ran therefore amongst their Country-men who had assembled their Forces declaring their madness if they would contend with the gods for they said the Ships could not be numbred that carried those invincible people with which words they put such fear amongst the men of their own Nation that they sent immediately Embassadours to yield themselves When he had received their submission he came the fourth day into another Country the people whereof durst no more withstand him than the other did and there he builded a City which he named Alexandria and from thence he entred into a Country the inhabiters whereof they call Musicans there he understood by the accusation of the Paromisidans that Desteriores whom Alexander had appointed Lieutenant amongst them had ruled in excessive pride and covetousness and therefore he commanded him to be put to death And Oxiartes Lieutenant of the Bactrians being also accused was not only acquitted but had a greater Rule committed unto him When he had subdued the uttermost part of the Musicans he put a Garison into their City and advanced from thence into another Nation of the Indians called Prestians of whom Oxicanus was King who with a great Power retired himself into a strong City which Alexander won the third day after he began his Siege Upon the taking of the Town Oxicanus fled into the Cstle and sent Embassadours to treat for peace but before they were come to Alexanders presence two Towers of the Castle fell with a great noise by the ruines whereof the Macedons got into the Castle where Oxicanus with a few standing at defence was slain The Castle being razed and all that were within sold as slaves Alexander came into the bounds of Saba where beside many Holds that yielded to him he took the strongest City of that Country by force of a Myne It seemed a wonderful thing to the Indians being ignorant of such Policies of War for armed men to come forth of the ground in the midst of their City where there appeared no signe of any way under the Earth Clitarchus doth write that there were eighty thousand Indians slain in that Country besides many prisoners sold as slaves The Musicans in the mean time rebelled for the suppressing of whom Python was sent thither who took the Prince of the Nation prisoner and brought him to Alexander whom he caused to be hanged upon a Cross as the Author of the Revolt which done he returned again to the River where he had commanded his Navy to tarry for him The fourth day after he came to a Town at the entrance into the Kingdom of Samus the King whereof had newly yielded himself but the Citizens had shut their Gates and would not be at his Commandment whose small number Alexander regarded so little that he sent five hundred Agrians unto their Gates to proffer them Skirmish to the intent that by retiring they might draw them by little and little out of their strength thinking they would follow the Chase when they should see their Enemies flying The Agrians did as they were appointed and when they had once provoked their Enemies they immediately turned their backs and the Indians pursued them until they came to the Ambuscado where the King lay in person then the Agrians turned and the Fight was renewed so fiercely that of three thousand Indians there were five hundred slain and a thousand taken the rest recovered the City but the end of the Victory was not so pleasant as the beginning for the Indians had so envenomed their Arrows that such as were hurt died of the
who was much moved as well against the Athenians as against Harpalus prepared a Navy to make War in person immediately against them As he was busied about it he understood by secret Letters both how Harpalus had been in Athens and had corrupted with Money the chief of the City and also how afterwards by a Council of the People he was commanded to depart from thence and returning amongst the Greek Souldiers he was betrayed and slain by one of them These news greatly rejoyced Alexander whereby he had occasion to leave off his Journey into Europe but he sent commandment to all the Cities of Greece that they should receive all their banished men such only excepted as had committed any murder on their own Country-men Although the Greeks knâ—w this to be the breach of their Laws and Liberties yet as men that 〈◊〉 not disobey his Will they called home their banished men and restored to such of them their Goods who did remain Only the Athenians who evermore defended obstinately the Liberties of their Common-wealth and who had not been accustomed to live under the obedience of any King but under the Laws and Customs of their Country would not permit that such dregs of men should live amongst them but did drive them out of their bounds ready to suffer any thing rather than to receive such who sometime were the vomit of all their City and the refuse of the Outlaries The time was come that Alexander now intended to dismiss his old Souldiers and to send them home into their Country but he willed first thirteen thousand Footmen and two thousand Horsemen to be chosen out to remain still in Asia which he judged might be kept with a small Army because he thought the many Garisons he had planted and the Cities which he had newly builded and filled with Inhabitants would be able to awe such as should attempt any Rebellion But before he would distinguish who should depart and who should remain he caused a Proclamation to be made That all Souldiers should declare their debts wherewith he perceived many of them to be heavily burdened and though it did rise through their own excess yet he was determined to discharge every man But the Souldiers thinking it had been but a device to finde who were most prodigal delayed the time and brought not in their Declarations The King perceived shame to be the cause thereof and not disobedience or obstinacy and therefore he caused Tables to be set up through his Camp and