enters the City and pursâ—es him Pompey sends his Army from Brundusium to Dyrrachium He is censured for leaving Italy Caesar goes for Spain Pompey's Army in Greece Of thâ—se that resorted to him §. 18. He follows Caesar intâ— Thessaly §. 19. §. 20. Lesbos §. 21. His Death * Sicily The Author's dâ—sign In writing Lives Alexander's Family Philip's Dream * Furious warlike He consults the Oracle The Birth of Alexander His Person described * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Manners And Exercises * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Magnanimity His Education and Tutors He cames Eucephalus And backs him Aristotle Alexander's Tuter * A College His Letter to Aristotle His inclination to Learning His Courage and early entrance upon Action His Differences with his Father Reconcil'd by Demaratus the Corinthian Break on t again Philip murther'd by Pausanias The beginning of Alexander's Reign attended with great Difficulties He overthrows the Triballians Takes Thebes and rases it The Family of the Poet Pindar spar'd The Story of Timoclea He pardons the Athenians Is chosen General of the Grecians The Behaviour of Diogenes the Cynick towards him He consults and forces the Oracle Alexander's Army and Preparations His Liberality He passes the Hellespont and visits Achilles his Tomb. The Battel of Granicus Alexander passes the Granicus in despite of the Enemy His dangerous Encounter And Preservation by Clitus Sardis taken Being irresolute is encourag'd by an old Prophesie Pisidia and Phrygia subdued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cuts the Gordian Knot Darius marches towards him A Messenger Darius his Dream interpreted Alexander falls sick His confidence in his Physician Philip. By whom he is Cur'd Darius rejects good Counsel The Battel of Issus Darius escapes Alexander taken with the Persian Luxury and Riches His generous usage of Darius his Wife and Daughters His Continence He is angry with those who would have Corrupted him His Temperance And manner of Life describ'd He is given to bragging And subject to Flattery The Expence of his Table Cyprus and Phoenicia yielded to him He Besieges Tyre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Tyre is thine His care of his old Master and personal Valour in extremity of danger He takes Tyre and Gaza Where he is wounded by a strâ—nge accident His esteem of Homer He builds Alexandri His Journey to the Temple of Jupiter Hammon In which he is wâ—nderfully guided and preserv'd Is flattered by a Priest Alexander's opinion of the Deity And politick use of being thought a God He is jeer'd by Anaxarchus The expence of Tragedies defrayed by Kings Darius his Proposals rejected Alexander's generous Usage of Darius's Wifâ— Makes him jealous 〈…〉 * The Sun But without Reason of which he is convinc'd by Tyreus the Eunuch Darius his Prayer The Event of a great Battel gather'd from a ridiculous Accident At the Battel of Gausamela * August Some Copies have it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Fear Alexander though infinitely inferior in numbers refuses to steal a Victory His Reasons for it His Reasons for it An Instance of his Conduct His Aâ—mour describ'd A good Omen before the Battel Darius flies And Alexander gains an intire Victory He is proclaim'd King of Asia He courts the Grecians Takes Babylon An Account of Naptha With an Experiment of it And some conjectures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Here some of the Original is lost Concerning the Nature of it Vast Treasures found at Susa Alexander enters into Persia His Speech to Xerxes his Statue Xerxes his Palace burnt by Thais an Athenian Whore Several instances of Alexander's Munificence To Ariston To a poor Soldier To Phocion To Serapion To Proteas To Mazeus To Parmenio He reproves the Luxury of his Farites His Encounter with a Lyon exprâ—ss'd in Figures of Brass dedicated to Apollo at Delphos The Ingratitude of his Favourites How tender he was of his Friends Health and Reputation Assists them in their Love and domestick Affairs A long March in pursuit of Darius A memorable instance of Alexander's Prudence and Self denial The Death of Darius And Punishment of Bessut Conjectures about the Caspian Sea Alexander puts on the Persian Habit Which grieves the Macedonians The Story of the Amazonian Queens coming to visit him is a Fiction He persuades his Men to pursue the War His Methods to preserve his new Conquests The politick use he made of his Favourites The Fall of Philotas occasioned by his Arrogance He is betray'd by his Mistress Antigone Dimnus his Conspiracy The Falshood of Court Friends The Death of Philotas and his Father Parmenio The Murther of Clitus Princes cannot bear bold Truths Alexander repents of Clitus his Death Both Priests And Philosophers caâ— flatter basly Callisthenes his true Jest upon Anaxarchus The Character and Fall of Callisthenes Who offends Alexander by his Morosenâ—ss and refusing to adore him Aristotle himself suspected This Passage was mention'd before Alexander burns all his own and his Soldiers Baggage He grows cruel An odd Portent A Spring of Oyl found Sisimethres his Rock taken Alexander's Discourse with Acuphis with Taxiles His Friends râ—pine at his Bounty to Strangers His War with Porus He passes the Hydaspes And defeats Porus. Porus his Stature His Elephant A City built in memory of Bucephalus The Macedonians refuse to pass the Ganges Which grieves Alexander What care he takes to deceive Posterity His Voyage down the Rivers His Danger among the Mallians He is desperately wounded His Questions to the Indian Philosophers with their Answers The Arrogance of Calanus a Gymnosophist His Emblem of Government Alexander's Prayer when he came to the Sea What loss he sustain'd in his march back His rietous Progress through Carmania A Prize of Dancing Won by Bagoas Alexander's great Preparations for a Voyage to Sea How hindred A Custom of the Kings of Persia Cyrus's Sepulcher rifled Alexander mov'd at the Inscription Calanus barus himself A drinking Match Alexander marries Statira Darius his Daughter He pays the Debts of his Army Forgives Antigenes his Fraud His Seminary of Souldiers The Macedonians discontented He takes Guard of Persians The Macedonians submit The old and disabled dismisi'd with 〈…〉 〈…〉 Hephestion's Death A whole Nation sacrific'd to him Stasicrates his extravagant design of a Statue Alexander warâ—'d not to go to Babylon Several Presages of his Death Alexander distrusts the Gods His Usage of Cassander A wonderfull Effect of Fear The nature of Superstition Alexander falls sick after a great Debauck A Diary of his Sickness He hears his Admiral relate his Voyage The Macedonians admitted to see him Hie Death Not without suspicion of Poyson Which is contradicted The Death of Statira 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Forum maximum Athenis sub dio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caenae frugi apud Lacones 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in adagio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Locus 5. vel 6. miliar Ital distans ubi Templum Dianae Mynich 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 su 〈…〉 pond genus March 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Alluding to the lucky Chance called Venus * He means Julius Caesar An exact Character of Tiberius and Caius A Drachma is seven pence half penny * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tiberius made Augur He marries Claudia the Daughter of App-Claudius He is chosen Quaestor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He makes a Peace with the Numantines The Peace Broken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch styles him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having no other way to express the Latine word Sapiens He is chosen Tribune The Law concerning the division of Lands Tiberius's Speech M Octavius oppâ—ses this Law Octavius Deposed This Law was again Ratified An Obolus is a Penny Farthing Tiberius disposes of King Attalas's Legacy to the Common People Tiberius's Speech Several ill Omens happen'd to him Tiberius slain Gracchus his Character He is chosen Quaestor His Dream His Laws Other Laws preferr'd by C. Grach Cajus's Power The Italian Mile contains 8 Furlongs Caius chosen Tribune the second time The Death of Scipio Ill Omens happen to Caius Caius miss'd of his third Tribuneship * This saying is occasion'd from a poysonous Herb in that Country which whoever tasts of he presently seems to laugh and in that posture dies Opimius is the same Person who in this Life was before mentioned by the Name of L. Hostilius A Decree of the Senate against Caius Gracchus Licinia's Speech to her Husband Caius Gracchus Fulvius sent his youngest Son tâ— treâ—â— of a Peace Fulvius and his eldest Son slain Caius's Flight Caius's Death The power of Education to conquer Afflictions
