with Gold and had no breed of Horses amongst them wherefore the Inhabitants would give a Talent for every Horse brought from the Main-land They also told him of great and monstrous Fishes whereof those Seas were full which carried down with the Tide would shew their bodies as big as a great Ship and follow the whole Fleet with a terrible noise and when they dived underneath the water they troubled the Seas as it had been a Ship-wrack These were things they had seen the rest they received by the report of the Inhabitants as how the red-Red-sea took his name of King Erithrus and not of the colour of the Water They shewed also another River not far from the Main-land growing full of Palm-trees where was a great Wood and in the midst thereof stood a Pillar where King Erithrus was buried with an Inscription on it of such Letters as were used in that Country They added besides That such Vessels as carried the Merchants and the Vassals of the Army through the covetousness of the Gold which had been reported unto them were landed in the Island by the Mariners and were never seen after These words moved Alexander much and put him in a great desire to get more certain knowledge of those parts and therefore he commanded them again to Sea willing that they should coast the Land till they came within the River of Euphrates and from thence to come up to Babylon against the Stream The things were infinite that he compassed in his head for he determined after he had brought the Sea-coast of the Orient under his subjection to go out of Syria into Africk for the envy he bare to the Carthaginians he purposed from thence to pass over the Desarts of Numidia towards the Gades where he understood by fame that Hercules had planted his Pillars and so directing his Journey through Spain the which the Greeks of the River Iberus call Iberia to go over the Alps into Italy till he should come to the Coast where the next passage was unto Epirus For this intent he gave commandment to his Officers in Mesopotamia That they should cut down Materials in Mount Libanus and convey the same to Capsagas a City in Syria and there make Gallies of such greatness that every one of them might be able to carry seven Oars upon a Bank and from thence he willed them to be conveyed unto Babylon He also sent commandment to the King of Cyprus to furnish them with Iron Hemp and Sails Whiles these things were in doing he received Letters from Porus and Taxiles signifying That Abiazares was dead of a Disease and that Philip his Lieutenant in those parts was slain they being put to death who were the Actors of it Alexander in the place of Philip preferred Eudemon that was Captain of the Thracians and gave Abiazares Kingdom to his Son From thence he came to Pasargades a Country of the Persians whereof Orsines was Lord who in Nobility and Riches exceeded all other men in those parts as one that derived his Pedegree from Cyrus that once was King of Persia The Riches his Predecessours left him were great and he by a long continuance in his Inheritance and Authority had much increased the same He met Alexander coming thitherwards and presented both him and his Friends with Gifts of sundry sorts which were a multitude of young Horses ready to be backed Chariots wrought with gold and silver precious Moveables excellent Pearls and sparkling Stones weighty Vessels of Gold Robes of Purple and four thousand Talents of coyned Silver But this his liberality was the occasion of his death for when he had presented all the Kings Friends with Gifts above their desire he honoured not Bagoas the Eunuch with any Gifts at all whom Alexander especially favoured for the use of his body by which he did oblige the King unto him There were therefore some that gave him admonition how much Alexander esteemed Bagoas but he answered them That his custom was to honour the Kings Friends and not his Minions and that it was not the manner of the Persians to have any in estimation who did pollute themselves in so shameful an abuse When his words were reported to the Eunuch he used the Power which he had got by dishonest Arts to the destruction of that noble and innocent man for he did suborn certain lewd persons of Orsines Country to bring in false Accusations against him which he warned them to present at such a time as he should appoint unto them In the mean season whensoever Bagoas got the King alone he would fill his credulous ears with tales against Orsines ever dissembling the cause of his displeasure lest thereby he might lose the reputation of his false report The King had not Orsines yet in suspition of such a Crime as afterwards he was charged with but he began to grow with him out of estimation His accusation was ever so secret that he could never get knowledge of the peril that was privily wrought against him This importunate Favourite in his vile conversation had with the King was mindful ever of the malice he bare to Orsines whom he would not cease to bring in suspition of Covetousness and Rebellion so oft as he saw Alexander