ten thousand Talents to be brought forth of all which Treasure when their Debts were paid according to the just accompt there remained of Talents no more but an hundred and thirty Whereby it appeared That they who were the Conquerours of so many rich Nations brought out of Asia more Glory than Spoil After it was once known that some should be dismissed and some remain behinde they thought the King would have established his Kingdom perpetually in Asia Wherefore like madmen and unmindful of all Discipline of War they filled the Camp full of seditious words and came to the King more arrogantly and with greater violence than ever they did before and all with one voice required to be discharged shewing him the hoariness of their hair and their faces deformed with scars And herein they could not be staid either by chastisement of their Officers or by any reverence of their King but when he would have spoken unto them they would not suffer him to be heard but disturbed his Speech with their tumultuous cry and violent throng protesting That they would never move one foot forwards to any place except it were towards their own Country After some hours because they thought that Alexander would incline to their purpose they kept silence and stood in expectation what he would do Then Alexander spake thus unto them What meaneth this so sudden a consternation of your minde and this so petulant and so wilde an insolence I am afraid to speak unto you you have so 〈◊〉 broken your obedience towards me I am now become a King at the appointment of my People you have neither left me the libertie to speak unto you nor to know you nor to exhort you nor to behold you Being determined to send some into their Country and to bring the rest with me shortly after I see those who are to be dismissed to cry out and mutiny as well as those who I appoint to stay with me What is the meaning of this The cry is all alike everywhere although the Cause is divers I would fain know whether they complain that depart or they that are to tarry When he had spoken those words they cried all as it had been with one mouth All All All. Then he said Truly it cannot be so nor can I be perswaded that you should all be grieved for the cause you declare seeing it toucheth not the greatest part of you for I have appointed more to depart then to remain with me There must needs be something of worse consequence then appeareth that you should turn away from me When was it ever seen that a whole Army hath forsaken their King The Slaves run not from their Masters all at once but there is alwaies a shame in some to leave him when the rest forsake him But why do I forget that you are desperately mad why do I go about to cure those that are uncurable I condemn from henceforth all the good hope that ever I conceived of you and am determined to deal no more with you as with my Souldiers seeing you will not be mine but as with men ungrateful and unmindful of my goodness The cause of this your madness is even the abundance of your prosperity whereby you forget your old estate from which you are delivered through my benefit You are men worthy to have spent your lives in your former beggery seeing you can better 〈◊〉 your adversitie than prosperous fortune Behold you who not long ago were Tributaries to the Illyrians and the Persians do now disdain Asia and the spoils of so many Nations You who under Philip did go half naked do now contemn Robes of Gold and Purple Your eyes cannot endure any longer to behold the light of Gold and Silver You desire again your Wooden Dishes your Targets made of Wicker and your Swords covered with rust I received you 〈◊〉 this gallant condition with five hundred 〈…〉 when all my Exchequer exceeded not the 〈…〉 Talents This was the Foundation of 〈…〉 with without envy be it spokeâ— I have 〈…〉 the greatest part of the World Are you weary of Asia which hath ministred unto you occasion of so much Glory that by the greatness of your Acts you are made equal unto the gods Do you all make such haste into Europe to forsake me that am your King The greater part of you should have lacked Money to bear you home if I had not paid your debts Are you not ashamed who have plundered
nor keep themselves within the compass of the Court but ran 〈◊〉 as men out of their wits whereby their City 〈◊〉 filled with sighs and tears and no kinde of lamâ—â—â—ation pretermitted that sorrow is accustomed 〈◊〉 administer in such a case Such therefore as were without the Court as well Macedons as others câ—me running thither where the Conquerours from the conquered could not be discerned so equal and mutual was their sorrow The Persians called upon their just and merciful Lord and the Macedons made invocation unto him that was so just and gracious a King and thus there was a certain contention among them They did not only use the words of grief and heaviness but also of murmuring and indignation that so young a Prince being in the flower of his age and so fortunate in success should by the envy of the gods be so taken out of this world They called to remembrance what a chearfulness they had always seen in his countenance both when he led them to the Battel or when he besieged or assaulted any City or when he would give any commendation to the Valiant in any Assembly Then the Macedons repented that ever they had denied him divine honour confessing themselves both wicked and ungrateful in depriving him of any name whereof he was worthy And when they had continued long in the veneration and desire of him that was dead they began to lament their own condition who coming out of Macedon were beyond the River Euphrates amongst the middest of their Enemies who unwillingly received their new Government They saw themselves left destitute and the Empire without any certain Heir for want of whom every one would go about to draw the Power of the State into his own private interest Then they