were wounded The Persians lost in this Battel 20000 Foot and 2500 Horse On Alexander's side Aristobulus says there was not wanting above 34 of which 9 were Foot to whose Memory he caused so many Statues of Brass of Lysippus his Hand to be Erected And that the Graecians might participate the Fruits of his Victory he shar'd the Booty among them Particularly to the Athenians he sent 300 Bucklers and upon all the rest of the Spoils he ordered this glorious Inscription to be set Alexander the Son of Philip and all the Grecians except the Lacedemonians won these from the Barbarians who inhabit Asia All the Plate and Purple Garments and whatever else of any value he took from the Persians except a very small quantity reserv'd for himself he sent as a Present to his Mother This Battel presently made a great change of Affairs to Alexander's advantage For Sardis it self the chief Seat of the Barbarians Power in the Maritime Provinces and many other considerable Places were Surrendred to him only Halicarnassus and Miletus stood which he soon took in by force together with the Territory about them After which he was a little unsettled in his Opinion how to proceed Sometimes he thought it best to find out Darius as soon as he could and put all to the hazard of a Battel another while he looked upon it as a more prudent course to make an entire Conquest of the Sea-Coast and not to seek the Enemy till he was strengthned by the addition of the Wealth and Forces of those Provinces While he was thus deliberating what to do it hapned that a Fountain near the City of Xanthus in Lycia of its own accord swell'd over its Banks and threw up a Copper Plate upon the Shore in which was Engraven in ancient Characters That the time would come when the Persian Empire should be destroyed by the Graecians Incouraged by this Accident he proceeded to reduce the Maritime Parts of Cilicia and Phoenicea and passed his Army along the Sea-Coasts of Pamphilia with such Expedition that many Historians have describ'd and extoll'd it with that height of Admiration as if it were no less than a Miracle and an extraordinary effect of Divine Favour that the Waves which were wont to come rowling in from the Main and hardly ever leave so much as the Beach under the steep broken Cliffs at any time uncover'd should on a sudden retire to afford him passage Menander in one of his Comedies alludes to this wonderful Event when he says How this Resembles Alexander's high Exploits This Fellow of his own accord is here Ask him to wade the Sea and he 'll reply Ev'n that to him does passable appear Alexander himself in his Epistles mentions nothing unusual in this at all but says he went from Phaselis and marched through the Straits which they call the Ladders At Phaselis he staid some time and finding the Statue of Theodectes who was then Dead erected in the Market Place after he had Supp'd having drank pretty plentifully he went and Danc'd about it and Crown'd it with Garlands as it were in sport Honouring the Memory of his Friend whose Conversation he had formerly enjoyed when he was Aristotle's Scholar Then he subdued the Pisidians who made head against him and conquered the Phrygians at whose chief City Gordium which is said to be Seat of Old King Midas he saw the famous Chariot fastned with Cords made of the Rind of the Cornel Tree which whosoever should untie the Inhabitants had a constant Tradition that for him was reserv'd the Empire of the World Most are of Opinion That Alexander finding himself unable to untie the Knot because the ends of it were secretly folded up within it cut it asunder with his Sword But Aristobulus tells us it was easie for him to undo it by only pulling the Pin out of the Beam which fastned the yoak to it and afterwards drawing out the yoak it self From hence he advanced into Paphlagonia and Cappadocia both which Countries he soon reduc'd to his obedience and then hearing of the Death of Memnon one of Darius his best Sea-Commanders who if he had lived might have put a great stop to the progress of his Arms he was the rather induc'd to carry the War into the upper Provinces of Asia Darius was by this time upon his March from Susa very confident not only in the number of his Men which amounted to fix hundred thousand but likewise in a dream which the Magicians interpreted rather in flattery to him than with any probability of Truth He dream'd that he saw the Macedonian Phalanx all on fire and Alexander waiting on him clad in the same Robe which he used to wear when he was Asgandes to the late King after which going into the Temple of Belus he vanish'd out of his sight By this dream it was manifest in my opinion that the Gods design'd to shew him the illustrious Actions the Macedonians were to perform that as he from an Asgandes had arriv'd at the Crown so Alexander should come to be Master of Asia and not long surviving his Conquests conclude his Life with great Glory and Reputation Darius his confidence increas'd the more because Alexander spent so much time in Cilicia which he imputed to his Cowardice But it was sickness that detain'd him there which some say he contracted by taking too much pains others by Bathing in the River Cydnus whose Waters were exceeding cold However it hapned none of his Physicians would venture to give him any Remedies they thought his case so desperate and were so afraid of the censure and ill will of the Macedonians if they should fail in the Cure till Philip the Acarnanian considering his extream danger and confiding in his Friendship resolved to try the utmost efforts of his Art and rather hazard his own Credit and Life than suffer him to perish for want of Physick which he confidently administred to him encouraging him to take it boldly if he desired a speedy Recovery in order to prosecute the War At this very time Parmenio wrote to Alexander from the Camp bidding him have a care of Philip as one who was brib'd by Darius to kill him with great sums of Money and a promise of his Daughter in Marriage When he had perus'd the Letter he put it under his Pillow without shewing it so much as to any of his most intimate Friends and when Philip came in with the Potion he took it with great chearfulness and assurance withal giving him the Letter to read This was an encounter well worth being present at to see Alexander take the draught and Philip read the Letter at the same time looking earnestly upon one another but with different Sentiments for Alexander's looks were chearful and open a demonstration of his kindness to and confidence in his Physician while the others were full of surprise at the accusation appealing to the Gods to witness