bent to use him familiarly And now the false Accusations were in readiness which he had prepared to the destruction of the innocent whose fatal destiny which did approach could not be avoided It chanced that Alexander caused the Tomb wherein Cyrus Body was buried to be opened pretending to use certain Ceremonies for the dead but thinking in very deed that his Tomb had been full of Gold and Silver whereof there was a constant fame amongst the Persians But when it was viewed there was nothing found but a rotten Target two Scythian Bows and a Scimiter Alexander caused the Coffin wherein Cyrus Body was laid to be covered with the Garment which he himself accustomed to wear and set thereupon a Crown of Gold marvelling that the sumptuousness used in burial of such a King endued with so great Riches was no more then in the burial of an ordinary person When this thing was in doing Bagoas stood next unto Alexander and beholding him in the face said unto him What marvel is it though the Sepulchres of Kings be empty when Lords Houses are not able to hold the Gold that they have taken out from thence For my part I never saw this Tomb before but I have heard Darius report That there were three thousand Talents buried with Cyrus From hence said he proceeded Orsines liberality in winning your Favour by the gift of that which he knew he could not keep When he had thus stirred up Alexanders wrath against Orsines he presented them whom he had suborned to accuse him by whose report and by Bagoas informations Alexander was so incensed against Orsines that he was put in prison before he could suspect he was accused The Eunuch was not contented with the destruction of
Darius and put him down for the intent to give his Kingdom unto his servants yea and to such a one as attempted so vile an act against his Master at such a time as he had most need of help and whom we being his Enemies would have spared He being his subject put him in chains as a Captive and finally slew him because he should not be preserved by us Shall you suffer such a man as this to reign No let us make all the speed we may to see him crucified 〈◊〉 to shew unto all Kings and Nations a Justice done 〈◊〉 one that so vilely falsified his faith If the report should come unto you in your own Countries that the same man was destroying of the Greek Cities about Hellespont how sorry would you then be and how much would you lament that Bessus should enjoy that which you have got and usurp the rewards of your Victory Then would you make haste to recover your own then would you bend your selves to the Wars But how much better is it now to oppress him while he remaineth in such fear and is uncertain what way to take Shall we forbear to spend four days to come to him that have marched over such Snows that have passed so many Rivers that have climbed so many Mountains to whose journey the flowing-Sea could be no impediment nor the Streights of Cilicia could shut up our way Now all things are made plain and open and we stand in the entry of our Victory There are but a few Fugitives and Killers of their Master that do remain What more notable work can you leave unto your Posterity to be registred by Fame unto your glory then to revenge such as were Traytors to Darius You shall thereby shew that when you were Enemies unto him yet your hatred ended with his death and that no wicked man can escape your hands Which thing if you bring to pass how much more obedient do you think the Persians will be unto you when they perceive you to take just Wars in hand and that it was not with Bessus name whereat ye are offended but with his sins and treacheries His Oration was received of the Souldiers with such gladness that they straightways desire him to lead them whither he would And he that knew well enough how to make use of this opportunity immediately advanced into Parthenia and came to the bounds of Hircania leaving Craterus with those Regiments whereof he had the Rule and six thousand Horsemen of whom Amintas had the charge with the like number of Archers to defend Parthenia from the incursion of the barbarous Nations He appointed Erigonus with a small power to attend upon his Carriages willing him to pass with them through the plain Country and he himself with his Footmen and with the rest of his Horsemen marched forwards a hundred and fifty furlongs and incamped in a Valley at the entry into Hircania In the same place are great woods full of high and thick Trees and the bottom of the Valley is very fruitful by reason of the Springs that come forth of the Rocks Out of the foot of the Mountains there ariseth a River called Zieberis which within three furlongs of the head is divided by a Rock standing in the midst of the Stream causing the water to go two sundry ways which afterwards coming into one Channel runneth more violently then before by reason of the fall from the Rocks And suddenly it sinketh into the ground and so runneth hidden by the space of three hundred furlongs and then cometh forth again as it were out of a new