began to conceive and foresee the Civil Wars that did ensue and that they should be inforced to shed their bloud again not for the Conquest of Asia but for the Title of some such a one as would go about to make himself King Moreover that such who by reason of their age had been discharged from the Wars by their noble and righteous King should now be inforced to spend their lives in the quarrel of one who was but his Souldier Whiles they were in these imaginations the night came on and increased their terrour The men of War watched in their Arms and the Babylonians looked over the Walls peeping out from the tops of their houses to discover some certainty how the Affairs passed There was not one that durst kindle any light and because the use of the eye did fail they laid their ears to hear the rumour and words that were spoken and many times they were afraid when no cause of fear was and when they met together in the narrow streets or dark lanes they would be amazed and suspect each other as enemies The Persians after their accustomed manner cut short their hair and with their Wives and Children lamented the death of Alexander in mourning Garments with unfeigned affection not as a Conquerour or one that lately had been their Enemy but as their right and natural King for they being accustomed to live under a King could think no man more worthy then himself to rule over them This sorrow was not contained within the walls of the City but straightways it spread over all the Country thereabouts And the Fame of so great a mischief flying throughout Asia brought early tidings thereof unto Darius Mother She at the first report did tear asunder the garment she did wear and putting on mourning apparel she pulled her hair and fell down groveling upon the earth One of her Neeces sate by her mourning for the death of Ephestion who not long before had married her and in an universal heaviness bewailed the cause of her private sorrow but Sisigambis alone sustained all their miseries and bewailed both her own condition and her Neeces her fresh sorrow causing her to call to minde things past A man would have judged by her behaviour that Darius had been newly slain or that she had now celebrated the Funerals of two Sons together She did not only lament the dead but sorrowed also for the living Who shall now said she take care of these young Women Or who can be like unto Alexander Now we are taken Prisoners again We are newly fallen again from our Dignity and Estate After Darius death we found one to defend us but now since Alexander is gone who will have respect unto us Among these things she called to minde how Occhus the cruel King had slain her Father and four-score of her Brethren in one day and that of six Children born of her Body there was but one of them left alive She saw that Fortune had advanced Darius and caused him to flourish 〈…〉 to the intent she might end his life by 〈…〉 Finally she was so overcome with sorrow that 〈◊〉 covered her head turning her self from 〈…〉 and Nephew that sate at her feet and abstaining both from meat and from beholding the light 〈◊〉 ended her life the fifth day after she was determined to die This her death was a great argument of the clemency which Alexander had shew'd towards her and of his justice towards all the Captives seeing that after Darius death she could not endure to live but after Alexanders departure she was ashamed to continue any longer Consider Alexander justly and we must impute all his Vertues to his own nature and his Vices either to his youth or to the greatness of his Fortune there was in him an incredible force of Courage and an exceeding sufferance of Travel he was endued with manhood excelling not only Kings but also such as had no other vertue or quality he was of such liberality that oftentimes he gave greater things than the Receivers would have wished for of God The multude of Kingdoms that he gave in Gift and restored to such from whom he had taken them by force was a token of his Clemency towards them whom he had subdued He shewed a perpetual contempt of Death the fear whereof doth amaze other men And as there was in him a greater desire of Glory and worldly Praise than reason would admit so it was tolerable in so young a man performing so great and wonderful Atchievements The reverence and affection he bare towards his Parents appeared in the purpose he had to consecrate his Mother Olympias to immortality and in that he so strictly revenged his Father Philips death How gentle was he towards his Friends and how benevolent towards his Souldiers He had a wisdom equal to the greatness of his heart and such a policy and foresight as so young years were scarcely able to receive A measure he had in immoderate pleasures and lusted less than Nature desired using no pleasure but what was lawful These indeed were wonderful great Gifts and Vertues but in that he compared himself to the gods coveting divine honours and believing the Oracles that perswaded such
the dead Corpse But Perdiccas judging it to be a deceit contrived to entrap him drew back to the side of Euphrates lying on the furthest part of the Court. Then the Horsemen which consisted chiefly of the Nobility flocked about Perdiccas and Leonatus whose opinion was to depart out of the City and to take the Field but because Perdiccas was not without hope that the Footmen would have taken his part he therefore remained still within the City lest he might seem to be the cause that the Horsemen should divide themselves from the rest of the Army Meleager ceased not to beat into the Kings head That he could not establish himself surely in his Throne but by the death of Perdiccas whose ambitious minde and desire of Innovation was to be prevented in time He willed the King to remember what Perdiccas had deserved at his hands and that no man could be faithful to him whom he feared The King rather suffering