make him a Confederate of the Romans saying That he preferr'd an eternal Honour before the Glories of one day But if the Preheminence in that which chiefly relates to the Office of a General consisting of a steady resolution upon the wisest Acts and Counsels of War might be given to a Commander of the best Conduct the Lacedaemonian would not a little exceed the Roman in that for Agesilaus never deserted his City though it was Besieg'd by an Army of 70000 Men when there were very few Soldiers within to defend it and those had been baffled too but a little before at the Battel of Leuctra But Pompey when Caesar with a Body only of 5300 Men had taken but one Town in Italy departed timorously out of Rome either through Cowardice when they were so few or at least through a vain imagination that there were more and having convey'd away his Wife and Children he left all the rest of the Citizens defenceless and fled whereas he ought either to have conquer'd in Fight for the defence of his Country or yielded upon terms to the Conqueror for he was his Fellow-Citizen and Ally'd to him But now to that same Man to whom he deny'd an Enlargement in the term of his Government and thought it intolerable to grant another Cousulship even to him he gave a Power by letting him take the City to tell Metellus the Tribune together with all the rest That they were his Prisoners That therefore which is chiefly the Office of a General to put the Enemy upon a necessity of Fight when he finds himself the the stronger and to avoid it when he is the weaker that Property being singular in Agesilaus he always kept himself Invincible And this was Caesar's Talent too that when he was the weaker he could at any time by fencing with Pompey decline the Danger and when he was the stronger he forc'd him to Battel by Land even to the hazard of all whereby he became the Master of the Treasury Stores and the Sea too which were all in his Enemies hands and by which he had his constant Supplies without Fighting Now that which is alledg'd as an Apology in vindication of Pompey is the greatest Crime in so great a General for 't is a true for a young Commander by Tumults and Noise to be wrought into a Fear and Easiness whereby he may forsake the safest Counsels is neither strange nor altogether unpardonable But for Pompey the Great whose Camp the Romans call'd their Country and his Tent the Senate styling the Consuls Praetors and all other Magistrates that had taken upon them the Administration of the Government at Rome by no better Title than that of Rebels and Traytors for him I say whom they well knew never to have been under the Command of any but himself having nobly finish'd his course of Warfare under himself as sole General in all the Wars he made who could excuse him that upon so small a Provocation as the Scoffs of Favonius and Domitius and lest he should bare the Nickname of Agamemnon should be wrought upon and even forc'd to hazard the whole Empire and Liberty of Rome upon the cast of a Dye In him I say 't was intolerable who if he had so much regarded a present Infamy should have guarded the City at first with his Arms and fought valiantly in defence of Rome not have left it as he did colouring his Flight over with the Stratagem of Themistocles and yet after all this to imagine that there could be any Reproach in a wary Delay before the Battel in Thessaly was as inexcusable For neither did God appoint the Pharsalian Fields to be the Stage and Theater upon which they should contend for the Empire of Rome neither was he summon'd thither by any Herald upon Challenge with intimation that he must either undergo the Combat or surrender the Crown to another But there were many other Fields thousands of Cities and even the whole Earth that he might have had by the Advantage of his Fleet and Forces at Sea if he would but have follow'd the Examples of Maximus Marius Lucullus and even Agesilaus himself who endur'd no less Tumults within the City of Sparta when the Thebans provok'd him to Battel for the residue of his Country He endur'd likewise many Calumnies and Accusations in Aegypt through the Imprudence of the King there entreating his patience constantly but following always what he had determined in his own Judgment upon mature Advice he did by that means not only preserve the Aegyptians against their wills not only keep Sparta constantly upon its Legs even in those desperate Convulsions but set up Trophies likewise in the City against the Thebans giving them afterwards an occasion of Victory in that he did not at that time lead them out as they would have forc'd him to their destruction insomuch that at last Agesilaus was highly commended even of those who provok'd their own Ruine after they found he had sav'd their Lives against their wills Whereas Pompey whose Errors had always some other Authors found those to be his Accusers upon whom he had plac'd his chiefest confidence and some say that he was deceiv'd by his Father-in-law Scipio for that he designing to conceal and keep to himself the greatest part of that Treasure which he had brought out of Asia did press Pompey to Battel upon this pretence that there would be a want of Money however admitting this to be true yet such a General ought not to have been so easily deluded and led into an Error even to the hazard of all the greatest Concerns in the Common-wealth And thus we have taken a view of each by comparing them together in their Conduct and Actions in War As to their Voyages into Aegypt One steer'd his Course thither out of necessity in Flight the other neither honourably nor of necessity but as a Mercenary Soldier having listed himself into the Service of a barbarous Nation for Pay that he might be able to wage War upon the Graecians Lastly That which we charge upon the Aegyptians in the Name of Pompey the Aegyptians return again in an Accusation against Agesilaus For one was barbarously betray'd and murder'd by those whom he trusted The other betray'd his Trust and deserted them having upon his Revolt gone over to the Enemy that was now making War upon Aegypt notwithstanding he came at first as an Auxiliary to the Aegyptians ALEXANDER MBurgher sculp THE LIFE OF Alexander the Great English'd from the Greek By John Evelyn Esq IT being my purpose to write the Lives of Alexander and Caesar by whom Pompey was destroyed the multitude of their great Actions affords me so large a Field that I were to blame if I should not by way of Apology acquaint my Reader that I have chosen rather to epitomize the most celebrated parts of their Story than to insist at large on every particular Circumstance of it especially when I consider my Design is not to