Spring being then in bredth thirteen furlongs and as it runneth forwards groweth more narrow and falleth into another stream named Rhydago The Inhabitants of the Country affirm that any thing cast in where the Stream sinks into the ground will appear and come out at the next Mouth of the River For the proving of which conclusion Alexander caused two Bulls to be cast in where the water sank down whose bodies were found by such as were appointed for the purpose to appear where the Stream brake out again In this place he refreshed his Army four days during which time Nabarzanes who was Confederate with Bessus in killing of the King did write Letters to him to this effect How that he was no Enemy to Darius but counselled him ever to do such things as he judged most profitable and for his faithful counsel was put in danger of his life by him who against all reason intended to commit the custody of his person to Strangers condemning thereby the fidelity of his own Nation which they had kept unspotted towards their Kings the space of two hundred and thirty years Therefore seeing himself in that danger he took counsel of the present necessity and alledged that nothing was more dear to miserable Mortality then life for the love whereof he was driven to this extremity in committing an act which necessity rather compelled him to do then his own disposition For in a general Calamity every man seeks after his own Fortune If he would command him to come to his presence he said he would not refuse to do it for he could not fear that so great a King would violate his promise seeing one god is not used to deceive another But if he should seem unworthy of his assurance there were many Countries for him to fly unto for all men having vertue in them count always that for their Country where they make their residence Alexander made no stay to give him his word after such sort as the Persians used to receive promise which was safely to come and go Notwithstanding he marched in order of Battel sending ever Scouts before to discover the Country The light armed were appointed to the Vaward the Phalaux followed after and the Baggage behinde For by reason they were a warlike Nation and the Country hard to enter upon it caused the King to be circumspect The same Valley stretcheth to the Caspian Sea the Banks thereof resembling the Horns of the Moon before it cometh to the full the Sea lying betwixt them like a great Bay Upon the left hand the people inhabit that are called Cercetes which lye open towards the North and upon the other part the Leucosirians Mossynes and Chalibes and the Plains of the Amazons lye towards the West The Sea which some call the Caspian Sea and some the Hircanian being more sweet then any other bringeth forth Serpents of a wonderful bigness and Fishes differing in colour much from all the rest There be divers of opinion that the Lake of Meotis should run into this Sea which they conjecture by the water thinking the same to receive its sweetness of the Lake Towards the North the Sea groweth into a Beach and shooteth forth his waters far upon the Land which rising high make many Mears and Plashes And as by a constant course of the Planets they flow out so at a certain time by
an Ebb they return again restoring the ground to its former estate Some believe these waters to be no parcel of the Caspian Sea but that they come out of India and run into Hircania which lieth low in the foresaid Valley The King being removed from that place marched forwards twenty furlongs in a wilde Desart where great woods hung continually over their heads and Brooks of water and the dirt gave great impediment to their journey But at length without any opposition of his Enemies he passed those difficulties and came unto a fair Country wherein besides other Victuals wherewith it did abound there grew great plenty of Apples and the ground was very apt for Vines There were also plenty of a certain kinde of Trees much like unto Oaks whose leaves were covered with honey which the Inhabitants gather before the Sun-rising for else the moisture would be dried up with the heat When Alexander had passed thirty furlongs further Phrataphernes met him yeilding both himself and such others as fled away after Darius death whom he received gently and came to a Town called Arnas Thither came Craterus and Erigonus bringing with them Phradates that had the rule of the Tapurians his friendly receiving and gentle entertainment was cause that many followed his example in committing themselves to Alexanders Mercy Menape was there made Prince of Hircania who being a banished man in the time of Occhus came to King Philip for Refuge and Phradates also was restored to the Office he had before When Alexander was come to the uttermost bounds of Hircania Artabasus whom as we declared did shew himself always faithful to his Master did meet him with Darius Kinsmen and Children and with a small Band of Greek Souldiers The King at his coming proffered him his hand because he had been entertained before by King