CONTENTS OF THE FIFTH VOLUME. PAGE. IX. Alexander takes Arbela, Babylon, Susa, Persepo- lis; and finds immense riches in those cities, 166 X. Darius leaves Ecbatana. His death. Alexander sends his corpse to Sysigambis, XI. Vices which first caused the declension, and at last the ruin, of the Persian empire, He commands worship to be paid to himself, 246 XV. Alexander sets out for India. Besieges and takes several cities. Defeats Porus, whom he XVI. Alexander advances into India. He is exposed to great danger at the siege of Oxydracæ, XVII. Alexander is grievously distressed by fam- ine. He marries Statira, the daughter of BOOK FIFTEENTH. THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER. SECTION I. ALEXANDER'S BIRTH. ARISTOTLE APPOINTED HIS PRECEPTOR. HE BREAKS BUCEPHALUS. a ALEXANDER came into the world the first year of the hundred and sixth Olympiad. The very day he came into the world, the celebrated temple of Diana in Ephesus was burned. The reader knows, without doubt, that it was one of the seven wonders of the world. It had been built in the name, and at the expense of all Asia Minor. A great number of years were employed in building it. Its length was four hundred and twenty five feet, and its breadth two hundred and twenty. It was supported by one hundred and twenty seven columns, sixty feet b ⚫ A. M. 3648. Ant. J. C. 356. Plin. l. xxxvi. c. 14. Pliny says two hundred and twenty years, which is not probable. vor. 5. 2 high, which so many kings had caused to be wrought at a great expense, and by the most excellent artists, who endeavoured to excel one another on this occasion. The rest of the temple was equal to the columns in magnificence. " Hegesias of Magnesia, of Magnesia, according to Plutarch, says, "that it was no wonder the temple was burned, because Diana was that day employed at the delivery of Olympias, to facilitate the birth of Alexander." A reflection, says our author, so very cold, that it might have extinguished the fire. Cicero, who ascribes this saying to Timeus, declares it a very smart one, at which I am very much surprised. Possibly the fondness he had for jokes, made him not very delicate in things of this kind. " One Herostratus had fired that temple on purpose. Being put to the torture, in order to force him to confess his motive for committing so infamous an action, he confessed that it was the view of making himself known to posterity, and to immortalize his name, by destroying so noble a structure. The states general of Asia imagined they should prevent the suc с Anciently most cities were governed by their particular king. He was an historian, and lived in the time of Ptolemy, son of Lagus. f I do not know whether Plutarch's reflection be not still colder. 8 Concinne, ut multa, Timæus ; qui, cum in historia dixisset, qua nocte natus Alexander esset, eadem Dianæ Ephesiæ templum deflagravisse, adjunxit ; minime id esse mirandum, quod Diana, cum in partu Olympiadis adesse voluisset, abfuisset domo. De Nat. Deor. 1. 2. n. 69. b Val. Max, l. viii. c. 14. cess of his view, by publishing a decree to prohibit the mention of his name. However, their prohibition only excited a greater curiosity; for scarce one of the historians of that age has omitted to mention so monstrous an extravagance, and at the same time have told us the name of the criminal. 1 The passion which prevailed most in Alexander, even from his tender years, was ambition, and an ardent desire of glory; but not for every species of glory. Philip, like a sophist, valued himself upon his eloquence and the beauty of his style, and had the vanity to have engraved on his coins the several victories he had won at the Olympic games in the chariot race. But it was not to this his son aspired. His friends asking him one day, whether he would not be present at the games above mentioned, in order to dispute the prize bestowed on that occasion, for he was very swift of foot, he answered, "that he would contend in them, provided kings were to be his antagonists." Every time news was brought him that his father had taken some city, or gained some great battle, Alexander, so far from sharing in the general joy, used to say, in a plaintive tone of voice, to the young persons that were brought up with him, "friends, my father will possess himself of every thing, and leave nothing for us to do." One day some ambassadors from the king of Persia being arrived at court during Philip's absence, Alexander gave them so kind and so polite a reception, and Plut. in vit. Alex. p. 665-668. Id. de fortun. Alex. p. 342. |