Greatness of the Man's Soul who had taken so little notice of him that as he went away he told his Followers who were Laughing at the Moroseness of the Philosopher That if he were not Alexander he would rather chuse to be Diogenes than any other Man Then he went to Delphos to consult Apollo concerning the Success of the War he had undertaken and happening to come at a time that was esteeem'd unlucky and improper to give any Answers from the Oracle he sent Messengers to desire the Priestess to do her Office but she refusing under pretence of a Law to the contrary he went up himself and drew her by force into the Temple where tir'd and overcome with Struggling My Son said she thou art Invincible Alexander taking hold of what she spoke declar'd he had receiv'd such an Answer as he wish'd for and that it was needless to consult the God any further Among other Prodigies that preceded the March of his Army the Image of Orpheus at Libethra made of Cypress-Wood was seen to Sweat in great abundance to the discouragement of many But Aristander told him That far from presaging any Ill to him it signifi'd he should perform things so important and glorious as would make the Poets and Musicians of future Ages labour and sweat to describe and celebrate them His Army by their Computation who reckon moderately consisted of 30000 Foot and 5000 Horse and those who make the most of it speak but of 34000 Foot and 4000 Horse Aristobulus says he had not a Fund of above 70 Talents for their Pay nor more than 30 days Provisions if we may believe Duris and Onesicritus tell us he was 200 Talents in Debt However narrow and disproportionable the beginnings of so vast an Undertaking might seem to be yet he would not embark his Army till he had inform'd himself particularly what Estates his Friends had to enable them to follow him and supplied what they wanted by giving good Farms to some a Village to one and the Revenue of some Borough or Port-Town to another So that at last he had wasted or engag'd almost all the Crown-Lands which giving Perdiccas an occasion to ask him What he would leave himself He replied Nothing but the Hopes of his future Conquests You will not then said Perdiccas take it ill if we share with you in those Hopes only and refused to accept of the Estate he had assign'd him Some others of his Friends did the like but to those who willingly receiv'd or desir'd assistance of him he liberally granted it as far as his Patrimony in Macedonia would reach which was all spent in these Donations With such vigorous Resolutions and his Mind thus dispos'd he pass'd the Hellespont and at Troy Sacrific'd to Minerva and Honour'd the Memory of the Heroes who were Buried there with solemn Funeral Libations especially Achilles whose Grave-Stone he Anointed and with his Friends as antient Custom was ran naked about his Sepulchre and Crown'd it with Garlands withal declaring how happy he esteeâ—'d him in having while he liv'd so faithful a Friend as Patroclus and when he was dead so famous a Poet as Homer to immortalize his Actions While he was viewing the rest of the Antiquities and Curiosities of the Place being told he might see Paris his Harp if he pleas'd he said He thought it not worth looking on but he should be glad to fee that of Achilles with which he had celebrated the Glory and Renown'd Actions of so many brave Men. In the mean time Darius his Captains having Martial'd great Forces were incamp'd on the further Bank of the River Granicus which was look'd on as so considerable a Pass into Asia that there was an absolute necessity of Fighting to win it The depth of the River with the unevenness and difficult ascent of the oppositite Shore which was to be gain'd by main force was apprehended by some and others were so Superstitious as to think it an improper time to engage because it was unusual for the Kings of Macedonia to march with their Forces in the Month of June But Alexander broke through these Scruples telling them they should call it a second May. And when Parmenio advis'd him not to attempt any thing that day because it was late he told him The Hellespont which he had pass'd would blush for him if he should be baffled at the passage of an inconsiderable River And so without more saying he immediately took the River with 13 Troops of Horse and advanc'd against whole showers of Darts thrown from the other side which was cover'd with multitudes of the Enemy notwithstanding the disadvantage of the Ground and the rapidity of the Stream So that this Action seem'd to have more of Rage and Madness in it than of prudent Conduct However he persisted obstinately to gain the Ford and at last with much ado climbing up the Banks which were very slippery by reason of the Mud he was fain to mingle among the thickest of the Enemy and Fight hand to hand for a while before he could bring his Men who were endeavouring still to pass into any Order They press'd upon him with loud and warlike Outcries and charging him closely with their Horse after they had broken and spent their Javelins they fell to it with their Swords And Alexander being remarkable for his Buckler and a large Plume of excellent white Feathers on his Helmet was attack'd on all sides yet escap'd wounding though his Cuirass was pierc'd by a Javelin in a faulty place And Rhesaces and Spithridrates two Persian Commanders falling upon him at once he avoided one of them and struck at Rhesaces who had a good Cuirass on with such force that his Javelin breaking in his Hand he was glad to betake himself to his Sword While they were thus engag'd Spithridates came up on one side of him and raising himself upon his Horse gave him such a Blow with his Battel-Axe on the Helmet that he cut off the Crest of it with one side of his Plume and made such a Gash that the edge of his Weapon touch'd the very Hair of his Head But as he was about to repeat his Stroke Great Clitus prevented him by running him through the Body with his Spear At the same time Alexander dispatch'd Rhesaces with his Sword While the Horse were thus dangerously engag'd the Macedonian Phalanx pass'd the River and the Foot on each side advanc'd to Fight but the Enemy hardly sustaining the first onset soon gave ground and fled all but the mercenary Graecians who making a stand upon a rising Ground desired quarter which Alexander guided rather by Passion than Judgment refused to grant and charging them himself first had his Horse not Bucephalus but another kill'd under him And this obstinacy of his to cut off these experienc'd desperate Men cost him the lives of more of his own Soldiers than all the Battel before besides those who
should presume to make him such a reproachful offer And immediately wrote him a very sharp Letter commanding him to dismiss Theodorus and his vile Merchandize with disgrace Nor was he less severe to Agnon who sent him word he would buy a pretty Corinthian Youth nam'd Crobylus to present him with And hearing that Damon and Timotheus two of Parmenio's Soldiers had abus'd the Wives of some Strangers who were in his Pay he wrote to Parmenio charging him strictly if he found them guilty to put them to Death as Beasts that were good for nothing but to corrupt and ruine Mankind In the same Letter he added that he had not so much as seen or desir'd to see the Wife of Darius no nor suffer'd any body to speak of her Beauty before him He was wont to say that Sleep and the Act of Generation chiefly made him sensible that he was Mortal withal affirming that Pain and Pleasure proceeded both from the same Frailty and Imbecillity of humane Nature In his Diet he was most temperate as appears omitting many other Circumstances by what he said to Ada whom he adopted to be his Mother and afterwards created Queen of Caria For when she out of Kindness sent him every day many curious Dishes and Sweet-meats and would have furnish'd him with such Cooks and Pastry-men as were excellent in their kind he told her He wanted none of them his Praeceptor Leonidas having already given him the best which were Night-marches to prepare him for his Dinner and moderate Dinners to create an Appetite for Supper And that he us'd to open and search the Furniture of his Chamber and his Wardrobe to see if his Mother had left him any thing that was nice or superfluous He was much less addicted to Wine than was generally believ'd that which gave People occasion to think so of him was that when he had nothing else to do he lov'd to sit long and discourse rather than drink and tell long Stories between every Glass For when his Affairs call'd upon him he would not be detain'd as other Generals often were either by Wine or Sleep Nuptial Solemnities Spectacles or any other Diversion whatsoever A convincing Argument of which is that in the short time he liv'd he accomplish'd