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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0bcbc80 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #64991 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64991) diff --git a/old/64991-0.txt b/old/64991-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 92bb034..0000000 --- a/old/64991-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5911 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Story of Alexander, by Robert Steele, -Illustrated by Fred Mason - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: The Story of Alexander - - -Author: Robert Steele - - - -Release Date: April 4, 2021 [eBook #64991] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF ALEXANDER*** - - -E-text prepared by MFR, John Campbell, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 64991-h.htm or 64991-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/64991/64991-h/64991-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/64991/64991-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/storyofalexander00steeuoft - - -Transcriber’s note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - Changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. - - - - - -THE STORY OF ALEXANDER - - -[Illustration: - -THE STORY OF ALEXANDER TOLD BY ROBERT STEELE & DRAWN BY FRED MASON - -London in the Strand -David Nutt -1894] - - - - - M. M. S. - A TOKEN OF - FRIENDSHIP AND ADMIRATION - - - - -AN OPEN LETTER - - - _MY DEAR GRACIE_ - -_When I promised some months ago to tell you a fairy story, I did -not remember that most of them have been so well told by my friend -Mr. Jacobs, and others, that it would be difficult to find any -fresh ones worth telling you._ - -_Then I remembered that there was a time, hundreds of years ago, -when folk here in England were fond of hearing and telling stories, -and when, in the long winter evenings, people gathered round the -castle-fire in the great hall, lord and lady, squires and dames, -pages, varlets, children, even the dogs, all of them listening -to the old chaplain who read them a never-ending tale of a brave -knight and a wicked enchanter; or, better still, to a travelling -tale-teller who brought the last story from France and Italy. -“Now,” thought I, “the tales that pleased these folk so well -would perhaps suit young people of to-day.” For the men who lived -then were large hearted and simple souled, and if it is true, as -our great English poet said, “Men are but children of a larger -growth”--and it was true of that time--perhaps the stories of the -men of those days would still have the power to please the children -of ours._ - -_Well, I began to turn over some of those big books you have seen -in my room, and to read their stories again to choose one for you, -and the first story I read was the History of Alexander the Great. -You must not be frightened about the tale, however; there are no -dates and summaries at the ends of the chapters to learn, and, -though I believe every word of it myself, I am afraid that if you -were to put some of it in your examination paper on Greek History, -the mistress who marked it would be annoyed, and I am certain that -you will not find the pictures like those of the Greeks in your -other books. This is only a tale, and the Alexander and Darius, the -Greeks and the Jews, it tells about, are not the ones you have read -of, but different people with the same names._ - -_The reason for choosing the story of Alexander to tell you is -this: it was the earliest and one of the most interesting of -the stories of the Middle Age. Everyone liked it, everyone knew -something about it, and everyone told it his own way. Even the -animals (in a tale of Reynard the Fox) liked it, and one of them -told it to the lion. All the English poets of those days knew and -loved it. If, then, you could read any of the Middle Age tales, you -could read this one._ - -_So you must now fancy that times are changed; you are sitting -in some great castle-hall, and all the people round you are in -dresses like those that Mr. Mason has drawn for you; perhaps you -are sitting on a throne like the queen in the picture, and I am -sitting on the stool before you, and I begin to tell you a story -of the bravest knight in the world, his wars, and the wonderful -things he saw and did. And as all the young folk gather round and -listen, if the older folk come with them and bring the great Latin -book to see if I tell the story right, when they can get it (for it -is very rare) they will find that I have taken the story-teller’s -privilege--I have left out much that was not interesting, and I -have told you some things the old story-tellers used to leave out._ - -_Perhaps you will find that there is too much fighting in the -story: if so, remember that it was nearly the only game people -played at in those days, so that it took the place of rowing or -tennis, cycling or cricket among the young people then. But the -fighting had this serious side to it--that a young lady might wake -any morning and find an army besieging her home, ready to burn it -down and carry her away prisoner. So, you see, everyone understood -about fighting and took an interest in hearing of it._ - -_And now I leave you with your story. If it pleases you, and shows -you who were the heroes of our ancestors, and what were the stories -they delighted in, it will have reached the object of_ - - _Your loving liegeman_ - - _R. S._ - - - - - CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - CHAPTER I. HOW ANECTANABUS WAS KING OF EGYPT, - AND WHY HE FLED INTO THE LAND OF MACEDON 1 - - CHAPTER II. OF OLYMPIAS AND ANECTANABUS, OF THE - MAGIC HE WROUGHT, AND OF THE BIRTH OF ALEXANDER 9 - - CHAPTER III. HOW ALEXANDER TAMED THE HORSE - BUCEPHALUS, AND HOW HE DID HIS FIRST DEED OF - ARMS 21 - - CHAPTER IV. TELLS OF THE EMBASSY OF DARIUS, - OF THE DEATH OF PHILIP, AND THE CROWNING OF - ALEXANDER 30 - - CHAPTER V. HOW ALEXANDER GATHERED AN ARMY - TOGETHER: HOW HE BUILT ALEXANDRIA AND LAID - SIEGE TO THE CITY OF TYRE 39 - - CHAPTER VI. TELLS OF THE FORAY OF KADESH, AND - OF ITS ENDING, AND OF THE TAKING OF THE CITY OF - TYRE 47 - - CHAPTER VII. HOW ALEXANDER CAME TO JERUSALEM, - HOW THE BISHOP MET HIM, AND WHAT THERE BEFELL - HIM 55 - - CHAPTER VIII. TELLS HOW DARIUS THE EMPEROR - SENT PRESENTS TO ALEXANDER, AND WHAT WAS THE - PRESENT SENT BACK TO HIM 63 - - CHAPTER IX. TELLS HOW ALEXANDER DESTROYED - THEBES AND HOW IT WAS REBUILT, AND OF HIS - RETURN TO PERSIA 73 - - CHAPTER X. HOW ALEXANDER DEFEATED THE PERSIANS, - AND HOW HE WENT TO THE FEAST OF DARIUS 82 - - CHAPTER XI. TELLS OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN ALEXANDER - AND DARIUS, AND OF THE SLAYING OF DARIUS 94 - - CHAPTER XII. HOW ALEXANDER MARRIED ROXANA, - THE DAUGHTER OF THE EMPEROR, AND HOW HE - DEFEATED PORUS THE KING OF INDIA 102 - - CHAPTER XIII. HOW ALEXANDER AND HIS MEN PASSED - THE NIGHT OF FEAR, AND HOW HE SAW THE GREATEST - AND THE LEAST THING ON EARTH 111 - - CHAPTER XIV. HOW ALEXANDER AND HIS ARMY - PASSED THROUGH THE VALLEY OF TERROR AND - SOUGHT THE WELLS OF LIFE 124 - - CHAPTER XV. HOW THE BRAHMANS CAME TO KING - ALEXANDER AND WHAT HE LEARNT FROM THEM: AND - OF THE COMING OF THE AMAZONS 138 - - CHAPTER XVI. HOW ALEXANDER PASSED THROUGH - THE LAND OF DARKNESS AND SLEW THE BASILISK 148 - - CHAPTER XVII. HOW ALEXANDER CAME TO THE TREES - OF THE SUN AND THE MOON, AND WHAT THEY TOLD - HIM 159 - - CHAPTER XVIII. HOW ALEXANDER SLEW PORUS AND - WON BACK THE WIFE OF CANDOYL AND WAS KNOWN - OF CANDACE WHEN HE CAME TO HER 171 - - CHAPTER XIX. TELLS HOW ALEXANDER DEFEATED - GOG AND MAGOG, HOW HE WENT UP INTO THE AIR - AND DOWN INTO THE SEA 188 - - CHAPTER XX. HOW ALEXANDER CAME TO HIS LIFE’S - END AND WAS BURIED, AND WHAT THEREON BEFELL 204 - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER I. HOW ANECTANABUS WAS KING OF EGYPT, AND WHY HE FLED INTO -THE LAND OF MACEDON. - - -Once upon a time a king reigned over the land of Egypt, whose name -was Anectanabus. In his time that land was the richest in the -world, and its people were wise and happy; but Anectanabus was the -wisest and the noblest of them, and under his rule all men, both -great and small, prospered. The field-workers ploughed and reaped, -the merchants travelled and chaffered, the wise men studied and -wrote and taught, and the great lords watched over the land, helped -the poor, and guarded all men. Shortly to say, the land of Egypt -was in those days the home of plenty and of peace, of mirth and of -game. - -Now Anectanabus was, above all men, skilled in the arts of magic, -for he had learned the secrets of Egypt that were not written down -in books, but cut in the stone on the sides of the great temples, -and on the Pillars of the Sun: and when he was a young man he had -been taken into the secret chambers of the Pyramids, and had been -laid in the stone coffin of the gods, and there the secrets had -been whispered to him which the kings and priests of Egypt had -discovered for a thousand years. And chief of all his crafts, he -had the power of making images of men to do what he would, and -whatever the images did, that the men they were like to, did: and -he used this art to save his land from war. For if a fleet of -ships came to attack his land he would make images of them in wax -to float on water, and images of his own ships, and then he would -cause the ships of the enemy to turn and flee before his ships or -ever a blow was struck, and as he did, so it happened in the war. -Or if an army came against him, he caused it to flee in the same -way, so that no king of the countries about dared to come out and -make war on Egypt. And many other arts he used, but all for the -good of his land, so that men loved him and served him with joy. - -It fell upon a day that Anectanabus was sitting in his palace hall -on his daïs, and round him were his dukes and princes, and the -great hall of the palace was filled with men in rich array. In that -land, the king showed himself to men but rarely, and when he did so -he was clothed in his noblest and fairest dress, with his crown on -his head, and his nobles and all men were dressed in their best, -so that the hall shone with gold, and sparkled and dazzled with -gems and stones, and the blue and scarlet and purple and green of -the nobles filled the place with a flood of colour. The chief men -of a certain city had petitioned the king about a certain matter, -and a great duke had just risen from his seat to speak about it, -when a cry was heard outside, and through the open doors, past -the great screen, a man in half armour covered with dust and foam -rushed into the presence of the king. Then the heralds hurried -up to him, and crossing their wands before him, asked of him his -errand, and why he entered the hall of the king in such unseemly -dress. But he, heeding their words never a whit, pressed forward, -called out with a loud voice, “O King, the Persians are on us,” and -straightway staggered, and fell down lifeless, for he had ridden -hard without rest and sleep with the message of the lord warden of -the sea. - -A great silence fell on the hall, men looked on each other’s faces -but none spoke or moved; then the silence was broken by the shuffle -of the heralds bearing away the body of the messenger, and the -dukes drew up nearer to one another, but still no man spoke; for -the king’s face was dark and troubled, and he had asked none for -counsel. Now Anectanabus was troubled, not because he feared the -enemy, but because he had never before been taken by surprise, for -ever he knew by his magic art the words of the message before -they were uttered. So he sat silent for a while, but at last he -bethought himself, and rose and left the hall, going to a little -room behind the daïs, where he could be alone, for he sought to -know by his magic art who, and how many, and where were his foes. -But the great lords sat on in silence in the king’s hall, waiting -till some of them should be sent against the foe, and silently and -noiselessly the people passed out of the hall. - -As soon as Anectanabus was alone in his room, he went to a coffer -of oak covered with broad bands of steel, and opened it with a -golden key which he drew from his breast. Then he drew out a robe -of fair white linen, and putting off his rich attire he clothed -himself in it, keeping on his golden crown. Taking some spices, he -threw them on a brazier of burning embers, and opened the casements -of the room, and round and round the brazier he went till a heavy -smoke filled the room, and hung over a great copper bowl of water -on the table in the middle of it. This done, Anectanabus took a -short wand of polished steel in his hand and pointing it across -the bowl to the four quarters of the earth--North, East, South, -West--he began to utter spells. And now it seemed as if the smoke -from the room gathered over the water, and disappeared, leaving the -room full of light, and the outside day darkened, and looking on -the surface of the water the king saw a fleet of ships coming in -full sail towards him. But what an endless number of them there -seemed to be,--ships large and small, beating the waves with their -oars, over their sides hanging the shields of dukes and earls and -knights, the sun shining from their weapons, the masts and pennons -rising like a forest, and high over all the banner of Persia -flying, the rising sun conquering the night. Then Anectanabus -touched the water with his wand, and all the ships vanished, and -the air of the room was clear and bright. - -With a grave face and a heavy heart Anectanabus returned to his -lords, and ordered them to meet in arms on the sea-coast in seven -days, there to keep the land from Persians or any other foes, and -he dismissed them each to his place, after he had spoken brave -words to them, and reminded them of the victories they had won, -“and,” he said, “though the enemy be many, one lion puts many -deer to flight, and we may well destroy our foes as we have done -before.” But ever in his heart he feared, for that the foe had come -upon him by surprise, and his magic art had told him nothing of it. - -In the night, when all men slept, he rose and went to the room in -which he wrought all his magic, and clothed himself in the white -robes, and brought forth his instruments from the oaken box, and -cast a yellow powder on the brazier. Then he filled the great -copper bowl with water, looking black in the dim light of the room, -and taking wax he moulded ships, some white, some black, and set -them to float on the water in the vessel. Next he drew from the -box a rod of palm-wood and touched them one by one, and as he did -so they separated and gathered into two fleets at either side of -the bowl. Then throwing some incense on the brazier, Anectanabus -began to mutter his magic words, and round and round the bowl he -walked, and the first time he threw in some gold, and the second -time a stone, and the third time some dust. Soon the two fleets -began to move towards one another, and Anectanabus began to invoke -destruction on the enemy as he was wont to do; but when the -battle was joined, he saw that the ships of Egypt were one by one -destroyed or taken, nor could any of his mightiest spells turn the -battle. So he saw that the gods had forsaken him, and that there -was no hope for him; and he deemed it better to go away and let his -kingdom fall into the hands of the Persians, than to resist them -without hope of victory, and to be made a slave at the end; and his -heart was great, and he had no son or daughter for whom to fight. - -The next day he rose and went about with a light heart and a merry -cheer, and did the things that were to be done, and when night fell -he laid off the royal robes and the crown of Egypt, and dressed him -as one of the wise clerks of the land, and went to the barber and -caused him to shave off his beard, and cut his hair, so that no man -should know him, and he gathered store of gold and jewels, such as -he could carry, and his instruments of magic and of star-reading, -and called to him three of his servants who had served him all his -life, and when they were loaded with his gear, he slipped out at -a postern gate of the palace, and set off on foot into the world, -not knowing where he should go. Long would it be to tell what lands -he passed through, how he went from Egypt into Ethiopia, and from -thence he passed through many countries till at the last he came to -Macedon, where it fell that he settled and ended his days. But no -one ever thought him to be anything but some diviner or soothsayer, -nor wist the folk that he had been a mighty king of men. - -The tale tells of the care he left behind him in his palace when -men found that he had gone. The princes sought their lord in his -private chambers, and when he was not to be seen there, knights and -barons ran about with tears on their cheeks, their ladies swooned, -and all men cursed the day. At the last, when they could get no -news, they joined in procession to the temple of Serapis, the -greatest of their gods, to ask his aid and counsel in their sore -strait, and there they burned rich incense, and offered many noble -gifts and sacrifices. Then the god gave them this answer: “Fear -not, O folk, for your king is safe. Ye shall be subject to the -Persians, nor may ye any way escape. But cease your sorrow; the son -of his works shall return, he shall avenge your defeat, he shall -destroy Persia, he shall be the noblest Emperor of the world.” - -So this people made an image of Anectanabus in black marble, -dressed in his royal robes, sceptre in hand, and crown on head, -and beneath the statue was graved in golden letters the prophecy -of their god Serapis, that men might have it in mind in the evil -days that were on them. For the Persians conquered them, and year -by year they treated them more hardly, and life was bitter to them, -and the Egyptians looked back year after year to the happy days of -Anectanabus, the last king of Egypt, and waited in hope till he -should come back again. - -[Illustration: ONE LION PVTTETH TO FLIGHT MANY DEER] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER II. OF OLYMPIAS AND ANECTANABUS, OF THE MAGIC HE WROUGHT, -AND OF THE BIRTH OF ALEXANDER. - - -It fell on a day that as Anectanabus was travelling through the -land of Macedon, he came to the chief city of the land, and there -his yeomen took lodging for him, and he thought to dwell there some -days, for the city was fair and well placed on a fertile plain, and -it was in the month of May. And when he talked to the men of the -town he heard say that Philip, the king of the land, had gone out -to war, but that he had left there his queen Olympias to govern -the folk, and that the next day was, as it happened, the feast of -her birthday. Now this queen had custom on feast days to ride out -into the country near, and there sports and tournaments were held, -and all folk rejoiced before her. So Anectanabus thought in his -mind that he would go out and look upon her, for he had heard that -Olympias was the fairest woman in Greece,--nay, in all the world. - -Early next day after meat, the queen mounted a white mule and rode -through the city to the plain, with her wise men and her maids -about her, and much she joyed to see the fair show that the city -made, for everywhere that she came the town was hung with rich -hangings and embroidery, and every man was eager to see the queen, -and at all corners were bands of maidens singing and beating drums -and timbrels. So the queen rode through the city, and when she -came to the plain, each man did his best in the sports, if by any -means he could gain a prize from her hands. Among the crowd of men -on the plain was Anectanabus, and he looked not at one thing or -another but only at the queen, so that at the last she turned and -saw him, and because he was unlike all other there in clothing and -in bearing she took notice of him and saw at once that he was a -stranger: and since he looked ever at her face nor looked away when -she turned to him, at the end she sent men to him to know who he -was. So he came and did her reverence, and she asked him who he was -and what he would, and he told her that he was a clerk, and that -he went from place to place, doing the will of the great gods: and -Olympias bade him come to her at the palace. - -Now every day the queen sat on the royal seat in the great hall of -the palace, and men came to her and spoke before her of good and -bad, and among the rest next day came Anectanabus. And as the queen -looked upon him, he bowed him down, and said, “Hail, fair Queen of -Macedon;” and the queen noted his speech, for he spoke as one that -was a king and not as a clerk, though he were clothed in weeds of -drab and went with shaven crown. So she made him to sit down before -her on a silk-covered seat, and she began to question him full -fairly, whether he were of Egypt, and what manner of folk were in -that land, and what was the learning of its wise men--for she knew -by his tongue that he was an outlander, and be like an Egyptian. -And Anectanabus answered her and told her of the land of Egypt, and -of its wonders, and of its wisdom, how some men told the meaning of -dreams, and whether they were true or false, and when they should -come to pass; some men understood the song of the birds and the -voice of beasts; some could tell of the birth of children, and of -the length of life; some could declare the secret counsels of men, -which never were spoken to any one; and some could read the course -of the stars and the signs of heaven, and say what shall come to -pass in few years’ time--“and, fair Queen,” continued he, “I have -so clear a knowledge of all these arts, that I can prove myself -a master in each of them.” So saying, he leaned forward from his -seat, and stared in a study, still as a stone, at her face. Then -said the queen, “What art thou musing on, Master; why dost thou -sit so still?” “I am thinking, O Queen,” said he, “on the words of -my god, who long ago told me that I should sit in a strange land an -exile, and see the fairest queen on earth.” Then the queen prayed -him to show her how he sought out these things, and he drew out of -his bosom a little box with seven pieces of ivory in it, and he -showed her how by casting these he could tell what should happen -to men, and answer questions about their deeds. And he showed her -seven precious stones, on each of which a wondrous figure was -carved, which preserved men who wore them from all harm. And then -he drew out his table of ivory with three rings upon it, by which -he read the stars: the first ring was of brass, and on it were -marked the twelve houses of fate; the second was of bright silver, -and on it were marked wondrous beasts, the twelve signs of the -heavens; and the third was of red gold, and on it were marked the -sun and the moon; and as he showed them he told her the course of -the stars, and how they governed the life of men. - -[Illustration: Anectanabus telleth the Queen’s fate.] - -And Olympias said to him, “O Master, tell me the day on which my -lord that I love was born, and then I shall know thy skill.” “Small -skill were that,” said Anectanabus, “to tell the past; is there -naught of the future you would learn?” “Yea,” said the Queen, “tell -me what shall part Philip and me, for it is told me by my wise -women that if he returns from battle he shall take another wife, -and send me away for ever.” “Nay, not for ever,” said the Egyptian, -“not for ever, nor for long shall he put thee away, for will he -nill he, he must have thee for his queen.” Then Olympias wondered -greatly, and she asked Anectanabus how this should be, and the wise -man answered and told her, how that the great god of her country, -Ammon, should give her a fair son who should help her all his life, -and how that the god would protect her till her son was grown. Then -was the queen right glad, and she promised Anectanabus that when -these things should happen she would honour him all her life. Then -the wise man rose from his seat, and after looking on the queen for -a while, went from the hall to make his enchantments as at other -times. - -Now that night the moon was at full, when all herbs have their -strongest might, so Anectanabus got him forth from the city into a -wild place, where no man might see him, and there he drew up herbs -for his enchantments, marking the fairest and best, and when the -hour of the moon was come he plucked them out by the roots, and -washed the earth from them in running water. Then he ground them -together in a mortar, and wrung out the juice, and he made an image -of the queen in white wax, and anointed it with the juice of the -plants he had gathered, and calling on the powers of the air with -is conjurations, he made a dream for the queen. So she, lying -in her palace alone, saw a huge dragon enter and circle the room -three times--then it came and stood before her, and, lo! it was a -man, but a man in shape like to her god; and the man told her that -she should have a son who should defend her in all her cares, and -override all her foes. Then the queen woke from her dream, and -stretched out her hands to the god she had seen, but the room was -dark, so, springing from her bed, she ran to the door, but that was -safely fast, and groping round she found naught in the room; and -sad that her dream was false, she fell asleep again thinking of the -wise Egyptian, who, mayhap, should tell her what it meant. - -Early on the morrow the queen rose from her sleep, and sent her -housecarles for Anectanabus in haste; then when he came she took -him apart and told him all her dream. Then said he to the queen: -“If thou art willing, and not afraid, I can show thee this god face -to face, and thou waking; but thine eyes must be opened to see him.” - -So was the queen glad, and she assigned him a room in her palace; -and the next night did Anectanabus, by his art magic, change -himself into a dragon such as the queen had seen in her dream, and -flying through the air with his heavy wings he came into the place -of the queen. Then she rose up to meet him, but the sight was so -terrible to her that she covered her face with her hands; but soon -she heard a voice bidding her look up, and lo! before her was the -figure of her god Ammon--a strong, fair man, bearing on his head -two horns. Then was she glad of her life, that she alone of all -living women had seen this thing; and he spoke to her of all the -things that Anectanabus had told her, and of how her son should -ride through the world. - -So fell she to sleep, and when she woke in the morning light there -was none there, and the doors of the palace were fast, and great -thanks she gave to Anectanabus for his magic, for she wist not that -her god was but a show of the wise Egyptian. - -But in that same night that the queen had dreamed, the Egyptian -had so wrought his enchantments that in the hour of Philip’s star -he too had fallen asleep, and he dreamed that a dragon had taken -him up through the air, and had borne him off to his own palace, -and to the room in which Olympias, his queen, lay sleeping. Then -tried he to draw near her, but she felt not his touch nor heard -his voice; and suddenly he was ware of a god in the room in the -shape of Ammon, and the god came to the queen and laid his hand -on her, and waked her, and sealed her with a gold seal. So Philip -drew near, and saw that on this seal were three things graved--the -head of a mighty lion, the burst of the morning sun rising over -the world, and a sharp, keen blade of a sword; and he heard the -god say: “Woman, thy son that I give thee shall be thy defender.” -Now Philip when he woke, was so sore troubled by his dream that he -called on his diviners to say to him what it should mean. Then said -the chief of the magicians: “O King, this thy dream means that thy -wife shall give thee a son fair and mighty. And because on the seal -thou sawest a lion’s head, as the lion is the chief of all beasts, -this son shall be a chief and a master among all chieftains. And -since on the seal was the burst of the sunrise, so shall this son -ride through the world, and everywhere shall he be exalted till he -comes to the Land of the East; and the biting brand showeth that by -his sword shall nations out of number be conquered and bow to him. -But for the dragon that bore thee from hence to thy own land, he -shall be to thee for an aid, and that right soon.” And then was the -king glad in his heart. - -But Anectanabus knew by his box of stones how that Philip should -be sore beset on a certain day, and so, going out into a desert -place, he called up to him by art magic a great bird from the sea, -with broad wings, great beak, and strong claws like iron. And as -it drew near him it circled him seven times, and then sunk down at -his feet. Then the Egyptian took and rubbed him with the juice of -the plants he had gathered, from wingtip to wingtip, and from head -to tail, and then with his mightiest spells he sent him forth over -land and sea. And lo! he seemed no more a sea bird, but a mighty -dragon flying through the air. But far away Philip was in deadly -battle, for he had been all day fighting, and now was he wearied, -and a great stone had struck him, so that he reeled to the ground, -and his men were at point to fly, and his foes were clamouring with -joy, and their eyes were burning to slay, when the great dragon -flew towards them, and men paused to see what should happen, and -lo! it fell on the foemen, and first on him who had struck down -Philip, and men’s swords fell on it and were shivered, and none -dared to see its face, and the men of Macedon took fresh heart, and -Philip sprang up shouting, “The God, the Gods for us!” and the foe -were routed and their king slain, and far away the great dragon -rose in the air and disappeared, no man knowing whither. - -So Philip came home with much joy, honoured of men, and when he met -his queen he kissed her fair, and they spoke of their dreams, and -of what the god had promised them. And it fell that two wonders -happened to them. For one day as they sat at meat in the hall, and -folk around them great and small, a great dragon came into the -palace, and men fled, save some that drew sword and turned pale, -but the king cried out: “Faith, but this is the noble dragon that -turned the fight for us that other even.” Then the king was glad, -but the great worm came slowly up the hall till it reached the -queen, and there it raised its head on her knees, and she knew it -for the dragon that had come to her, and lifted its head and kissed -it, and all men looked for some change; but the dragon turned and -went its way out as it came in, and those outside saw nought save -the Egyptian diviner standing at the gate. - -And one other day, as Philip sat in his great hall, with all his -nobles and chief men round him, there came a singing-bird into the -hall and sang a sweet song, and circled his head, and came and sat -on his knee, and there dropped an egg and flew away. Then as the -king sat and looked, the egg rolled from his knee and fell to the -ground, and there it broke, and a little worm came out and crawled -about, but soon it died. Then a great clerk near him said: “This -signifieth, O king, that thy blithe lady’s son shall walk the world -and win it, and die a bitter death before he may return.” These -were the wonders that happened ere the birth of Alexander. - - * * * * * - -Now drew on the time when this noble child was to be born, and as -he came to earth temples and towers tumbled on heaps, thunder rang -through the welkin, darkness fell over the earth, the wind rose -and blew, the lightning flashed over the land, and great stones -fell from the sky. Then Philip feared, and said: “Surely this son -that is born shall do great things, and men will call me the father -of this child”; and with that he went to Olympias and comforted -her. But the child grew, nor was he like to father nor mother. His -hair was yellow-tawny, like a lion’s, his eyes were bright and -glistening, piercing like blazing stars; grim and fierce was his -look, one of his eyes black as a coal, the other yellow like gold; -his voice was loud, even from his first cry, nor could any hear it -without inward fear. Alexander was his name, and the wisest man -of all the world, Aristotle, was his tutor, nor would he learn of -other. Clever and wise was he, nor did he sit with the crowd of -boys, but on a bench beside his master, for it became not a king’s -son to sit down undistinguished from other boys. In four or five -years he learnt more than many scholars learn in seventy winters. -And when he was eleven years old he set him to learn the art and -craft of battle, to wield a spear and a lance, to ride a noble -steed in armour, so that in a few years was none equal to him, and -in adventures of arms he surpassed all men. - -It fell on a day that Philip the king was with him, and greatly did -he praise him for his deeds, and much was his heart moved towards -him; but he said: “Sorely my mind is troubled that nought of me -hast thou in look, nor height, nor colour, whereby men may know -that thou art my son”: for Philip was tall and black and dark-eyed. -Then was the noble queen Olympias grieved when she heard tell of -the king’s saying, and she sent for Anectanabus, the Egyptian, -and he came, but with little speed, for he was now old and grey. -And when he was before her, she asked him what should fall of the -king’s speech, for ever she had feared the doom that was to come; -but he comforted her, and bade her fear not, for he read day and -night the stars for her, and none of the king’s thoughts were -against her. - -So he went out, and Alexander with him, and as they went, ever -the Egyptian looked at the stars, and down at the ground, and -sighed. So Alexander asked him at what planet was he looking, and -Anectanabus showed it him. Then he asked him why he sighed, and -the Egyptian said: “My hour draws near, the son of my works shall -slay me! Look over our heads and see that red star shine--the star -of Hercules, how bitterly it moves, but noble Mercury shines ever, -and great Jove, how jollily he shines--the doom of my destiny is -on me.” And as he said the word, Alexander stumbled forward, and -pushing the unhappy Egyptian, he fell from the wall of the town -where they were walking into the ditch which surrounded it, and -with a cry sank. The youth plunged in after him, but when he found -his body the old man was dead, and with what grief we cannot tell, -Alexander carried home the body of Anectanabus to the palace of his -mother. Let others tell the story of her grief, of her tears, and -of the splendid tomb of the exiled king--I cannot. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER III. HOW ALEXANDER TAMED THE HORSE BUCEPHALUS, AND HOW HE -DID HIS FIRST DEED OF ARMS. - - -So it was that there was at this time a certain prince in the land -of Cappadocia, and in the night as he lay sleeping a vision came to -him, and it seemed that his room was filled with a shimmering blaze -of light, and while he looked a great dragon came into the room, -and he shut his eyes for fear. Then there came a voice, saying, -“Fear not, O king, but look up, and hearken to my words,” and when -he raised his head he saw an exceeding fair man standing in the -room, and he had two horns on his head, and a golden crown like one -of the gods. Then the vision bade him convey the horse Bucephalus -to the land of Macedonia to king Philip; and tell him that he who -should tame this horse should rule the land after him. The prince -answered, “Where is this horse Bucephalus that I may take him?” and -the vision said that on the morrow the horse should be brought him. -And suddenly the room was dark, but the prince lay turning this -matter in his mind till the grey of the first dawn, and he slept. - -On the morrow as he sat on his seat under the oak of judgment, -there came to him some of the country folk bringing with them a -fair white colt, and his mouth was bound with iron chains. As they -came near the king asked them whose was the foal and why they -brought him in chains; and the men answered that this colt was so -wild that no man dare go near him to mount him, and that he would -take no food since he had left his mother but the flesh of men. -Then they consulted the priest of the temple, and he bade them -carry the young horse to the king, for he would never be tamed but -by a great king’s son, nor could any other man mount him. So the -king gave them a great reward and they went their way. Now the -horse had on his forehead two bones like small horns, and the men -called him for that Bucephalus. - -Now when the horse was brought to Philip the king of Macedonia he -was fain of him, for he was of noble form, and it seemed as if he -would be the best horse in the world, so he thanked the prince -greatly, and made men build a stable for the horse of iron bars, -strong and good. Therein was he put, and men doomed to death -were brought to that place and thrown to him, and he tore them to -pieces, and fed on them. And no man willingly went near the stable -in which he was. - -It fell on a day when Alexander was come to youth, that he chanced -to stand at a window of the palace while this wild horse was being -led by in iron chains, and the prince wondered at the sight, for it -seemed to him that this was the noblest of horses, and he could not -tell why he was kept in chains. But when he had come down to the -courtyard the grooms had gone, so he followed them searching for -the horse’s stable, and at the last he came upon the iron house, -and looking into it he wondered at the horrible things he saw -there. Then one of the grooms came up to him and told him how the -horse fed on man’s flesh, and how that should be till he was tamed -and ridden by a great king’s son. Hearing this Alexander went up -to the bars and called the horse, and the wild animal came up to -them, and laid out his neck. Then the prince put his hand through -the bars and Bucephalus licked it, and folded his feet and fell to -the ground, looking up into Alexander’s face. - -Thus was the horse tamed, and Alexander lifted up the gate-bolts -and entered the stable boldly, and stroked Bucephalus on his back -with his hand, while the horse turned his head round and watched -him fondly. Then he got a bridle and saddle, and girt him round -and loosed his chains, and leaping on his back rode him off, while -the good white horse obeyed the rein as if he had been ridden ten -years. Now, while Alexander was riding him round the courtyard, -men had run to king Philip and had told him how the prince had -gone into the cage of the fierce man-eating horse, and the king -came down to see what should hap, and found Alexander master of -the horse. Then Philip the fierce remembered the saying of the -gods, and he greeted him with words of praise, and said, “Son, of -a truth thou shalt reign in my stead when I am gone, and the land -shall wax great. Ask now a gift of me, and I will give it.” “Then,” -said Alexander, “make me a knight, and a chief with men-at-arms to -follow me.” - -Great was the joy of Philip that his son’s first wish was to be a -leader of men in war, and that he had done this great thing, so -he granted it with good will. “I give thee, O son,” said he, “one -hundred of my best horses, and sixty thousand gold pieces from my -coffers, and the best of my chieftains and proved princes to be thy -men, and free of my house shalt thou be, to abide there in peace, -or to go from it to seek adventure in war. Thou hast done a man’s -deed, and man shalt thou be called.” Then the prince gave him lowly -thanks, and sped off to gather together a little band of twelve -chieftains, picked and proved leaders of men, whom he had chosen to -lead his men, and when this was done each got together tried men -to follow them till the number of the band was made up. - -Now when Alexander had got together his band, he made ready to go -out in search of his first adventure, and in few days he rode out -into the world in knightly array into a land unknown, nor did he -stay until he came into the land of Peloponnesus. Now the king of -this land was called Nicholas, and when tidings were brought him -that a band of strange knights had come into his land, he ordered -that a host should be gathered together, and he with a few knights -rode out far before his following, and came to the men of Alexander -and began to question them in his wrath and anger, “Oh, ye knights, -who is your leader, and why come you here in my land?” Then the -courteous knight Alexander came to the front: “Sir knight,” said -he, “Philip the fierce, king of Macedon, is my father, and I am his -heir Alexander.” And the king stood up in his stirrups, and sternly -looking at him, said, “Whom think you that I am?” “Sir,” said -Alexander, “you are as now king of this folk, nor do I grudge your -honour, but beware of pride, for wise men tell that the highest -thing falls soonest, and that which is least of all is ofttimes -brought to the stars.” - -“True is thy word,” said the king, “and soon shalt thou prove its -truth it may be; look well to thyself lest thy speech come home to -thee.” - -Then Alexander burst into rage, and with bitter words ordered him -to return to his following if he wished safety, and Nicholas the -king, flaming with bitter wasp-like anger, took up a handful of mud -and threw it in the face of Alexander, and swore by the heart of -his father that he would put him to death with his own hands if he -fled not. But the noble Alexander controlled his rage at the foul -insult, and keeping his face by a mighty effort, though his hands -were gripping each other through, said, “As thou hast wronged me -causelessly, Nicholas, I swear by my father and by my god that thou -shalt see me ere long for this cause, and that I shall take thy -land from thee, or thou my life from me.” So a day was set for them -to meet in fight, and they parted on either side. - -Now were men on both parts getting them ready for the fight. -Alexander hurried home into Macedon and assembled a mighty host of -knights and archers, men proved and skilled in arms. And when the -host was assembled, with his princes and captains, he sought the -presence of Philip and took his leave, and mounting Bucephalus his -brave white horse, he led, first of all, his army out of the broad -gates of the town. So on the appointed day the field is covered -with the array of either host, and now men lift up the banners -and shake them out to the wind, and the clarions sound out till -the whole field rings with the music, and the woods and the hills -answer them again. Then each noble prepares for battle, his helm -on his head he strides to his horse, and jumps on his steel-clad -saddle, he hangs round his throat his bright shimmering shield, and -handles his lance. Then is the stamping of steeds, the stripping -of banners, the clouds of dust rise in the air, and suddenly the -crowds meet with a shock in the middle of the plain. Now the steeds -rear up against each other, and the spears break through the -blazoned shields and through the helmet bars, while the cypress -lance shafts splinter into fragments, and down fall knights and -dukes from their steeds. - -Well and nobly did the young Alexander fight his first battle. Sir -Nicholas took him a spear, and rushed on the young knight to get -him a name, and to keep his oath that he had sworn. Then Alexander -took another lance from his squire, for the first one was strained -in the fight by this time and might betray him, and they met one -another in the field, and men stayed to see this fight. So sore -were their strokes that the long lances split, even from point -to handgrip, so that there was not an ell long piece in either -man’s hand. Then each threw the fragment away, and out flashed -their swords from the sheaths, and they hacked and hewed at each -other through mail-coat and helmet. But mail and helm were good -and gave not way, till Alexander grew mad with rage, and with one -full stroke he struck off the head of King Nicholas clear through -the neck and helm, and he fell down to the earth. So it was that -Alexander got him great worship by this victory, for all the men -of that country and their lords came to him, and falling on their -knees put them in his mercy, and acknowledged him as ruler of the -land. Thus he defeated his enemy, and revenged the insult of King -Nicholas, and returned home with fame and good to his father. - -The tale tells that as he entered Macedon he found the town at -feast, and his father at his high table; but another woman sat in -the seat of the queen, for Philip had put away Olympias, as the -seers had told her years before. So Alexander bowed him down meekly -in seeming, and said, “Father, I pray thee receive the fruits of my -first victory ere I go hence to the wedding.” “And whose wedding -dost thou go to?” said the king. “To my mother’s,” said he, “for I -will marry her to some noble king, and I will make him the greatest -king on earth, for it likes me not to stay here while she is in -disgrace, and I know not for what.” Then Philip grew white with -wrath, but one Lysias, a knight at the table, said, “O king, heed -not his talk, for this fair queen shall bring thee a son greater -than him.” Turning to him, Alexander with his truncheon struck him -a blow so that he fell dead to the ground, and men said that in -truth he had deserved it; but Philip started up at the deed, and -snatching a blade rushed on Alexander, aiming a fierce blow at -him, for the gods had blinded his eyes so that he knew not wisdom -from folly, or right-doing from wrong. But as he came on, his -feet failed him, and ere he reached Alexander the king staggered, -stumbled, and fell to the ground, though no man saw cause for it. -Then Alexander laughed out loud, and said, “Does the Governor of -Greece fear one youth? What ails thee to fall?” and he struck over -the tables of the feast, and dragging the bride out of the hall -by her hair he brought her to his mother, for his heart was full -of wrath at the wrong done to her, while Philip was carried away -stricken with sore sickness. Thus was his mother avenged, and the -marriage feast disturbed. - -But when Alexander’s wrath cooled it came into his heart to make -peace between Philip and his mother, and rising up he went to the -bed of Philip, and there he spoke words as a friend might speak, -and the gods put in the king’s heart to forgive the death of -Lysias, and to reconcile him to his wife; and so the king rose up, -and leaning on Alexander’s shoulder, went with him to Olympias, and -there he took her in his arms and kissed her, and forgave all her -faults, and she was made queen again, and reigned in Macedon to her -life’s end. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER IV. TELLS OF THE EMBASSY OF DARIUS, OF THE DEATH OF PHILIP, -AND THE CROWNING OF ALEXANDER. - - -The tale tells that on a day men told in Macedon that an embassy -from the Emperor of the World, Darius of Persia, was drawing near; -and the whole city came out, men, women, and children, to see them -enter. But there was doubt and fear in the court of Philip, for -they were coming to demand from him the tribute which he had not -paid for the last three years, and the king had made up his mind -to be no more subject to the Persians, and Alexander had sworn -to conquer them in war if his father would raise an army against -them, but Philip would not, for he knew that no man could count the -armies of Darius, spent he his whole life to that end. - -And so the heralds came riding up to the gate of the town mounted -on their high steeds, and there were three of them, and each of -them was a king, and wore armour of proof. On each man’s head was -a golden crown, and their pages bore before them their helmets. -The herald who was on the right wore bright silver armour; his -surcoat was dark green, and on it was worked a fierce tiger rushing -on his prey, and he was the herald of Media. The herald riding on -the left wore black armour from head to foot, and his surcoat was -of scarlet, and on it was a wild boar turning to face his foe, and -this was the herald of Persia. But the herald in the middle was -clad from head to foot in bright gold, and his surcoat was of a -deep clear blue, and on it shone the sun high over all the world, -and all men shouted when they saw him, for he was a head taller -than common men, and he was the herald of the Emperor of the World. - -When they reached the gate the trumpeters blew three long calls on -their trumpets with a silence between each, and the drawbridge, -which had been raised, slowly fell, and the great gate of the -city opened, and the herald of the King of Macedon came forth and -greeted them fair, and offered them rest and hostage till such -time as they should see the king. But they said, “O dear brother -and friend, it is not fitting that we eat or drink in this town -till we have done the errand of our lord, or till we know whether -we harbour with friends and servants, or with foes and traitors -of the Master of the World. Wherefore we pray you, dear brother, -that you will lead us to the hall of your prince that we may do our -errand, not doubting that after it we shall be beholden to your -love for rest and comfort.” So the heralds dismounted, and their -men remained without with their horses, while they went into the -town and through the streets up to the palace hall of Philip. - -Now the king was sitting on his throne under the daïs at the upper -end of the hall, and on his right hand sat the noble Alexander, and -round the king on his right and his left were the nobles of the -land, greybeards and youth. And when the coming of the heralds was -told them the king rose from his seat, and as they stepped forward -so did he, and he came to the middle of the hall and three steps -further, for all men did reverence in those days to the herald. -And he greeted them, and on the neck of each man he threw a chain -of gold, and much he praised them for their fame. But the heralds -spoke and said, “O king, we have a message for thee, nor may we -delay.” And he said, “Speak on.” - -[Illustration: The Heralds of the Emperor Darius.] - -So the Wild Boar of Persia spake: “O Philip, for three years thou -hast not sent thy accustomed tribute to Persia, nor a part of it. -Now, therefore, pay it at once, or fear the wrath of Persia.” Then -the Tiger of Darius the Mede, spake: “O king, forasmuch as in -past years thou hast served the king, and as perchance thy land -has suffered from famine and war, thy king and friend, Darius, -forgives thee freely thy past tribute by my mouth.” But the herald -of the Empire of the World added: “On this condition only, that -thou payest over to me three sacks full of Grecian earth in token -of thy obedience to the great Emperor, and to show that hereafter -thy tribute shall not fail.” - -For a short time there was silence in the great hall, and then -Alexander spake out: “Fair father and lord, suffer me to answer -for thee.” Then turning to the heralds, “Return,” said he, “return -to your people and to your master, and bid him to send no more -messages here of this matter, for know that Philip hath a son grown -that yields to no man, and obeys no lord. Tell him that the land -of Macedon which in times past yielded him wealth so freely is now -barren, and will give him henceforth no tribute, come what may.” -These words and more he said, yet he departed not from the courtesy -that beseemeth great lords, and the heralds wondered at his speech, -and greatly they praised him to his father. But Alexander sought -out the herald of the Sun and gave him a fair jewel, and said to -him that it was to retain him against the day when he should be -emperor in his turn. - -It must be said that these heralds had gone through all the lands -subject to the Emperor of Persia, for they had a secret errand -from Darius. Now Darius had no son, and but one fair daughter, -Roxana by name, and he was minded to marry her to one of the -king’s sons of the lands, so the heralds were straitly charged to -get the portraits of the princes and kings, and in their train -was a skilled painter. Thus it fell that during the three days of -guesting the painter drew a likeness of the prince exactly his -height and size, and it was taken back to Darius with the other -portraits, that the Emperor might choose the prince who should -marry his daughter, and succeed him in the empire. And after the -three days of hostage the heralds took their leave of King Philip, -and went their way, and in due time they arrived at the court of -Darius, the proud king of Persia, and there they told him how his -tribute was lost, and how Philip’s son had spoken. - -In Macedon meanwhile many things had happened, for it was told -Philip that all the land of Armenia had revolted against him, and -that the earls and princes were in arms, so Alexander gathered a -host and marched against them, and, shortly to tell, he laid waste -all the land of the rebels. But while he had marched away a worse -thing fell to Philip, for a prince of the land, Pausanius, son of -Cerastes, who dwelt in the marches of Macedon, and was one of his -noblest knights, rose against him. And this was the reason of his -rebellion:--For many years this lord had loved the queen Olympias, -and when Philip put her away he had come to the feast of the -king’s new marriage to defy him and to take her away, but when -Alexander restored her to her place he departed sorrowful, and the -love in his heart burned up, till at the last he summoned all his -friends to make war on Philip, if by any means he might kill him, -and carry off the fair queen to be his wife. - -Now Philip gathered together all his men and went out to war with -Pausanius, but the folk that were with him were few, and when they -met in the field fear fell on him, and he turned and fled to his -castle. Then all men shouted when they saw that the great Philip -had shewn his back, and Pausanius sprung out of the ranks on his -proud steed, and speeding after the king struck him through the -back to the breast and bore him to the earth, and there he lay on -the highway half dead. Then Pausanius rode on, and all Philip’s men -fell back, for they were sore troubled when they saw their king -wounded to death. So the prince came to the castle, and joy was in -his heart, for he thought to bring out the fair queen and to lead -her away. But in the heat of his joy Alexander returned victorious -from Armenia with the nobles of Macedon, and when he heard the -noise of the weapons he spurred into the town. Now the queen had -shut the door of the castle-keep, and when the noise of the host -was heard she flew to the window at the top, and by the arms and -spoil she knew it was her son returned victorious. Then the queen -called to her son with a loud voice, “O son, who shall never be -conquered, avenge and help thy mother in her need,” and Alexander -heard her, and wrath rose in his heart. But when Pausanius heard -that Alexander had come, he came armed out of the palace, and with -him a host of mighty men, and the hosts met in mid-field; yet short -was the fight, for Alexander swung out his sharp sword and with one -blow struck him dead, and all his men gave up their weapons to the -noble conqueror. Then came one and told him that his father lay -wounded on the highway, and Alexander rushed forth and found him as -one near death, and he fell down by his side and wept bitterly. But -the old king said, “Ah, son Alexander, now am I near my end, but -yet am I glad to have lived long enough to see my slayer so soon -killed. Well be thou that thou hast avenged me.” Then he raised up -his head and looked at his son, but the effort was too much for -him, and with one groan he died. - -The tale tells of how Alexander grieved for the death of Philip -as one grieves for the loss of his father, and of the burial of -the old king: how he was borne on men’s shoulders to bale, how his -barons and knights followed him as he was laid to rest in his own -land, and how all men of the land, rich and poor, noble and simple, -grieved for the loss of the great king. The next day Alexander -sat on his throne, a bright gold crown studded with gems on his -head, and in his hand the sceptre of his father. Then the heralds -proclaimed that all the court should draw near, and that all men -should do their liege homage to him, and they came at his call, -and all men acknowledged him as lord on their bended knees, and -Alexander put off his crown from him and laid it on the throne, -and rose up and spoke to his people in this wise: “Fair lords, I -will in no wise be contrary to your wills, nor to your deeds. But I -show to you that I hate frauds and malice, and as I have loved you -during my father’s life, so will I do in time to come. And I both -counsel and pray you that ye dread the gods, and obey them; and -that ye choose for king him that shall best provide for the good -estate of his people, and that shall be most courteous and merciful -to poor folk, him that will best keep justice and the right of the -feeble against the mighty, and him that most boldly shall put him -in array to destroy your enemies; for such ought to be chosen king -and none other.” - -Now when the lords of the land had heard his reasons abovesaid, -and considered his great discretion, wit, and understanding, they -marvelled greatly, and answered him thus: “We have heard and -understand thy great reasons, and have received thy good counsels, -and therefore we will and beseech thee that thou reign over us, and -have the lordship upon us. During thy life may there be none who -shall deserve to be our king rather than thou.” And thus they chose -him to be their king, and crowned him, and gave him their troth, -and prayed the gods to bless and maintain him. - -That night as Alexander lay on his bed he dreamed, and in his -dream he saw Anectanabus, the wise Egyptian, come to him; on his -head were two ram’s horns, and his coat was brown. It seemed that -he came to him as he lay, and put his hand on his shoulder and -said, “Stay thou not in this land of Macedon, but go forth into -all lands, for thou shalt conquer them, and they shall be subject -to thee, and thou shalt not die, except on a soil of iron, beneath -a sky of gold.” Then came to him one dressed in robes of blue and -purple and gold, covered with all manner of embroidered figures, -and on his head was a strange crown of gold and pearls and precious -stones, and he said, “The God whom I serve shall teach thee to -destroy the empire of the Persians.” And last there came to him a -very fair lady, tall and graceful, and she looked on him with love, -and said, “O Alexander, my heart’s lord, when thou hast overcome -the Persians, indeed thou shalt reign over them, and I shall be thy -queen and lady-love. Let this be the sign between thee and me, that -we meet first at the feast of the Lord of Persia.” - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER V. HOW ALEXANDER GATHERED AN ARMY TOGETHER: HOW HE BUILT -ALEXANDRIA AND LAID SIEGE TO THE CITY OF TYRE. - - -As to the giving in marriage of the daughter of Darius, the Emperor -of Persia, it is to be told that on a set day the wise men of the -land came before him, and the painter brought out to them the -portraits he had made, and they examined them but found none that -was worthy to rule, for one was covetous, and another quarrelsome, -and a third given to much speaking, and these faults the wise men -read in the faces on the parchment. Then they came to the likeness -of Alexander and all men said “This man is born to be lord of men” -and they brought it before Darius, and he sent for his daughter -Roxana, and made her stand by the picture, and when she did so, she -was taller than the figure painted thereon. Then Darius turned -away and said nought, but shook his head, and Roxana took with her -the cast-away drawing and bore it to her own rooms, and kept it -safe; and she vowed offerings to the gods if they would make this -man her lord and husband. - -But Alexander gathered together all the warriors of the land, and -made them a speech: “Lo, barons of Macedon, Thrace, and Thessaly, -and all true Greeks, how like you now your liege lord: look on my -face and let fear depart: hold up your hearts, and flee from no -alien while Alexander lives. The gods have granted me that all the -barbarians shall obey me: and there shall be no nation so rich or -great under heaven that my name shall not be honoured there, for -we of Greece shall be praised and feared over the wide world. Now, -then, prepare ye for war; he who has arms of his own, trusty and -good, let him take them; he who has them not, let him come to me, -and I will furnish him for battle.” - -Then answered him with one voice all the old knights and peers of -his father’s army: “Sire, we have fought often in hard fields with -Sir Philip, your father, and many winters have gone over our heads; -now our force fails us and our flesh is weak, for be the flower -never so fresh it fades at the last. Sir, all the days of our youth -are long past, we are over-travelled and tired, our heads are white -and too weak to bear the helmet or to seek adventures of arms. -Excuse us, Lord, we pray, and take with thee younger men, stout in -battle, and fit to deal heavy strokes.” - -“Nay, by my crown,” said the king, “I cannot spare my old men; an -army of young men will often break their line in battle, trusting -to their own strength. I choose the older men who do all their -works by plan and counsel.” And the old knights yielded to his -wishes, and all men praised his wisdom. - -Now the time had come when kings go out to war, and Alexander took -ship from the coast of Greece and sailed towards Italy. So at -the first his army turned towards Chalcedon, a strong and mighty -city, and he besieged it. And when the men of the city fought but -faintly, Alexander rode up to the walls and cried out with a loud -voice: “O men of Chalcedon, either fight bravely or yield up your -town without delay”; and they of the city were so fearful that -at the sound of his voice they owned him for master, and all the -land took him for lord. Then Alexander sailed into Italy and took -tribute of all men; even the mighty Romans sent him sixty thousand -gold pieces, and Europe was subject to him. - -From Europe the king sailed over the great sea into Africa, and -many days he sought an enemy and found none, for the fame of -him had gone before him. On a day he sought a temple of the god -Ammon with his earls and mighty men, and there happed on the way -a marvel. For it fell as he was going, that a hart with