the intestine feuds of the Greeks might indeed have suspended, but could never extinguish. The immortal retreat of the ten thousand Greeks, notwithstanding the vigorous opposition of the prodigious army of the Persians; the terror, which Agesilaus, with a handful of men, had struck even as far as Susa, shewed plainly what might be expected from an army, composed of the flower of the forces of all the cities of Greece, and those of Macedon, commanded by generals and officers formed under Philip, and, to say all in a word, led by Alexander. The deliberations of the assembly were therefore very short, and that prince was unanimously appointed generalissimo against the Persians. Immediately a great number of officers and governors of cities, with many philosophers, waited upon Alexander, to congratulate him upon his election, He flattered himself that Diogenes of Sinope, who was then at Corinth, would also come like the rest, and pay his compliments. This philosopher, who entertained a very mean idea of grandeur, thought it improper to congratulate men just upon their exaltation; but that mankind ought to wait till those persons have performed actions worthy of their high stations. Diogenes therefore did not stir out of his house; upon which Alexander, attended by all his courtiers, made him a visit. The philosopher was at that time lying down in the sun; but seeing so great a crowd of people advancing towards him, he sat up, and fixed his eyes on Alexander. This prince, surprised to see so famous a philosopher reduced to such extreme poverty, after saluting him in the kindest manner, asked whether he wanted any thing? Diogenes replied,}" yes, that you would stand a little out of my sun shine." This answer raised the contempt and indignation of all the courtiers; but the monarch, struck with the philosopher's greatness of soul, "were I not Alexander," says he, "I would be Diogenes." A very profound sense lies hid in this expression, that shows perfectly the bent and disposition of the heart of man. Alexander is sensible that he is formed to possess all things; such is his destiny, in which he makes his happiness to consist: but then in case he should not be able to compass his ends, he is also sensible, that to be happy, he must endeavour to bring his mind to such a frame, as to want nothing. In a word, all or nothing presents us with the true image of Alexander and Diogenes. ? How great and powerful soever that prince might think himself, he could not deny himself, on this occasion, inferior to a man, to whom he could give, and from whom he could take nothing! Alexander, before he set out for Asia, was determined to consult the oracle of Apollo. He therefore went to Delphos he happened to arrive at it on those days which are called unlucky, a season in which people were forbid consulting the oracle; and accordingly the priestess refused to go to the temple. But Alexander, who could not bear any contradiction to his will, took her forcibly by the arm; and, as he was leading her to the temple, she cried out, "my son, thou art irresistible." This was all he desired; and catch Homo supra mensuram humanæ superbiæ tumens, vidit aliquem, cui nec dare quidquam posset, nec eripere. Senec. de benef. 1. v. c. 6. 4 Ανίκητος εισαι ing hold of these words, which he considered as spoke by the oracle, he set out for Macedonia, in order to make preparations for his great expedition. Note, with regard to the sequel of this history. I could have wished, and it was even my design, to prefix to the exploits of Alexander, a geographical map, as I did to those of Cyrus the Younger; this being of great assistance to the reader, and enables him to follow the hero in all his conquests. But it was not in my power to do this here, the map of Alexander's conquests being too large to be conveniently inserted in this volume. But to supply, in some measure, this defect, I shall here give, in one view, a short account of those countries through which Alex, ander passed, till his return from India. - Alexander sets out from Macedonia, which is part of Turkey in Europe, and crosses the Hellespont, or the straits of the Dardanelles. He crosses Asia Minor, Natolia, where he fights two battles; the first at the pass of the river Granicus, and the second near the city of Issus. After this second battle, he enters Syria and Palestine; goes into Egypt, where he builds Alexandria, on one of the arms of the Nile; advances as far as Lybia, to the temple of Jupiter Ammon; whence he returns back, arrives at Tyre, and from thence marches towards the Euphrates. He crosses that river, then the Tygris, and gains the celebrated victory of Arbela: possesses himself of Babylon,' and Ecbatana, the chief city of Media. • The capital of Babylonia, From thence he passes into Hyrcania, to the sea which goes by that name, otherwise called the Caspian sea; and enters Parthia, Drangiana, and the country of Paropamisus. He afterwards goes into Bactriana and Sogdiana; advances as far as the river Iaxarthes, called by Q. Curtius the Tanais, the farther side of which is inhabited by the Scythians, whose country forms part of Great Tartary. Alexander, after having gone through various countries, crosses the river Indus, enters India, which lies on this side the Ganges, and forms part of the Grand Mogul's empire, and advances very near the river Ganges, which he also intended to pass, had not his army refused to follow him. He therefore contents himself with marching to view the ocean, and goes down the river Indus to its mouth. From Macedonia to the Ganges, almost to which river Alexander marched, is computed at least eleven. hundred leagues. Add to this the various turnings in Alexander's marches; first, from the extremity of Cilicia, where the battle of Issus was fought, to the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Lybia; and his returning from thence to Tyre, a journey of three hundred leagues at least, and as much space at least for the windings of his route in different places; we shall find that Alexander, in less than eight years, marched his army upwards of seventeen hundred leagues without including his return to Babylon. SECTION III. ALEXANDER SETS OUT AGAINST THE PERSIANS. OBTAINS A FA MOUS VICTORY AT THE RIVER GRANICUS. ALEXANDER being arrived in his kingdom,' held a council with the chief officers of his army, and the grandees of his court, on the expedition he meditated against Persia, and the measures he should take in order to succeed in it. The whole assembly was unanimous, except on one article. Antipater and Parmenio were of opinion, that the king, before he engaged in an enterprise which would necessarily be a long one, ought to make choice of a consort, in order to secure himself a successor to his throne. But Alexander, who was of a violent, fiery temper, did not approve of this advice; and believed, that after he had been nominated generalissimo of the Greeks, and that his father had left him an invincible army, it would be a shame for him to lose his time in solemnizing his nuptials, and waiting for the fruits of it; for which reason he determined to set out immediately. Accordingly he offered up very splendid sacrifices to the gods, and caused to be celebrated at Dia, a city of Macedon, scenical games,' that had been instituted by one of his ancestors in honour of Jupiter and the Muses. This festival continued nine days, agreeable to the number of those goddesses. He had a tent raised large enough to hold one hundred tables, on which A. M. 3670. Ant. J. C. 334. Diod. 1. xvii. p. 499-503. Arrian. 1. i. p. 23-36. Plut. in Alex. p. 672, 673. Justin. l. xi. c. 5, 6. Theatrical representations were so called. |