so many and so great Actions When he was free from Employment after he was up and had Sacrifi'd to the Gods he us'd to sit down to Dinner and then spend the rest of the day either in Hunting or writing Memoirs or composing Differences among his Soldiers or Reading In Marches that requir'd no great haste he would practise Shooting as he went along or to mount a Chariot and alight from it in full speed Sometimes for Sports sake his Journals tell us he would go a Fox-Hunting and Fowling and when he came home after he had Bath'd and was anointed he would call for his Bakers and chief Cooks to know if they had got his Supper ready in good order He never car'd to Sup till it was pretty late and was wonderful circumspect at Meals that every one who sate with him should be serv'd alike His talkative Humour as I noted before made him delight to sit long at Table and then though otherwise no Princes Conversation was ever so agreeable he would fall into such a vein of Ostentation and Soldierly Bragging as gave his Flatterers a great advantage to ride him and made his best Friends and Servants very uneasie For though they thought it too base to strive who should Flatter him most yet they found it hazardous not to do it so that between the Shame and the Danger they were in a great strait how to behave themselves After such an Entertainment he was wont to Bath and then perhaps he would Sleep till Noon and sometimes all day long He was so very Temperate in his Diet that when any excellent Fish or Fruits were sent him he would distribute them among his Friends and hardly reserve any for his own Eating His Table however was always Magnificent the Expence of it still increasing with his good Fortune till it amounted to 10000 Drachmas a day to which Sum he limited it and beyond this he would suffer none to lay out in an Entertainment though he himself were the Guest After the Battel of Issus he sent to Damascus to seize upon the Money and Baggage the Wives and Children of the Persians of which the Thessalian Horsemen had the greatest share for he had taken particular notice of their Gallantry in the Fight and sent them thither on purpose to make their Reward suitable to their Courage Not but that the rest of the Army had so considerable part of the Booty as was sufficient to make the Fortune of every private Soldier This first gave the Macedonians such a taste of the Persian Wealth Women and manner of Living that they pursued and trac'd it with the same eagerness and ardour that Hounds do when they are upon a Scent Alexander before he proceeded any farther thought it necessary to assure himself of the Sea-Coast Those who Govern'd in Cyprus put that Island into his Possession and all Phoenicia except Tyre was Surrendred to him without a stroke During the Siege of this City which with Mounts of Earth cast up and battering Engines and 200 Gallies by Sea was carried on with all imaginable vigour for seven Months together he chanc'd to Dream that he saw Hercules upon the Walls reaching out his Hand and calling to him And many of the Tyrians in their Sleep fancied that Apollo told them he was displeas'd with their Actions and was about to leave them and go over to Alexander Upon which as if the God were a Fugitive they took him in the Fact chaining his Statue and nailing it to the Pedestal withal reproaching him that he was an Alexandrist or a Favourer of Alexander's Party Another time Alexander Dream'd He saw a Satyr mocking him at a distance and when he endeavour'd to catch him he still escap'd from him till at last with much perseverance and running about after him he got him into his Power The Soothsayers making two words of Satyros assur'd him that in all probability Tyre was as good as his own The Inhabitants at this time shew the Fountain near which Alexander slept when he fancied the Satyr appear'd to him While the Body of the Army lay before Tyre he made a short Excursion against the Arabians who inhabit Mount Antilibanus in which he hazarded his Life extreamly to bring off his Master Lysimachus who would needs go along with him bragging he was neither older nor inferior in Courage to Phoenix Achilles his Tutor whose Name he affected to bear For when quitting their Horses they march'd up the Hill on foot the rest of the Soldiers out-went them a great deal so that Night drawing on and the Enemy near Alexander was fain to stay behind so long to encourage and help up the lagging tir'd
and Industry made People sleep more sweetly and soundly than Laziness and that if they compar'd the Persians manner of Living with their own they would be convinc'd it was the most abject slavish condition in the World to be effeminate and voluptuous but the most generous and becoming a Great Man to take pains Besides he reason'd with them how it was possible for any one who pretended to be a Soldier either to look well after his Horse or to keep his Armour bright and in good order who thought much to let his Hands be serviceable to what was nearest to him his own Body Are ye still to learn said he the End and Perfection of our Victories is to avoid the Vices and Infirmities of those whom we subdue And to strengthen his Precepts by Example he applied himself now more vigorously than ever to Hunting and Warlike Expeditions readily embracing all opportunities of Hardship and Danger insomuch that old Lacon who chanc'd to be by when he encounter'd with and master'd an huge Lyon told him He had put his Empire in Competition and had fought gallantly with the Beast which of the two should be King Craterus caus'd a Representation of this Adventure consisting of the Lyon and the Dogs of the King engag'd with the Lyon and himself coming in to his assistance all express'd in Figures of Brass some of which were made by Lysippus and the rest by Leochares to be dedicated to the Temple of Apollo at Delphos In this manner did Alexander expose his Person to Danger whilst he both inur'd himself and incited others to the performance of brave and vertuous Actions But his Followers who were grown rich and consequently proud long'd to indulge themselves in Pleasure and Idleness and were perfectly weary of the Toyls and Inconveniencies of War and by degrees came to be so impudently ungrateful as to censure and speak ill of him behind his back All which at first he bore very patiently saying It became a King well to do good to others and be evil spoken of But to descend to some Instances of an inferiour nature it is certain that in the least demonstrations of Kindness to his Friends there was still a great mixture of Tenderness and Respect Hearing Peucestes was bitten by a Bear he wrote to him That he took it unkindly he should send others notice of it and not make him acquainted with it but now said he since it is so let me know how you do and whether any of your Companions forsook you when you were in danger that I may punish them He sent Hephestion who was absent about some business word How while they were fighting for their diversion with an Ichneumon Craterus was by chance run through both Thighs with Perdiccas his Javelin And upon Peucestes his recovery from a fit of Sickness he sent a Letter of Thanks to his Physician Alexippus When Craterus was ill he saw a Vision in his Sleep after which he offer'd Sacrifices for his Health and commanded him to do so likewise He wrote also to Pausanias the Physician who was about to purge Craterus with Hellebore partly out of an anxious Concern for him and partly to give him a Caution how he us'd that Medicine He was so tender of his Friends Reputation that he imprison'd Ephialtes and Cissus who brought him the first News of Harpalus his Flight and withdrawing from his Service as if they had falsly accus'd him When he sent the old