PROGRESS OF ALEXANDER-BATTLE OF THE ISSUS.

a small river now called Ousvola, which empties into the Sea of Marmora. Alexander led the attack upon them by plunging into the river with his horse. He advanced, with thirteen of his troop, in the face of a cloud of arrows; and, though swept down by the rapidity of the current, and opposed by steep banks lined with cavalry, he forced his way, by irresistible strength and impetuosity, across the stream. Standing upon the muddy slope, his troops were now obliged to sustain a furious attack, hand to hand and eye to eye. The Persian troops, cheered by their vantage ground, pushed on with terrific shouts, and hurled their javelins, like snow-flakes, upon the Macedonians. Alexander, being himself distinguished by his buckler and crest, decorated with white plumes, was the special

105

scription to be made: "Won, by Alexander, of the barbarians in Asia."*

Alexander soon pushed on to the East, and, meeting Darius near the Gulf of Issus, now Skanderoon,- and forming the north-eastern point of the Mediterranean,a tremendous engagement took place, 333 B. C. Darius was defeated, and more than one hundred thousand of his soldiers lay dead on the field. Darius escaped with difficulty, leaving his tent, and even his wife and daughter, in the hands of the enemy. When the fighting was over, Alexander went to see the tent of Darius. It was, indeed, a curiosity to one like the Macedonian king, little acquainted with Eastern refinements. He gazed for a moment at the luxurious baths of Darius, his vases, boxes, vials, and basins, all of wrought gold; he inhaled the luscious perfumes, and surveyed the rich silk drapery and gorgeous furniture of the tent, and then exclaimed, contemptuously, "This, then, it seems, is to be a king;" intimating that, if these were the only distinctions of a sovereign, the title deserved contempt.

While Alexander was thus occupied, he was told that the wife and daughter of Darius were his captives. The queen was one of the loveliest women that was ever known, and his daughter was also exceedingly beautiful. Though Alexander was told of all this, he sent word to the afflicted ladies that they need have no fear; and he caused them to be treated with the utmost delicacy and attention. He refrained from using his power in any way to their annoyance, and

www thus displayed one of the noblest graces of a gentle

Alexander at the Battle of the Granicus.

object of attack. His cuirass was pierced by a javelin, at the joint; but thus far he was unhurt. Now he was assailed by two chiefs of great distinction. Evading one, he engaged the other. After a desperate struggle, in which his crest was shorn away, and his helmet cleft to his hair, he slew one of the chiefs, and was saved, at the moment of deadly peril, by the hand of his friend Clytus, who despatched the

other.

man and a man- a nice regard for the feelings of the gentler sex. This anecdote of the conqueror has shed more honor upon his name, for two thousand years, than the victory of the Issus; nor will it cease to be cited in his praise as long as history records his name.

CHAPTER LXI.

333 to 323 B. C.

Habits of Alexander- Conquest of Tyre-
Egypt- Battle of Arbela-Conquest of
Persia-Progress of Alexander's Conquest
- Return to Babylon-His Death.

While Alexander's cavalry were fighting with the
utmost fury, the Macedonian phalanx and the in-
fantry crossed the river, and now engaged the enemy.
The effect of a leader's example was never more
strikingly displayed. Alexander's exhibition of cour-
age and prowess made every soldier a hero. They
fought, indeed, like persons who knew nothing and
cared for nothing, but to destroy the enemy. Some
of the Persians gave way and fled. Their hireling
Greeks, however, maintained the fight, and Alex-
ander's horse was killed under him - but not the cele-
brated Bucephalus. "When Greek meets Greek,
then comes the tug of war." The fight was indeed
severe, but at last Alexander triumphed. The victory
was complete. The loss of the Persians was twenty-fountain at Coblentz, upon the Rhine, as follows:-
five thousand slain; that of the Macedonians less than
fifty.

THE historians represent Alexander as simple in his tastes and habits, at this period. He was temperate in eating, drank wine with great moderation, and, if he sat long at table, it was for the purpose of conversation, in which he excelled - though given to boasting of his military exploits. When business called, nothing

Alexander had now passed the gates of Asia, and had obtained entrance into the dominions of the enemy. He paused for a time, to pay the last honors to the dead. To each he erected a statue of brass, executed by Lysippus. Upon the arms which were taken and distributed among the troops, he caused this in

the Macedonian conqueror in this kind of boasting. As he *We may remark that Bonaparte seems to have imitated was on his march to Russia, he caused to be graven on a stone

"Year MDCCCXII. Memorable for the Campaign against Russia, 1812."