Philip when he was banished by Occhus But the chief cause that he received him so well was for the fidelity that he observed towards his Prince He being thus gently entertained by Alexander did say unto him Sir long may you flourish and reign in perpetual felicity I that rejoyce in all other things am grieved only at this that by reason of mine old age I shall not be able long to enjoy your goodness He was eighty five years of age and brought with him nine Sons born of one Mother whom he presented to the King praying God to continue their lives so long as their service might be acceptable unto him Alexander was accustomed much to walk on foot but then lest the old man might be ashamed to ride himself going on foot he called for Horses for them both When he was incamped he sent for the Greeks that Artabasus brought but they made request that he would first give assurance to the Lacedemonians that were amongst them or else they would take advice amongst themselves what were best to do The same were the Embassadours that the Lacedemonians had sent to Darius which after the Battel joyned themselves to the Greeks that were in pay with Darius The King willed them to leave all assurances and compositions and come to receive such appointment as he would give them They stood long in a doubt vaâ—ying in opinions but at length they agreed so to do saving Democrates of Athens who had always opposed the success of the Macedons and despairing of pardon slew himself But the other as they had determined submitted themselves to Alexanders will being ten thousand five hundred in number besides ninety of such as were sent Embassadours unto Darius The greatest part of the Souldiers were distributed amongst the Bands to fill up the numbers that wanted and the rest were sent home except the Lacedemonians whom he commanded to be put in prison There was a Nation called Mardons bounding next to 〈◊〉 rude in their manners and usages accustomed to live by theft They neither sent Embassadours nor gave any signification that they would be at Alexanders Commandment He took thereat great indignation that any one people should give impediment to his Victory and therefore leaving a Guard for his Carriages he advanced against them with a strong power He marched forwards in the night and by the time that the day appeared his Enemies were in sight But the matter came rather to an Alarm then to any fight for the Enemies were soon driven from the Hills who flying away left their Villages to be sacked by the Macedons But the Army could not pass into the inward parts of the Country without great trouble and vâ—xation the same being compassed about with high Mountains great Woods and desart Rocks and the parts which were plain were defended with a strange kinde of fortification that is to say with Trees set thick of purpose the Boughs whereof when they were young were wreathed one within another the tops bowed down were put into the ground again from whence as out of another root there sprung new branches They would not suffer the same to grow as Nature brought them forth but did knit them so one within another that when they were full of leaves they covered the earth The Trees thus wreathed one within another inclosed in the Country as it were with a continual hedge and were as snares to intangle such as would enter There was no way could be devised to go through the same but only by cutting down the wood and therein they found a great difficulty and much travel by reason that the wreathing and wrapping of the Boughs kept them off from the bodies of the Trees and the weakness of the Boughs so yeilded to the strokes that they could not easily be cut asunder The Inhabitants of the Country were accustomed to creep amongst the under-wood like wilde Beasts and by privy Sallies break out upon their Enemies Alexander therefore caused his men after the manner of Hunters to seek out their lurking places and killed many of them But at length he invironed the Wood with his Souldiers round about to the intent they might break in at every place where they should finde an entry In doing whereof many wandred and lost their company in places that they knew not and were taken prisoners and amongst them Bucephalus Alexanders Horse whom he did not esteem as other men do other Beasts for this Horse would not suffer any other man to back him and when the King would ride he would kneel down upon his knees to receive him so that he seemed to have the sense to understand whom he carried Alexander was more sorrowful and incensed fo◠〈◊〉 loâ—s of his Horse then was expedient for such a cause for searching about to get the Horse again he caused Proclamation to be made by an Interpreter that except he were restored he would not leave one of the Country-men alive When they heard this terrible threatning amongst other gifts they presented unto Alexander his Horse Yet he was not therewith pacified but commanded the Woods to be cut down and the ways to be