infirm Soldiers home Eurylochus the Aegean got his Name enroll'd among the Sick though he ail'd nothing which being discover'd he confess'd he was in Love with a young Woman named Telerippa and had a mind to go along with her to the Sea-side Alexander enquired To whom the Woman belong'd and being told She was an Whore at her own disposal I will assist you said he to Eurylochus all I can in your Amour if your Mistriss be to be gain'd by Presents or Perswasions but we must use no other means because she is free-boâ—n It is surprizing to consider upon what slight occasions he would write Letters to serve his Friends As when he wrote one in which he gave Order to search for a Youth that belonged to Seleucus who was run away into Cilicia In another he thanked and commended Peucestes for apprehending Nicon a Servant of Craterus And to Megabysus concerning a Slave that had taken Sanctuary in a Temple he wrote that he should not meddle with him while he was there but if he could entice him out by fair means then he gave him leave to seize him It is reported of him that when he first sate in Judgment upon Capiâ—al Causes he would lay his Hand upon one of his Ears while the Accuser spoke to keep it free and unprejudic'd in behalf of the Party accus'd But afterwards such a multitude of Accusations were brought before him whereof many proving true exasperated him so that he gave credit to those also that were false and especially when any body spoke ill of him he would be so out of measure transported that he became cruel and inexorable valuing his Glory and Reputation far beyond either his Life or Kingdom His Affairs call'd upon him now to look after Darius expecting he should be put to the hazard of another Battel till he heard he was taken and secur'd by Bessus upon which news he sent home the Thessalians and gave them a largess of 2000 Talents over and above the Pay that was due to them This long and painful pursuit of Darius for in eleven days he march'd 412 Miles harass'd his Soldiers so that most of â—â—â—â— were ready to faint chiefly for want of Water While they were in this distress it hapned that some Macedonians who had fetch'd Water in Skins upon their Mules from a River they had found out came about Noon to the place where Alexander was and seeing him almost choak'd with Thirst presently fill'd an Helmet and offered it him He ask'd them to whom they were carrying the Water They told him to their Children adding withal that if his Life were but preserv'd it was no matter for them they should have opportunities enough to repair that loss tho' they all perished Then he took the Helmet into his Hands and looking round about when he saw all those who were near him stretched their heads out and gaped earnestly after the Drink he returned it again with thanks without tasting a drop of it For said he if I only should drink the rest will be quite out of heart and faint The Soldiers no sooner took notice of his Temperance and Magnanimity upon this occasion but they one and all cried out to him to lead them on boldly and fell a whipping their Horses to make them mend their pace for whilst they had such a King they said they defied either Weariness or Thirst and looked upon themselves to be little less than Immortal But tho' they â—â—Spsnâ—â—
the Macedonians Lords of the habitable World This is almost word for word as he wrote it in a Letter to Antipater where he adds That when he had thus spoken to them they all cryed out they would go along with him whithersoever it was his pleasure to lead them When he had in this manner gain'd the Principal it was no hard matter for him to bring over the multitude which in such Cases easily follows the Example of their Betters Now also he more and more accomodated himself in his way of Living to that of the Persians and brought them as near as he could to the Macedonian Customs wisely considering that since he design'd an Expedition which would carry him far from thence it was better to settle affairs in his absence by a mixture of their Constitutions and mutual Society with Good will than by Compulsion In order to this he chose out 30000 Boys whom he allow'd Masters to teach them the Greek Tongue and to train them up to Arms in the Macedonian Discipline As for his Marriage of Roxana whose good Mein and Beauty had charm'd him at a Drinking entertainment where he first happen'd to see her it was perfectly the effect of Love nor did it appear to be at all prejudicial to his Interest as things stood with him at that time For it put the conquer'd People in heart and made them confide in him and love him more than ever when they saw how continent he was and that he forbore the only Woman he was ever in Love with till he could enjoy her in a lawful and honourable way When he perceiv'd that among his chief Friends and Favourites Hephestion most approv'd all that he did and comply'd with and imitated him in his Habit while Craterus continued strict in the observation of the Customs and Fashions of his own Countrey He made the best use of them both employing the first in all Transactions with the Persians and the latter when he had to do with the Greeks or Macedonians It is true he lov'd Hephestion best as a Favorite because he lov'd Alexander but then he esteem'd and honour'd Craterus most as a Friend because he lov'd the King Wherefore these two great Men bore one another secret Grudges and often clash'd and quarrell'd so far that once in India they drew upon one another and were going to it in good earnest with their Friends on each side to second them till Alexander came up to them and publickly reprov'd Hephestion calling him Fool and Mad-man not to be sensible that without his Favour he was but a Cypher He chid Craterus also in private very severely and then causing them both to come into his presence he reconcil'd them at the same time swearing by Jupiter Ammon and the rest of the Gods that he lov'd them two above all other Men but if ever he perceivd them fall out again he would be sure to put both of them to death at least the Aggressor After which they neither ever did or said any thing so much as in jest to offend one another None had more Authority among the Macedonians than Philotas the Son of Parmenio for besides that he was valiant and able to endure any Fatigue of War he was also next to Alexander himself the most munificent and the greatest lover of his Friends one of whom asking him for some Money he commanded his Steward to give it him and when he told him he had not wherewith Have you not Plate then said he and Cloaths of mine turn them into Money rather than let my Friend go without But he was so very proud and insolent by reason of his Wealth and so over-nice about his Person and Diet more than became a private Man that he awkwardly and unseemingly affected the Air and Character of Greatness without the Civility and obliging Temper which ought to accompany it and so gain'd nothing but Envy and ill will to that degree that Parmenio would somtimes tell him My Son the meaner the better For he had long before been complain'd of and accus'd to Alexander particularly when Darius was overthrown in Cilicia and an immense Booty was taken at Damascus amongst the rest of the prisoners who were brought into the Camp there was one Antigone of Pydna a very handsome Woman who fell to Philotas his share The young Man one day in his Cups like an arrogant bragging Souldier told his Mistress That all the great Actions were perform'd by him and his Father the Glory and Benefit of which he said together with the Title of King that Stripling Alexander reap'd and enjoy'd by their means She could not hold but discovered what he had said to one of her Acquaintance and he as is usual in such Cases â—o