The Russian commander, when Napoleon had been dethroned, passing through Coblentz with his troops, caused to be carved, immediately beneath, as follows:

"Seen and approved by the Russian commander of the Town of Coblentz, January 1, 1814."

nian conqueror; yet he was bound upon an errand which It is true that no such speedy retort awaited the Macedowas, ere long, to put a period to his proud career.

106

CONQUEST OF EGYPT, PERSIA, &c.

of Arbela, in Assyria. Alexander immediately approached, and prepared for battle. Being near the enemy at night, the murmur of the immense multitude, seeming like the roaring of the sea, startled one of Alexander's friends, who advised him to attack them in the night. The reply was, "I will not steal a victory!"

could detain him; but, in times of leisure, his first | camped on the banks of the Bumadus, near the town business in the morning was to sacrifice to the gods. He then took his dinner, sitting. The rest of the day he spent in hunting, or deciding differences among his troops, or in reading and writing. Sometimes he would exercise himself in shooting or darting the javelin, or in mounting and alighting from a chariot in full career. Sometimes, also, he diverted himself with fowling and fox-hunting. His chief meal was supper, which he took at evening, and in a recumbent posture, with his friends around him. He was not fond of delicacies; and, though they were always found at his table, he usually sent them to others. Such was Alexander during the early periods of his campaigns in Asia. We shall see that he was, soon, grievously changed.

During that night, though it was foreseen that a dreadful and doubtful battle was to be fought the next day, Alexander, having made his preparations, slept soundly. In the morning, on the field, he wore a short coat, girt close about him; over that, a breastplate of linen strongly quilted, which he had taken in the battle of Issus. His helmet was of polished iron, and shone like silver. To this was fixed a gorAfter various operations, Alexander marched against get, set with precious stones. His sword was light, Phoenicia and Sidon, which submitted at once. Tyre and of the finest temper. The belt he wore was superb, resisted, but, after a siege of seven months, was taken and was given him by the Rhodians, as a mark of reby storm. Eight thousand Tyrians fell in the onslaught, spect. In reviewing and exercising, he spared his faand thirty thousand captives were sold into slavery. vorite horse Bucephalus; but he rode him in battle, and Gaza was now taken, after a siege of two months. when he mounted his back, it was always a signal for Alexander then marched to Jerusalem, to punish the the onset. inhabitants for refusing to supply him with men and money. The high priest, Jaddus, went forth to meet the conqueror, attended by the priests and the people, with all the imposing emblems and signs of the Jewish religion. Alexander was so struck with the spectacle, that he pardoned the people, adored the name of the Most High, and performed sacrifices in the temple, according to the instructions of Jaddus. The book of the prophet Daniel was shown to him, and the passage pointed out in which it was foretold that the king of Grecia would overcome the king of Persia - with which he was well pleased.*

Aristander, the soothsayer, rode by the side of Alexander, in a white robe, and with a golden crown upon his head. He looked up, and lo, an eagle was sailing over the army! His course was towards the enemy. The army caught sight of the noble bird, and, taking it for a good omen, they now charged the enemy like a torrent. They were bravely resisted, but Alexander and his troops burst down upon them like an overwhelming avalanche, cutting their way towards the tent of Darius. The path was impeded by the slaughtered heaps that gathered before them, and their horses were embarrassed by the mangled and The conqueror now turned his arms against Egypt, dying soldiers, who clung to the legs of the animals, which yielded without striking a blow. Having estab-seeking in their last agonies to resist them. Darius, lished the government on a liberal footing, he set out, 331 A. D., to attack the Persian king, who had gathered an army of a million of men, and was now in Persia. About this time, he received a letter from Darius, in which that prince proposed, on condition of a pacification and future friendship, to pay him ten thousand talents in ransom of his prisoners, to cede him all the countries west of the Euphrates, and to give him his daughter in marriage. Upon his communicating these proposals to his friends, Parmenio said, "If I were Alexander, I would accept them." "So would I," said Alexander, "if I were Parmenio." The answer he gave Darius was, that if he would come to him, he should find the best of treatment; if not, he must go and seek him. This anecdote shows Parmenio to have been the better man; Alexander, the greater conqueror.

In consonance with this declaration, he began his march; but he repented that he had set out so soon, when he received information that the wife of Darius was dead. That princess expired in childbed; and the concern of Alexander was great, because he lost an opportunity of displaying his clemency. All he could do was to return, and bury her with the utmost magnifi

cence.