subdued I came into Asia not utterly to subvert the Nations nor make the one half of the world desart but to give the conquered cause not to repine at my Victorie This is the occasion they gladly fight for you and for your Kingdom spend their bloud who if they were proudly used would straight rebel against you That possession is durable which is kept by violence but the thanks of a benefit received endureth everlastingly If we purpose to enjoy Asia and not to make a progress only through it we must make them partakers of our clemencie and then their fidelitie shall make our Empire stable and perpetual and truly we have â—ow more then we can well wish or desire Covetousness is an unsatiable Disease especially when men desire to fill the vessel that runneth over But you will say that I mingle their customes with ours It is so And why Because I see in many Nations many things which we need not be ashamed to follow and so great an Empire as we have got cannot otherwise be aptly governed except we deliver some things to them and receive likewise some things back from them again One thing is to be laughed at that I should refuse Jupiter for my Father being so acknowledged by his Oracle as who saith the answer of the gods were in my power He proffered the name of his son unto me which was not a thing unseasonable for the Atchievements I intended I would wish that the Indians could believe me to be a god for the success in War standeth much by Fame and that which is falsely believed sometime worketh the effect of things that are true Do you note me given to excess and prodigality because I garnished your Armor with Gold and Silver My purpose was to shew to men accustomed to such things nothing to be more vile then such kinde of metal and to declare that the Macedons invincible in other things could not be overcome with Gold it self After this manner I shall blinde the eyes of the barbarous who are always wont at the first sight to wonder at things be they never so base and vile And in that we shew to make no estimation of it we shall declare to all men that we are not come for desire of Gold nor Silver but to subdue the whole world from which glory thou Traytor wouldest have bereaved me and betrayed the Macedons I being slain to the barbarous Nations I am exhorted to spare their Parents Although it was not expedient that they should know what I have determined of them and to the intent they might die with the greater grief if they have any care or memory of them yet long ago I have forborn the custome of putting the innocent Parents and kinsfolks of traytors to death with the offenders and I now profess to pardon them and have them all in the same estimation I had before I know thou wouldest have thy Master Calisthenes brought forth who only esteemed thee being of his complexion because thou desirest to hear pronounced from his mouth those railing words which even now thou didst vomit out against me If he had been a Macedon born I had brought him into the place with thee a worthy Master of such a Disciple but being born in another Countrey he is subject to another law When he had spoken these words he dismissed the Council and commanded all such as were condemned to be delivered to the Souldiers of their own Regiments who because they would declare by some cruelty the love they bare towards their Prince slew them by all torments Calisthenes also died upon the Rack innocent of the conspiracy against the Kings person but a man not pliable to the custom of the Court and abhorring from the disposition of Flatterers There was never any thing that brought the Greeks into a greater indignation against Alexander then that he not only killed but caused to be tormented to death and that without judgement a man indued with godly Manners and good Sciences and one by whom he was perswaded to live when he purposed to have died for sorrow that he had slain Clitus for which his cruelty repentance followed that came too late But lest he might nourish idleness apt for the sowing of seditious rumours he advanced towards India always more glorious in War than after his Victory The whole Country of India lieth chiefly towards the East containing more in length than it doth in bredth The North parts are full of Mountains and Hills but all the rest of the land is plain having many fair Rivers which running out of the Mount Caucasus do pass pleasantly through the Countrey Indus is more cold than any other of the Rivers whose water is not unlike the colour of the Sea But of all the Rivers in the Orient Ganges is most excellent which running from the South passeth directly through many great Mountains until that by the encountring with Rocks his course is turn'd towards the East where it is received into the red Sea The violence of the stream breaketh down his banks swallowing trees and much of the ground In many places the stream is kept in with the rocks on which it beateth but where the ground is more soft there the River becometh more large and maketh many Islands The greatness of Ganges is much increased by the River of Acâ—sines which both meet