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
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
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
places by the Miners They within made a Counter-work as high as the old Wall but it did not reach to the height of the Towers made upon the Mount so that the inner parts of the City were subject to the shot of the Enemy But not long after a Mine the Wall by it being overthrown and a breach made through which the Macedons did enter was the utter loss of the Town where Alexander pressing on amongst the foremost adventurously had his leg hurt with a stone Notwithstanding that he mounted up by the help of his Weapon his former wound yet unclosed and fought amongst the foremost being in a great fury that in the Siege of one City he had received two wounds Betis that had fought notably and received divers hurts was forsaken of his own men and notwithstanding which he maintained still the fight and all his Armour was imbrued with his own blood and his Enemies But when he was inclosed round Alexander who was wont to wonder at the Vertue of his Enemies being puffed up with an insolent joy said unto him Betis thou shalt not die as thou wouldest thy self but whatsoever torments may be invented believe that thou shalt suffer them For all which words there appeared in Betis no token of fear but he beheld the King with an undaunted countenance and would not answer him one word Whereupon Alexander said See you not how obstinate he doth continue He will neither kneel nor so much as ask mercy but groans shall break his silence if nothing else can do it Thus his Fortune did alter his Nature and turned his Wrath into Fury For he causing Cords to be put through Betis feet whilest he was alive did draw him about the City with Horses glorying in that he did imitate Achilles of whom he was descended in the like affliction of his Enemy There were slain of the Persians and Arabians ten thousand and the Victory was not unbloody to the Macedons This Siege was not so famous through the Nobility of the City as it was by the double danger the King was in who making haste to pass into Egypt sent Amintas with ten Galleys into Macedon to levy more Souldiers For though he were always a Conquerour yet his men were diminished and he trusted not so much to the Souldiers of those Countries he had subdued as he did to his own Nation The Egyptians being a people that always were offended with the increase of the good fortune of the Persians who in their Government over them used much pride and covetousness And therefore seeking all occasions to revolt had received Amintas who came to them rather by way of treaty then by force and now especially at Alexanders coming they plucked up their spirits and assembled a great number to meet him at Pelusium where they judged he would enter The seventh day after he removed from Gaza he came to the place in Egypt which now is called Alexanders Camp from whence he sent his Army unto Pelusium by the Land-way and he himself with a choice Band of men was conveyed thither upon the River of Nile The Persians durst not abide his coming being in doubt the Egyptians would revolt And therefore when Alexander drew near unto Memphis where Astaces Darius Lieutenant was with a power of men he came over the River to meet Alexander and yeilding himself he delivered him eight hundred Talents with all the riches belonging to the King of Persia From Memphis he passed upon the same River into the inward parts of Egypt and so ordered the Government of the Country that he changed nothing of their Laws and Customs Which having effected he had a great desire to worship the Oracle of Jupiter Hammon But it was declared unto him that it was not possible for him to march with any great number the Country he had to travel through being spread all over with barren sands which being heated with the Sun would burn their feet in such sort that it should be intolerable for them to travel not only with the heat and want of water but also with the rowling sand which was so deep and would so sink under their feet that they should not easily stir All which difficulties the Egyptians set forth to be greater then they were indeed But Alexander for the vehement desire he had to exceed the condition of man was so fervently bent to visit that famous Oracle of Jupiter whom either he believed or desired that others should believe to be his Father that nothing could withhold him in performing of that Enterprize Therefore with such as he had appointed to accompany him in the journey he passed by water upon the Nile until he came to the Marish of Meotis The Embassadours of the Cyrenians came to him thither and brought him Presents whom he gently entertained assuring them of his Friendship which done he went forward in his Voyage The first and second days travel seemed tolerable not being yet come to the barren and desolate Wilderness and yet the ground they passed on was but unfruitful and barren earth but when the Plains appeared that were covered over with deep sands they then looked round about them and sought for Land as men be accustomed to do when they sail on the Main Sea for they could not judge themselves on Land where they neither saw Tree nor any appearance of habitation or haunt of men And there was no water to be found in that dry and burning place