After Alexander had performed these several duties, truly worthy a great monarch, he sent a message to the queens to inform them that he was coming to pay them a visit; and, accordingly, commanding all his train to withdraw, he entered the tent, accompanied only by Hephæstion. He was his favourite; and, as they had been brought up together, the king revealed all his secrets to him; and * nobody else dared to speak so freely to him; but even Hephæstion made so cautious and discreet an use of that liberty, that he seemed to take it not so much out of inclination as from a desire to obey the king, who would have it so. They were of the same age, but Hephæstion was taller, so that the queens took him at first for the king, and paid him their respects as such: but, some captive eunuchs showing them Alexander, Sysigambis fell prostrate before him, and begged his pardon; declaring, that, as she had never seen him, she hoped that consideration would plead her apology. The king, raising her from the ground, "Dear mother," says he, "you are not mistaken, for he also is "Alexander." † A fine expression, which does honour to both! Had Alexander always thought and acted in this manner, he would have justly merited the title of Great; but fortune had not yet corrupted his mind. He bore her at first with moderation and wisdom; but at last she overpowered him, and he became unable to resist her. Sysigambis, strongly affected with these testimonies of goodness and humanity, could not forbear testifying her gratitude upon that account. "Great prince (said she to him), "what words shall I find to express my thanks in such a manner as may answer your generosity? You call me your "mother, and honour me still with the title of queen, whereas I confess myself your captive. I § know what I have been, "and what I now am. I know the whole extent of my past 66 grandeur, and find I can support all the weight of my pre"sent ill fortune. But it will be glorious for you, as you "now have an absolute power over us, to make us feel it by your clemency only, and not by ill treatment." 66 * Libertatis quoque in eo admonendo non alius jus habebat; quod tamen ita usurpabat, ut magis a rege permissum quam vindicatum ab eo videretur. Quint. Curtius. to donum inclitæ vocis, danti pariter atque accipienti speciosum! Val. Max. 1. 4. c. 7. + Sed nondum fortuna se animo ejus infuderat. Itaque orientum eam moderate et prudentur tulit; ad ultimum magnitudinem ejus non cepis. Quint. Curt. § Et præteritæ fortunæ fastigium capio, et præsentis jugum pati poszum. Quint. Curt. The king, after comforting the princesses, took Darius's son in his arms. This little child, without discovering the least terror, embraced Alexander, who, being affected with. his confidence, and turning about to Hephæstion, said to him; "O that Darius had had some portion of his tender dispo"sition." It is certain that Alexander, in the beginning of his career, behaved in such a manner, that he surpassed, in clemency and goodness, all the kings his predecessors; and proved himself superior to a passion which conquers and enslaves the strongest. Darius's consort was the most lovely princess in the world, as he himself was the most beautiful of princes, and of a very tall and most majestic shape; and the princesses their daughters resembled them. They were, says Plutarch, in Alexander's camp, not as in that of an enemy, but as in a sacred temple, and a sanctuary assigned for the asylum of chastity and modesty, in which all the princesses lived so retired, that they were not seen by any person, nor did any one dare to approach their apartments. We even find, that, after the first visit above mentioned, which was a respectful and ceremonious one, Alexander, to avoid exposing himself to the dangers of human frailty, took a solemn resolution never to visit Darius's queen any more. *He himself informs us of this memorable circumstance, in a letter written by him to Parmenio, in which he commanded him to put to death certain Macedonians who had forced the wives of some foreign soldiers. In this letter the following words occur: "For, as to myself, it will be found that I nei"ther even saw, nor would see the wife of Darius; and did "not suffer any person to speak of her beauty before me." We are to remember that Alexander was young, victorious, and free; that is, not engaged in marriage, as has been observed of the first † Scipio on a like occasion. Et juvenis et cælebs, et victor. To conclude, he treated these princesses with such humanity, that nothing but the remembrance that they were captives, could have made them sensible of their calamity; and, of all the advantages they possessed before, nothing was wanting, with regard to Alexander, but that trust and confidence, which no one can repose in an enemy, how kindly soever he behaves. * Plut. in Alex. Val. Max. 1. iv. c. 3. SECTION VI. Alexander marches victorious into Syria. Lays siege to Tyre which he takes by storm. * Alexander set out towards Syria, after having consecrated three altars on the river Pinarius, the first to Jupiter, the second to Hercules, and the third to Minerva, as so many monuments of his victory. He had sent Parmenio to Damascus, in which Darius's treasure was deposited. The governor of the city, betraying his sovereign, from whom he had now no farther expectations, wrote to Alexander to acquaint him that he was ready to deliver up into his hands all the treasure and other rich stores of Darius. But being desirous of covering his treason with a specious pretext, he pretended that he was not secure in the city, so caused, by day break, all the money and the richest things in it to be put on men's backs, and fled away with the whole, seemingly with intention to secure them, but in reality to deliver them up to the enemy, as he had agreed with Parmenio, who had opened the letter addressed to the king. At the first sight of the forces which this general headed, those who carried the burthens, being