before they enter into the Sea at their meeting the water is violently troubled and whiles the one resisteth the others entry neither of them seem to give place to other Diardnes is a River of the less Fame because is runneth in the uttermost bounds of India but yet it bringeth forth Crocodiles as the Nile doth and also Dolphins with Monsters unknown to other Nations Crooked Erimanthus with his many turnings and reflexions is consumed by the Inhabitants with watering their ground which is the cause that when it draweth near the Sea it becometh very little and beareth no name There are many other Rivers that divide the Countrey but none of them are so famous as these because they do not run so far The North-winde doth blast and annoy those parts most that are next unto the Sea but those Windes are so broken with the tops of the Mountains that they cannot endamage the inward parts of the Countrey wherefore Fruits are very plentiful there and perfect But that Region doth so much differ from the ordinary course of time in other parts of the world that when other Countries are burned most with the Sun India is covered over with Snow And when other places are Frozen the Heat is there most intolerable and yet there appeareth not any natural cause why it should be so The colour of the Indian Sea not differing much from the water of other Seas did take his name of King Erithrus by reason whereof the ignorant Greeks took opinion that the water of those Seas was red The Land is very aboundant of Flax whereof the greater part of
their Garments are made The twigs of the Trees are so tender that they receive the Prints of Letters like wax The Birds by teaching counterfeit the voices of men There are many Beasts which are not bred among other Nations Rhinocerots are there bred but not brought forth The Elephants of that Countrey are stronger than those that are made tame in Africk and their highness doth answer to their strength The water of the Rivers doth carry down Gold and run mildely without any great fall The Sea doth cast upon the Shore both Pearls and precious Stones whereof proceeded the cause of their great Riches for after their Merchandize was once known to other Nations the purgings of the Seas were highly esteemed as the fansie of man would make the price The dispositions of the men as in all other places are according to the scituation of the Countries they dwell in They make their Garments of Linnen Cloth which cover their bodies down to their feet They binde Sandals under their feet and wear Rolls of Linnen about their Heads Such as are in any Degree either of Nobility or Riches have precious Stones hanging at their Ears and they cover all their Arms with Bracelets and Ornaments of Gold They use great curiosity in Combing of their Heads which they cut very seldome They shave without any form of gravity all parts of their Face saving their Chin. But the excess of voluptuoasness which they call magnificence used by them doth exceed the vices of all Nations When their will is to be seen abroad their servants carry about them Perfuming Pans of Silver and fill all the ways where they go with sweet Savors they themselves are born in Litters of Gold hanging with pearls and the Garments they wear are of gold and purple empaled together The armed men follow their Litter and such as are of their Guard among whom are Birds born upon boughs which they teach always to sing when they are conversant in earnest matters In the Kings Palace are pillars of gold carved about with vines of gold wherein the Images of those Birds they delight in most are artificially wrought The Court is open to all comers When the Kings do comb and dress their heads they use to give answer to the Embassadors and execute justice upon their people When their Sandals are taken off their feet are anointed with sweet odours The greatest travel they take is when they hunt wilde Beasts inclosed in Parks which they strike whiles their Concubines are singing and dallying with them the Arrows they shoot are of two cubits long which do not the effect of the force they are shot withal by reason of their weight which is an impediment to their swiftness wherein the property of the Arrow chiefly consisteth In small journeys they use to ride on horseback but when they are to travel further they are carried upon Elephants whose huge bodies are covered all over with gold And because no vice should be wanting in their corrupt manners great numbers of Concubines do follow them in golden Litters The Queens have their companies separate by themselves who in all excess of voluptuousness are nothing inferiour to the Kings It belongeth to the women there to dress meat and they also serve men with wine whereof there is great plenty among the Indians When the King hath largely drunk and is fallen into a sleep his Concubines use to carry him into his Chamber calling upon their gods in a Hynâ—â— after their Countrey manner Who would think that amongst all these vices there were any regard of vertue there are