another till at last it came to the King When Alexander had heard what she had to say he commanded her to continue her Intrigue with Philotas and give him an account from time to time of all that should fall from him to this purpose Who being through Inadvertency caught in this Snare sometimes to gratifie his Passion and sometimes his Vain-glory blurted out many foolish indiscreet Speeches against the King in Antigones hearing of which though Alexander was inform'd and convinc'd by strong Evidence yet he would take no notice of it at present whether it was that he confided in Parmenio's Affection and Loyalty or that he apprehended their Authority and Interest in the Army About this time one Dimnus a Macedonian Native of Chalaestra conspir'd against Alexander's Life and communicated his Design to a Youth whom he lov'd nam'd Nicomachus inviting him to be of the Party But he not relishing the thing reveal'd it to his Brother Balinus who immediately address'd himself to Philotas requiring him to introduce them both to Alexander to whom they had something of great moment to impart which very nearly concern'd him But he for what Reason is uncertain went not with them pretending the King was taken up with Affairs of more importance And when they had urg'd him a second time and were still slighted by him they applied themselves to another by whose means being admitted into Alexander's presence they first laid open Dimnus his Conspiracy and then represented Philotas his Negligence who had taken so little notice of their repeated Solicitations which extremely exasperated Alexander especially when sending to apprehend Dimnus he understood that he defended himself and chose rather to be Slain than Taken for by his Death he thought he was depriv'd of the means of making a full discovery of the Plot. As soon as his Displeasure against Philotas began to appear presently all his old Enemies shew'd themselves and said openly The King was too easily impos'd on to imagine that one so inconsiderable as Dimnus the Calaestrian should of his own head undertake such an Enterprize that in all likelihood he was but subservient to the Design an Instrument that was mov'd by some greater
Spring that those ought to be most strictly examined about the Matter whose Interest it was so much to conceal it When they had once fill'd the King's Head with these and the like Speeches and Suspicions they loaded Philotas daily with innumerable Crimes till at last they prevail'd to have him seiz'd and put to the Question which was done in the presence of the principal Officers Alexander himself being plac'd behind the Tapestry to understand what pass'd Where when he heard in what a miserable Tone and with what abject Submissions Philotas applied himself to Hephestion he broke out in this manner Art thou so mean-Spirited and Effeminate Philotas said he and yet engage thy self in so desperate a Design After his Death he presently sent into Media to take off Parmenio his Father who had done brave Service under Philip and was the only Man especially of his old Friends and Counsellors who had encourag'd Alexander to invade Asia Of three Sons which he had in the Army he had already lost two and now was himself put to Death with the third These Actions rendred Alexander formidable to many of his Friends and chiefly to Antipater who thereupon to strengthen himself sent Ambassadors privately to the Etolians to treat an Alliance with them for they stood in fear of Alexander because they had destroy'd the Oeniades of which when he was inform'd he said The Children of the Oeniades need not Revenge their Father's Quarrel for he would himself take care to punish the Etolians Not long after this happen'd the deplorable End of Clitus which to those who barely hear the matter of Fact may seem more inhumane than that of Philotas But if we take the Story with its Circumstance of Time and weigh the Cause we shall find the King did it not on purpose but by evil Chance and that his Passion and Drunkenness were the occasion of Clitus his Misfortune which came to pass in this manner The King had a Present of Graecian Fruit brought him from the Sea-Coast which was so very fresh and fair that he was surpriz'd at it and call'd Clitus to him to see it and to give him a share of it Clitus was then Sacrificing but he immediately left off and came follow'd by three Sheep on whom the Drink-Offering had been already pour'd in order to Sacrifice them which when Alexander saw he told his Diviners Aristander and Cleomantis the Lacedemonian of it and ask'd them what it meant Who assuring him it was an ill Omen he commanded them in all haste to offer Sacrifices for Clitus his Safety forasmuch as three days before he himself had seen a strange Vision in his Sleep of Clitus all in Mourning sitting by Parmenio's Sons who were Dead Clitus however staid not to finish his Devotions but came strait to Supper with the King who the same day had Sacrific'd to Castor and Pollux And when they had drank pretty hard some of the Company fell a Singing the Verses of one Pranichus or as others say of Pierion which were made upon those Captains who had been lately worsted by the Barbarians on purpose to disgrace and turn them to Ridicule which so offended the grave ancient Men that they reprov'd both the Author and the Singer of the Verses though Alexander and the Blades about him were mightily pleas'd to hear them and encourag'd them to go on Till at last Clitus who had drank too much and was besides of a froward and willful Temper was so nettled that he could hold no longer saying It was not well done to expose the Macedonians so before the Barbarians and their Enemies since though it was their Unhappiness to be overcome yet they were much better Men than those who laugh'd at them To this Alexander replied That sure Clitus spoke so tenderly of Cowardise when he call'd it Misfortune only to excuse himself At which Clitus starting up This Cowardise as you are pleas'd to term it said he to him sav'd your Life though you pretend to be sprung from the Gods when you were running away from Spithridates his Sword and it is by the expence of Macedonian Blood and by these Wounds that you are now rais'd to such a height as to despise and disown your Father Philip and adopt your self the Son of Jupiter Ammon Thou base Fellow said Alexander who was now throughly exasperated dost thou think to utter these Things every where of me and stir up the Macedonians to Sedition and not be punish'd for it We are sufficiently punish'd already answer'd Clitus if this be the Recompence of our Toyls and esteem those happiest who have not liv'd to see their Countrymen Ignominiously scourg'd with Median Rods and forc'd to sue to the Persians to have access to their King While he talk'd thus at Random and those who were by thwarted and reprov'd him the old Men endeavour'd all they could to compose the Business Alexander in the mean time turning about to Xenodochus the Cardian and Artemius the Colophenian ask'd them If they were not of Opinion that the rest of the Graecians in comparison with the Macedonians behav'd themselves like so many Demi-Gods among wild Beasts But Clitus for all this would not give over desiring Alexander to speak out if he had any thing more to say or else why did he invite Men who were Free-Born and us'd to speak their Minds openly without restraint to sup with him He had better live and converse with Barbarians and Conquer'd Slaves who would not scruple to adore his Persian Girdle and his white Tunick Which words so provok'd Alexander that not able to suppress his Anger any longer he threw one of the Apples that lay upon the Table at him and hit him and then look'd about for his Sword But Aristophanes one of his Life-guard had hid that out of the way and others came about him and besought him to stay his Fury but in vain for breaking from them he call'd out aloud to his Guards in the Macedonian Language which was a certain sign of some great Disturbance towards and commanded a Trumpeter to sound giving him a Box on the Ear for not presently obeying him though afterwards the same Man was commended for disobeying an Order which would have put the whole Army into Tumult and Confusion Clitus continued still in the same quarrelsome Humour till his Friends with much ado forc'd him out of the Room but he came in again immediately at another door very irreverently and confidently singing this Verse out of Euripides his Andromache Alas in Greece how ill Affairs are govern'd Then Alexander snatching a Spear from one of the Soldiers met Clitus as he was putting by the Curtain that hung before the Door and ran him through the Body so that he fell down and after a few Sighs and Groans died At sight of which the King's Anger presently vanishing he came perfectly to himself and when he saw his Friends about him all in a profound Silence he pull'd