and such as they had brought with them in Bottles upon Camels backs was consumed and spent Besides the Sun was so hot that it dried and burned up all things When they were afflicted after this manner whether it were by the Will of God or by chance the Clouds suddenly overwhelmed the Sky and so shadowed them that it was a great comfort unto such as were wearied with heat though they wanted water to drink But to supply their need there fell by and by a great Shower which every man for the great desire he had to drink gaped to receive with open mouth When they had travelled four days in travelling these wilde Desarts and were come near unto the place of the Oracle there appeared a great swarm of Crows flying low before them and when the Army marched softly they sate down upon the ground and sometimes flew forwards as though they had been Guides to shew unto them the way At length they came unto the place consecrate unto Jupiter where it was a wonder to see in the midst of so wilde a Desart a ground so environed on all parts with high Trees defending the heat of the Sun and such a number of Springs running every where which caused the Woods always to look green The Air all seasons of the year there is like unto the Spring-time wholesome and temperate This Country doth border on the Ethiops towards the East and upon the Arabians whom they call Troglodites upon the South whose Country stretched to the
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
law of Arms is observed Think not that the Scythians do confirm their friendship with any oath for they think they swear in keeping of their faith The custome of the Greeks is to justifie their doings by calling their gods to witness but we acknowledge Religion to consist in faith They that do not their due reverence unto men deceive the gods Think not those Friends to be necessary unto thee of whose good will thou shalt need to doubt Thou mayest use us as Keepers both of Europe and Asia for we should joyn with Bactria but that Tanais doth devide us and beyond Tanais our Dominion stretcheth so far as Thracia and the Fame is that Thracia confineth with Macedon Consider therefore whether it be necessary for thee or no to receive us as Friends or to visit us as Enemies to thy Empires These were the Scythians words to whom the King made Answer That he would both use his own Fortune and their Counsel that advised him well He would follow his Fortune he said because he had great confidence in it and other mens Counsel because he would do nothing unadvisedly nor upon the sudden Thereupon he dismissed the Embassadors and imbarked his Army in the Boats he had prepared In the foreparts of the Boats he set such as had Targets willing them to kneel upon their knees for their more safeguard against the shot of the Arrows And those were placed behinde them who had the charge of the Engines being both before and on both sides inclosed with armed mâ—n The rest that stood beyond the Engines being armed themselves defended with Targets such as rowed The same order was also observed in those Boats that carried over the Horsemen The greater part drew their Horses after them by the reins swimming at the stern of the Boats and such as were carried upon trusses filled with straw were defended by the Boats that rowed betwixt them and their Enemies Alexander with such men as he had chosen to be about his Person first lanched from the Land and directed his course to the further side The Scythians came against them with their Horsemen in order of Battel standing upon the brink of the further shore to oppose their landing whose shew being a terrour to the Macedons they had also another cause of fear in their passing over For the Boat-masters were not able to keep their course against the force of the stream And the Souldiers swaying to and fro for the doubt they had to fall in the water troubled the Mariners in the doing of their office By reason whereof the Macedons could not have scope to cast their Darts with any force taking more care how to place themselves out of peril then to annoy their enemies Their Engines stood them in great stead which seldome did shoot in vain against their Enemies that stood thick before them attempting to resist their landing When the Scythians saw them near the shore they did shoot an infinite number of Arrows into the Boats so that there was not almost any Target that had not many heads sticking in it At length the Boats arrived at the land then the Target-men did rise upon their feet and having more scope and surer footing threw their Darts more certainly and with greater force whereby perceiving their Enemies to shrink and rein back their Horses they leaped chearfully unto the land one exhorting and encouraging another and vigorously pursued them when they saw them to fall out of array By that time Alexanders Horsemen who had assembled themselves in Troops brake upon their Enemies and put them to great disorder In the mean season the rest being defended by them that were fighting landed and prepared themselves to the Battel Alexander with the stoutness of his courage supplied the impotency of his body His voice could not be heard when he spake and exhorted his men the scar of his wound not yet closed but all men might see him fighting wherefore every one used the office of a Captain in giving exhortation unto his