frighted, threw them down, and fled away, as did the soldiers who conveyed them, and the governor himself, who was most terrified. On this occasion immense riches were seen scattered up and down the fields, all the gold and silver designed to pay so great an army: the splendid equipages of so many great lords and ladies; the golden vases and bridles, magnificent tents, and carriages abandoned by their drivers; in a word, whatever the long prosperity and frugality of so many kings had amassed, during many ages, was abandoned to the conqueror. But the most moving part of this sad scene was to see the wives of the satraps and grandees of Persia, most of whom dragged their little children after them, so much the greater objects of compassion, as they were less sensible of their misfortune. Among these there were three young princesses, daughters of Ochus, who had reigned before Darius; the widow of this Ochus; the daughter of Oxathres, brother to Darius; the wife of Artabazus, the greatest lord of the court, * A. M. 3672. Ant. J. C. 332. Diod. 1. xvii. p. 517, 518. Arrian 1. ii. p. 83-86. Plut. in Alex. p. 678. Quint. Curt. 1. iv. c. 1. Justin. l. xi. c. 10. and his son Ilioneus. There also was taken prisoners' the wife and son of Pharnabazus, whom the king had appointed admiral of all the coasts; three daughters of Mentor; the wife and son of Memnon, that illustrious general; insomuch that scarcely one noble family in all Persia but shared in this calamity. There also was found in Damascus the ambassadors of the Grecian cities, particularly those of Lacedæmon and Athens, whom Darius thought he had lodged in a safe asylum, when he put them under the protection of that traitor. Besides money and plate which was afterwards coined, and amounted to immense sums, 30,000 men and 7000 beasts. laden with baggage were taken. * Parmenio, in his letter to Alexander, informs him that he found in Damascus 329 of Darius's concubines, all admirably well skilled in music; and also a multitude of officers, whose business was to regulate and prepare every thing relating to entertainments; such as to make wreaths, to prepare perfumes and essences, to dress viands, to make pies, and all things in the pastry way, to preside over the wine-cellers, to give out wine, and similar offices. There were 492 of these officers; a train worthy a prince who runs to his destruction! Darius, who a few hours before, was at the head of so mighty and splendid an army, and who came into the field mounted on a chariot, with the pride of a conqueror, rather than with the equipage of a warrior, was flying over the plains, which, from being before covered with the infinite multitude of his forces, now appeared like a desert or vast solitude. This ill-fated prince rode swiftly the whole night, accompanied by a very few attendants; for all had taken the same road, and most of those who accompanied him could not keep up with him, as he often changed his horses. At last he arrived at † Sochus, where he assembled the remains of his army, which amounted only to 4000 men, including Persians as well as foreigners; and from hence he made all possible haste to Thapsacus, in order to have the Euphrates between him and Alexander. In the meantime Parmenio having carried all the booty into Damascus, the king commanded him to take care of it, and likewise of the captives. Most of the cities of Syria *Athen. 1. xiii. p. 697. This city was two or three days' journey from the place where the battle was fought. 66 surrendered at the first approaches of the conqueror. Being arrived at Marathus, he received a letter from Darius, in which he styled himself king, without bestowing that title on Alexander. He commanded, rather than intreated him," to "ask any sum of money he should think proper, by way of ransom for his mother, his wife, and children. That with "regard to their dispute for empire, he might, if he thought 66 proper, decide it in one general battle, to which both par"ties should bring an equal number of troops; but that in "case he were still capable of good counsel, he would advise "him to rest contented with the kingdom of his ancestors, " and not invade that of another; that they might hencefor"ward live as good friends and faithful allies; that he him"self was ready to swear to the observance of these articles, "and to receive Alexander's oath." Ths letter, which breathed so unseasonable a pride and haughtiness, exceedingly offended Alexander. He therefore wrote the following answer. " Alexander the king to Darius. "The ancient Darius, whose name you assume, in former "times entirely ruined the Greeks, who inhabit the coasts of "the Hellespont, and the Ionians, our ancient colonies. He "next crossed the sea at the head of a powerful army, and "carried the war into the very heart of Macedonia and "Greece. After him, Xerxes made another descent with à "dreadful number of barbarians, in order to fight us; and, "having been overcome in a naval engagement, he left at his "retiring, Mardonius in Greece, who plundered our cities, "and laid waste our plains. But who has not heard that "Philip, my father, was assassinated by wretches suborned "thereto by your partizans in hopes of a great reward? "For it is customary with the Persians to undertake impious wars, and, when armed in the field, to set a price upon the "heads of their enemies. And even you yourself, though at "the head of a vast army, promised nevertheless 1000 tal"ents to any person who should kill me. I therefore only "defend myself and am not the aggressor. And consequently "the gods, who always declare for the just cause, have fa"voured my arms; and, aided by their protection, I have "subjected a great part of Asia, and defeated you, Darius, in "a pitched battle. However, though I ought not to grant any request you make, since you have not acted fairly in this war, nevertheless, in case you will appear before me in a "supplicating posture, I give you my word, that I will re 66 66 |