amongst them a rough kinde of people whom they call wise men who count it the most glorious thing to prevent their own death and they use to burn themselves while they are alive It is imputed for a great shame to such as either cannot well stir for age or have not their perfect health if they prolong their life till their natural death approach nor is there any honour given to those bodies that die for age They think the Fires to be defiled if the bodies be not alive that are burned in them Such as live in Cities after a civil manner attain to the most knowledge of the motion of the Stars and of the prophecy of things to come nor can they think that any man doth shorten his life that looketh for death without fear They esteem those for gods whom they begin once to worship and especially trees the violating of which they forbid upon pain of death They number fifty days to the month and notwithstanding limit their years as they do in other places They note not their times by such course of the Moon as is commonly used that is from the full Moon but from the first quarter when she beginneth to be horned and by counting after the same manner they make their accounts more uncertain There are many other things reported of them with which I thought not necessary to interrupt the order of this History As Alexander entred into India the Princes of the Countrey addressed themselves unto him submiting themselves and declaring that he was the third man being begotten of Jupiter that came into their Countrey They said that Hercules and Bacchus were not known to them but only by fame but they rejoyced that they might behold him present with their eyes Alexander received them with all the gentleness he could devise and willed them to accompany him because he would use them as Guides in his Journey But when he saw that the whole Nation came not he sent Perdicas and Ephestion with part of his Army before to subdue such as would not submit themselves and willed them to go forwards till they came to the River of Indus and there to make Boats in which he might transport his Army and because they had to pass many Rivers the Boats were so devised that they might be taken asunder and carried in Carts and afterwards joyned together again He appointed Craterus to follow him with the Phalanx and he with such Horsemen and Footmen as were light armed marched before and being Encountred on his way he Fought a small Battel and drove his Enemies into the next City When Craterus was come to the intent he might strike terrour amongst those people that had not yet proved the Macedons Force he commanded that when they won the City they should kill both man woman and childe and burn the same to the ground but as he was riding about the Walls he was hurt with an Arrow Notwithstanding the City was won and all put to the Sword the very houses not escaping the cruelty of the Conquerours After this he subdued an obscure Nation and came to a City called Nisa It chanced that whiles they incamped in a Wood before the City there fell a cold in the night which more afflicted the Macedons than ever it had done before in any other place against the which they prepared the remedy that was next at
at your hand Here the Ocean Sea doth meet us and if we mistake not we are come to the utmost place where your Fortune leads you I had rather speak these things before then behinde your back for I seek not so much to win the favour of the Souldiers as I desire that you should rather hear the voice of them speaking then the murmure of them complaining When Cenus had made an end of his Oration there arose a cry and lamentation which in confused voices every where call'd Alexander their King their Father and their Lord. Then the other Captains and especially the more ancient of them who by reason of their age had the more honest excuse and greater authority made the like request so that the King was not able in that obstinacy either to chastise them or asswage them Therefore uncertain what to do he leaped from the Judgment-Seat and commanding his lodging-door to be shut he admitted no man to come unto him but such as were accustomed to be about his person Two days he consumed in this angry melancholy and the third day he came forth amongst his men causing twelve Altars of square stone to be set up as a Monument of his journey and willed the Trenches of his Camp to be made wider and the places where the Souldiers lay to be inlarged greater then served for the bigness of their bodies thinking by form and shape of things thus increased to leave a deceitful Wonder to Posterity From thence he returned by the way he had passed before and incamped near unto the River of Acesines Cenus chanced there to die whose death the King lamented but yet he said that for so few days he had made an over-long Oration as though he alone should have returned into Macedon By that time the Navy of Ships which he had appointed to be made stood in readiness and aflote and Memnon in the mean season brought him out of Thrace 6000 Horsemen