fellows and ran upon their Enemies without respect of their own lives Then the Scythians could not endure any longer the countenance the force nor the cry of their Enemies but being all on Horseback fled away upon the Spur whom the King pursued eighty Furlongs notwithstanding that with great pain he endured his infirmity When his heart fainted he commanded his men that they should follow still in the chase as long as the day lasted and having not strength to sustain any further travel he returned into his Camp to rest himself The Macedons in their pursuit passed the bounds of Bacchus in monument of whom there were great stones set up of equal distance and high trees whose stocks were covered over with Ivy. But no bounds could be a stay to the Macedons being carried forwards in their fury for it was midnight before they returned again to their Camp who having killed many and taken a great number of prisoners did drive before them a thousand eight hundred Horses There were slain of the Macedons threescore Horsemen of the Footmen one hundred and about one thousand hurt This enterprise with the fame of the Victory falling in so good a season kept the greatest part of Asia in obedience which were at the point to have rebelled For they believed the Scythians to be invincible who being vanquished they judged no Nation able to withstand the power of the Macedons The Sacans after this Victory sent their Embassadours unto Alexander offering themselves to come under his obedience to the doing whereof they were not so greatly moved with fear of his Force as they were with report of his clemency used towards the Scythians after he had discomfited them For he delivered home all the prisoners without ransome to witness unto the world that he made War with those fierce Nations to shew his power and his vertue and not for any malice or to shew his wrath upon them That was the cause that he so gently received the Embassadors of the Sacans causing Excipinus to accompany them who being in the first flower of his youth was for that respect in great favour and samiliarity with Alexander In personage he resembled Ephestion but inferiour to him in pleasantness of speech After this Alexander giving order to Craterus to follow him by small journeys with the greater part of his Army he himself came to the City of Maracanda from whence Spitamenes who heard of his coming was fled into Bactria The King therefore making great journeys four days continually came into the place where under the conduct of Menedemus he had lost two thousand Footmen and three hundred Horsemen He caused their bones to be gathered together celebrating their Funerals after their Countrey manner By that time Craterus with the Phalanx was come to the King and to the intent he might punish with the Sword all such as had rebelled he divided his power into divers parts commanding them to burn in every place
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
that they fell down dead at his feet and from that time forward none was so bold to approach so neer him but threw Darts and shot Arrows at him afar off He lay open to every mans blow and yet though with great pain defended himself upon his knees until such time as an Indian shot an Arrow at him that was two Cubits long which a little above his right thigh passed through his Corslet by reason of which wound he shed so much bloud that he let his sword fall as one at the point of death and therewith became so faint that he had not strength to pluck out the Arrow Then the Indian which had hurt him came with great joy to spoil his body but when Alexander felt his enemies hand upon him moved as it is to be thought with despite to receive an infamy to that extremity he called again his spirits that were passing away and with his sword thrust his enemy being unarmed through the body When he had thus slain three of his enemies who lay dead before him all the rest stood amazed afar off Then Alexander desiring before his last breath should fail to be killed fighting began to raise up his body upon his Target but his strength would not serve him thereunto and therefore he reached at a bough that hung over his head coveting thereby to have raised himself but his ability not suffering him he fell down again upon his knees and by a signe given with his hand challenged his enemies if any of them durst come and fight with him At the last Peucestes repulsing his enemies on another part of the walls got into the Town and coasting along came unto the place where the King was When Alexander espied him though he had no hope to live yet he took his coming for a comfort to his death and for all his feebleness began to rear up himself Then came Timeus and within a while Leonatus and after them Aristonus When it was once published amongst the Indians that Alexander was entred within the walls they left their defence in other places and came flocking thither where they fiercely assailed such as stood in defence of the Kings person Timeus after he had fought notably and received many wounds was there slain Peucestes also notwithstanding that he was stricken and wounded with their Darts yet with his Target he defended the Kings person without any regard of himself And Leonatus whiles he resisted the Indians that eagerly ran upon Alexander received so sore a blow on the neck that he fell down in a swound