a huge -head leaped forth before them; hardly had man ever seen so noble a -beast. Then said Alexander: “Lo, the emperor of harts, slay him ere -he escape.” And all men shot, but so fleet was the hart that none -could reach him. Then Alexander bent a bow, and with a mighty shout -let fly at him, and the arrow struck him and pierced him through, -though all men deemed that the hart was far out of bowshot. Then -his men wondered greatly, and the country folk who saw the shot -deemed that Alexander was indeed some god, and the name of the -place is called in their tongue Bowshot to this day. But the king -went into the temple and offered great gifts. - -Then went Alexander on his way and came to a very fruitful land, -a land with twelve rivers running into the sea. And on a night as -he lay on his bed he saw in a dream the god of the land, tall and -fair, clad in a chestnut-brown robe, wearing on his head a gold -crown, and having two horns like ram’s horns. And as he dreamed -the god said to him, pointing to a high mountain: “King Alexander, -canst thou lift yonder hill and carry it on thy shoulder.” “Nay,” -said Alexander, “who is there under heaven who might try?” “King,” -said the god, “your name shall ever be remembered, till yonder hill -is removed from its place.” Then Alexander laughed out with joy, -and he said to the vision: “I beseech thee now, O Shining One, tell -me as at this time ere thou pass away how I shall die, and when my -day shall come?” Then the god looked on him sadly, and said: “Truly -I hold it better that a man should not seek to know that which -shall come upon him; yet since thou hast asked me, I tell thee that -thou shalt conquer all nations, and die by poison, and thy years -shall be finished ere thou reach middle age. Ask me no more of this -as now; far in the Land of the East thou shalt be told the end of -thy days by number.” And with these words the light in the room -flickered and blew sideways, and Alexander started up, and behold -there was no man with him. Then in the morning the king ordered his -men to build him there a city, and that city remains to this day, -and the name of it is Alexandria. - -Now when the city was built, and men from Greece had come thither, -with merchants from Tyre and from far lands, to dwell, to buy, and -to sell, Alexander went forth with his host through all the land of -Egypt, and the men of that land feared him as one of the high gods. -And as he came to a certain city he found in it an image of a king -carved in black stone, a crown on its head, and a royal sceptre in -its hand; but below it were many words carven--the words which the -god had told the men of the land many years before. Then Alexander -asked the chief men of the city: “Sirs, what statue is this, and -what be the words that are written beneath it?” And the men of that -place answered him: “Truly, O king, this man was Anectanabus, once -king of all this land; yet because he was bidden of the gods he -left us, and the writing below tells us that he shall come again -and free us from the Persians, and make us a great people. And some -men say that it shall be a son of his that shall do these great -things.” Then Alexander knew that this was that same Egyptian who -had been his fosterer, and he said to the men of the place: “I knew -the man, and for his sake I will make ye free from all men, rich -and happy shall ye be.” And he fell at the feet of the statue and -kissed it, and they stood by him in silence. - -But on a day it was told him that they of Tyre had destroyed a ship -of Alexandria, and had spoken evil of him, and Alexander marched -into Syria with all his host to subdue it and to conquer Tyre. Now -Tyre was a fair city, built on an island in a bay, with the sea -washing up to its walls. And it was so strong that no army had ever -taken it, and so rich that its merchants were princes and hired -armies to defend them, and all the country round owned the men of -Tyre as their lords. But they of the city said: “What king shall -injure Tyre, for our walls defend us, and our ships sail every sea, -and bring to us the good things of earth and food and drink, and -our wealth is great, and all men shall serve us for it?” - -But Alexander and his host were marching towards them, and one -day the men of Tyre saw the army of Alexander on the plain before -them, for he had taken two strong cities, Damascus and Sidon, and -had made all the land subject to him. And as they looked the camp -seemed to grow and tents were raised, and no man could count their -number. So Alexander’s army was before the town, and he thought -that he should take it easily, but not a few troubles were suffered -before Tyre submitted to him. - -Now it fell that many days had been spent in fruitless assaults on -the city before Alexander found out that its walls were too high -for him to take it by storm. Everywhere were turrets and towers of -defence, and the wild waves of the sea outside beat on the walls to -as much purpose as the army of Alexander. Then men began to murmur -and complain first of one thing, then of another, and Alexander -ordered them to construct a great castle beside the city in the -sea, and raise it up to the height of the walls of the city, that -he might prevent ships coming into it to bring food and riches. But -when the tower was nearly finished the army was in sore strait, for -food was wanting in the camp. Princes, dukes and fierce knights -were famishing, yea, all men were starving. - -Then Alexander pitied his men, and resolved to get provision and -help for them, so he sent special messengers to those tribes which -were near, bidding them to send him help both in men and in food. -And among others he sent to Jaddua, chief bishop in Jerusalem, and -admonished him to send fresh men for the fight and food for the -folk that were with him, and to pay all the tribute due to Darius -to the Greeks. And he told his scribe to put into the letter gentle -words, saying that it was better to be the helpers of the men of -Macedon than to be the servants of Darius. - -Now when the messengers came to Jerusalem they were received by the -chief bishop in a great hall, and when they gave him the king’s -letter he went away into an upper room to read it by himself. But -when he had read it he stayed a little, and then coming down the -steps into the hall he gave this answer to the envoys: “Sirs, -return to Alexander, and say thus: Many years have passed since I -made oath never to harm Persia, nor to pass in arms against Darius -all the days of his life.” When Alexander received this answer he -was very wroth, and he vowed to teach the Jews whose orders they -should obey; yet he would not leave the siege of Tyre, but sent -away a part of his army to obtain food for him and the rest of the -Greeks. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VI. TELLS OF THE FORAY OF KADESH, AND OF ITS ENDING, AND OF -THE TAKING OF THE CITY OF TYRE. - - -Now the chief of the band he sent was Meleager, one of Alexander’s -most valiant knights, and he had with him five hundred lances and -their men-at-arms. His orders were to ride through the valley to -the city of Kadesh, which belonged to Tyre, to drive together all -the cattle and flocks in the plains, and to bring them to the army -of Alexander. So he set out, and with him was Sir Sampson, a bold -knight of the land, who knew all the country round about. They were -so successful that they gathered together a host of beasts beyond -number, and soon they turned towards Tyre with delight in their -hearts. But before they had travelled a mile all the country was -alarmed, and rose in arms against them, and a very valiant knight, -Theosell, came riding out to meet them, and to prevent their -getting away before the host appeared. Now Theosell and his men -were armed in plate, and they made such a sudden rush on the Greeks -that they struck many down and overrode them, so that those who -fell to the ground never rose after, and their blows were mighty. -Then Meleager was moved with wrath when he saw the Greeks turn and -flee, and mounted as he was on a young horse he seized his spear -and spurred against the enemy, striking great blows. Sampson, on -the other hand, broke his lance at the first encounter, and struck -out right and left with the broken end, hewing down his foes; -also Aristes, a noble knight, was one of those who were chief in -their resistance to the foe, and Caulus had no less an enemy than -Theosell himself. The first stroke of Caulus’ sword fell on the -helmet of Theosell, and struck down through the wooden crest--the -great wild boar’s head--down into the helmet, and before Theosell -had recovered from the blow a great swing of the sword struck off -his head. Now when this noble knight was fallen to the ground all -the folk that followed him, and were able, fled away, and Meleager -and his men rejoiced that they had slain the leader of their foes -and had won the field. - -Suddenly they were interrupted by the sound of a horn, and they -saw an army marching out of Kadesh against them under the command -of Beritinus, a great lord of the country. The tale tells that -there were with him thirty thousand lances clad in plate armour -and mounted, with others following on foot, so that clouds of dust -covered them, and the earth seemed to shake at their tread. Then -the Macedonians were sore dismayed to see such a great host come -out against them, and Meleager was in great mind to send a message -to Alexander, asking him for aid before they joined battle. But -there was no man who would go on such an errand, or leave his -comrades in danger of death, and all men set their faces to live -and die together. - -The first onset of the foe was a fierce one, and not few of them, -with their chief Beritinus, met their death, but the Macedonians -lost Sampson and many another noble. Then began a long struggle -between the few Macedonians and their foes, till at last they were -beaten down to a little group of tired, wounded, and bleeding -soldiers, breathless and faint, hardly able to strike a blow, yet -resolved not to flee. Then the brave knight Aristes, although sore -wounded himself, slew one of the enemy, and, leaping on his horse, -spurred off to Alexander for help before all the little band was -destroyed. Little need to tell that the king was sore grieved, and -gathering together in haste as many of his knights as he could, -he rode off to the rescue of Meleager through the valley, leaving -Tyre and the camp. And ever as he went his eyes dropped tears as he -thought of his good knights slain, and most of all he grieved for -Sampson, whom he loved well. - -But while Alexander was riding through the valley away from Tyre -the men of the town were busy. He had finished a great tower in the -water over against the city wall, and had left a guard within it to -keep it till his return. But Sir Balaan of Tyre, one of the chief -men of the town, prepared great machines and engines for casting -stones into the tower, and when he had driven the guard from its -walls, he sallied out of the town with a host of armed men and -attacked it. Then the men of the tower defended it sharply, and -sent out showers of darts and great stones. But Balaan fought so -bitterly, and sent such a cloud of stones, that none of the Greeks -could show themselves on the tower, and his slaves brought engines -and threw down the top of the tower and tilted it into the sea, -and all the men in it were slain. Then he got boats and barges and -attacked the bottom of the castle, and broke down all its lower -part, and threw the heaps into the sea, and the winds and the sea -helped him, and a storm arose and beat the pieces small, so that -not one beam remained fastened to another. Thus this great work was -destroyed in a day, and Balaan returned to the city and barred the -gate as before. - -By this time Alexander had come out of the valley and reached -the plain of Kadesh. Before him he saw here and there a few of -his men fighting in scattered groups, while others of the enemy -were collecting the cattle and sheep to drive them home again. -All over the plain he saw his men struck down surrounded by heaps -of the enemy. Then his eyes flamed out with wrath at the sight -of their danger, and he struck spurs into Bucephalus his horse, -and springing out with a spear rode straight at the thickest of -his foes; and ever as he rode he struck them to earth, so that -through the thickest of the throng his way was marked by a clear -wide path and his nobles rode after him. And when his lance broke -he drew out his long sword and struck down all before him till no -man of the enemy was on the plain who was not stricken down and a -prisoner. Then he turned to those of his men who were still alive -and comforted them with fair words, and much he praised their -valour, and then bound up their wounds, and the king left order -that the dead should be buried under stone or marble monuments, and -gathering together the prey, great and small, flocks and herds, he -returned with his men to Tyre. - -The tale tells that as he rode out of the valley and came into view -of Tyre his first look was towards the great tower he had built, -and sore was he grieved when he found that it had been destroyed, -and that his soldiers that were in it had perished; and all the -Macedonians mourned, and they trusted no longer that Tyre would be -taken. But that same night Alexander was sleeping by himself in his -tent, and he thought that he saw a great vine before him, and that -he put out his hand and plucked one grape out of a ripe cluster. -Then he flung it on the floor and put his foot on it, and when he -had broken it, lo! wine flowed out, so much that it was a wonder to -see. In the morning, when the king rose, he called to him a wise -man, and bade him tell what the dream should mean; and the wise man -said: “O king, fear not; Tyre is thine own; for this berry that -thou didst break is the town of Tyre, and thou shalt tread under -thy feet its towers within few days.” Then the king rejoiced, and -set about to make many plans, if by any means he might come within -the walls of Tyre. - -Soon another tower was in building, right in the same place as the -first had been, half as large again and higher than the town-walls, -firmly anchored and fastened so that it could not move, close -against the sea-wall of the town. And when the tower was built -Alexander clad himself in armour of steel, its plates shining in -the sun, and went to the top of it and looked over the town and -saw its walls, and then he looked to his camp and saw the Greeks, -and he resolved to make no more delay but to take it by storm at -once. So he ordered the Macedonians to make ready for the battle, -and when they saw him on the walls of Tyre to lose no time, but -each man to follow him. Then began the beating of drums and the -loud blare of the trumpets till the town and camp rang with their -brazen strokes, and all men rushed to the assault of the walls. -The archers came within bowshot of the walls, covered with great -shields which they held before them, each shield covering two men, -and shot keenly at every mark that showed itself, and their arrows -were deadly as adders; nor were they of the town less eager to -return their bowshot, and from the walls they cast great stones -among the Greeks. Suddenly the gates of the town opened, and the -Tyrians made a sally out, wounding and killing many of the archers, -for they were good spearmen, and could cast the dart. - -But Alexander and his princes had passed up into the tower, and -some of the lords were armed with lances, and some bore huge -two-handed swords, and many carried the battle-axe, and a few -had cross-bows which shot great bolts of steel. Then from the -tower they passed on to the sea-wall of Tyre and fought their -way among a crowd of foes, Alexander ever the first. Long were -it to tell of the fight and of his valour, for they of the town -worthily withstood him, and ere they made sure their footing on -the town-wall, many knights had been stricken down backward into -the deep water. But when they saw that, the Greeks became maddened -with rage, and no wound could make them pause, and as they obtained -a footing they fell to shooting with cross-bows, and with their -great catapults, each stone like a man’s head, and the yeomen -got out great crowbars and began to tear down the turrets and -battlements; while the knights hurried forward beating down their -opponents. At last a breach in the walls was made, and then the -host of Alexander rushed into the town, eager to revenge the death -of so many of their comrades, and the men of Tyre thronged thick -to the wall to guard the entrance. But Alexander forced his way -through them all and over the broken wall into the city, and the -first man he met was Balaan. Short was the fight, for one stroke of -his mighty sword laid Balaan low, and he was thrown into the sea -beneath the walls. Then when the Tyrians were driven from the walls -the Greeks clambered up them with all manner of ladders, on each -step a cluster, and those who had no ladders climbed up the stones -without them, and in short time Tyre was in their hands, for after -the death of Sir Balaan no man could lead the men of the town or -give them heart to fight. - -Then Alexander commanded to cast down the walls of Tyre, and when -it was done it came into his mind to punish the men of Jerusalem -for their refusal to send him help against Tyre, and his army moved -down towards the city. And on his way he conquered the land of the -Philistines, and burned down the city of Gaza. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VII. HOW ALEXANDER CAME TO JERUSALEM, HOW THE BISHOP MET -HIM, AND WHAT THERE BEFELL HIM. - - -When the word was brought to Jerusalem that Tyre was taken, and -that Alexander was on the march towards the city to punish it for -its disobedience, there was heavy grief and woe, and Jaddua the -bishop was in great awe, for he said to himself: “Now have I but a -few days ago refused to obey this great warrior, and when he the -most needed help I denied it him; better had it been for me that -anything should have happened before I grieved this man, and did -not his command. Woe is me and my city.” And Jaddua called together -the men of the city, and said: “Now is Alexander at hand, and will -destroy our city and us unless heaven help us.” - -So men went through the streets, and it was ordered that all the -inhabitants of the city should fast for three days, men, women -and children, and that they should appear in the temple and cry -with clean hearts to the King of Heaven to keep them safe from -this mighty conqueror. And so it was that the whole city fell to -prayers and fasting, and woe was on every face. But on the third -night, when all the city was asleep and the sacrifices ended, then -a shining one stood by the bishop and spoke joyful words to him, -saying: “Sir Bishop, I bring thee tidings of bliss and solace. I am -sent to thee from the Master of men to bid thee be not cast down. -Now, therefore, rise up early and array all thy city, its streets -and its houses, in fair attire, open its gates wide, let every man -be apparelled in clean and milk-white clothes. And as for thee and -thy priests and prelates, clothe thee in the dress of thy rule, and -when this conqueror comes, go ye forth to meet him. And fear not to -greet him nobly, for he must ride and reign over the round world to -the day of his death.” - -Then when the day broke the bishop rose and called together all the -chief of the people, and told them his vision and what the voice -had bade him do; and all his clergy and the city assented that so -it should be, that the city should be adorned and that all men -should go forth to meet this their sovereign. So all the people -hurried home and brought out their richest treasure to adorn the -city. - -The broad streets were arched over with awnings of rich and rare -stuffs. The ground was covered with Tartary silk and with taffeta, -that so noble a ruler should not tread on bare earth. The pavement -was covered over with woven stuffs, and canopies of fine linen -were stretched on high over the gates of the city to keep off the -heat of the sun, and they were gathered on either side with silken -ropes, and drawn back like curtains, while the houses were hung -with Indian stuff of bright blue embroidered with stars, even to -the eaves. Thus was the town adorned, and when the gates were -opened, men without might deem that they looked in on one of the -seven heavens. - -And now the people of the city began to come out in procession, -clothed in their richest robes. First came the bishop with the -priests of the temple, dressed in royal magnificence. He wore under -all a long robe covered with birds and beasts embroidered in blue -and purple, and on that a robe with gold skirts, with many shining -stones sprinkled all over, and set stiff with sapphires and other -gems, and powdered with pearls of the purest hue. Over this he cast -on a cope of chestnut colour with rich ribands of gold, and round -the hem a border of violet flowers, embroidered with satyrs and -fauns and the wild beasts of the forest. And on his head he wore -a great mitre forged out of pure gold, bordered with pearls, and -covered with such precious stones that no man might look upon it, -for it struck out shimmering shafts of light like the beams of the -bright sun. And with the bishop came the doctors of law, the judges -of the city, and they were all dressed in tunics of scarlet silk -brought from Tartary, and were loaded with their golden chains of -office; and after them the clergy, all clothed in their brightest -dress. Such a sight had never been seen before, nor will it be seen -again. - -After the bishop and his attendants the whole city came in order, -Mayor, merchants, masters and men, widows and wives, all came with -their companies, and each of them dressed in white linen pure as -the driven snow. Then a company of children came forth with bells -and banners and blazing torches; some bore censers with silver -chains and burning spices within, whose smoke rose to the clouds, -two bore a cushion of brown velvet embroidered with pearls to -be held before the bishop for his book to rest on, others bore -candlesticks of gold and of silver, and the relics of the temple, -the richest of the world. And all the procession went on till they -came to a little place outside the town whence they could see the -temple, and there they abode the coming of the king. - -And now they heard the tramp of feet and the distant sound of -arms and horses, for all men kept silence in fear and doubt and -half-hope, and they knew not how soon they might be ridden down -and slain or made slaves, or whether they should indeed be saved -as the bishop had told them. Then they saw Alexander riding up -with a host of dukes and princes and earls, and at the same time -the king caught sight of their array, and when Alexander saw this -multitude of men in milk-white clothes he thought it a marvel, and -he turned and saw the crowd of priests in maniples and stoles, and -the doctors of the law and the prelates in their robes; and amidst -them all, the chief amongst them, the bishop, dressed in his array -of gold and purple and fine linen; and the king’s eyes fixed on him -and looking up he beheld on his mitre a plate of fine gold, and on -it was graven the great name of The Maker of Men. Then the king -commanded his knights to approach no nearer on pain of their lives, -but all, great and small, to remain behind, and he spurred on his -horse till he came up to the spot where the bishop was standing, -and then jumping down he fell on his knees before the bishop on the -cold earth, and beating his breast worshipped the Holy Name that he -saw written on his head. - -Then all the people bowed themselves down before Alexander as he -stood up, and meekly kneeling they cried with a keen voice: “Long -may he live, long may he live.” Then the fairest lady of them -all came out and cried: “Lo, Alexander, the noblest lord under -heaven, long may he live, the mighty emperor, the wielder of all -the world, the mightiest on the earth.” And all the people of -the city answered her with one voice: “Long may he live, long may -he live.” Then stepped out a man and he cried out: “Lo, he that -overcometh all men, who shall be overcome never; The greatest, the -most glorious, that ever was made by God.” And all the people cried -out at once: “Long may he live, long may he live.” - -Now there were with Alexander many of the rulers of the land of -Syria who had yielded up their lands to him, and when they saw him -bow down, as they thought, to the bishop of the Jews, they held it -a great wonder. Then Parmeon, one of Alexander’s princes, went up -to him, and asked him why he bowed down to the bishop of Jews, when -all other men bowed before him instead. And Alexander answered him: -“Nay, I neither hailed him nor bowed down to him, but to the King -of Heaven alone, the Father of gods and of men. For many days ago, -when I was in Macedon, one appeared to me in such a dress and shape -as this man now wears. And I mused in my mind how I might win Asia, -and he bade me fear not, but that all the land should be mine, and -when I saw this man, verily he seemed the same god who had spoken -to me. Now have I good hope, by the help of this God whose Name is -written yonder, to conquer Darius and to destroy the empire of the -Persians.” - -And now the bishop had greeted Alexander full lowly, and all men -had done him homage, and they prayed the king to enter into the -town, and Alexander marvelled to see how fair a city it was, and -the people of the land received him with reverence and joy as he -were the leader of them all, or as one come down from the gods. -Then went they through the town, and the bishop brought them to the -temple that the great knight and king, Dan Solomon, had built, and -the wise men of the temple came forth, and Alexander heard of their -lore. Then came one of the oldest of them all and spoke words to -the bishop, and he arose and bowed down before Alexander and said: -“O king, verily there are words concerning thee and thy deeds in -the books of our holy place,” and he ordered the temple guardians, -and they brought out a huge roll, a broad book full of dark sayings -of the times to be, and there was the saying of a mighty seer, one -Daniel by name, and Alexander read how that the men out of Greece -should utterly destroy the people of Persia. - -Thereupon was Alexander merry of heart, for he deemed that the -time had come, and that he should indeed beat down Persia, and -he ordered his men to fetch great gifts, and to each man he gave -chains of gold, and jewels of pearls and of rubies, and to the -bishop he gave store of bezants, great round heavy golden coins, -such as bishops love, and he showed him a heap of golden talents, -but the bishop feared to take such riches. Then said the king: “O -Bishop, ask what thou wilt in this world, anything mayest thou ask -that I may give, and I will grant it thee ere I go hence.” And the -bishop bowed him down to the ground and said: “O King Alexander, -this thing of all others I deeply desire, durst I name it, that -thou wouldst grant us the use of our law, as our fathers before us -have obeyed it, and if it may be, grant us that we pay no tribute -for seven years, in memory of the joy of thy coming, then shall all -men pray for thee and serve thee, and, if I may but add one thing, -grant to those of Media and of Babylon that they may freely obey -our law.” - -“That grant I thee,” said the king, “ask now for thyself, and be -served.” “Nay, lord, no more, if I may have your love and your -lordship while my life lasts,” said the bishop, and he and all men -meekly thanked Alexander. And Alexander appointed a lord to dwell -in the town, hear what men said, and be his viceroy, and the bishop -blessed him, and he departed into the cities near at hand, and all -of them came out to welcome him and to acknowledge him their lord. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. TELLS HOW DARIUS THE EMPEROR SENT PRESENTS TO -ALEXANDER, AND WHAT WAS THE PRESENT SENT BACK TO HIM. - - -But it fell that some of them of Tyre had fled into the court of -Darius, and they complained to him of their city destroyed, and -“all this,” said they, “we suffered because we obeyed the great -king, the Emperor Darius.” Then began the Emperor to question them -concerning this Alexander, what manner of man he was, what was his -stature and his strength, whether he were brave or no. And they, -willing to bring shame on the name of their enemy, shewed Darius a -painting of him on parchment. But when Darius looked on it he burst -into laughter, and all men smiled, and he said: “Well for ye, ye -men of Tyre, if ye were beaten by such a man as this, for never saw -I such a warrior,” for they had painted him a little shrivelled -creature, more like an ape than a man, with long arms, and one leg -longer than the other, blinking and stupid, the most miserable -object that had ever been seen. And Darius drove the men of Tyre -from his presence, and asked his wise men concerning Alexander, who -and what manner of man he was; and they told him how he was the -king’s son of Macedon, and how they had chosen him as fit to be the -husband of Roxana, and how he had rejected him because of his small -stature. - -Then Darius bade search for his portrait and bring it before him -that he might look on him; but when they sought it they found it -not among the other likenesses, for it is to be said that Roxana -the Queen had borne it with her and treasured it up with her chief -treasures. So he thought within himself that he would prove the -heart and wit of the Greek, and he commanded, and they brought him -presents for Alexander, and first was a ball covered with gold; -“for,” said he, “he must have something to play with;” then he -added a hat, “and,” said he, “this is better than a crown;” and -last they brought him a head-covering made of twigs and osiers; -“this is better for such an one as thou, O Alexander, than a bright -steel helm.” And Darius fell back upon his throne, laughing, and -ordered messengers to take them to Alexander, bearing with them a -letter under his broad seal. - -So Darius called for his scribes, and they came before him, and he -ordered them to write a letter to Alexander, and this was the form -of the letter he wrote: - -“DARIUS, the Emperor, king of kings, lord of lords, predecessor of -princes, equal to the Sun, the lord of the earth, to Alexander, our -subject and our servant. - -“For it is reported to us that thou, through the vanity and -vainglory of thy heart, hast got together warriors to lay waste -parts of our kingdom, and hast now with thee a number of wretches, -thieves and vagabonds, and by their means dost think to wield at -thy will the power of Persia: - -“Now, therefore, be warned in time, for thou art weak before me, -even if thou hadst gathered against my empire all the men in the -world outside it, for my people are so many that they are like to -the stars of heaven in number. Submit in time; the Persians are -famed to be unbeaten. - -“It is told me that thou, a dwarf and weakling, dost covet the rule -of all the lands under the wide heavens, and that, like a storm of -wind-blown snow, driven hither and thither, thou passest over all -lands with a train of ruffians behind thee. I have not yet armed my -men against thee; beware, when my hand shall be raised, thy life is -done. Turn again, boy, to thy mother’s care; take these toys I send -thee. Know that the riches of Persia are so great, that a heap of -its gold would shut out the light of the sun, and blame thyself for -all the evils that shall fall on thee if thou disobey. - -“Now, therefore, return at once to Macedon, or, not as the son of -Philip, but as a leader of a band of petty thieves shalt thou be -hung.” - -And when the letter was written the bearer of the kind’s seal -came forward, and the letter was closed, and cords of green silk -run through the edges, and dipped in wax, and the great seal was -stamped upon the wax, and it was given to the messengers of the -king, with strait commandment that they should tarry neither -night nor day until the king’s letter was given into the hands of -Alexander. - -[Illustration: When he saw the letter, his heart was filled with -rage nevertheless he read it out in the hearing of his knights & -nobles & they were moved with fear.] - -Now, Alexander was standing in the midst of his barons when the -messengers of Darius arrived, and as their commandment was urgent, -he bade them to be brought to him at once. And when he saw the -letter his heart was filled with rage, nevertheless he read it out -in the hearing of his knights and nobles; and when these heard it -their hearts were moved with fear of the mighty words of Darius. -So Alexander looked on them and he saw that they were afraid, and -he spoke to them: “What now! my worthy warriors, my bold knights -and barons, the best under heaven that ever king had, let it never -be told against you that the proud boasting of a letter of Darius -brought you to doubt yourselves, else were it shame indeed. Look -you, now, every day we ride through a village you may hear as -loud a yelping from any cur at a cottage door, but loud as they -bark they never bite. But methinks his letter should rather make -you rejoice, when he tells you what treasure of gold he has, for -it needs but to be bold and that treasure shall be yours.” And -then the anger in the king’s heart broke out, and turning to the -messengers of Darius, he said: “But for ye, that dare to bring such -threats to a Greek, ye shall learn the anger of Alexander. Take -them by the throats,” said he to the attendants, “and for their -master’s sake, hang them on the gallows.” - -Then the messengers were amazed, and with a keen cry called to -Alexander: “Alas, O king, what fault lies in us, if it please thee, -that we should die thus suddenly.” “The sayings of your sovereign -lord,” said he, “force me to such deeds as I would never have -done else: lo, now, he calls me a thief in this letter.” But they -fell on their knees before him and said: “O king, Darius himself -dictated those words, for he knew not of your knighthood, nor of -your strength, nor of your worthiness, and so he wrote boldly; but -grant us our lives, and leave to go, and we will show him all your -power and your might.” So Alexander forgave them and made them a -great feast in his own tent, and made much of them, so that he -won their hearts; and they said to him: “Sir Alexander, send with -us, we pray thee, but one thousand of your knights, and we will -deliver Darius into your hands.” But the king answered them with -little love: “Rejoice in your feast, O messengers; verily no knight -of mine shall be sent to aid in betraying your lord.” - -But in the night, one of the Persian messengers, a little man and a -crooked, having one arm longer than the other, came to the tent of -the king, and when he was admitted he asked that all men might be -put forth. So they were left alone, and the messenger drew from his -breast a leathern roll, and in it was a blue embroidered silk bag -of fair work, the lion on one side and the rising sun on the other, -and he laid it in the hand of the king. Then Alexander opened it, -and found within a scarf of green covered with fair half-open -flowers, and he looked on the messenger, and he answered: “O king, -the fairest dame in Persia sends thee this to the end that thou -mayest wear it in thy helm. One day, if the gods will, thou shalt -see her and know her name.” Then the messenger bowed low, and went -his way to his fellows, and all men slept. - -The next day the messengers were called before Alexander and his -council, and a letter was given them, closely sealed up, to bear to -Darius. Now this was the form of the letter: - -“I, ALEXANDER OF MACEDON, son and heir of Philip the defender of -Greece, and of Olympias the fair, to thee Darius, prince of the -Persians, the conqueror of every land--as you say yourself--thus -write under my seal. - -“Let no man despise any neighbour who seems to be smaller and -poorer than himself, since the lowest is often raised to the -heavens, and the proudest ground to dust. And thou, Emperor of the -World as thou callest thyself, dost dishonour to thy name when thou -sendest such gifts out of Persia. Thou speakest as if thou wert one -of the gods that cannot die. I am but a mortal man, and will attack -thee. - -“Thou hast destroyed thine own renown. If I am beaten, thou thyself -hast called me but a petty thief, and no honour shalt thou have: -if I overcome thee, the greater glory is mine, and men shall ever -tell how I have conquered a king, the greatest in the world. -Nevertheless I hope that one of thy tales is true, that of the -greatness of thy riches, for it has raised our hopes, and sharpened -our wits, and made us eager for battle, that we may the sooner -exchange our poverty for thy riches. - -“But as for thy presents, know, O Darius, that the ball thou hast -sent represents the world, and thou hast handed over the mastery -of the world to me: the hollow hat held before the head when it -is bowed, shows that all kings shall bow before me: and this -headpiece of twigs is to say that ever shall I overcome, and be -overcome never. In the day of thy defeat, O Darius, remember my -interpretation of thy gifts.” - -Then great gifts were given to the messengers, and they were sent -out of the camp to Darius, and Alexander made all his preparations -for the war against the Persians. But when Darius had read the -letter of Alexander, and heard the words of the messengers, he was -sore angered, and he made up his mind to fall on the Greeks and to -destroy the power of Alexander. So he wrote to two of his greatest -satraps, the duke Priam and the duke Antigonus, ordering them to -get their forces together and to go out and seize this insolent lad -who was so bold as to defy the army of the Persians, and who had -entered the borders of Asia with such a large number of followers. -“Then,” said Darius, “bring him bound to me, that he may be well -beaten with scourges and then I will sew him up in a mantle of -bright purple and send him to his mother. Since he is so proud, the -punishment of a child will be best for him, and when all is over he -may play at home at bowls or handball with his mother’s servants.” - -Now this letter reached the dukes soon after they had fought a -great battle with Alexander’s men and had been defeated; so when -they had broken the king’s broad seal and turned the leaf to read -the letter, they looked on one another, and they thought that -Darius could not know what manner of man Alexander was, or how -hard it was to stand before him in battle. So Sir Priam the duke -wrote to Darius by a special messenger that this child, whom they -had been ordered to seize, had wasted all their lands, and had -passed through the province, and that when they had raised an army -to meet him, neither prince nor soldier could face him sword in -hand: and the letter ended by begging the king to come at once to -their aid with as many men as he could, that the honour of Persia -might not be put to shame. - -So Darius called a council to advise him as to the best means of -meeting Alexander, but before they were met another messenger came -with tidings that the Greeks had crossed the river that was called -the boundary of Persia, and that they were now in the Emperor’s own -land. And when this was told the council all men wondered how that -Alexander should be so bold as to enter Persia, or to disobey the -letter of Darius, and they advised the king to write once again to -him, reproving him, and that if he still disobeyed, that he should -be crushed to the earth, and the king did so, for he knew not how -a man could disobey his order. - -The tale tells that when this letter reached Alexander it found -him in great grief, for messengers had come from Macedon telling -that his mother was like to die, and Alexander had bidden his men -strike their tents and return home to Macedon. So the messengers -drew near trembling, and gave the letter of Darius to Alexander, -and with it was a glove full of poppy seeds, which are almost the -smallest of all seeds. So Alexander read the letter and he laughed -out, for Darius had told him that even the gods obeyed him on -earth, and now bade him return to Macedonia ere his wrath should -arise. “And as a token,” added Darius, “I send thee this glove full -of seeds, count them if thou canst, and thou hast the number of -knights in my army. But the seeds are numberless, and so are the -soldiers I rule.” - -Then Alexander called to him the messengers, and said: “Hearken, -and tell the king that which you see and hear.” Then he took the -glove and poured out some of the seeds into his hand, and biting -them he said: “Here I see that the soldiers of Darius are passing -many, but they seem to be soft and feeble, as these seeds prove. -But be they soft or hard, it matters but little.” And he wrote -a letter to Darius telling him that though he was returning to -Macedon it was not on account of the threats of the Persians, but -because his mother was at point of death, and that he would return -with an army larger than before. “And in answer to thy glove full -of seeds, I send thee a purse full of black pepper, that thou mayst -see the comparison between the Persian and the Macedonian.” - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER IX. TELLS HOW ALEXANDER DESTROYED THEBES AND HOW IT WAS -REBUILT AND OF HIS RETURN TO PERSIA. - - -The tale tells that when the messengers of Darius departed, loaded -with rich presents, to carry the message of Alexander to their -lord, Alexander and his host set out on their homeward way, and -passing through Arabia, a great army of Persians fell on them, -under the leadership of duke Amonta, the head of all that province. -Long were it to tell of this fight, for Amonta was one of the -bravest of the Persians, and it seemed that Alexander had found an -equal. Two days the fight had lasted, from the grey morning till -dark night; many were the noble knights overthrown on both sides, -and such showers of blood fell that the fetlocks of the horses were -covered with blood. But on the third day, the story tells that -in broad mid-day the battle was at its highest, when suddenly the -sky began to grow dark, and, looking up, men saw darkness over the -face of the sun. Then all men feared for the wrath of the gods, but -Alexander cried out to the Greeks with a mighty voice: “See, the -Greeks have conquered the sun of Persia,” and with a great shout, -the men of Macedon fell again on the Persians, and they turned and -fled from the field, and many of them were slain, struck from their -horses by the mighty blows of the Greeks. Then Amonta the duke was -borne away from the field by the mad rush of the frightened horses, -and his wounds were sore, so that he could not face the enemy, and -at the last he fled with the rest. - -But so it was, that when he came to the Court of Darius, that he -found there the king’s messengers, who had just arrived from the -camp of Alexander, for they had ridden slowly with the letter and -the gifts. And Darius the emperor was seated on his daïs, holding -the letter in his hand unopened, and he questioned the messengers: -“What said he of the seeds I sent him?” Then the messengers -answered: “The king caught up a handful of them and bit them, and -he said, truly the Persians were many, but there was one thing that -pleased him, they were but soft.” Then Darius put forth his hand to -the purse and bit at one of the grains in it, and he said: “Truly, -be his men even as few as these, if they be but as keen and sharp, -all the world would be too weak to meet them in arms.” - -Then the Duke Amonta spake up among the peers who were standing -round, and he said: “By your leave, my most gracious lord, this -king leads but few men, but never were there fiercer in the field -than they are. For I fell on them with an army greater than their -own by five thousand men, and yet they defeated us and slew many -fierce earls and brave knights, and threw down my banner. Three -days we fought with hard blows on either side, yet at the last -hardly did I escape unslain from their hands. Yet was Alexander -none the prouder for their victory, but he buried the dead Greeks -and Persians side by side in the grave with all honour.” Then -the King of Persia grieved for the death of his knights, but he -rejoiced more at the going of Alexander. - -The march of Alexander took him on through Cilicia and over the -mountains of Taurus and into the land of Troy, and there he saw the -place where Troy had once been, and the famous river Scamander, and -grieved because there was no noble poet like Homer to tell of his -deeds. And at the last he came to Macedon, and there he found his -mother mended of her malady, and great was his joy. Then he stayed -with her some days rejoicing, and he got together fresh soldiers, -and set his face against the land of Persia, ready to begin a -journey from which he was never to return. - -Now Alexander marched through the land of Greece, and the story -tells of many adventures which fell to his lot, for some cities -welcomed him gladly, and others closed their gates against him, and -once the horses of his army were like to have been lost for want -of forage, so that his knights feared, and murmured against him; -but the tale tells chiefly how he warred against Thebes and Athens, -and what there befell him. Now the town of Thebes was famous for -deeds of arms, and Alexander sent to the town to ask for four bold -knights to go with him to the war with Darius; but the folk of -Thebes shut the gates of the town, and bade him pass on if he did -not wish to meet his death at their hands. Then Alexander laughed -out in scorn and said: “Ye be brave men, O Thebans, the mightiest -on earth, and now ye have proffered war to my princes and to me. -Why shut ye your gates, for honour bids you come out and meet me in -the field to maintain your words?” - -Then the siege of Thebes began: he placed four thousand archers -round the town, with orders to shoot at every wight that showed -himself on the walls; he set two thousand men, armed with coats -of mail and plate armour, to dig down the walls and buildings; -one thousand were told off to fire the gates of the town, and -three thousand were appointed to the engines of war. Alexander got -together too a body of slingers to help any of these that were -overpowered. Now when all things were set, the trumpets blew out -and the assault commenced. First the archers advanced, covered with -their broad shields, till they got within bowshot of the walls, and -all at once the hemp cords were drawn and the arrows flew through -the air. Then the arbalasters bent their cross-bows and out whirred -the quarrels, crashing through the coats of mail. The engines shot -out their great stones into the towers, and then the fire began to -burst out at the gates, and soon the four gates of the town were -in flames, and the town itself began to burn. Then those who were -unslain in the town yielded them up. - -But there were two minds in the camp as to Thebes; some of -Alexander’s peers rejoiced to see the town burning, but a minstrel -of Thebes, Hismon by name, came before Alexander with a sad face, -asking Alexander to have some mercy on the town. Then said the -king: “Why art thou so sad of cheer, my clerk, before me?” and the -minstrel answered: “O mighty conqueror, if by any means thou canst -show mercy on our rich town.” Then was Alexander wroth that any man -should be sad before him at what the king had willed, and without -more words he gave strait command that the walls of the town should -be beaten down and every house in it burnt; and that done he went -on his way with his men, and many of the Thebans went with him, for -that they had no longer a city. - -The tale tells that one of the knights of Thebes who followed -Alexander’s host, a valiant and a mighty man, asked at the temple -of his god when Thebes should be rebuilt and who should build it, -and the god answered: “He who shall build the town shall conquer -thrice in strife; when that shall be, then shall he raise the -walls.” Now as the knight returned to the army of Alexander he -heard the herald proclaiming with the sound of a trumpet that the -king would hold a tournament at Corinth, and that great games -should there be played. So when the day came the Theban knight -came into the ring, and asked of Alexander permission to wrestle, -and the king appointed a champion to wrestle with him, and soon -the champion was thrown. Then another wrestler came forth, and he -too was cast to the earth. And Alexander said: “Now, in faith, if -thou conquer but once again, thou shalt be crowned for the noblest -wrestler in Greece.” Then came forth a mighty man, the tallest of -the Macedonians, and the Theban knight deemed that he should indeed -be beaten, but he thought on the words of the god, and the love of -his city filled him, and they scarce grappled before he threw the -giant on the ground, and a great shout went up from all men. - -Then he was brought to the king and knelt before him, and Alexander -took a fair gold crown filled with precious stones, and set it -on his head; and the heralds came to him and said: “Tell us thy -name, O noble knight, that we may write it in our books,” And he -said: “Truly, sirs, my name is Cityless.” “How so,” said the king; -“what name is that, and how got you it?” “My lovely lord,” said -the knight, “before you came I had a people and a town, now have I -none, and Cityless am I, and Cityless must be my name.” Then the -king knew that he was a knight of Thebes, and his heart relented -for the city, and he gave orders to cry aloud that all men might -return with the knight to rebuild the town in its first state. So -was the saying of the god fulfilled. - -So Alexander went on his way through the land of Greece, and from -each town he received help and tokens of his lordship. But two -great cities refused at first, the cities of Athens and Sparta, -though afterwards they obeyed him. Then he came to the ocean and -sailed over into Asia, and with him were two hundred thousand men, -and tidings came to Darius, and he called his council and said -unto them: “Lo, how this Greek grows in might, the more I despise -him the greater his power. I sent him playthings, but now he will -master us if we take not heed.” Then said the king’s brother to -him: “If your majesty do not as this man does, we may leave our -land to him, for in strife he helps his men in all their needs, and -so his name increases.” And another lord spoke: “This Macedonian -is like a lion who leaps on his prey with joy.” “How so?” said -Darius, and the knight answered: “Years agone, I was sent with -your heralds to Philip his father to claim our tribute, and then I -saw and heard him. For your herald told how all men would gather -at your orders against the foe of the empire--Medes, Parthians, -Italians--and the youth said: ‘Yes, but one wolf will worry many -sheep, and a Greek army will rout many barbarians,’ for so he -called the army of the great king.” So Darius got together his army. - -The tale tells that Alexander on a day went to bathe in a river, -and the king was heated and the river cold, so that he fell sick -of a fever and was like to have died. And all the men of his army -mourned, and said: “Did Darius but know this he would fall on us -with his might;” and truly they did well to grieve, for the health -of the head keeps all the body well. Then one Philip the Leech, -a young man, but well skilled in all manner of medicine, came -to the tent of Alexander, and said: “My lord, I can cure you in -few hours with a syrup of herbs.” When the duke Parmenides heard -this he was jealous of Philip, for he feared that Alexander would -promote him to great power, so he came privily to the king, and -said: “O king Alexander, take not the drink of Philip, and trust -him not, for verily it has been told me that Darius has offered his -fair daughter and great wealth to the man that shall slay thee,” -and with that he showed the king a letter in which these things -were written. Now Philip had brought the cup to Alexander, and -the king stretched out his hand, and looked him in the face, and -took the cup, and drank it, and gave the letter to Philip, and the -physician looked on it, and said: “My life for thine, O king, as I -am guiltless of evil towards thee.” So Alexander fell into a sleep, -and all men kept such watch that no noise was heard in the camp, -and when he awoke he was whole and healthy. So he called Philip -the Leech to him, and gave him great rewards, but Parmenides the -traitor he beheaded. - -Then marched he through the land of Media and Armenia till he came -to the great river, the river Euphrates; and there was no ford over -which the army could pass, so needs must they make a bridge, and -men brought boats and bound them together with chains, and then -they passed over, first the horses and the baggage, and then the -army. And when they were all over the king took his axe and smote -the chains in sunder so that the swift stream drove down the boats, -and the bridge was broken; then turning to his men, he said: “If we -flee, here shall we be overtaken and slain; better is it that never -we turn our back to the foe, for he that follows has the flower of -victory, and in no wise he that flees. Be happy and rejoice, for -never shall we see Macedon till the barbarians bow before us--then -shall we blithe return.” - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER X. HOW ALEXANDER DEFEATED THE PERSIANS, AND HOW HE WENT TO -THE FEAST OF DARIUS. - - -Now for the first time the armies of the Macedonians and the -Persians came in face of each other, and hopes of victory were on -either side, for the Persians were many, and their battle-leaders -were five hundred noble knights. The sun shone brightly, the -trumpets rang out against each other, and the long streamers of -the lances danced in the wind; the horses pranced, and the young -knights clashed their arms. Soon Darius ordered the battle to -begin, the knights laid their spears in rest, and each, with his -shield hung before him, spurred his horse; the Greeks came on to -meet them, and they crashed into each other with a thundering noise -and a shout, and all the fair field was covered with stumbling -steeds and knights dismounted and wounded and dead; and the clash -of sword-strokes cutting through coats of mail sounded like the -noise of a giant’s smithy. For few minutes the field was covered -with clouds of dust, and Alexander could see nothing of the result, -but soon it appeared that the Greeks had driven back the foe, and -that the first attack of the Persians had failed. So he called -the Greek knights around him, and after a breathing space he gave -orders that in their turn they should ride on the enemy. - -But Darius had seen how his men were being borne down, and had -noted how their king was first among the Macedonians, and how -that no man stood before his blows, so he called to him one of -his bravest champions, and said to him: “Sir Knight, seest thou -yon leader of the Greeks, look you now, he wears the colour of my -daughter; go thou, arm thee in fresh armour as a man of Macedon, -and slay him. And if thou so doest, I will give thee my daughter -Roxana to wife, and thou shalt be after me in the land of Persia.” -Then that knight answered and said: “Thou art my lord; whatsoever -thou biddest that will I do, and I will smite his head from off his -shoulders, that no man may hereafter stand against the Emperor.” So -he arrayed him in clean bright armour, and over his armour he put -on a silk surcoat in colour like to that of the Macedonians, and -rode out among them. - -Now Alexander was ranging his knights for their grand attack on the -Persians, and the trumpets blew, and all together they charged down -on the foe. Close behind Alexander rode the Persian knight, and no -man could see who he was, for the bars of his helmet were closed. -And Alexander, as his wont was, rode into the thick of the fight, -and struck great blows here and there, and no man stood before him. -Then the knight drew his sword and spurred on his horse, and struck -the king such a blow that it cut through his helmet and down into -his cheek, and then as the king wheeled round his horse the sword -broke in the helmet. And when the knights around saw the blow they -rushed on the disguised Persian, but Alexander stayed them from -hurting him, and said: - -“What, my knight, why hast thou wounded thy lord and thy helper?” - -“Nay,” said the knight, “I am no knight of thine; this did I for -Sir Darius, who promised me his daughter if I hewed off thy head.” - -“Take him away,” said the king, “but harm him not till I give order -about him.” - -Then Alexander turned to his lords and said: - -“What shall be done to him for this deed?” - -And one man advised to hang him, and another to cut off his head, -and another to burn him alive. But Alexander looked displeased, and -said: - -“Nay, he has but done his duly to his lord, in that he obeyed his -word, and his lord has all the blame of his deed. He that condemns -him judges himself, for did I order one of you to slay Darius that -must ye do. Let him depart and go to his lord, for he strikes a -good stroke.” - -So that Persian knight went unharmed from the camp of Alexander, -and told all these things to Darius. - -Then Darius feared, for his army was put to flight, and his knights -began to compare him with the king of the Macedonians, and he -rode away to a strong city near that place, and there he stayed -but short time, for Alexander followed him, and came against that -city and took it, and found there treasure untold, and the wife of -Darius, and his mother, the wisest woman in all Asia; but Darius -himself escaped him and fled away. There came one of the princes of -Persia to Alexander and offered to deliver Darius into his hand, -for that he had served that king for twenty years, and yet he had -never given him reward; but Alexander refused to take Darius by -treachery, and he said: “One king must not betray another.” So -day by day the Persian lords came into the Greek camp and owned -Alexander as their emperor. - -Now was another army and a greater one being got together, for -all the lords of Persia and the kings of the countries about, and -Porus, king of India, were summoned for a set day. But letters -came from the king of India saying that he was sore sick, and could -give no aid till he was recovered, and that then he would come; and -letters came from the mother of Darius, an exceeding wise woman, in -which she bade him make peace with Alexander and submit to him, or -otherwise the empire of the Persians would be utterly overthrown. -But he would not obey her, for he hoped to destroy the army of the -Greeks from the face of the earth. So all the might of Persia met -at its chief town, Susa. - -After short time the army of the Greeks had got them ready for the -fight, and they began to follow up the war against Darius, and they -went not so quickly as the Persians, since they were in an enemy’s -land; but at the last they came in sight of the town of Susa, and -behold, it lay in a great plain, and a river a furlong broad lay -between it and them. So Alexander purposed in his mind to send a -herald to challenge the Persians to fight, for he would not be said -to attack them without granting them due time. That night, as he -lay asleep in his tent, he dreamed a dream, and a man of Macedon -stood by him, dressed in rich attire, with two horns on his head, -and he knew that it was one of the gods, and the god said to him: -“My son, send no messenger to Susa, but go thyself, so shalt thou -see Darius and his court, for I will be with thee, and no harm -shall come to thee.” Then Alexander arose early in the morning and -told his knights his dream, and how the god had promised to guard -him. So he dressed himself as a herald, and rode off with one of -his knights before the sun rose to the army of Darius. Now when -they came to the great river Granton, which lay between them and -the town of Susa, they found it frozen over with ice a foot thick, -so he bade the lord that was with him to wait there for him, and he -himself rode over the river alone to the camp of Darius. - -The tale tells that this river was wondrous cold by nature, -and that whether by art magic, or because it was so cold every -night, it froze into ice after the sun went down, and the ice was -exceeding thick; but when the sun rose and the day warmed, then -the ice cracked and melted, and the river ran so fast that no man -might swim in it, nor might any boat cross it but with danger, and -no bridge could be built across it for the ice. When the day broke -the ice began to thaw, but Alexander was safely over, and he rode -slowly towards the town. Now when he came to the wall of Susa he -stopped at the barrier, and bade the men bring him before Darius, -and they obeyed him, for his rich clothing and his speech showed -him to be some great man. And Darius asked him: “What man art thou, -and what doest thou here?” Then Alexander answered him: “O king, -I am sent to thee by Alexander, he bids thee prepare for battle; -why dost thou stay in the walls of thy town; either come out and -fight him or own him for master.” And Darius said: “Wert thou the -man himself thou couldst not speak more proudly, but I care never a -deal for all thy bold sayings. Still for thy sovereign’s sake that -sent thee hither, thou shalt sit at supper with me this even;” and -Darius did him great honour, for all men in those days reverenced -the heralds. - -So the heralds of Persia welcomed him, and there came clerks and -wise men and talked with him of the lands of Greece and of the -West, and they told him of the nobles of Persia and of the wonders -of the land and its richness, and of the land of India and the -marvels that men spoke of it. Now among the clerks was one who -was short and crooked and ungainly, and the others took little -heed of him, and he stayed for a while behind and listened, saying -nought. Then Alexander noticed him and said within himself: “Such -a crooked and misshapen man would not be in the court of a king -if he were not exceeding wise,” so he spake to him, and the clerk -answered him in few words but weighty. But when those of the court -were without for a space, the clerk said: “Were Alexander here, -he would see the fairest maid on earth at the supper this even; -and much honour would