and besides from Harpalus 7000 Footmen with twenty five thousand Arms that were wrought with silver and gold which he distributed amongst his men and commanded the old to be burned purposing to pass unto the Ocean Sea with a thousand Ships But before he departed he reconciled by Affinity Porus and Taxiles betwixt whom there was a new discord risen upon their old hatred He had obtained of them great aid both in making and the furnishing of his Fleet. During the time he was about this business he builded two Cities the one whereof he called Nicea and the other Bucephalon naming the latter by the name of his Horse that was dead He gave order that his Elephants and Carriages should pass by Land and he sailed down the River proceeding every day about forty furlongs so that he might always land his power in such places as he thought convenient At length he came into a Country where the Rivers of Hydaspes and Acesines do joyn together and do run from thence into the bounds of a Nation called Sobions They declared that their Predecessors came from Hercules Army who being left there sick did inhabit the Country They were cloathed in beasts skins using Clubs for their weapons And though they had left the customs of the Greeks yet there appeared many things amongst them that declared from whence they were descended Here the King landed and marched two hundred and ten furlongs within the Country which he wasted and took the chiefest City in the same There were forty thousand men that stood in defence against him upon a Rivers side but he passed the water putting them to flight and after they fled into the City he wan it by force The young men were all slain and the rest sold as slaves After that he assaulted another City where he was repulsed by the great force of the Defendants and lost many of his men But when the Inhabitants saw that he continued still the Siege despairing of their safeguard they set fire on their houses and destroyed themselves their Wives and Children which fire when the Macedons quenched they kindled the same again It seemed a strange contention the Citizens to destroy their own City and their Enemies labouring to preserve it the Wars so contrarily changed the Laws wrought in man by nature The Castle was saved wherein a Garrison was left Alexander went about this Castle by water which was invironed with three of the greatest Rivers in all India Ganges excepted Indus passing on the North-side and Acesines running into Hydaspes upon the South Where these Rivers met the waters rose like surges of the Sea being full of Mud and Ouze which by the course of the water were driven upon the shore for all that the Rivers are broad yet the Channels are but narrow wherein the Ships must pass The waves did rise so high and thick breaking sometimes upon the Poops and sometime upon the side of the Ships that the Marriners began to vail their Sails but they were so troubled through fear and the violent swiftness of the stream that they could not order their tackling so that two of their greatest Ships were drowned in sight and the smallest Vessels which were less able to be governed were driven upon the shore without any harm The King chanced upon the place where the Waves swelled highest wherewith his Ship was so tossed and traversed that the Helm could not direct its course wherefore the King fearing to be drowned pulled off his garments being ready to cast himself into the water and his Confidents did swim near thereabout being ready to receive him It appeared to him doubtful which peril was the greatest either to swim or to continue still aboard But the Marriners laboured wonderfully with their Oars adding all the force that lay in mans power to cut through the Waves by whose importunate travel the water seemed to divide asunder and to give place so that at length they got out of the surges and yet not able to bring the Ship to the shore dashed upon the next flat it appearing that the Ships and the Stream had fought a Battel together Alexander having escaped this peril set up to every River an Altar whereupon he offered due Sacrifice and that done he past forwards thirty furlongs From thence he came into the Country of the Sudricans and Mallians who being accustomed to be at war among themselves were then joyned in Society They assembled in Arms to the number of nine thousand Footmen ten thousand Horsemen and nine hundred armed Waggons whereof when the Macedons were advertised who believed that they had passed all perils seeing a fresh War arise with a new fresh Nation they were amaz'd with a sudden fear and began again with seditious words to repove their King They alledged that he would lately have compelled them to pass the River of Ganges to make war upon those Nations inhabiting beyond the same which enterprise though it were left they had not for all that ended the War never the more but
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
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-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