at the Kings feet By that time Peucestes became so feeble of his wounds that he was not able to defend him any more The last hope and refuge remained in Aristonus who also was so grievously wounded that he could not endure any longer the force of the Indians In the mean season the fame was spread amongst the Macedons that the King was slain which being a matter that should have put others in fear stirred up their hearts and made them the hardier For from that time forwards there was none that had respect of his own peril but adventured unto the wall and breaking down the same with Pickaxes entred in at the breach making slaughter of their Enemies of whom few stood at defence but fled away There was neither man nor woman nor infant spared for whomsoever they met they judged him to be the person that had hurt their King and so at length with the slaughter of the multitude their just anger was satisfied Clitarchus and Timagenes do write that Ptolomeus who afterwards became King of Egypt was present in this encounter But he himself that used not to deny any thing that stood with his own glory did put in memory how that he was then absent being imployed on another Enterprise Such a negligence was then in those who did write the Antiquities of things or such a credulity which is a fault no less than the other When Alexander was brought into his lodging the Chirurgeons cut off the stale of the shaft in such sort that they moved not the head that was within the flesh and when they saw the wound bare they perceived hooks to be on the Arrow-head so that without the destruction of his body it could not be pulled out except by incision they made the wound greater and yet in that point they feared lest blood flowing too abundantly should be an impediment unto them for the head was very great and it seemed to be entered far within his body There was one Critobulus that was very cunning and most excellent amongst the Physicians and Chirurgeons and yet in so dangerous an accident as this he was fearful and in doubt to undertake the Cure lest if any thing should chaâ—ce to the King otherwise than well whilest he remained under Cure the blame thereof might â—ight upon his head therefore when Alexander perceived by his weeping the fear he was in and that through trouble of minde he looked pale in the face he said unto him What is it that thou lookest for Or why dost thou stay in ridding me quickly out of this pain at the leastwise by death if thou canst not otherwise bring it to passâ— For seeing my wound is incurable why fearest thou that any thing should be laid to thy charge When Critobulus heard his words he either ceased or dissembled his fear and exhorted Alexander that he would suffer himself to be held while they pulled the Arrow-head that was within his flesh for the least motion he said might be hurtful unto him The King would not be held but kept his body at a stay without moving in such sort as they appointed him When they had cut the wound wider and pulled out the head there issued out such abundance of blood that the King fell in a swoon and a dimness came over his sight and he stretched out himself as one in the pangs of death Then they wrought all the means they could to stanch the blood but when they perceived it would not avail his friends began to weep and lament thinking verily there had been no way but death Notwithstanding at length he ceased his bleeding and recovering again his spirits began to know them that stood about him All that day and the night ensuing the men of War stood in arms about the Kings lodging confessing that all their lives depended upon his breath and would not remove from thence before they understood that he took some rest but when they knew that he was fallen in a sleep they returned into the Camp bringing unto the rest more certain hope of his recovery Alexander about the curing of his wound remained there seven days and understanding that a constant fame of his death was spread abroad amongst the Indians he caused two Ships to be fastened together and a Lodging to be made for him in the middest so that remaining upon the water from both sides of the land he might
be seen of them that thought he had been dead When the Indians perceived he was alive it took away the hope that some had conceived upon the false Report From thence he passed down the stream leaving a distance between his Ship and the rest of the Navy to the intent that with the beating of the Oars they should not disturb him of his rest which was necessary for his weak body The fourth day after his embarquing he came into a Countrey abandoned of the Inhabitants but plentiful both in Corn and Cattel in which place he thought to rest himself and his Souldiers It was a custom amongst the Macedons that when their King was diseased the chief Princes and the great Men watched about his Lodging which custom being then observed they entred all together into the chamber where Alexander lay at whose sudden coming he was somewhat amazed especially because they came all together He thought they had brought him some strange tidings and enquired of them if they understood of any new Assembly of his Enemies Then Craterus that was appointed to speak in the behalf of them all spake unto him after this manner Do you think that the coming of any Enemies could make us so careful though they were entred