than assenting to his counsel Meleager took his silence for a commandment and sent for Perdiccas in the Kings name they who were sent having Commission to kill him if he should make any delay to come with them Perdiccas hearing of their coming accompanied only with sixteen young Gentlemen accustomed to attend upon Alexanders Person met them as they would have entred into his Lodging and calling them Meleagers Slaves rebuked them with such a constancy both of minde and countenance that they returned back as men amazed Perdiccas willed such as were in his company to keep on Horseback and with a few of his Friends repaired unto Leonatus intending iâ— any violence were moved against him to repulse it with a greater force The next day the Macedons murmured and thought it unjust that Perdiccas should be brought in danger of death and therefore determined with force to revenge the rashness of Meleagers doings But he understanding of the Mutiny that was among the Souldiers gave place and they repaired to the King demanding of him If he had commanded Perdiccas to be taken He confessed the thing but it was done he said by Meleagers instigation for which they ought not to raise any tumult seeing that Perdiccas was alive The Assembly hereupon brake up and Meleager became so greatly afraid especially by the departing of the Horsemen that he knew not what to do for he saw the mischief which he a little before had intended against his Enemy to light upon himself and while he debated with himself on this and on that three whole days were consumed Howsoever the accustomed form and fashion of the Court did remain in the mean season for the Embassadors of divers Nations did address themselves unto the King the Captains of the Army were present and the Guard waited in Armour as they were accustomed But the great sadness that was there without any apparent cause signified some extreme despair There was such a suspition amongst themselves that men durst not converse one with another but had secret imaginations by themselves and by comparing the time present with the time past and the new King with the old they began to desire the King that was gone Then one enquired of another What was become of the King whose Fortune and Authority they had followed They found themselves abandoned amongst so many unquiet and unconquered Nations who were desirous upon any occasion that might befal to be revenged of the injuries they had received While they were troubled in these imaginations word was brought that the Horsemen who were under Perdiccas kept the Fields about Babylon and stayed all Victuals from coming to the City whereupon first began a scarcity and afterwards a famine therefore such as were within the City thought good either to make a reconciliation with Perdiccas or else to fight it out It so chanced that such as dwelled abroad in the Country fearing the spoil of the Villages repaired into the City and they within the City for want of Victuals departed into the Country so that every one thought themselves surer any where then where their own Habitations were Then the Macedons doubting some great inconvenience that might proceed from this fear assembled together in the Court and declared their Opinions It was agreed amongst them that Embassadours should be sent to the Horsemen for the surâ—â—asing of all strife and division Pasas a Thessalian Amissas a Megapolitan and Perelaus were sent from the King who declaring their Commission received answer that the Horsemen would not lay down their Arms till the Authors of that Sedition were delivered into their hands When they were returned and their answer known the Souldiers without any appointment put on their Armour and made such a Tumult that the King was inforced to come forth of the Court and said unto them If we shall be at strife among our selves our Enemies that are at quiet shall enjoy the fruits of our Contention Remember that the Quarrel is with your own Countrymen with whom if you rashly break the hope of Reconcilement you shall be the beginners of a Civil War Let us prove if they may be mitigated by another Embassie I am of belief that because the Body of Alexander remaineth yet unburied they will gladly come together to perform the Obsequies unto the Dead And for my part I had rather surrender up again this Dignity then that any bloud should be shed amongst my Country-men for if no â—â—ther hope of Concord doth remain I desire and beseech you to make a better Choice Tears then falling from his eyes he took the Diadem from his head and holding the same forth with his hand he was ready to have delivered it to any man who would profess himself to be more worthy then he The moderation that he used both in his words and behaviour caused them all to conceive a great good hope of his Noble Nature which till that time was obscured by the height of his Brothers Fame They therefore incouraged and importuned him to go forwards as he had devised whereupon he sent again the same Embassadours that went before who had Commission to desire that Meleager might be the third Ruler of the Men of War That demand was not much stuck at for Perdiccas was desirous to remove Meleager from the King and conceived that the King being alone the King would not be able to match with Leonatus and himself Upon this Meleager marched out of the City with the Footmen and Perdiccas met him in the Fields riding before the Bands of the Horsemen There both Battels saluting one another Concord and Peace as it was thought was confirmed betwixt them for ever But it was decreed that Civil Wars should arise amongst the Macedons for Government is impatient of Partners and the Kingdom was coveted by many At first they gathered and afterwards dispersed their Forces for when the Body was burthened with more Heads then it could bear the other Members began to fail So the Empire of the Macedons which under one Head