Alexander, having subdued various places that held out against him, now proceeded in his march against Darius. He found him with his immense army en

* This incident in Alexander's history is supposed by some authors to rest upon doubtful authority.

now in the utmost peril, turned to fly, but his chariot became entangled in the slain. Seeing this, he mounted a swift horse, and fled to Bactriana, where he was treacherously murdered by Bessus, the gov ernor.

Alexander was now declared king of all Asia, and, though this might seem the summit of his glory, it was the point at which his character begins to decline. He now affected the pomp of an Eastern prince, and addicted himself to dissipation. He, however, continued his conquests. He marched to Babylon, which opened its gates for his reception. He proceeded to Persepolis, which he took by surprise. During his stay here, he entertained his friends at a banquet, at which the guests drank, as usual, to excess. Among the women who were admitted to it, masked, was Thais, the courtesan, a native of Attica, and at that time mistress to Ptolemy, who afterwards was king of Egypt. About the end of the feast, during which she had studiously endeavored to please the king, in the most artful and delicate manner, she said, with a gay tone of voice, that it would be matter of inexpressible joy to her, were she permitted,-masked as she was, and in order to end the entertainment nobly,—to burn the magnificent palace of Xerxes, who had burned Athens; and to set it on fire with her own hand, in order that it might be said in all parts of the world, that the women who followed Alexander in his expedition to Asia, had taken much better vengeance on the Persians for the many calamities they had brought on the Grecians, than all the generals who had fought for

HABITS OF ALEXANDER-ANECDOTES.

Upon this, Cleon, one of his flatterers, began to He now marched into Parthia, and, meeting with a speak, and expatiated very much in praise of the king beautiful princess, named Roxana, daughter of a Bac- as had before been agreed upon. He made a long trian king, he fell in love with her, and married her. detail of the high obligations they owed to him; all Some time after this, upon some suspicion of the which, he observed, they might acknowledge and refidelity of Philotas, the son of Parmenio, he caused pay at a very easy expense, merely with two grains him to be put to the torture till he died. He then of incense, which they should offer to him as to a god, sent orders to have his father, an old and faithful sol- without the least scruple, since they believed him such. dier, who had fought under Philip, and who was now To this purpose he cited the example of the Persians, in Media, to be put to death-which were but too and added, that in case the rest should not care to do faithfully executed. This horrid transaction was soon this justice to Alexander's merits, he himself was refollowed by another, still more dreadful. Under the solved to show them the way, and to worship him in excitement of wine, a dispute arose between Alexan-case he should return into the hall. He added that all der and Clytus, the brave officer who had saved his life at the battle of the Granicus.

108

CONQUEST OF TYRE-EGYPT-INDIA, &c.-DEATH OF ALEXANDER.

losing his life. On the borders of the sea, he and his
companions first saw the ebbing and flowing of the
tide- a fact of which they were before entirely igno-
rant. In this expedition the army suffered greatly:
when it set out for India, it consisted of one hundred
and fifty thousand men; on its return, it was reduced
to one fourth of that number.
Coming to a fertile district, Alexander paused to
recruit, and refresh his men. He then proceeded,
keeping up a kind of bacchanalian fête, in which the
whole army participated. His own chariot was drawn
by eight horses: it consisted of a huge platform,
where he and his friends revelled day and night.
This carriage was followed by others, some covered
with rich purple silk and others with fresh boughs.
In these were the generals, crowned with flowers, and
inebriated with wine. In the immense procession there
was not a spear, helmet, or buckler but in their
places cups, flagons, and goblets. The whole country
resounded with flutes, clarionets, and joyous songs.
The scene was attended with the riotous dances and
frolics of a multitude of women. This licentious
march continued for seven days.

Hercules till after his death; and then not till the ora- | savage tribes, being severely wounded, he came near cle had expressly commanded it. The Persians are cited as an example for our imitation; but how long is it that the vanquished have given law to the victor? Can we forget that Alexander crossed the Hellespont, not to subject Greece to Asia, but Asia to Greece?' The deep silence which all the company observed whilst Callisthenes spoke, was an indication, in some measure, of their thoughts. The king, who stood behind the tapestry all the time, heard what had passed. He therefore ordered Cleon to be told, that, without insisting any further, he would only require the Persians to fall prostrate, according to their usual custom; a little after which he came in, pretending he had been busied in some affairs of importance. Immediately the Persians fell prostrate to adore him. Polysperchon, who stood near him, observing that one of them bowed so low that his chin touched the ground, bade him, in a rallying tone of voice, to strike harder. The king, offended at this joke, threw Polysperchon into prison. As for Callisthenes, he determined to get rid of him, and therefore laid to his charge a crime of which he was in no way guilty. Accordingly, he was thrown into a dungeon, loaded with irons, and the most grievous torments were inflicted on him, in order to extort a confession of guilt. But he insisted upon his innocence to the last, and expired in the midst of his tortures.