within your Camp as we are of your health and safeguard though of all this is the thing which you regard least Though all Nations conspire against us with their Power though the whole world were filled full of men of War the Seas overspread with Ships and never so many strange beasts brought against us it consisteth in the presence of your Person to make us Conquerours But how can any God promise that you who are the Light and Star of Macedonia can be of any continuance seeing you are so desirous to put your person in such manifest perils not remembring that with your death you draw with you into ruine the lives of so many of your Countrey-men Who is he that either can or doth desire to live after you We are come so far following your Fortune and Authority that without you none of us are able to return home again If you were yet contending with Darius for the Kingdom of Persia though we all would wish you would not adventure your person so perillously yet in that case we could not marvel so much at your prompt resolution for where the danger and the benefit that ensueth thereof are equal the fruit is the greater when the business succeedeth well and the comfort is the more when the thing chanceth evil There are none not only of us who are your Souldiers but even of such as were your Enemies having any understanding of your greatness that can suffer so base a town and of so little fame to be bought with the price of your life My heart shrinks at the remembrance of the danger which we but late did see with our own eyes I am amazed to rehearse how those vile hands were in a readiness to have carried the spoils of your invincible Person if Fortune of her clemencie had not preserved and delivered you from their crueltie So many of us as were not able to follow you are all Traitors and Forsakers of our Prince And though it was a matter that lay not in our power yet if it please you to note us all with reproach there is none that will refuse any punishment in the purgation of it notwithstanding we would require you that you would spare us for some other purpose We will gladly go whithersoever you will have us we require War be it never so obscure and covet the Battel though our fighting shall want Fame so that you will reserve your self to those hazards which are correspondent for the greatness of your estate How soon doth glory vanish away and become of no praise amongst such Enemies as are of no reputation And what thing is there more unworthy than to consume the glory you have gotten elsewhere amongst them where your glory cannot appear When Craterus had ended his speech Ptolomy and the others spake to him to the like effect and all at once with weeping eyes required of him that he would not from thenceforth be any more so thirsty to win praise but seeing he had gotten sufficient already he should content himself therewith and regard his health and safety whereon their universal estate did depend The King took so gratefully their loving affection that he familiarly embraced every one of them and after he had willed them to sit revolving in his minde more deeply their former communication he said thus unto them My faithful loving Friends and Country men I render you most hearty thanks not only that you prefer my Safety before your own but also that since the beginning of the Wars you have not pretermitted any thing wherein your love and benevolence might be shewed towards me so that I must confess that my life was never so dear unto me as it is now because I desire long to enjoy you You are desirous to offer your selves to death in my cause because you judge that I have deserved that benevolence at your hands but your imagination and mine is not after one way You peradventure do covet to enjoy me to 〈◊〉 of me continually Fruits and I measure not my self by the continuance of my time but by the greatness â—f my glory I might have been content with the riâ—hâ—â— which my Father left me and with the ease of my body within the bounds of Macedon have looked for an obscure and ignoble old age and yet I cannot see that they who live in sloth and idleness can assure themselves of their own destiny For even such as esteem felicity in long life are oftentimes prevented with sudden death But I who number not my years but by my Victories have lived long if I well weigh the gifts of Fortune For beginning mine Empire in Macedonia I have Greece in my possession I have subdued Thrace and Illyria I reign over the Tribals and the Medians being Master of all Asia that lieth between Hellespont and the Red-Sea and now am not far from the end of the world the which I determined to visit and to lay open to men a new nature and a new world I passed out of Asia into Europe in the moment of an hour being but eight and twenty years of age and having reigned but nine years and I am now become the Victorer of both Regions Do you think it then meet that I should now cease from the purchase of that glory whereunto I have only devoted my self No I will never cease but wheresoever I shall have occasion to fight I shall think my self to be in the Theater where the whole world doth behold me I will give Nobility and Fame to places that are obsure and will lay open to all Nations those Countries which Nature hath removed furthest from them in doing whereof it shall be grateful for me to end my life if Fortune