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 Hephestion. He was his favourite, and as they had been brought up together, the king revealed his secrets to him, and no body else dared to speak so freely to him; but even Hephestion 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 Hephestion 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 an 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 soul. He bore her at first with

Libertatis quoque in eo admonendo nor alius jus habebat; quod famen ita usurpabat, ut magis a rege permissum quam vindicatum ab eo videretur. Q Curt.

O donum inclitæ vocis, danti pariter atque accipienti speciosum ! Val. Max. 1. iv. c. 7..

*Sed nondum fortuna se animo ejus infuderat. Itaque orientem eam moderate et prudenter tulit: ad ultimum magnitudinem ejus non cepit Q. Curt.

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 grandeur, and find I can support all the weight of my present 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."

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 Hephestion, said to him; "O that Darius had had some portion of his tender disposition !"

a

It is certain that Darius, in the beginning of his reign, behaved in such a manner, that he surpassed, in clemency and goodness, all the kings his predecessors; and was 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

Et præteritæ fortung fastigium capio, et præsentis jugum pati possum. Q. Curt.

sacred temple, and a sanctuary assigned for the asylum of chastity, 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, wrote 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 were read: "For, as to myself, it will be found, that I neither 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 cœlebs, 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. iy. c. S.

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 fur ther 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 daybreak, 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 burdens, being frighted, threw them down, and fled away; as did t soldiers who convoyed them, and the governor himself, who was most terrified. On this occa. sion 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,

• Diod, 1. xvii. p. 517, 518. 578, Quint. Curt. 1. iv. c. 1.

Arrian. I. ii. p. 83-86, Plut. in Alex. Justin. I. xi. c. 10.

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, 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 Artabasus, the greatest lord of the court, and his son Ilioneus. There also were taken prisoners, the wife and son of Pharnabasus, 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 scarce 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 Lacede. monia and Athens, whom Darius thought he had lodged in a safe asylum, when he put them under the pro. tection of that traitor.

Besides money, and plate, which was afterwards coined, and amounted to immense sums, thirty thousand men, and seven thousand beasts laden with baggage, were taken. We find, by Parmenio's letter p to Alexander, that he found in Damascus three hundred and twenty nine of Darius's concubines, all admirably well skilled in music; and also a multitude of officers,

Athen. 1. xiii. p. 607.