The unjust and cruel death of Callisthenes not only reflected the greatest dishonor upon Alexander, but by this dreadful example, he deprived all virtuous men of the opportunity of exhorting him to those things which were for his true interest. From that instant no one spoke with freedom in the council: even those who had the greatest love for the public good, and a personal affection for Alexander, thought themselves not obliged to undeceive him. After this, nothing was listened to but flattery, which gained such an ascendency over his mind as utterly depraved him, and justly punished him for having sacrificed to the wild ambition of having adoration paid him, the most virtuous man about his person. "The murder of this philosopher," says Seneca, 66 was a crime of so heinous a nature, as entirely obliterates the glory of all the conqueror's other actions.”

Alexander now set out for the conquest of India. After a series of splendid achievements, he reached the country now called Punjaub, or the Five Rivers. Having reduced one of the Indian kings to submission, he rested his weary army at his capital of Taxila. He then marched forward to the banks of the Hydaspes.* Here he was met by Porus, an Indian king, with an immense army, in which were a large number of elephants. A bloody battle followed, in which Alexander was victorious and Porus made captive. "How do you wish to be treated?" said Alexander to the unfortunate monarch. "Like a king," was the brief, but significant reply. Alexander granted his request, restored his dominions, and much enlarged them, making him, however, one of his tributaries.

The conqueror, not yet satisfied, wished to push on to the Ganges; but his army refusing to go farther, he was forced to return. On his way back, he paid a visit to the ocean, and, in a battle with some *This is the modern Jhelum; and the bloody contest of Chilliamwallah, January, 1849, between the British and Seikhs, was nearly on the site of the battle between Alexander and Porus.

When he arrived at Susa, one of the capitals of Persia, Alexander married a great number of his friends to Persian ladies. He set the example by taking Statira, daughter of Darius, to himself, and gave her sister to Hephæstion, his dearest friend. He now made a nuptial feast for the newly-married people, and nine thousand persons sat down to the entertainment. Each one was honored with a golden cup.

On his return to Babylon, Alexander determined to make that place his residence and capital, and set about various plans for carrying this into effect. But his mind seemed haunted with superstitious fears. Every thing that happened was construed into an augury of evil. The court swarmed with sacrificers and soothsayers, but still, for a long time, peace could not be obtained by the monarch. At last he seemed to be relieved, and, being asked by Medias to a carousal, he drank all day and all night, until he found a fever coming upon him. He then desisted, but it was too late. The disease increased, setting at defiance every attempt at remedy, and in the space of about thirty days he died, 323 B. C. Such was the lamentable end of Alexander the Great. His wife Roxana, with

† Alexander appears by this time to have given himself up to frequent debauchery. On one occasion, having invited several of his friends and general officers to supper, he proposed a crown as a reward for him who should drink most. He who conquered on this occasion was Promachus, who

swallowed fourteen measures of wine, that is, eighteen or twenty pints. After receiving the prize, which was a crown worth a talent, i. e. about a thousand crowns, he survived his victory but three days. Of the rest of the guests, forty died of their intemperate drinking.

In the carousal which caused his death, Alexander drank to severally. After this, calling for Hercules's cup, which held the health of every person in company, and then pledged them an incredible quantity, it was filled, when he poured it all down, drinking to a Macedonian of the company, Proteas by name; and afterwards pledged him again, in the same furious than he fell upon the floor. "Here, then," says Seneca, deand extravagant bumper. He had no sooner swallowed it, scribing the fatal effects of drunkenness, "this hero, unconquered by all the toils of prodigious marches, exposed to the dangers of sieges and combats, to the most violent extremes of heat and cold,- here he lies, subdued by his intemperance, and struck to the earth by the fatal cup of Hercules." In this condition he was seized with a fever, which in a few days terminated in death.

EMPIRE OF ALEXANDER-HIS SUCCESSORS.

the aid of Perdiccas, murdered Statira and her sister, | continue to this day to be the chief seats of trade in and the empire of the mighty conqueror was divided the regions where they are placed. between four of his officers.