generously with him for he not only suffer'd him to govern his own Kingdom as his Lieutenant but added to it a large Province of some free People whom he had newly subdued which consisted of 15 several Nations and contain'd 5000 considerable Towns besides abundance of Villages Another Government three times as large as this he bestow'd on Philip one of his Friends Some time after the Battel with Porus most Authors agree that Bucephalus died under cure of his Wounds or as Onesicritus says of Fatigue and Age being 30 years old Alexander was no less concern'd at his Death than if he had lost an old Companion or an intimate Friend and built a City which he nam'd Bucephalia in memory of him on the Bank of the River Hydaspes and another in remembrance of his beloved favorite Dog Peritas as Sotion assures us he was inform'd by Potamon of Lesbos But this last Combat with Porus took off the edge of the Macedonians Courage and hindred their farther progress in India For having with much ado defeated him who brought but 20000 Foot and 2000 Horse into the Field they thought they had Reason to oppose Alexander's Design of obliging them to pass the Ganges too which they were told was Four Miles over and an hundred fathom deep and the Banks on the farther side cover'd with multitudes of Enemies For they had intelligence that the Kings of the Gandaritans and Persians expected them there with 80000 Horse 200000 Foot 8000 arm'd Chariots and 6000 fighting Elephants Nor was this a false vain Report spread on purpose to discourage them for Androcottus who not long after reign'd in those Parts made a Present of 500 Elephants at once to Seleucus and with an Army of 600000 Men subdued all India Alexander at first was so griev'd and enrag'd at his Mens Reluctancy that he shut himself up in his Tent and in a desponding manner threw himself upon the Ground declaring if they would not pass the Ganges he ow'd them no thanks for any thing they had hitherto done and that to retreat now was plainly to confess himself vanquish'd But at last the prudent Remonstrances and Perswasions of his Friends who inform'd him truly how the Case stood and the Tears and Lamentations of his Soldiers who in a suppliant manner crowded about the entrance of his Tent prevail'd with him to think of returning Yet before he decamp'd he would needs impose upon Posterity by leaving behind some fictitious Monuments of his Glory such as Arms of an extraordinary bigness and Mangers for Horses with Bits of Bridles above the usual size which he set up and distributed in several Places He erected Altars also to the Gods which the Kings of the Persians even in our Time highly reverence and often pass the River to sacrifice upon them after the Graecian manner Androcottus then a Youth saw Alexander there and has often afterwards been heard to say That he miss'd but little of making himself Master of those Countries their King who then reign'd was so hated and despis'd for the viciousness of his Life and the meanness of his Extraction Alexander decamping from hence had a mind to see the Ocean to which purpose he caus'd a great many Vessels with Oars and small Boats to be built in which he fell gently down the Rivers making Merry as he went and order'd it so that his Navigation was neither unprofitable nor unactive for by making several Descents he took in the Fortifi'd Towns and consequently the Country on both sides But at the Siege of a City of the Mallians who are the valiantest People of India he ran great danger of his Life for having beaten off the Defendants with showers of Arrows he was the first Man that mounted the Wall by a scaling Ladder which as soon as he was up broke and left him almost alone exposed to the Darts which the Barbarians threw at him in great numbers from below In this Distress turning himself as well as he could he leaped down in the midst of his Enemies and had the good Fortune to light upon his Feet The brightness and clattering of his Armour when he came to the Ground made the Barbarians think they saw Rays of Light or some Phantom playing before his Body which frighted them so at first that they ran away and dispers'd themselves till seeing him seconded but by two of his Guards they fell upon him Hand to Hand and though he defended himself very bravely wounded him through his Armour with their Swords and Spears One who stood farther off drew a Bow with such just Strength that the Arrow finding its way through his Cuirass stuck in his Ribs under the Breast This stroke was so violent that it made him give back and set one Knee to the Ground which as soon as he that Shot him perceiv'd he came up to him with his drawn Scimitar thinking to dispatch him and had done it if Peucestes and Limnaeus had not interpos'd who were both wounded Limnaeus mortally but Peucestes stood his Ground while Alexander kill'd the Barbarian But this did not free him from danger for besides many other Wounds at last he receiv'd so weighty a stroke of a Club upon his Neck that he was forc'd to lean his Body against the Wall yet still look'd undauntedly upon the Enemy When he was reduc'd to this Extremity the Macedonians breaking in to his Assistance very opportunely took him up just as he was fainting away having lost all sense of what was done near him and convey'd him to his Tent upon which it was presently reported all over the Camp that he was dead But when they had with great difficulty and pains saw'd out the Shaft of the Arrow which was of Wood and so with much ado got off his Cuirass they came to cut the Head of it which was three fingers broad and four long and stuck fast in the Bone During the Operation he was taken with almost mortal Swoonings but when it was out he came to himself again Yet though all Danger was past he continued very weak and confin'd himself a great while to a regular Diet and the method of his Cure till one day hearing the Macedonians were so desirous to see him that they were ready to mutiny he put on his Robe and when he had shew'd himself to them and sacrific'd to the Gods without more delay he went on Board again and as he coasted along subdued a great deal of the Country on both sides and took in several considerable Cities In this Voyage he took 10 of the Indian Philosophers Prisoners who had been most active in perswading Sabbas to Rebel and besides that had done the Macedonians abundance of Mischief These Men because they go stark naked are call'd Gymnosophists and are reputed to be extremely sharp and succinct in their Answers to whatsoever is propounded to them which he made tryal of by putting difficult Questions to them withal