she do the knight who wore her scarf in the -front of battle.” And with that he drew back, nor did he speak when -Alexander drew out the scarf from his breast. Then the clerks and -wise men departed and the great lords came to ask him of the arms -of the Greek lords, and of their deeds in battle, and of Alexander. - -When even was come the king gave his hand to Alexander and led -him into the hall of his palace, and he sat at meat with Darius. -And ever he thought within himself: “This barbarian does me great -honour in this hall, but soon shall the hall be mine by right.” Now -the hall of the palace was of beaten gold; the walls, the seats, -the tables, the floor, all were covered with thick plates of gold, -and the vessels of service, the cups and dishes and platens, were -of fine gold. And those of the Persians that were there looked upon -Alexander with curiosity, and they thought little of him since he -was so short, for the heralds of the King of Persia were taller -than any man in Persia, and the Persians are tall men; but they -knew not the wisdom and the valour of the man, for they wist not -that it was Alexander himself. - -As they sat down to meat, Alexander was put in a seat on the left -hand of Darius, and as he looked around him he saw at the table on -the right hand of the King the fairest damsel that man had ever -seen, and his eyes saw, almost without seeing, that her robe was of -green covered with fair opening buds, the crown of spring and the -promise of summer. And as he looked on her she lifted her eyes on -him, and saw the scarf of green he wore, and she looked on his face -eagerly and then looked down and away, and fear and longing and -content and hope and joy struggled in her heart, but her face was -that of a king’s daughter in the palace hall of her father. Then -Alexander rejoiced in his heart and he said: “This maid shall be my -very love and my queen.” - -Now the feast began, servants ran to and fro, busily helping one -another and serving the guests diligently; lutes and harps were -played by the minstrels, and as fast as one dish was taken from the -table another was brought, and the butlers brought forth the wine -in great goblets of gold, studded with gems, and handed them to the -guests. Now Alexander did after the manner of heralds at the feast -of a king, for when he had drunk from the cup that which was in it, -he took it up and put it in the breast of his doublet. Then Roxana -the Queen called to her the servants and they brought her a cup of -wine, and she bade them carry it to the herald of the Greeks from -Roxana the daughter of the Emperor, and they did so. Then Alexander -bowed low, and rejoiced, and drank from the cup, and when it was -empty, he put it also in his breast. So the servants of the Persian -King saw it and they were envious and wondered, and one said to -another: “Let us see if he will do it again;” and they brought him -a third cup, yet more precious, and Alexander took it, and again -when he had drunk he put it in his breast for himself. Then these -servants went and fell before the king and told him of the case, -how that the Greek herald had drunk from the golden cups, and had -put them in his breast to take them away from the feast. So Darius -rose up in his seat, and with a proud, disdainful look, said: “O -friend, why dost thou take my vessels from me? That is shame to -thee and me.” “Sire,” said Alexander, “it is custom in our king’s -feasts that the goblet given to the guest is his with what is in -it; but since you keep not this custom here, I give you your cups,” -and taking them from his breast he gave them to the butlers. So all -men’s eyes were on Alexander, and they wondered that he could stand -before the face of Darius, and they began to consider his face, his -form, and his voice. - -Now amongst them that were at meat with Darius that even was one -Anepo, the Herald of the Sun, he who had formerly visited Macedon, -and to whom Alexander had given a golden chain in earnest of the -days to come. And Anepo looked on him, and said to himself: “Is not -this the son of Philip?” and just then their eyes crossed, and he -saw the face of Alexander, and noticed how that the eyes were of -two colours--one blue, one dark--and getting up from his seat he -came softly near Darius, who was sitting on his high seat, and he -said to him: “Verily, O king of kings, this messenger that sitteth -here is no herald, but Alexander the Macedonian himself, or I am no -true herald.” Now Alexander had seen the eyes of Anepo, and when he -got up he watched him, and he heard the sound of his name in the -whisper, and he rose from the table as if he would handle a lute, -but instead he snatched a torch from the hands of one of them that -stood by, and was out of the hall towards the stables before any -man could say he was gone. - -Now by good fortune his horse was fed, so he loosed him and sprang -on his back, and out of the court like a spark from a fire, and no -man could stop him. But when the alarm was given, Darius ordered -all men to follow, and men rushed in all directions; they searched -the rooms of the palace, they searched the stables, some clad -them in armour and rode out into the night, and some to the city -gates. But little avail they made, for there was no moon, and -the clearness of the night served but to mislead them, and their -shouts served to warn Alexander of where they were, and if they -kept silence one rode against another, and many rode into the deep -ditches of the fields or stumbled in the miry ways, and at last, -one by one, they came in, and no man among them all had heard or -seen aught of Alexander, and well was it for them that they had to -face the wrath of Darius, rather than the sword of the Greek. - -In that same hour that Alexander fled out of the palace of Darius -a golden image of the emperor of Persia fell to the ground, and -when men came to raise it they found it broken into fragments, and -they feared greatly; and when Darius heard of it he fell aweeping, -and he said: “Surely this tokens trouble to the empire, and death -to me;” and he sat in sore grief thinking of the boldness of -Alexander, and his courage left him, so that he became weak as a -woman. - -Of Roxana it is to be told how her heart was glad that she had -seen the lord of Macedon, and great thanks she gave to the gods -because he had seen her face, and noted how fair she was, for she -had watched without looking at him the turning of his eyes toward -her, and the joy of his heart in her beauty. That night she sat -with her maidens, and ever she sent one or another for tidings of -the herald, and none brought answer, and at the end one came and -told how all the knights had come back from the pursuit. Then her -maidens came round about her and praised her beauty above all other -times, and she gave a great gift to that one who had brought the -news of the safety of the Greek, howbeit the maiden knew not that -it was the meed of her tidings, and thought it was the pay of her -flattering words. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XI. TELLS OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN ALEXANDER AND DARIUS, AND -OF THE SLAYING OF DARIUS. - - -But Alexander had ridden out into the night, and knew not at first -in what direction he was riding, but soon, when the lights borne by -the mounted men began to scatter over the fields, he reined in his -bonny steed and looked up to the sky, and there low down he saw the -seven stars rising from the plain, and he turned his horse’s head -and rode slowly towards them, and ever he waited for some sign, for -he knew that he was coming near the river Granton. But while he was -waiting he saw a great flame rise in the air far on his left hand, -and its rays lay along a stretch of smooth ice, and beside it was -a man on horseback, and he knew him for his companion that he had -left at the river, and he shouted to him in the Greek tongue, and -when he heard the answer he spurred his horse and rode on to the -ice. But it was well for him that the fire was before him, for far -on the right the river ice began to crack and grind, since it was -not yet firm, and suddenly his horse slipped and both sank into the -river; and the man struggled out by the help of the thin ice which -broke off piece by piece before him till he touched bottom, but -the good steed was belike struck by the ice, for it sank and was -drowned. Now when he came to the shore he was amazed, for there was -neither fire nor light, so he called to the Greek knight, and when -he came up he questioned him, and he found him sore afraid, “for,” -said he, “a great dragon has circled me about for hours, so that I -feared to raise my head.” Then Alexander straitly charged him that -he should not speak of this thing, and they returned to the camp, -and all men rejoiced to see him. - -On the next day King Alexander called to him his dukes and his -captains, and they brought up their men in fifties and in hundreds -and in thousands, till they were assembled on the plain; and -Alexander rose on high and told them how that he had seen the might -of the Persians, and he encouraged them and told them that never -should the crowds of the Persians equal the Greeks, for, said he, -“It takes many flies to make war on wasps, be they but few;” and -all the army laughed and rejoiced in his bravery and knowledge. -Now by this time Darius had assembled his host and led them forth -on the plain to the shores of Granton, and there he set up the -tents, and prepared him a royal seat and passed his army before -him in review. First the war-chariots drove by, drawn by swift -coursers, and on either side the chariots were set with scythe -blades, keen and sharp as knives, then the knights passed him in -full armour, and every man followed by his squire and his footmen, -and then passed a host of archers and crossbowmen: and as each -host passed, they went on into the field and set themselves in -array, and the knights mounted their huge war-horses. And on their -side the Greeks were drawn up in array, and Alexander was at their -head, mounted on his steed Bucephalus, the best horse under heaven. -Now Alexander spurred out into the open space and rode before the -army of the Persians, and dared any of their champions to come out -and fight with him, but not one of them durst meet him, for their -hearts were stricken with fear. - -So with the sound of trumpets both sides advanced to the attack, -and in few minutes they were at the sword’s point. The tale tells -that for two miles there was a fight all along the line between -the Persian and the Greek knights. From sunrise to sunset the -slaughter lasted and both sides fought bravely, the air was thick -with arrows, a hail-storm of winged darts; and now the Persians -began to give way, their noblest captains were dead, and nowhere -had they driven back the Greeks. King Darius had set himself on -his golden car at the early dawn, and all day he had watched the -fiercest of the fight, and messengers had told him of what befell, -but in the end he lost hope, and took to flight; and suddenly -darkness came upon the land, so that men feared to move, for the -great war-chariots were thundering over the plain, and whoso got in -their way was cut to pieces by the blades on their wheels, and the -hosts of Persians were mowed down like corn before them. So Darius -reached the Granton which his men had crossed so proudly the day -before, and he rejoiced that he found it frozen over, and he rode -over the stream in the dead of night, and many of his great nobles -were with him. Then after him came the flying host of the Persians, -and on they came, till the broad stream was covered with men and -horses. But their weight was too much for the ice, and it bent down -and broke away from the banks, and then of a sudden it broke into -thousands of pieces, and the night was filled with the screams of -horses and men and their shouts and cries, and the dark water was -filled with struggling crowds striving to pull themselves up on to -little pieces of ice that would not bear their weight; until one -by one their struggles ceased, and the rush of the river bore them -away, so that of that mighty host scarce a tenth reached the shore -in safety. - -Now over against the plain was a certain castle, not very strong, -and Darius had brought thither his daughter Roxana, that she might -see the battle, for she had much besought him to let her see the -field, though she told him not that her chief desire was to see the -glory of the Lord of Macedon. But when the battle was over, and the -Persians were fleeing, the lord of the castle shut the gates, and -set a ward, opening to no man small or great. So on the morrow the -host of the Greeks came near and summoned this lord to yield up the -castle to Alexander, but he withstood them and laughed at them. -Then Alexander came near, and swore by the gods that if he yielded -not up the castle in an hour he would hang every man in it on its -battlements, but if they yielded to his power he would save them -alive. Then the lord came forth and sought speech of Alexander, and -prayed him concerning the safety of Roxana, and the King laughed -out and said: “Where should she be safer than with her mother and -her grandam, who are with me in my camp?” So the lord of the castle -opened his gates and they brought forth Roxana in her litter to -Alexander, and he opened not the litter, but bowed before it, and -bade them bear it to her mother in the camp; and great was the joy -of the queens when they met, for Alexander bore him to them as a -son and not as a conqueror. - -Then was Darius in sore grief; for his empire was broken, his -mother and his wife and his only daughter were in the hands of his -enemy, and nought of hope was there save the help that Porus had -promised him: so he sent messengers to Alexander offering him all -his wealth if he would return his family into his hands, and go to -his own land. But when the messengers had come to Alexander and -had done their errand to him, Alexander received them roughly, and -though all the Macedonians rejoiced, he said, “Why does your master -speak thus to me; if I have conquered him, let him own me as lord; -if not, let him come out and meet me in the field. As for his gold, -it is mine when I wish to take it, without his offer.” And the -messengers returned to Darius loaded with gifts and honour, while -Alexander’s men were gathering together the bodies of them that -were slain and tending the hurts of the wounded. And after the army -was rested, Alexander gave them leave and they scattered over the -plain up and down, and they found the old-time palace of the kings -of Persia and the tombs of the lords of the land, and one of these -was made of a noble amethyst, graven over with palm trees and with -birds, and so clear was it, that men might see within it the body; -and the name written on it was Ninus. Others among them came on a -great tower, and they forced it open and found in it men of all -nations, Greeks and barbarians, who had been put there by Darius, -and some had lost a hand, and some an eye, and some a foot. So -when they were brought before Alexander, they cried to him, and -he set them free and gave to each of them a talent, and they went -their ways whither they would, blessing the Greeks. - -Now when the messengers returned to Darius and told him the words -of Alexander, and how that he needs must give up his empire if he -could not conquer him, the Persian set him to try one last chance -to recover his power, and he sent letters to Porus, king of India, -offering him great wealth and honour if he would come and fight -with Alexander, and saying that he would pay the wage of the armies -himself, and that all the spoil of the Greeks should be theirs. And -the messengers went their way to India, but one of the chief men -of Darius’ council came by night secretly to Alexander, and told -him all that was in the mind of Darius. So Alexander was wroth, and -he swore that he would never take the name of Emperor till Darius -was slain, and he began to prepare his soldiers for an attack upon -Susa, but ere he had given his orders tidings came that Darius was -slain. - -And this was the manner of his death. When it was told in Susa that -the Greeks were preparing to assault the town, all men feared, even -the knights of Darius, and the king withdrew himself into an inner -room of his palace. There came to him two of his knights whom he -loved, and whom he had raised up from the lowest of the people, -and had made great and rich, so that they were equal with great -peers. These foul traitors had said within themselves, “Surely -Alexander has sworn the death of Darius, and he will give us great -praise and honour if we slay him,” so that when they came into the -room to the king, they drew their swords and looked on one another, -and smote at Darius. But their hands failed them for fear, so -that they slew not the king at first, and he cried out, “O sons, -why slay ye me; is not my sorrow great enough, that ye of all men -should turn against me? Yea, and the lord of the Greeks will reward -ye and avenge my death at your hands.” But his words moved them -not, and they thrust their swords through him, so that the royal -robes were covered with blood, and he fell down, as if dead; while -the knights went out, and none knew that they had been with the -king. - -Long did he lie there alone, for his servants feared to come in -before him, but at last his nurse, an old dame of eighty winters, -made as if she had a petition to offer, and opened the door of the -room, and saw him stricken to death. So she cried aloud, and the -servants ran in, and bore him to a bed in the palace. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XII. HOW ALEXANDER MARRIED ROXANA, THE DAUGHTER OF THE -EMPEROR, AND HOW HE DEFEATED PORUS THE KING OF INDIA. - - -Then came messengers to Alexander bringing word that Darius lay in -his palace nigh death, and that there was no man among the Persians -who might give orders or make head against him. So the king bade -arm his knights, and he rode into the city of Susa, and when the -men of the city saw them coming the chief of them went out to the -gate of the city and received him royally with reverence and joy, -saying, “Welcome be thou, O warrior, famed o’er all the world,” -while the hearts of those who had rebelled against Darius failed -them, and they fled from him and hid their heads till they should -know Alexander the King’s thought of the death of the lord of the -Persians. - -Then Alexander rode through the town to the palace of Darius, and -when he entered it he wondered at its beauty, that any mortal man -should make one so fair. The floor was wrought of clear stones -and crystal in divers colours, the walls were covered with golden -plates, on which were set gems and stars of blue, whose sight -dazzled the eyes, and high over all rose a beautiful dome covered -with enamel and ornaments of trees and flowers. Now when Alexander -had seen these things he went through the hall and into the chamber -of Darius, and there he saw him laid on his bed at point of death; -for he was so sore smitten that no man could bind up his wounds, -and at every breath the blood gushed out. And the king of the -Greeks was moved by pure pity, and he leaned over the dying man -and kissed him, and said, “Comfort thee, my lord, and rise and be -emperor still in all thy former honour and dignity, for as for -these defeats they are the fortune of war, which exalts one man -and puts down another; but I, O King, will defend thee and avenge -thee on thine enemies;” and he burst into sobs of grief. And Darius -raised him on his bed, and kissed his hand and his neck, and said, -“O son, this is but the common fate of man, nor must I grieve -overmuch. I was rich and grew proud, now am I poor. Bury me, my -son, among my fathers, the lords of Persia, and rule thou the land. -My mother and my wife are with you; guard them as you have done -and help them. My daughter Roxana I leave to you for wife; it suits -well that a noble king should have the fairest wife on earth. Take -heed of what I have said; be tender of my knights,” and Darius the -king fell back and died. - -So it was that in few days after the chief men of Persia and of -Medea came to Alexander and led him to the throne of Darius, and -crowned him with the golden crown, hailing him Emperor of the -World; and they brought to him the fair damsel Roxana, the daughter -of Darius, covered with a thick veil, and set her on the throne -beside him. Now Alexander had not seen the damsel, except once -at the supper of Darius her father, though she had been in his -camp for many days, but she knew him, for she had preserved his -portrait since the time that Darius had thrown it aside, and her -heart was glad that she was to be his queen. And as the rulers of -Persia brought Alexander to the throne they showed him that it had -seven steps--the first an amethyst, which showed the king should be -of sober mind; the second an emerald, to show that a king should -see clearly; the third a topaz, to remind him how things are not -what they seem always; the fourth step a garnet, to remind him of -fame and honour; the fifth an adamant, to show a king should be -steadfast; the sixth of pure gold, to show a king should be chief; -the seventh of earth, to remind the king that he must die. And at -each step the wise men explained its meaning to him, and on the -seventh they crowned him, and fell down before him, and Roxana with -them, and he lifted her up and raised her veil before them, and -when he saw her he loved her, and with his own hands he put a crown -on her head. - -After Alexander was crowned he sent messengers into all parts of -the land to spread the news, and to give orders for the safety of -the land, and he made a proclamation offering their due reward to -the slayers of Darius. When they heard this the two knights came -forward in hope, and looked to get great riches, but he ordered -them to be hanged near the grave of Darius, and all the Persian -nobles rejoiced, for they loved Darius, and had grieved sore at his -murder. Then Alexander appointed one of the uncles of Darius to -be lord and governor of Persia, and he married Roxana, and made a -great feast through the land, which lasted for eight days, and all -the land of Persia rejoiced and was glad. - -In few days, however, the warlike spirit of Alexander came upon him -again, and he resolved to set out and conquer the king of India, -Porus, who had threatened him with war if he attacked Darius. So -he gathered together a great host of Medes and Persians, and added -them to his own Greeks, and with them he marched out of Persia -towards the borders of India, through the great desert which lay -between them, leaving Roxana his queen behind with her mother and -uncle. And after they had spent many days in the passage, and were -wearied of the wild waste where no water was, and the high hills -and the hollows and the broad plains, the Greeks began to murmur -among themselves, and to ask, “Why should we do more, since we -have conquered the Persians, and seized the empire which formerly -took tribute of our fathers? This land of India is inhabited but -by beasts, and as for Alexander, he lives but for fighting, and if -he lived in peace he would die as if he were starved. Let us leave -him to fight with these barbarians, and go home in peace.” When -Alexander heard them, he gathered together his knights and peers, -and reproached them. He told them how he had saved them in their -troubles, how he had exposed himself to danger on their behalf, and -how he had always been first in battle among them. Then he said -that if they feared and deserted him, he would keep on alone till -he had fulfilled his fate, nor would he return to Greece until he -had conquered all lands under heaven. And when he had finished his -speech the hearts of his princes turned to him, and they sought his -grace, and promised to follow him everywhere to the death, without -question or murmur. - -In these days a messenger arrived from Porus bearing a message of -threats and sneers to Alexander, and when the message was given -to him in the presence of his men, some of the Greeks feared, for -this was a new land to them, and they knew not what wonders Porus -might bring against them. But Alexander cared never a whit for any -of his words, and the message he sent back was bolder than that -he received, so that Porus became very angry when he heard it, -and he assembled his army in haste and sent them out forthwith -against Alexander, without waiting for a part of it not yet come to -him. And though he had not all his army, yet he had more soldiers -than Alexander, and he had with him chariots armed with scythes, -ten thousand at least, and he had unicorns in his host, and more -than all he had four hundred elephants, each with a castle on its -back and thirty men in armour. Now the Greeks had never fought -against elephants, nor had they even seen them, so that they were -sore afraid, for their swords could not pierce the skin of the -elephants, and the great beasts trampled them down, and the men -on their backs threw darts at them and shot arrows, and there was -no means of turning them back. Thus the Greeks and the Persians -were driven back that day by the Indians through their elephants. -But when night came on Alexander ordered all his men and they got -great suits of armour and hammered them together, and they filled -them with coals and lit great fires round about them, so that they -became red hot, and all the night the Greeks made these brazen men -and kept them hot, and at first dawn the fires were put out and -these red-hot brazen men were brought before the host, and when the -elephants attacked them as before and threw their trunks round them -to cast them on the ground and trample them, the hot metal burnt -their trunks and their feet, and they turned and fled, and trampled -down their own men, hooting horribly. Then Alexander ordered the -Persians to attack the Indian army while it was in confusion, but -Porus rallied them and there was a great battle; but at the last -Alexander with his men came to the aid of the Persians, and the -Indians were defeated and Porus took to flight, and fled away in -haste, and Alexander and his host were left masters of the field. - -Next day he marched to a city near that place, the chief of all -that Porus was lord of, and no man hindered, so that Alexander -entered it and found there the palace of Porus, and his house was -noble and fair. It had four hundred pillars of gold, and between -each was a grape vine with carved leaves and grapes of all precious -stones, some of clear crystals, some of pearls, some of emeralds, -and of other gems. And all the walls were covered with thick plates -of gold, the thinnest of them was an inch thick, and they were set -with stones like the stars of heaven, and the doors of the rooms -were of ivory carved and adorned, and the bars and bolts were of -ebony; the upper rooms were all of cypress or of cedar, and in all -the rooms there were golden statues and images seated on thrones -of gold, and over them hangings of rich embroidery; and in the -palace hall there was a fair tree, and on the branches of it were -all manner of birds, each painted and made like to its nature, but -with their bills and claws of fine gold, and whenever the king -wished they made as sweet a melody as if it were the month of May. -But time fails us to tell of all the beauties of this palace. And -when Alexander entered the palace he wondered greatly and went -through it till he came to a room which was shut, and on it was -a label, “For Alexander alone.” Then he stayed, and he would not -enter the room, for he feared some wile of the Indian King, and he -got together his wise men, and with them he opened the door. But -when he did so, he heard a burst of merry laughter, and he looked, -and lo, before him was a fair young girl, and she said to him, -“It is bravely done of thee, O Alexander, to open this door with -such aid; am I then so fearful?” And Alexander was abashed for a -moment, but he said, “O damsel, the presents of Indian kings are -not always so charming as thou art,” and he sat down beside her and -talked with her. But while she was speaking, one of the wise men of -Greece had watched her, and he liked not the manner of her eyes, -and he came near to the king and spoke to him, “O King, beware -of this damsel, for methinketh that she is not of human kind like -to other women.” Then the damsel said, “Away with this dotard, O -King, kiss my lips and see if I be not a woman.” And the wise man -said, “O Alexander, verily this is one of the poison-maidens of -India, for in this land they feed girls from their birth on deadly -poison, so that poison is their food, and food their poison, and -whoever kisses them dies immediately.” Then one of the lords of -the Persians came forward and said, “O fool, how tellest thou such -a tale to my lord Alexander,” and turning to Alexander, he said, -“May thy slave show this dotard is wrong?” And the king doubted, -but he trusted his wise man, so the Persian lord leaned forward and -kissed the girl on the lips, and fell down dead. Then she laughed -merrily, and said, “O Alexander, if thou hadst not been guided by -the counsel of thy wise men, such would have been thy fate.” But -all the Greeks fled out of the room. Then the maiden blew a whistle -and two great serpents came from their holes in the corner of the -room, and circled round her. - -Now the next morn, when men went to fetch the damsel before King -Alexander, they found the room empty, but for one great snake that -lay on the divan, and they came and told the King, and he knew that -the damsel had been left there to cause his death, and he was on -his guard. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. HOW ALEXANDER AND HIS MEN PASSED THE NIGHT OF FEAR, -AND HOW HE SAW THE GREATEST AND THE LEAST THING ON EARTH. - - -Within a month came tidings that Porus had gathered together -another army, and would wage war with Alexander, for the hosts -that had been on the march to him were there, and those of the -Indians who had fled from the first battle, and all were anxious -to overcome the Greeks. Alexander set out with his men, though it -was in August, in the hottest of the year, for it was his habit -to attack the enemy and never let them attack him. But his men -suffered greatly from the heat, and some died of it alone, since -their way led them into a desert place where they had to wear all -their armour, for the land was full of snakes and adders shining in -gold and bright colours, and if a man put off his armour and one -of these bit him, his death was certain. - -And when they passed the place of the snakes they came into a dry -land where were no rivers or wells of water, and the army suffered -greatly, for the water in their vessels dried up, and no man had to -drink. For two days they toiled on, searching for water and finding -none, and in the evening a certain knight, Severus by name, came -on a little water in a hollow beneath some stones, and put it in -his helmet and brought it with joy to Alexander and offered it to -him. Then Alexander thanked him greatly, and before all his knights -he took it up in his hands, as if he were going to drink it, and -then he put it down and said, “If I drink this, will it sustain -all the army, or shall I only be refreshed, and they thirsty -still?” And the knight said, “Lord, our will is that you be first -refreshed.” “What, and all ye perish?” said the Prince, and he held -out the helmet before his lords, and poured out the water on the -dry ground. “I will thirst first and feast last of all my men.” -And the hearts of all his army were rejoiced, as if they had drunk -abundantly. - -And that night the wind began to blow, and the camels smelt water -on the breeze, and they lifted themselves up and went towards it, -and none could stop them, all the hosts followed them, and they -led them after four hours’ journey to a little stream full of -reeds. The soldiers of the host drank therein, but when it came to -watering the beasts they found that there were too many of them, -for all the goods of the camp were loaded on elephants, and on -camels, and on mules. Then they searched about, but they found -no other water near, so they made up their minds to follow this -brook till they came to its end in some great river or lake, and -in a day’s time they came to a great castle in a lake all full of -reeds. So the beasts and the men drank, and when they had rested -they began to enquire whose was this castle, and what was inside -it. Now they rode round the lake, but nowhere did they see any -road by which the castle could be entered, nor any gate to it, -but there seemed to be men on the walls who were looking at them -and their array. At the last, however, they saw two rows of great -trees running across the lake towards the castle, and some of the -knights spurred their horses into the water between them, and found -a passage where the water came up to their horses’ necks. Then they -sounded the trumpets from the shore, but there was no answer from -the castle, nor any banner displayed. So the knights rode into the -water along the causeway, and on and on till they came near the -castle, and saw a great gate closed, and over it a notice carved in -great letters filled with bright gold. - -And when they had read it they tried to pass on to the castle, but -they found that the road sank, so that their horses had to swim, -and great beasts like sea lions rose through the water, and threw -them off their steeds, so that they turned their horses’ heads and -came to land again, and shewed all these things to Alexander. - -Now these were the words on the stone: - -“NO MAN MAY ENTER TO THE GREATEST AND LEAST TREASURE OF THE WORLD, -TILL HE HAS PASSED THE NIGHT OF FEAR.” - -And as the day began to fall, the whole camp heard a roar as -of many wild beasts, and they looked and saw an army of tigers -and dragons coming against them, and Alexander and his men drew -their swords, but the beasts of the army were so terrified by the -roaring of the wild beasts that they fled away and no man could -stop them, and needs most the knights and soldiers follow them. -But not far from there was a small lake of sweet water, and the -horses and mules, the camels and the elephants, crowded into this -pool, and gathered together in a ring in the middle of it, and -stood there trembling and shivering. Then Alexander ordered his men -to pitch their tents round this pool and to remain on guard, and -they began to cut down wood for fires, and to prepare to lie there -at their ease for some days. When night fell the moon rose over -the mountains, and men ceased work and rested to enjoy the sweet -coolness of the evening air, and the quiet rest of all things in -the moonlight. - -On a sudden, the plain seemed covered with crawling monsters -making for the pool round which the Greeks were encamped; giant -crayfish, of many colours, scorpions, and scaled adders. At first -their coming was silent, and they could only be seen in the bright -moonlight coming nearer and nearer, and then the hiss of the adders -and the dash of the shells was heard, and then the sound grew -louder till it seemed that all the hills resounded with it, and men -heard the keen cry of great dragons coming down among them. Under -the moon the knights could see the dragons’ crested heads and their -golden breasts, and their eyes flashing out flames of fire, as they -came on and on, nearer and nearer the line, and they said one to -another, “Verily, this is a night of fear, beyond all other.” - -And Alexander looked to the safety of all men, for he went round -the camp, and saw that all men were in their place, and he called -to him his knights and strengthened their hearts, and bade them -take example by him and do as he did. Then he armed himself and -took a shield and a sword, and with his knights went out before the -line and began to slay the loathsome beasts that had come against -them, while his archers and bowmen were shooting them down. But -ever as they slew and slew, the reptiles swarmed up, and now and -then the shrill cry of a man in agony would show that one of his -knights or archers was overborne by the flood of writhing beasts, -and carried away or slain. For hours the fight lasted, but when the -moon was high in the heaven the flood of reptiles seemed to cease, -and in a few minutes there were no more living round the camp, and -Alexander gathered his knights and found that twenty knights and -thirty archers had been slain in this attack. - -After the fight was over, men began to light fires around the camp, -and there was soon a ring of flames round the host, but before an -hour had passed and men called the fourth hour of the night, the -watchmen raised a cry, and all the army saw a host of great crabs -drawing near the camp. So the knights in armour of plate came out -against them with their lances, for no swords could smite through -their shells. And again the fighting was fierce, for the lances -were shivered against the crabs, and when men hewed off their claws -they clung still to the armour and bit through it, till at the last -the knights snatched up brands from the fires and thrust them into -the open jaws of the crabs, and they turned and fled, and left the -camp at peace. - -And when the watchmen called the fifth hour of the night, there -came up from the desert a band of fierce great lions, white and -large as bulls. These the knights went out to meet, and a fierce -battle took place, but the Greeks feared them not, and soon these -also were put to flight. And there followed them a rush of wild -boars, with great teeth and stout bristles, and these too were -slain or driven away. - -Now the sixth hour of the night drew nigh, and the moon was low -down in the heavens, and the burden beasts of the army began to -come to shore and lie down, and the men of the host were a-weary, -when the watchmen cried out with a loud voice and there came up a -host of wild men of the woods, having six hands, and these came up, -and they feared not to rush on the knights, for they knew not the -use of iron, but with bowshots and handblows they were driven off, -and they escaped to the hills and the woods. - -And in the seventh hour there came up a great fierce beast against -them, with a black head, and on it were three huge horns, and he -was larger than an elephant, and so sore was his attack on the host -that he slew eight and twenty men, but Alexander ran up to him, -and with his sword he slew him, and men rejoiced, for their hearts -began to fail them for the long watch of the Night of Fear. - -Now the day began to break, and the earth was lightened, though as -yet there was no dawn, and the watchmen called the eighth hour, and -there came up mice as large as foxes, and they came near and fed on -the bodies of those things that were slain, and when men or beasts -came near them, they bit them, and whatever was bitten fell down -dead, and the archers shot at them and drove them away. Then came -a crowd of foul bats as large as doves, and they flew about and -flapped their wings in the face of the soldiers and bit them where -they could on cheeks, or nose, or chin, or ears, and none could -deliver themselves from them, but suddenly the dawn came, and the -sun leaped up over the hills, and the black bats fled away, and men -saw birds of a red colour come flying in among them, yet without -harming them, as if to wish them joy of the day; and the Night of -Fear was over. - -Then the trumpeters of the Greeks sounded out their morning blast, -and when it was over men heard another blast of the trumpets -from the castle that they had seen the day before, and a great -drawbridge was let down, and a boat was brought to it and set on -the lake, and into it entered an old man dressed in long flowing -robes, bearing a precious casket in his hands, and with him were -heralds and trumpeters. And when they came to the shore they were -met by the guards whom Alexander had sent to meet them, and they -came on to the camp, and at the gate of the camp the aged man -halted, and Alexander came out to him. Then they greeted each -other, and the elder told Alexander who he was, and that the -castle was set there to guard a precious thing, the greatest and -the lightest thing in the world, and to show those who came there -what they should do in times to come. Then Alexander was glad of -heart, and he besought him to show him some of his wisdom. So the -elder took a gold crown out of the casket he bore, and put it on -Alexander’s head, and bade him come with him to the castle, for -that there he should see all these things. - -In going to the castle, Alexander went by boat with the elder, -and his chief knights rode after him on horseback along the path -through the water, and when they came to the deep place the -drawbridge was let down to them and they mounted it and rode -through the gateway into the courtyard of the castle, and Alexander -and the elder were with them. So they were led into the great hall -of the castle, and when they entered it they saw, at the place -where the seat of the lord should be, a niche cut in the wall, -and on the arch over it were written the words, “THE GREATEST -TREASURE,” and below it were the words, “AND THE LEAST.” Now when -they went up to it, they saw a rich cushion, and on it was lying -an egg-shaped stone, and as they looked on it they saw a circle of -brown on it and inside a clear black ring; and the stone was clear -as crystal, and when one looked into it one saw men, and houses, -and riches, and wealth, and all that man could desire or think -of. So they brought out this treasure and laid it in the hand of -Alexander, and lo! it became so heavy that he could not hold it, -and they laid it on a beam of a balance, and in the other pan they -placed gold and silver, a great quantity, and it weighed more than -all. Then they cast on the beam all the treasures they had, and the -stone outweighed them all. Then Alexander sent for the gold that he -had with him, but the stone was heavier than all the treasure of -the Persians and the Greeks. And Alexander said. “Truly, this is -the greatest of treasures.” - -Then the elder bade them take away all those treasures to their -owners, and he took up a pinch of dust from the ground and laid it -on the stone, and lo! from being so great, there was no mean thing -that did not outweigh it; a blade of straw, a scrap of wood was -heavier than this, and all its beauty and goodness were gone from -it, so that no man would desire it or look upon it. Then Alexander -asked of him what was this wonder, and why it did thus, and the -elder told him the meaning of all this, and the name of the stone, -and he said that the castle was put there to guard the way to the -Wells of Life, and he told Alexander things that should come to -pass. Then Alexander asked him how long he should live, and how -should he die, and the elder told him not, but he said that he -should learn from the trees of the sun and of the moon when he came -to the shores of the great sea. And he told him that first must he -go north into the desert and meet and conquer King Porus, and that -then he should pass into the east through the Valley of Terror till -he saw the Three Wells of Life, and that then he should find the -Temple of the Sun and the trees which should tell him of what was -to befall him. And Alexander gave him great gifts and left him and -returned to his camp. - -Thus Alexander turned northward, and in few days he was in the land -of Bactria, and all the men of the land came to him with presents -and gifts, and he received them, and abode there thirty days, -that his men might recover their strength. And there came to him -messengers and told him that Porus was encamped with his host a -four days’ journey off; and Alexander disguised himself as one of -those that supplied the camp with wine and flesh, and driving some -cattle before him he came into the camp of Porus, that he might see -how many men he had and what was their mind towards him. The guards -of the camp laid hold on Alexander, for that he was a stranger, and -brought him before Porus, and the king asked him who he was and -whence he came. Then Alexander answered that he was a poor man of -that land, and the Macedonians had taken away his cattle and his -goods, but he had escaped with some which he was trying to sell. -And Porus asked him had he seen Alexander, and what was he doing, -and Alexander answered that he was sitting in his tent warming -himself at a fire. Then Porus laughed out, and he was glad to hear -that his enemy was so feeble that he had to sit in his tent, and -he asked how old he was. And Alexander answered that he was a -poor herdsman and knew not the king’s matters; so Porus gave him a -letter to Alexander and a great reward, and promised him more if he -should bring an answer again, and Alexander returned to his camp. - -Now the letter of Porus was a challenge to Alexander, offering to -meet him in single combat, for he said that no king or emperor -should be such a coward as to send men to battle unless he joined -in it himself, and that it would be better if only the kings on -each side fought, for it would spare the blood of the people; and -he offered to let the whole matter rest on this combat, so that -if Alexander won he should be king of India, and if he won then -all the lands should obey him. Now Porus was a tall man, a head -and shoulders taller than any man of his army, while Alexander was -short even among little men, and Porus counted on an easy victory. - -When the armies drew near in line of battle, Alexander sent out -a herald to Porus accepting his offer, and in short time all was -ready for the fight, and the two kings, armed in full armour, were -opposite one another. When the fight began, Porus advanced, proud -of his strength and size, and ignorant of the great strength of -Alexander, and both spurred at each other full tilt, and their -lances broke to shivers, but neither was unhorsed. So they turned -their horses and drew their swords, and Porus struck Alexander with -his sword, and cut into the helmet, but the blow of Alexander was -so fierce that it struck Porus out of his saddle and threw him to -the ground senseless. Then all the knights of India cast up a keen -cry, but Alexander dismounted, and caused the heralds to take off -the helmet of Porus and to give him aid; and when Porus came to -life again he owned him vanquished, and Alexander gave him back his -kingdom, and from an enemy he became a friend and a subject to the -lord of the Greeks. - -On a night after Alexander lay in his tent musing alone, and he -fell to thinking of his short life, and of the way he had come, and -of the wonders of the land, and of the deeds he should do, when it -seemed that there was with him in the tent his fosterer, the whilom -King of Egypt, and he said to him, “O my son Alexander, many deeds -shalt thou do, and many wonders shalt thou see, yet trust thou not -to thy sight. Remember the stone in the Castle of the Lake, which -was but the eye of man, for while he lives it may not be satisfied. -Trust men who seem thy friends, but trust them not overmuch: fear -the gods and them alone, for I am with thee to help thee.” Then the -god departed, and Alexander lay alone asleep. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. HOW ALEXANDER AND HIS ARMY PASSED THROUGH THE VALLEY -OF TERROR AND SOUGHT THE WELLS OF LIFE. - - -Many hundred years before, one of the great heroes of the Greeks, -Hercules by name, had come into India, and had conquered the people -of the land, and had set up great pillars of marble wherever he had -come. So Alexander, now that he had beaten Porus in battle, made -up his mind to follow in the footsteps of Hercules and to see the -wonders of India; and King Porus promised to go with him and to -guide him. But before this he sought to find the Wells of Life of -which the Elder had spoken to him in the castle in the lake. But -Porus knew not of the way, nor any of the men in his army. So he -turned again towards the South as the Elder had bidden him, and -fared on his way. - -Now as the host was on its march, it fell that the Greeks came -among a poor folk which lived in holes and caves of the earth, -and so poor were they that no man or woman of them had clothing -or ornament, but they all went naked, save that their king wore a -ring of gold on his head. As Alexander and his host drew near, this -folk sent messengers to him asking what he wanted among them, and -telling him of their poverty, so that he could win nothing from -them. Then the king made strait inquiry into their lives, and he -found that they were indeed so poor that they lived in caves and -holes of the hillside, and he was moved by compassion, and made up -his mind that they should be the better of his coming to them, so -he offered to give them what thing they should ask of him, however -great it should be. Then the king of that folk of naked wise men -drew near, and said: “O Alexander, this is our request; that thou -grant us never to die, for nothing else do we need.” Then said the -king to them: “O people, needs must that I die one day myself; how, -then, may I grant ye this thing?” And the naked wise men said: -“Since thou must die, O King, why dost thou hurry from one side of -the world to the other to slay a peaceful folk?” For a short while -Alexander was silent; then he spoke: “Know, O feeble folk, that as -the sea is stirred not by itself but by the breath of heaven, so -I am driven to do the will of the gods.” Then the naked wise men -left him and returned to their own place, for they would take no -gifts from Alexander lest they should become rich. - -Two days after the parting with these men the host of Alexander -came on a desert place in which men saw a great temple, but no -man was therein. Then entered the priests and wise men, and they -saw nought save two great images, one of gold and the other of -silver. And as they considered the images they saw thereon writing -in the old language of the Greeks, and when they had read it they -understood that these were the images of Hercules which he had set -up when he came into India. When Alexander saw them he wondered at -their size, and could not believe that they were of solid gold, so -he ordered his men to pierce them through, and they found no hollow -within, but all was of pure metal. Now by the finding of these -images Alexander knew that he was in the right way, because here -it was that Hercules had turned back when he came into the land; -but Alexander and his host went on, for he desired to see all the -marvels of the land of India. So it was that, on the third day from -their parting from the temple, they heard the sound of a river, and -going near it, they found that it was very broad and deep; and when -the men came up they found that in no wise could men swim in it to -cross it. On the further side they saw women carrying great maces -and battle-axes of gold and silver, but there was no man among -them, or any weapon of iron or bronze, only of gold or silver. -Then Alexander and his men sought to cross the river in boats, but -great black beasts rose out of the river and bit the boats in half, -so that scarcely did they escape to land with their lives, and -they gave up the thought of seeing the land guarded by women, and -marched on by the side of the river. - -As they were in camp next evening, they heard suddenly the sound -of trumpeting, and the watchmen told of a host of elephants coming -toward them. Then Alexander asked Porus and his men, but none knew -of any king of this land who could gather such a host, so men on -horseback rode out to see them, and when they came near they saw no -man with the elephants, and they returned and told the king. All -men were in fear, and the Indians most of all, for they knew the -madness of elephants, but Alexander bade a few of his men mount -their steeds, and to drag with them each man some swine before the -elephants, for he knew how that the elephant loathes the swine and -cannot remain in his presence. And it fell as Alexander had said, -for when the elephants heard the squealing and grunting of the -swine their wrath fell, and they turned, with lowered trunks and -flapping ears, and hurried away from the loathsome sound. Then the -Indians praised the wisdom of Alexander, for that, though he was -mighty in fight, he would not risk the lives of his men when he -could use craft to save them. - -Now no man in the army had ever been in this land before, and their -hearts began to fail them when they thought that Hercules had -turned back from the journey, and they grew afraid, and Alexander -began to think that the gods were angered at his boldness, and had -sent the herd of elephants to drive him away; and so next day he -moved the camp to the west instead of keeping on his march to the -south, and pitched it on a great plain where there was no shelter -of hills or trees, save that to the south many miles off there was -a range of hills. When even was near, suddenly the clear sky became -covered with thick clouds, the sun became red and then seemed to go -out, and from the thick gloom a storm broke on the camp. The winds -blew, as it seemed, from all sides, north and south, east and west; -they tore down the tents and scattered them, so that no shelter -was left; and then the thunder rolled, the lightning flashed, and -the hail and rain ran along the ground. Never had the Greeks and -Indians seen such a storm, and they said among themselves, “We are -rightly served for leaving the road we were told to follow, till -we had seen the things we were bidden to see.” So at morning light -Alexander turned his face towards the south, and the army marched -towards the hills. Now though these hills seemed small and near, -yet they were really great and far off, so that it was five days -before they came to a valley near them by which they could enter -into the hills; and as they came near it they found but a narrow -passage into it, and well-trodden. When they were in it they found -that the valley was broad, and shut in between high hills on all -sides, that no man could climb them, and there was no water in that -valley, and no living or green thing. Here then they pitched their -tents. - -Next morning when they awoke they found the air thick with snow, -and the cold was piercing, so Alexander ordered great fires to -be lit on all sides, while the varlets were bidden to tread down -the snow and stamp it flat with their feet. Then, as it grew near -mid-day, the air grew darker and a cloud filled the valley, and -they heard a great noise as if the earth was being torn apart, and -sparks of fire fell through the cloud, so that the tents were burnt -where they fell, and if they fell on men they burnt into the flesh -and left a scar. Then all the host were in terror, and Alexander -bade them offer incense and sacrifices to the gods, and they did -so, and a wind sprung up and drove away the clouds, and left the -air clear and cold. When men had rested for a short time and given -thanks to the gods for their safety, they began to move to the -other end of the valley to pass out, and they came to an altar in -the midst, with the bones of dead men lying round it, but they had -not been slain there, for there was no mark of wound or gyves. On -sight of this the leaders of the host halted around it, but none of -them could read the marks on it or know to what god it was raised. -Now while they were gathered round it men came running in haste -from the front, and they bore news that there was no way by which -men could leave the valley, and that they must needs turn back by -the way they came in. Then Alexander gave orders to return, but -when the army did so, lo, there was no way out in that direction or -in any other, for no man could tell the way by which they had come -into that vale. In short time all men were seeking for a road, but -none could be found, though great rewards were offered by the king -to him who should come upon the path. Then were the host in great -fear, for they said that the gods were wroth with them, and had -brought them into this land to slay them; but Alexander had trust -in the words of his god and feared not. - -The wise men of the army and the priests of the gods were all -this time gathered round the altar in the midst of the valley, -trying to make out the meaning of the marks upon it, and now an -old Egyptian diviner came and stood before Alexander and said to -him, “O King, I have read the writing on the altar, and I can tell -thee the way out;” and the king said, “Say on.” Then said he, “O -Alexander, this valley is the Valley of Terror, of which ancient -stories tell, and whatsoever men come into it, they cannot leave it -except one man of them stays behind a willing victim, to save the -rest, wherefore on the altar are these words, ‘THE ALTAR OF WILLING -VICTIMS.’ Now, O King, we cannot leave this valley till one man of -the host stands at the altar and offers himself to stay here for -the safety of the army, with a willing mind.” And when the other -wise men heard this, they bade the king to make speed before the -whole army should die of fear, or of hunger. So Alexander called -the host together by the sound of the trumpet, and when they were -all in one place, he rose up and told them how that the whole -army was doomed to die, except that one man would offer himself -willingly to die for the host. Then all men burst into grief for -many men there were who would not fear death for the army, but -there was none who would willingly die. So for the space of half -an hour no one came forward. Then Alexander the Emperor arose and -said, “O Greeks, Persians, and Indians, seeing that I have led ye -into this land it is fitting that I lead you out, and since this -may not be, I myself will stay here so that ye may safely depart.” -Then the leaders came round him with tears and sobs, but he would -not listen to them, but bade them prepare for their journey. The -trumpets sounded again, and all men kept silence, for they saw -Alexander with his left hand on the Altar of Willing Victims, and -his right hand raised on high, and they heard him devote himself to -the God of the Valley--a willing victim for the release of the army. - -[Illustration: Now when all had left the valley but Alexander, -standing at the Altar of Willing Victims, and Bucephalus his horse -by him, it was already evening, & the earth seemed to shake & the -way out was closed up.] - -Soon as the words were said, a crash was heard at the head of the -valley, and when men looked they saw that a huge cliff had fallen, -and had opened a broad way out into the open plain beyond, and -men hurried to load their beasts and the knights rode on, and at -the last Porus rode on with them, for Alexander had bidden him -fear nothing, for the gods had promised him that he should not -die save between a soil of iron and a sky of gold, so that needs -must he escape from this Valley of Terror, and Alexander had told -the leaders of the host to abide forty days for him on the plain -outside if need be. Now when all the army had passed through, and -no man was left in the valley but Alexander, standing at the Altar -of Willing Victims, and Bucephalus his horse by him, it was already -evening, and the earth seemed to shake, and the way out was closed -up. When night fell, and all was dark, then the air seemed full of -fright, and from one side or another groans were heard, but none -came near. As hours drew on, the horse shivered with fear, and -when Alexander patted his flanks they were covered with cold dew, -and at last Bucephalus put his head under his master’s cloak, and -stood still, trembling. But Alexander stood all that night by -the altar with one hand on it, and he saw nothing, and heard but -the groans which echoed through the air. - -When day dawned all was still in the valley, and as Alexander -looked about he saw around him nothing but high rocks coming sheer -down from the mountain sides, but when the sun shone into the -valley, he took heart and began to ride round the sides to examine -them for himself, and this he did three times, but he found no -way out. Then he sat down by a great stone, on which was marked a -five-pointed star, with many letters written on it, and as he did -so the words of Anectanabus came into his mind, how that this star -was put for a seal over spirits in prison, and he remembered the -mighty words that call on the spirits of the air and the earth, -and he said them, and bade the spirit under the seal answer him. -Then a voice came from under the stone and answered him, and told -who he was, and how he had been shut under that stone for hundreds -of years to work the will of the gods; and he asked Alexander -to let him go free. So Alexander knew that if he set free this -spirit he would destroy the enchantment of the Valley of Terror, -and he determined to let the spirit go, but first he questioned -him as to the way out, and the road to the Wells of Life, and how -he should know them. Then said the spirit, “O Alexander, there be -three Wells of Life, nor is it easy to find them. These be their -properties. The first is the Well of Life, and in it if any dead -thing is put, it straightway comes to life again. The second is -the Well of Youth, and in it all who bathe come again to the age -of twenty-five, be they an hundred winters old. The third is the -Well of Never-dying Men, and he who bathes in it shall not die of -any disease or hurt of iron, yet may he suffer pain of disease and -hunger, but he cannot die. Nor can this well be seen of all men, -or at any day, for but once in a year can it be seen, and then no -more of any man for another year. For the way out, I myself will -lead you and your horse, and I will give you the stone Elmas, which -shall guide you to the wells, for it shall shine and sparkle while -you are in the right way, and when you are in the wrong it shall -grow dull and dark. Long and dreary shall the road be, and few may -go with thee to that land.” - -Then Alexander drew his sword and cut away the words marked on the -five-pointed star, and when they were rubbed out, he hacked away -the comers of the star, and as he did so, the earth-shook, and the -stone rolled over, and a young man stood by him holding a ruby in -his hand, and he said, “O King, take the stone Elmas, and set it in -the handle of thy sword, and come thou and thy horse with me, for -the valley is open, and men shall call it no longer the Valley of -Terror.” So the king came with his horse, and he passed out where -the army had gone, and mounted his horse, and turned to thank his -guide, and lo I he was alone. Then he rode into camp, and all men -rejoiced to see him. - -Now, as Alexander came into the camp of the Greeks from the valley, -an old man of the country came up on the other side, and the guards -brought him before the King. Then he asked him concerning the land, -and who was the lord of it, and the old man said that no man ruled -in it, and few lived in it. Then Alexander asked him of the Wells -of Life, and the old man answered that he had seen them in his -youth and had bathed in the Well of Youth. Then Alexander asked him -if he would guide him to them, and the old man said he would, but -that he would not bathe in them, for he wished not to live past his -time. So he went with Alexander and his host as they travelled far -into the land of Ind. - -For many days the host travelled, till at last the old man said -that they were near the land of the Wells of Life, and then -Alexander bade the army to halt, and he chose out a few of his -Greeks and with them he set out on his search. It had been told -Alexander that in the land there were many wells, and that none -could tell one from another, till they came to the right one, so -that he had prepared a way to find them out. Now the first well -they should come to was the Well of Life, and Alexander bade all -his men take in hand a salt fish, and wash it in every well they -came to, till they should see some strange thing, when they were -to tell it to him. It must be said that they of the host knew not -what Alexander was seeking, nor what was the reason of this washing -of salt fish. So the men went from one well to another, laughing -and joking, and washing their salt fish, till one of them, Andreas -by name, dipped his fish into a certain well, and suddenly the -fish came to life in his hand and slipped out into the well. Then -he cried out with a loud voice, and all the men near came running -up to him, but he could say or do nothing but point to the fish -swimming about in the spring. So they fetched Alexander to the -spring, and he gave orders to fill a cask with the water of it, but -the old man said that the water was useless except it were drunk -when it was drawn from the spring. - -Then he came to the Well of Youth, and it was in a dry land where -no man dwelt, for there was no river or tree near. And Alexander -would fain have the old man bathe in that well, but he would not, -for he said that it was good to be young once, and to be foolish -once, but to be young twice would be to be always a fool, and old -age was best when a man was tired of life. So the young men bathed -in the spring and their hearts grew hopeful, and they rejoiced in -their youth. - -There remained the Well of Never-dying Men to be sought for, but -the old man told them that this was not here, nor was there any -way to it from that place, for they must seek it in the dark -desert. On this Alexander asked him of that desert, and he said -that there the land was dark day and night, the sun shone not -there, and there was no track or path for men to travel by. “Yet,” -said the old man “it will be easy for thee to enter into the land -and to find the well, for thy stone Elmas will guide thee to it -when thou art in the land.” And with these words the old man turned -away, and when Alexander looked for him, behold, he was not with -them. Then Alexander and his men returned to the army. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XV. HOW THE BRAHMANS CAME TO KING ALEXANDER AND WHAT HE -LEARNT FROM THEM: AND OF THE COMING OF THE AMAZONS. - - -Now the tale tells that by this time the army was encamped near the -great river of India, the river Ganges. The river was very broad so -that men could just see across it from one bank to another, and it -was full of all manner of living beasts, crocodiles, scorpions, and -snakes, so that men dare not swim in it nor drive in their horses. -It happened on a day, that three men came to the other side of the -river, and stood there, so that the guards came to Alexander and -told him of it, and he came to the bank over against them. Then the -king bade one of his nobles ask them who they were, whence they -came, and what was their wish; and they answered, “We be Brahmans, -that never thought or did harm, and we bear a message from our -lord Dindimus to the lord of this army, Sir Alexander of Greece.” -And when he heard this the king ordered a carpenter to make a boat -to pass the river, and as soon as it was ready, he sent a knight -over the river with a message inviting them to come: so they -crossed the river and stood before him. Now they were very old men. - -Then Alexander spoke to these Brahmans of one thing and another, -and found that they lived in another manner than the Greeks; for -what he esteemed rich and noble and good, they set little or no -store by, and what they admired he thought mean and poor. But since -he was a wise king, and one who desired to learn the secrets of -things, he sent a letter to the chief of the Brahmans asking him to -describe what their nation did, “for,” said he, “you differ from -us very greatly, it cannot harm you to tell us about yourselves, -and we may learn from your example. A candle when it is alight can -light many others without burning less brightly.” And with this -letter of Alexander’s the Brahmans went away to their lord, and in -due time they returned bearing an answer. - -The tale tells in full of these letters, though it likes me not to -write them here at length, but the answer of Dindimus astonished -the Greeks. He told them that the Brahmans were a lowly folk, who -neither ploughed nor reaped, fished nor hunted, who lived on the -fruits of the earth, and who drank water, who fought not and -lied not, who studied not, nor wore fine clothing, who loved the -sun and the sea, the woods and the song of birds, and who cared -neither for iron nor for gold. Then he went on to reprove them -for their worship of evil gods, for their pride, cruelty, and -avarice. However, Alexander answered him fairly, but only drew on -himself a worse reproof. Then Alexander seized eight of the chief -Brahmans, and put to each of them a question, saying that the one -who answered worst should be put to death first. - -So the first of them was brought before him, and he said to him, -“This is thy question: Why have you no graves in which to bury -your dead?” The old man said, “We are buried in the cave in the -hillside where we pass our days, that we may know that our present -life is but a training for the future.” Then came the second, and -the king asked him, “Which are more in number, the dead or the -living?” “Those that are dead are more in number than the living, -thou thyself knowest how many men thou hast slain,” said the old -man. Then came the third and Alexander said, “What is the most -wicked thing in creation?” “Man is the most wicked thing, and thou -thyself art one of the worst of men, for many men hast thou slain, -and few hast thou saved from death.” “Is night older than day, or -day older than night?” was the next question of the king, and the -Brahman answered him that night was older than day. Then he asked -the others these questions, and to each of them the wise men gave -him a good answer. “How do you live, and now do you die?” “Is death -mightier than life?” “Who is it that has never been born?” “Which -is man’s strongest limb, his right hand or his left?” - -At the last the lord of Macedon forgave their bold speech and let -them go; but, before they went, Alexander asked them, as his custom -was, what were the wonders of their land? - -Then the eldest of the Brahmans told him of a wonderful well in -the land, that few men dare drink of, for he that was miserly or -unfaithful to his trust and drank of it, went mad on the spot. -But Alexander did not fear this, for no man had ever thought him -miserly, for when he had shared the spoil at Macedon, he left for -himself only hope and glory. Then the king asked to be led to that -place, and he went with few of his knights without fear, for the -Brahmans were an unarmed folk. Now, as he went on his way with the -Brahman, he came into a certain town of the land, and saw two men -pleading before the Judge, and he drew near to listen to them. The -first of them stood up before the Judge, and said, “Sir, in time -past I bought a house from this man, and dwelt in it; now, long -after, I have found in it a treasure hid under the earth of the -garden, which is not mine. Accordingly I offered to deliver the -treasure to him, and carried it to his house, but he has refused -it and will not take it. Wherefore, sir, I beseech you that he be -compelled to take this treasure, since he knows full well that it -is not mine, for I have no right to it.” Then Alexander said to -the Brahman, “Surely this man is foolish, for he might keep this -treasure to himself.” But the Judge turned to the other man, and -bade him answer what was said against him. So he stood up and said, -“Sir Judge, that same treasure was never mine, but he has digged -in a place that no other man who had the house has digged, and -hath made that his own which before had no master. And, therefore, -I have no right to take it.” Then Alexander said to the Brahman, -“Surely this man may take it, for the land was his, and the other -man wishes him to take it.” - -As he spoke, the two men talked together for a moment, and then -they turned toward the Judge, and begged him to take the treasure -himself, for they would have none of it. Then the Judge answered, -and said, “Since ye say that ye have no right thereto, so that -neither he to whom the heritage belonged in time past, nor he -to whom it now belongs may have it, how should I have any right -thereto, that am but a stranger in the matter, and never before -heard a word spoken of it. Would you escape the burden that falls -on you, and give me the charge of the treasure; that were evil done -of you.” And, after awhile, he took them and asked of him that had -found the treasure whether they had any children or no: so one of -them answered that he had a young son. Then he asked the other if -he had a daughter, and he said that he had. When he heard that, -the Judge was glad, and he ordered them to make a marriage between -the two, and that they should give them the treasure between them -as a marriage portion. And when Alexander heard this judgment, he -had great marvel thereof, and said thus to the Judge: “I trow there -is not in all the world so righteous a judge as thou art.” Then -the Judge looked on him with wonder, for he knew that he was an -outlander by his speech, though he wist not that he was Alexander, -and he asked him whether any Judge in his own country would have -done otherwise. “Yea, certainly,” said Alexander, “in many lands -would they have judged otherwise.” Then the Judge had great marvel -thereat, and he asked the king whether it rained, and if the sun -shone in that land; as if he would give him to understand that -it was strange that the gods should send any light, or rain, or -other good things to them that do not right and true judgment. But -Alexander had greater marvel than before, and he said there were -but few such nations upon earth as the people of this land. - -Then king Alexander went with the old Brahman in search of the -well, and at the last they came to the place where the well was, -and it was a great square tank, built down into the ground with -blocks of stone, the sides covered with green moss, and the steps -damp and slippery, the water at the bottom dark and clear, but -the Brahman put forth his hand and said to the King, “O foolish -of heart, bathe not in this well, for thou art both miser and -unfaithful. Miser art thou for thy words about him who found the -treasure: unfaithful in that thy heart judged not as the Judge of -the land did.” And Alexander turned away in silence, for his heart -judged him, and he dared not enter the well, so he returned to his -army. - -And as Alexander went out of that land he passed through a city, in -the which all the houses of the city were of one height, neither -was any house greater in show than another. Now before the door -of every house was a great pit dug, and this pit was always open. -Then Alexander asked for the lord or judge of that city, and they -told him that there was in their city no judge or lord. And the -king wondered greatly how such a thing should be, that a city could -remain without a head or a judge; and he asked of the inhabitants -thereof whereto such things should serve. So the dwellers in that -place answered him and said: “O king, whereas thou dost wonder that -we have no lord over us to do justice among us, know thou that we -have learnt to do justice ourselves, wherefore we need no man over -us to do it for us.” Then said he to the men of the city: “Why do -ye make these pits before the doors of your houses?” And they -answered him: “Know, O Alexander, that these pits are our graves, -which every man makes before his door to be his own house, to which -each of us must go, and there dwell until his deeds are judged.” -And Alexander asked them yet another question: “Why are your houses -built of one height?” and they answered him: “O King, love and -justice cannot be even among all the people of a place if some of -them are greater than others, and no house nor family shall be -greater than other in this our town.” Then Alexander departed from -them, wondering, but well pleased. - -The tale tells that before Alexander fought against Porus he sent -messengers to all lands in Asia, and among the rest to the land -of the Amazons. It is said of that land that only women live in -it, and it is governed by women, and whatever man comes into it -he is straightway slain; for the first founders of that land were -the wives of the men that were called Goths, the which men were -cruelly slain, and then their wives took their husbands’ armour -and weapons, and fell on their enemies with manly hearts, and took -revenge of the death of their husbands. For by dint of sword they -slew all men, both old men and children, and saved the females, -and parted out the prey, and purposed to live ever after without -company of men. And by the example of their husbands they had -ever two queens among them, one to lead the host and fight against -enemies, the other to govern and rule the kindreds. In short time -they became such fierce warriors that they had a great part of Asia -under their lordship nigh a hundred years; and among them they -suffered no man to live or abide, but of the nations that were nigh -to them they chose husbands, and they nourished their children till -they were seven years old, and then their sons they sent to their -fathers, but they saved their daughters and taught them to shoot -and to hunt. It is told that the great Hercules was the first who -daunted their fierceness, and that was more by friendship than by -strength. - -Now came messengers from Calistris, queen of the Amazons, to -Alexander, bearing letters from her in answer to his demand of -tribute, for she had heard how Alexander had followed in the -footsteps of Hercules, and had gone into India, and the letters -told of her land and its customs, and of the number of warriors she -had, and she went on: “I wonder at thy wit, that thou purposest -to fight with women, for if fortune be on our side, and if it hap -that thou be overcome, then art thou shamed for evermore, when -thou art overcome of women; and if our gods be wroth with us, and -thou overcomest us, it shall be little honour to thee that thou -hast overcome a band of women.” And when Alexander looked over the -letter he laughed, and wondered on her answer, and said that it -was not seemly to overcome women with sword and anger, but rather -with love and noble dealing: and therefore he sent messengers -to them offering friendship and a treaty. Then the queen of the -Amazons came with many of her maidens, and they reached Alexander -when he returned from the land of the Brahmans, and abode with him -many months, and at the last they departed from him and went to -their own land, being subject to his empire, not by violence, but -by friendship and by love. - -And after these things Alexander reared up a pillar of marble, and -upon it he wrote in the tongue of the Greeks and of the Indians. -Now the inscription in Greek characters was but this:-- - - Α Β Γ Δ Ε - -the first five letters of the alphabet, and they stood for the same -words as those in the Indian inscription: - - ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΓΕΝΟΣ ΔΙΟΣ ΕΚΤΙΣΕ - -“King Alexander the God-born built this:” and he graved it deep on -the sides of the pillar. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. HOW ALEXANDER PASSED THROUGH THE LAND OF DARKNESS AND -SLEW THE BASILISK. - - -Few days after Alexander and his army entered into a plain full of -fair flowers and trees. Now the trees of this land were fruitful -and bore all manner of food for man, and amongst them were apples -and almonds, vines and pomegranates, and plums and damsons; and it -was in this land that the Greeks first ate of damsons, for they -did eat of them three days while they were in the forest. But as -they went through the wood, they came upon giants twice as high -as other men, clad in coats of skin, and covered with long hair. -So the Greeks and the Indians were sore afraid lest these giants -should fall upon them and slay them, while the giants called one -to another, and came together through the trees to gaze on them, -for they had never seen men before. When the Greeks saw that these -giants were calling to one another and coming together, they drew -up in line of battle, and the knights clad in armour mounted their -battle horses, and the archers and spearmen prepared their weapons -for the onset: for the Greeks had never heard of giants who did -no harm to men. But these giants were great stupid oafs who stood -gazing with open mouths at Alexander and his men preparing to slay -them, and their food was grapes and pomegranates. And when the army -was drawn up in line, and all men were ready, Alexander gave the -word and they raised a loud shout so that the woods rang again, and -the giants turned and fled, for they had never heard sound of man -or of trumpet. Then the knights followed them and slew some six -hundred of them in the field and in the chase, so that none of them -were left in the land round about. - -The tale tells that Alexander passed on with his army, still -seeking the wonders of the land and finding no man in this part of -it, till he came to another river where he halted for many days. -And there came men of the land to him, and Alexander asked them of -the wonders of the land, so they told him of certain trees near by -which grew with the sun, and when it was high they were great, and -as the sun fell below the earth so the trees grew smaller and sank -down into the soil. But when the king would set out to see this -marvel, they told him that no man could go near it for there was -a wild man who guarded the wood and suffered no one to pass. Then -Alexander sought counsel of his wise men, and they bade him take -a fair white maiden such as the wild man had never seen and hold -her before him, and so they did, and the wild man became quiet and -still at the sight of her, so the Greeks crept up to him and bound -him in great chains, and brought him before the King’s tent: now -this wild man was covered with hair stout and strong, and his arms -were great, and his strength was as that of ten men. And when the -King had gazed on him they bound him to a tree, and slew him, and -burnt him to ashes, for he had slain much folk of that country. - -Next day the King and his company came to the place of the trees, -and they wondered at the sight, how they grew as the day grew, and -the height of them was a spear’s length, and on them were fruits -like to apples, and men called them the trees of the sun. Now -the tent of the King was over against the place where the trees -grew, and in the hot sunlight he felt thirst, so he bade one of -his carles fetch him an apple, and the man sprang forth to do his -bidding, but when he laid his hand on the fruit he fell to the -ground as if he was slain. There were birds on those trees among -the branches and some men wished to put their hands on them, for -they did not fly away from them, but as they did so, flames of fire -came out from the trees; and the men of the country told them that -no man could touch these trees and live. Then Alexander asked them -of the Land of Darkness, for the stone Elmas shone brightly, and he -knew that he was drawing near that land: but they said that no man -went to that land, for the way was through a desert that none could -cross. - -Then Alexander chose him out of all his army three hundred young -men, able to endure hardship, and they made them ready to go with -him to the Land of Darkness, while the army was left in the hand -of King Porus; and he gave orders that the young men should carry -with them stores of food and water to pass through the desert to -the land they sought. Now there was a certain old man in the army -named Bushi, who had two sons chosen to go with the King, and he -bade them to take him with them to the Land of Darkness, but they -said to him that the King had straightly commanded that no old man -should go with them. Then said the old man, “O Sons, make strong -a box, and put me inside it, and set the box on a mule and carry -it with the baggage, and it shall be for your good, for a party -without old men to advise can come to no good.” So his sons did -as he bade them, and closed him in a box, and set him on a mule’s -back, and carried him with them to the land. And as Alexander went -on his way they met men of the land, journeying in the desert, -and these told them of the Well of Life, and how a man had drunk -of that well, but he could not find his way out of the Land of -Darkness, and ever he wandered to and fro, up and down, till at -last he gave up the search, and dwelt in a tower alone, and as the -years rolled on he grew smaller and smaller, and more and more -cruel, and when men came into that land, he slew them and fed on -their flesh. - -Now when Alexander drew near the Land he came to a desert land, -where was neither well nor living thing, and they hastened through -it for five days, but on the morrow of the sixth day the sun rose -not, and there was no light of day: and so the king knew that he -had come on the Land of Darkness, but the tales that he had heard -came to his mind, and he feared, for he had no mind to wander -through that land without a guide. Then he went back with his men -for half a day’s journey, and lo! the light of the evening, so he -camped in that place and waited for morning light. On the morrow he -took counsel with his men, as to the way of return, and he offered -great reward to any man who should show the way of a safe journey -back, but his young men said, “O King, it is ours to go where thou -dost order us, and what thou biddest, that will we do:” and he -found no counsel in them. Then the two sons told their father how -the King had stopped and asked for counsel, and Bushi bade them -bring him before Alexander, and when they feared he bade them be -bold, for he had good counsel to give. - -The tale tells that the King was sitting sorrowful in his tent that -day, for he dared not enter the Land without some means of safe -return, and he was unwilling to go back to the army without having -reached his object; and when the guards entered and told that an -old man sought speech of him, he thought that one of the gods must -have come to his help. So he made him to sit in his own seat, for -the man was very old and feeble, and asked him what he would. Then -Bushi answered and said, “O King, hear the words of an old man; -there is no love like the love of a mother for her young. Now thou -hast here with thee, many asses with their foals. This is my word -to thee. Leave here on the borders of the Land, half thy men with -their baggage trains, and leave with them the young foals, and go -thou with their mothers and the rest of thy men into the Land, and -do thy heart’s desire: then when thou wilt return from this Land, -loosen the mothers and leave them free, and take them for thy -guides, and they will lead thee back to the place where their young -ones be.” - -Then Alexander the King praised him greatly, and gave rich reward -to the young men, his sons, and he offered to take the old man -to the Well of Life, but he would not, for he said, “How should -I desire to live for ever, being such a man as I am, for the -bitterness of death is past to me.” Then he gave counsel to the -King that no man should bathe in any well in the land, till he had -seen it, for if he did the well would disappear for a year. So -Alexander did as the old man Bushi advised him, for he divided his -men into two bands, and one he left on the borders of the Land of -Darkness, with their baggage and with the young foals, and one he -took with him, and the men he took with him he straightly charged -to come to him when they found the well, and on no account to bathe -in it. So he entered the Land, and the stone Elmas shone with a -light like a star, and guided them on the road for three days. But -on the fourth day it grew duller, and Alexander knew that he had -passed the place of the Well of Life; and he ordered his men to -search for the well in all directions, but not to go out of sound -of the trumpets which rang out every hour, and to come into the -camp when it sounded. Seven times did the trumpet sound, and the -scouts came in, but on the seventh time, one of them, Philotus by -name, came in with his hair wet, and Alexander knew that he had -disobeyed the word of the king, and had bathed in the well. Then -said he to him, “O Philotus, canst thou lead me to the well thou -hast bathed in,” and the man answered, “Yea, Lord;” and they set -out together, but no well could be found. Then the wrath of the -King burst out, for he knew that he should see the Well no more for -a year if he remained in that place, and that all the labour of his -expedition was spent for nought but to make this Indian immortal, -and he bade men bring great stones, and build them in a pillar -round the Indian and close it at the top, and they did so, and he -was left alive inside the pillar, for indeed the Greeks could not -slay him. This done, Alexander put the reins on the necks of his -asses, and they turned and led the way to their young, and in three -days he was out of the Land of Darkness and on his way to the army. - -In few days the King set out again with his host and went on his -way towards the mountain lands, and ever the way led upward till -after eleven days’ journey they came to a great plain among the -mountains, covered with trees and plants, and well watered by noble -rivers. The fruits were of the finest savour, and the water was -sweeter than milk or mead, and clearer than crystal. So they went -on through the land for many days, but they found no man in it, -and no houses or temples of the gods; until they came to a high -mountain which seemed to reach even to the clouds, and no way was -there of crossing it, it was so steep and rugged. But when they -came up to this range they found two passes which led through the -range, and where they met was a great temple, and the one path -led to the East, the way of the sun-rising, and the other to the -North. Now there was no man to tell them where these paths led, or -what was to be met in them. Then Alexander thought within himself -that he would go to the East, for the Gods had predicted that in -the East he should learn when and where was the end of his days, -and the army of the King went through the pass for seven days. - -But on the eighth day, a sudden death fell on many of the men in -the host, for when they came to a certain spot or place among -the mountains, ever one or another noble knight would fall down -suddenly and lie dead on the road, nor did all men who passed the -place die, but some only. Then fear came upon all men, and those -who had passed the place dared not move either forward or backward, -and those who had not passed it would not go forward, nor indeed -did the King command them, for all men said, “The wrath of the gods -is upon us for coming into this land.” So Alexander sought to find -the reason for this death, and he went with one of his knights up -the mountains at the side of the pass, till he came to a place -whence he could see the whole of the pass and the mountains behind -it, and looking down into the valley he saw in one of the clefts -of the hills a loathly serpent, old and wrinkled, his thin long -neck and great head lying on the ground before it. And while the -King looked down, the ungainly worm slowly raised its heavy head -and looked down on the valley, and let it fall again, and a cry of -grief from his men told him that two more of his knights had fallen -dead on the pass, and Alexander knew that his eyes saw the Basilisk. - -The tale tells that this beast is the most deadly of all serpents, -for its venom is such that whatsoever living thing it looks on it -slays, yea, the very grass is withered by its deadly breath. And -no man may slay it unawares easily, for once a man slew one with a -lance, and the venom of it was such that he died from it, though he -came no nearer the body than a spear’s length. This the king knew -and he sought not to slay it with a weapon, but he worked so that -the worm should kill itself; for he caused his men to make a shield -larger than a man, and on this shield he bade put a bright polished -mirror, and he wrapped his feet in linen, and put off his armour, -and going softly he bore the shield with its mirror before him, and -set it down before the den of the basilisk, and went his way. But -the basilisk raised its head as its manner was, and looked before -it, and saw its face in the mirror, and the poison of its own look -killed it, so it fell dead with its eyes wide open, and lay along -the path. Then the knight who was on the mountain watching blew his -horn, and all men heard it and rejoiced and praised the brave king -who had delivered them from the basilisk. - -All this while the march of the host had lain between mountains, -and when men climbed to the top they saw nothing but other -mountains stretching away as far as they could see, no towns, no -villages, no living things, and on the day after the basilisk was -slain, the road suddenly stopped among the mountains, and the host -could go no further. Then Alexander the King bade them turn back -to the parting of the ways, and as they passed the place where -the basilisk had been he bade them burn it in asbestos cloth, -and take its ashes, for the ashes of the basilisk are a precious -thing, able to turn lead into pure gold, but the men found it not, -though the great mirror was still there. And at the last they came -to the temple at the parting of the ways, and the army lay round -the temple for a day to rest, for they were sore wearied with the -passage through the Eastward way. The next day at sunrise two aged -men came out of the temple, and Alexander spoke with them and they -told him of the ways, how that Bacchus, one of the gods, had made -this road when he came into India and conquered it, and how he had -caused the mountains to come together and block it up, so that no -man should pass through by it after. Then Alexander asked them of -the Northward way, and they told him how it led to the Trees of the -Sun and Moon: and they told of the wonders of the trees, and how -they spoke with men’s tongues, and told what should be in time to -come, and Alexander the King rejoiced. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. HOW ALEXANDER CAME TO THE TREES OF THE SUN AND THE -MOON, AND WHAT THEY TOLD HIM. - - -Howbeit Alexander made no sign to them of his joy, for he seemed -not to believe the old men, and he said: “Have I spread the might -of my name from the East even unto the West to no end but to -become a sport to old men and dotards.” Then the old men made oath -by the gods that this thing was true, and they told the King how -that these trees spoke both in the Greek and the Indian language; -and Alexander asked them of the way to this marvel, and the men -answered: “O King, whosoever thou art, no greater marvel shalt thou -see than this we tell thee of. The way to it is a journey of ten -days, nor can your army pass because of the narrow paths, and the -want of water, but at the most four thousand men with their beasts -of burden and their food.” Then all the friends of the King and his -companions besought him to go and see this great thing, and he made -as if he hearkened to their prayers, and consented to go with them. -So he left the army with its baggage and the elephants in the hands -of King Porus his friend, and set out on the Northward Way to seek -the trees which spoke to men. - -Now the Northward Way was like the Eastward one, a narrow road -among high mountains, and little ease was there in going through -it, and for three days they came to no water, but at noon on the -fourth day they came to a spring which flowed out of a cave on the -hillside. Then the Indians told Alexander that this cave was sacred -to Bacchus, so he entered it and offered up a sacrifice to the god, -and prayed him that he might return safe to Macedon, lord of the -world, but he got no sign from the god that his prayer was heard. -Then on the morrow he set out, and on the tenth day at even they -came to the foot of a great cliff, shining in the setting sun from -thousands of brilliant points like diamonds, and from chains of red -gold leading from step to step up the face of the rock, high up -beyond the ken of men. And as the sun shone on it the steps seemed -carved from sapphires and rubies, so deep were the blue and red of -their colour. Then Alexander the king set up altars to the gods of -heaven, and offered sacrifices to each one of them, and he and his -men lay that night at the foot of the cliff. - -Early in the morning he arose, and when he had called to him his -twelve tried princes, he began to ascend the steps on the side of -the mountain, and as he went up it seemed to him that he was going -into the clouds, and when he looked down, the path by which he had -come seemed as a silver ribbon among the hills, and the men of -his host seemed smaller than bees, and nothing that might happen -seemed strange to him, for his joy and lightness of heart. So on -and on they went and at length they came to the last of the steps, -two thousand five hundred of them, and they found that on the top -of the cliff was a wide plain, and in the distance they saw a fair -palace set in a garden, and a noble minster shining in the sun -like gold. All the plain was full of rich and noble trees bearing -precious balm and spices, and many fruits grew on their branches, -and the inhabitants of the plain fed on them, for there were many -men on the plain, and all men and women were clothed in the skins -of panthers or of tigers sewn together, and they spoke in the -Indian tongue. As the Greeks drew near the palace they saw it, what -a fair home it was, and how it had two broad doors to its hall, and -seventy windows of diverse shape, and when they came to the doors -they found them covered with beaten gold, and set with fair stones. - -But the doors of the palace opened and shut, and there stood before -them a negro, ten feet high, with great teeth showing over his -lips, his ears pierced and a great pearl in each, and clothed in -skins. And when he had saluted them he asked them why they had come -to that land, and they said that they wished to see the trees that -spoke, and to hear something from them. Then the negro bade them to -take three of them, and to put off their shoes, and their weapons -and ornaments, and to clothe themselves in fair white linen, and -Alexander and two of his companions did so, and the negro brought -them within the palace, leaving the rest of their companions -outside. And as they went in they marked the fair garden, and in it -were golden vines bearing on them grapes of rubies and carbuncles, -and they saw how precious a place it was, so that Paradise alone -excelled it. - -Now when they were come to the inner door of the hall, the negro -bowed himself down before them, and opened the door before them, -but went not in himself, for that room was the chief of the palace, -and when they lifted up their heads they saw before them a couch -and on it was a man. Now the hangings of the couch were of golden -brocade, and its coverlet was blue, embroidered with shining ones -in bright gold, and the bedhead was embroidered with cherubim with -glancing wings, and the canopy with the bright seraphim. The -curtains were of silk and on them was a fair garden of needlework, -and in it were beasts and birds, and the pillars were of the same, -and all the points and ornaments were of pearl. The romance tells -that he who rested in that room was one of the noblest-looking men -that ever had life, with a face bright and bold as fire, his hair -was long and grey, and his beard was as white as the driven snow. -When the King and his peers saw him they knew that he must be of -the blood of the gods and not of mankind, and they knelt down on -the ground before him, and saluted him with all reverence. Then -he reached out his arms to them, and raised him on the bed, and -answered them: “Hail, Alexander,” said he, “All hail, thou who -wieldest the earth, thou and thy princes are welcome. Sir, thou -shalt see with thy sight such marvels as never before man saw; and -thou shalt hear of what shall come, things that no man hath heard -but thee.” Then was the King astonished that his name was known, -and he said, “Oh, holy happy man, how dost thou name my name, since -thou hast never seen me before?” And the god answered: “Yea, I knew -thee ere a word of thy fame had spread over the earth.” Then he -went on: “Wish ye to look upon the trees that bloom for ever, the -trees of the sun and of the moon, that can speak and tell thee of -what is to be?” And Alexander the king said, “Yes by my crown, this -would I do more than anything else in the world.” Then the god -said, “Art thou clean of body and mind, thou and thy friends; for -no man may enter the place where they are who is not pure of all -stain?” and Alexander answered that they were. So the Elder arose -from his bed, and cast on him a mantle of gold, and the ground -glittered for the glory of his weeds, and he led them to the door, -and there stood there two elders like to those Alexander had seen -at the Parting of the Ways, and he gave them into their hands, -and bade them lead them to the place where they would be. Then he -turned and departed, and Alexander and his friends Ptolemy and -Antiochus went with the elders. - -As they went the elders asked them if they had any metal or rich -thing with them, and bade them cast it off, and one of the elders -stayed at the door of the minster while the other led them through -it, and after that the three Greek lords passed through a wondrous -thick wood, full of most precious trees, olives and sycamores, -cypresses and cedars, with balm and myrrh trickling down the trunk -and all manner of incense and aromatic spices. In this wood they -came upon a little round clear space, and when they looked they -saw a great tree whereon was neither fruit nor leaves, bark nor -bast, and it was one hundred feet high. And on it they saw a bird -resting on one Of its branches, and the bird was of the size of a -peacock, with a crest such as the peacock has, and its cheeks and -jaws were red like a fowl, and its breast was of golden feathers, -and its back and tail of blue speckled with crimson, and its body -of gold and red speckled with grey. Then Alexander the king stayed -and considered this bird and wondered at it, and the guide answered -his thought: “Why dost thou wait and wonder, yon is the Phœnix, the -bird that lives a hundred years, and has no mate:” and he turned -them a little way and they saw a spot where two trees grew side -by side, the trees of the Sun and the Moon. “Behold now,” quoth -the guide, “these holy trees; form in thy mind the question thou -wouldst ask of them, but say it not in words that can be heard; and -thou shalt have an answer in plain words, such as no other oracle -gives. And this shall be a sign to thee that the gods are good to -thee, since they read thy thoughts and need not words to tell them -thy question.” - -The tale tells us that these trees were not like others, but their -boles and leaves shone like metal, and the tree of the sun was like -gold, and the tree of the moon was like silver, and the tree of the -sun was the male, and that of the moon the female. Then Alexander -asked his guide: “In what way will the trees answer me?” and the -Elder answered him: “Truly, O King, the Sun-tree begins to speak -in the Indian tongue, and ends in Greek; but the Moon-tree, since -it is female, speaks in a contrary manner, for it begins in Greek -and finishes in Indian, and thus in two tongues each tells us its -mission of fate.” Then he wished to offer sacrifices before the -trees to honour them as gods, but the Elder forbade him, for he -said that no living thing was to be injured in this place, and no -fire must be brought there, but that the only sacrifices offered -to the trees were kisses on the tree-boles. And when he heard this -Alexander the King knelt down on the ground and kissed the boles of -the trees one after the other, and asked within himself whether he -should return to Macedon, where his mother dwelt, having conquered -all the earth. - -Now, when he had asked this question in his mind, and he and his -fellows were kneeling on the ground before the tree, suddenly it -began to move, and the leaves began to quiver, though all was still -and calm in the forest, and there was a sound of going in the -tree-tops, and a sighing as if the wind was rustling through the -leaves, and the sighing and moaning of the leaves grew louder, and -with a swaying sough this answer came to the King: “O Alexander, -unbeaten in war thou art, and shalt be lord of all the world, yet -never shalt thou see the soil of thy sires, or return to thy dear -land of Macedon; thou shalt see thy mother and thy land no more.” -When they heard these things the companions of Alexander fell down -to the ground as if dead, so great was their grief, and they heard -no more of what was said; but Alexander knelt down before the -Moon-tree to ask of it a question. Then the Elder came to him and -said: “O King, the tree of the Moon answers not till the night has -come, and the moon is full in the sky.” So the King turned to his -companions, and comforted them with his kind words and gifts, and -bade them be of good cheer. - -When the night was come Alexander rose up again to go before the -Moon-tree, and to hear its oracles, and his companions told him -of the danger of being unarmed and alone by night, but Alexander -feared not, for it was not lawful to slay any one in that forest, -neither was there any man in it save the guide and themselves. And -having adored the tree and kissed it, he knelt down before it, and -thought to ask when and where should be his end. Then at the moment -when the rays of the moon made the leaves shine with splendour, -he heard a voice from the tree: “Alexander, the end of thy life -draws near; this year shall be thine, but in the ninth month of -the next thou shalt die at Babylon, deceived by him in whom you -fully trust.” Then he was filled with grief and he looked at his -friends, and he knew that they were ready to die for him if need -be, and he thought of the other companions in whom he trusted, and -that if he slew them he might save himself, and then he thought of -the endless suspicion and sorrow he would live in for the rest of -his days, and he remembered the words of the god when he told him -that it was not good for men to know the end of their days, and he -strengthened his heart and comforted his friends, and he bade them -swear never to reveal the things they had heard, and again they -returned to the minster, and found tents thereby where they might -rest, and beds of skins, and on an ivory table there was food and -drink set for them, fruit and bread, and water from the stream. So -they slept and rested. - -Then in the morning the Elder woke him from sleep, and led him -before the bare tree, and bade him ask of it what he would, and -he knelt before it and kissed it, and asked in his mind, “Who is -it that shall harm my mother or sisters or myself?” Then he had -this answer from the tree: “O mighty lord, if I should tell thee -the man who should betray thee it were easy for thee to slay him -and to overcome thy fate, and the oracles would be made of none -effect. Therefore thou shalt die at Babylon, not by iron, as thou -deemest, nor by gold, silver, nor by any vile metal, but by poison. -Thy mother shall die by the vilest death, and shall lie unburied in -the common way, to be eaten by birds and dogs. Thy sisters shall -live long and happy lives. Short as thy life shall be, thou shalt -be lord of all lands. Now ask no more, but return to thy army and -to Porus thy friend.” And the Elder came up to him and said: “Let -us depart with speed, for the weeping and moaning of thy companions -have offended the holy ones of the trees,” and Alexander and his -companions departed from the forest. Then he asked the Elder who -was the god of the palace, and he told the King it was Bacchus, who -had sent him to the temple at the Parting of the Ways, and who had -welcomed him in the palace. So Alexander came to his peers, and -with them went down the golden stairway and joined the host, and -hurried on day after day until he came to the Parting of the Ways, -and there he found his army under the command of Porus his friend. - -And after the army was gathered together, Alexander the King spoke -of his journey to the oracles, and how he had climbed the stairway, -and how he had been guided by the god, and had asked the trees of -his fate, and he told them that the trees had promised him that -he should conquer the world, and return to Macedon, and live a -long life, and all the army shouted with joy. But the comrades of -Alexander and his twelve peers were sad, for they knew what was -foretold, yet they said not a word of it, but shouted with the -rest. Then Porus the Indian doubted of the truth, and he questioned -the king’s companions closely, but they told him not of the oracle: -howbeit he was assured in his heart that Alexander was to die, and -he thought to seize on the empire, and he began to contrive the -king’s death; and Alexander knew of his questionings, and kept -watch over his doings. - -Then orders were sent to the host to prepare for their march, for -Alexander was minded to set out and conquer the nations that had -not yet submitted to him, yet before he started, he bade men set -up two marble pillars at the temple of the Parting of the Ways, -and between them a pillar of gold, and on it was written in the -language of the land, how that Alexander the king had come to this -spot and had conquered all nations, and it said how that there was -no passage to the Eastward but to the Northward only. And when this -was done all the tents were struck and the host moved into a land -to the north, where they had not yet been; and the people of the -land brought him tribute. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. HOW ALEXANDER SLEW PORUS AND WON BACK THE WIFE OF -CANDOYL AND WAS KNOWN OF CANDACE WHEN HE CAME TO HER. - - -After these things the host of the Greeks and the Persians and -the Indians was gathered together, in one place, and messengers -came from all the kings of the land to it to Alexander the king, -bringing gifts of rare and precious things, of gold and spices, of -the skins of a fish like to a leopard’s skin, of living lions and -other wild beasts. Now, among these was the messenger of a Queen -of the land, Candace by name, the widow of a great king friend -and cousin of Porus; and they brought with them letters to King -Porus from her. And when Alexander heard tell of her, he asked the -King of India concerning her, who she was, and what manner of men -she ruled over, and Porus answered and told him how she was the -fairest woman in India, and how she had married his near kinsman, -and had borne him three sons, Candoyl, Marcippus, and Caratros. -Then he told him how he had sent his daughter to her for safety, -and how she had married her to Caratros, her youngest son, who -should reign after her, as the custom of that folk was: and he told -of the gods she worshipped, and of the people she ruled, and of the -riches of the land. Then Alexander was fain of her presence, and -sent rich gifts, and a golden image of Ammon his god, and a letter -in which he asked her to journey towards the mountains and meet him -there, and he gave the messengers wealth and a strict command to -tarry not till they brought him word again. But Porus purposed evil -in his heart, for he sought to stir up wrath against Alexander in -Roxana the Queen. - -Thus the messengers came to Queen Candace and they laid before her -the letter of Alexander, and his gifts, and told how she had been -honoured by the wealth given to her messengers, and besought her -to meet the Lord of the Greeks, but she would not, for she knew -the double mind of Porus, and would not adventure herself where -she could meet him, yet was she willing to please Alexander, so -she sent again her messengers, and richer gifts than before, and -a letter praising his knighthood and his valour, and the power of -his gods. Now these were her gifts, a crown of gold set with a -hundred precious stones, and two hundred and ten chains of red -gold, and thirty rich goblets carved with pelicans and parrots, -five Ethiopian slaves of one age, a rhinoceros, a thousand beryls -in caskets of ebon-wood, and four elephants to carry this wealth, -and on the back of each was the skin of a spotted panther, rich and -precious. So the messengers went their way, and with them Queen -Candace sent a cunning painter, and she prayed him in private to -make her a portrait of the king on parchment, noting all his shape -and proportion. And it was done as she said, for Alexander received -her gifts and well entreated her messengers, and sent them home; -and when they came the painter brought his drawing before her, and -she rejoiced, for she had longed to see what manner of man the -Greek lord was, and now was her wish fulfilled. - -It fell on a day that Alexander was in his tent, and one of his -clerks was there with him, and as men went out and he chanced to be -alone with the king, he fell on his knees before him, and besought -grace. Then Alexander comforted him and bade him speak out boldly -and fear not. So this clerk told the king how Porus knew that the -death of Alexander was near, and that he had gathered together -men from all parts to slay him, and he told him how that the men -of Gog and Magog were on the march from the frozen lands of the -North at the pay of Porus. Then Alexander asked how this should -be, and the clerk told him that he had been sent to them in years -back by Darius, and that then it had been a full year’s journey, -but now had they come nearer, so that one month saw the beginning -and the end of the way to them, when Porus had sent him. Then the -Lord of the Greeks grew wrathful and began to doubt all men, for -he remembered that he should die by the hands of a friend whom he -trusted, wherefore he sent messengers for Porus, and when he came -he said to him: “O Porus, is not the half of my throne sufficient -for thee, but thou must adventure to slay me by the hand of the -outer barbarians? True knight thou art not, or thou wouldest scorn -to do by another what thou durst not attempt thyself.” But Porus -the king stood silent, and turned red and purple and white in -turns, and then he tugged off his glove and threw it at the feet -of Alexander on the ground. Then said Alexander: “O Porus, though -mayhap it were better to slay thee as a traitor, yet thou hast been -my fellow at board and bed, and I will meet thee as thou wishest, -that at least thou shalt die as a true knight, if thou couldst not -live as one.” Then he called for his page and he bade him take up -the glove and put it in his helmet against the set day. - -On the third day at sunrise all men rose up early and came to the -field of war outside the camp, and each man took his place round -the field, the Greeks on the south, the Indians on the north, -and the Persians where they would on either side. And as they -looked they saw the tent of Alexander hung with green silk and -embroideries at the east end of the field, and the tent of Porus -hung with cloth of gold at the other. Before the doors stood pages -and trumpeters, and from time to time long calls rung out in the -air, notes of defiance and of confidence. From end to end of the -field ran a partition dividing it into two strips, for the battle -was to be fought out with the lance alone, and in the middle was -a high seat in which Ptolemy the king’s lieutenant was to sit as -judge. Beside and below him were places for the heralds, and as -time wore on they took their seats. And now the bustle round the -tents increased, and men went in and out, and the noise of the -hammer on the rivets rose between the calls. Then came a pause, -and the squires brought long lances and laid them before the -heralds, and they measured them side by side, and returned them to -the squires, who bore them back to their tents. A long call was -sounded, and a troop of men brought in between them the famous -white horse Bucephalus, and at the sight of him all the warriors -of Greece shouted, for many times had they followed him in battle, -and they deemed him the best horse in the world, though he was now -stricken in years; and when this shout died away another was raised -by the Indian knights as their lord’s great black horse came in to -the field, and the two horses smelled each other from afar, and -neighed out their defiance. - -Now sounded the drums and clarions, and from afar the procession of -the lord of the lists came into the field, and amid the shouts of -the army Ptolemy sat down on the throne, and all men kept silence. -Then the heralds rose and saluted him, and he spoke to them, and -soon they broke up into two parties, and went one to each tent, and -each man’s eyes followed a party, this way or that. As they came -before the tent doors, the squires drew aside the curtains and the -kings stood before the heralds, clad in armour from head to foot. -Then the processions re-formed and with lowly reverence the knights -were brought before the lord of the lists, where they repeated one -by one the solemn oath that they had used no charm or magic against -their foe, but that the battle should be fought, man to man and -horse to horse, till death: and as they stood side by side the -giant Porus showed taller and stronger when compared with the Lord -of Macedon. - -Then the knights mounted their horses, and saluting each other and -the lord of the lists, they turned away and rode to the end of the -lists and stood there two images of bright steel, waiting for the -sign of battle. A few moments pass, the lord of the field rises, -and the trumpet-call rings out, first low and steady and strong, -then higher and louder till it seems to carry men’s hearts with it -to the clouds, and in the midst of its last and loudest call the -baton is thrown down, and the two knights are spurring towards one -another; no man breathes, each stride brings them nearer, their aim -seems true, when a shout rises from the Greeks, and next second -both knights are on the ground, the air is filled with curses and -cries, the lists are peopled with heralds and knights and squires, -the black horse is galloping wildly over the field, Alexander -is kneeling by the side of his horse Bucephalus, and Porus is -lying still on the field, for he had shifted his lance and taken -traitor’s aim at the good horse and slain him, while Alexander had -struck him on the helm and thrown him far on the ground. - -So the lord of the lists stood up and bade the heralds bring the -knights before him, but they came back and told him how Porus -lay deathlike on the field, yet was he unhurt to all seeming, so -Ptolemy spake to Alexander and said, “Sir Alexander, thou hast -done thy duly as a true knight, thine adversary is at thy mercy to -slay or to spare.” Then Alexander answered, “Were it not for his -traitorous dealing to my good steed I would forgive him yet again, -nor may I slay him unarmed, but by to-morrow morn I will meet -him again on foot, sword to sword, till one of us die.” Then the -squires carried Porus away to his tent, and the Indian knights went -away from the field shamefast, but the Persians and the Greeks -rejoiced in the fame of their lord, and mourned over the death of -the good steed Bucephalus. That day Alexander built a tomb for his -horse and laid him there, and bitter were the tears he shed, for -it seemed to him that the best days of his life were beginning to -leave him, and his evil days had begun. - -When the morrow came all men went again to their places, and the -heralds and the trumpeters sat down in their seats, and Ptolemy -bade silence. Then the two knights were brought before him, on -foot, armed with sword and dagger, and he placed them before each -other, and bade them fall to when the trumpet sounded. The heralds -rose and made proclamation: “Lo ye, all men here present, these -knights, Sir Alexander of Macedon and Sir Porus of India, be met -for the agreement of certain differences between them; if now any -man shall enter this field, or aid them in any way, he shall fall -under pain of death, until this difference be voided.” Then all men -kept silence, till the lord of the field let fall his sceptre and -the trumpets rang out one shrill call. - -Scarcely had the sound died away before the two knights began -circling round each other, like birds watching an opportunity to -dart in and seize their prey; but they dared not adventure, for -Porus was tall and long of reach, and Alexander was nimble and -long-armed and very mighty, and each man wished to strike a blow -that would end the fight at once, and time after time they came -near each other and stepped back again, till at the last Porus -struck at the left shoulder of Alexander, which was just in his -reach, and Alexander caught the blow on his shoulder, and running -forward struck with his right arm alone, and drove his sword-edge -through helm and cheek-bone and skull, and Porus fell dead on the -ground, and the Greeks shouted with joy. Thus was the treason of -Porus, his evil thoughts and his unknightly deeds, avenged by -Alexander. But when he was dead the Lord of Macedon gave him burial -like one of the kings, and he built over him a temple, with walls -and towers and priests to pray for him perpetually. - -At this time it fell that Candoyl, the eldest son of Candace the -queen, came before his mother and said to her, “Fair mother and -queen, grant me that I may leave thy lands and journey out into the -world;” and she said, “Go, my son, with my blessing and leave, and -tarry not till thou return.” So he got together much wealth and -departed, with his wife and his servants, and came to a certain -strong city called Bebrik, and harboured there, and when the morrow -was come and he departed, the king of Bebrik came round and met him -on a certain bent, and slew many of his men, and one of the king’s -knights took the lady and bore her off to the town, shrieking -and lamenting so as to pierce the heart of any true knight: for -it is to be said that the king of Bebrik had loved her for many -years. Then was Candoyl sore troubled, and he went on his way to -the army of Alexander to seek his grace, if by any means he would -help him to recover his lady and love. Soon he came near the camp -and entered it, and the watchmen took him and brought him before -Ptolemy, the most noble of the Greeks after Alexander, and he asked -him, “What manner of man art thou, and what dost thou here? What is -the cause of thy coming? Let us know thy name?” “Sire,” said he, “I -am Candoyl, the son of Candace the conqueress,” and he told him of -his coming, and of what befell him in the way. Then Ptolemy hurried -from the tent, leaving Candoyl in ward of a knight, and went into -the cabin where the King was lying, and found him asleep. So he -waked him gently and told him the tidings, how a knight, the son of -Candace the queen, had come to crave his help against the king of -Bebrik, who had reft his wife from him. - -Then said Alexander, “Go back again to thy tent, put on thy head -the richest diadem I have, a crown of red gold, and a king’s -mantle, and seat thee in the king’s seat as though thou wert -myself, let my knights come about thee and call thee by my name -with all due reverence, and then send messengers for me, and call -me Antiochus, and I shall obey thy bidding as I were thy liegeman. -And when I come to thy call, and kneel before thee, declare to me -all the case of Candoyl’s adventure openly before him, and be not -abashed when I bow, nor bid me not to rise, but let thy countenance -be solemn when thou art speaking, and say then, ‘Antiochus, my -noble, let us see thy wisdom in this matter, do thou wisely advise -me.’” So Ptolemy hurried away and clothed him in the dress of an -emperor, and sent for Alexander in the name of Antiochus, and when -he was come, he told him the tale before Candoyl, and asked his -advice. Then answered Antiochus, “Were it your will, noble Emperor, -I would fare with this knight to recover his wife, and would bid -the king of Bebrik on pain of his eyes restore her, and if not, we -should grind his city and him to dust.” Then Candoyl bowed before -the king, and said, “Sir Antiochus, of all men be thou happy, thy -wisdom is worthy of a king clad in gold with crown and sceptre.” -So Alexander and Candoyl rode forth that same night, and when it -was dawn they came before the walls of Bebrik. Then the watch on -the gate saw them, and cried out, “Who are ye, O knights; whence -and what is your errand?” And Alexander answered, “It is Sir -Candoyl, that has come for his spouse, and I am the messenger of -the Lord of Macedon, and I bid you, if you will save your city from -destruction, to yield his bride to him without delay.” Then the -burghers of the city were filled with fear, though they were a -stiff-necked folk, and they went in a body to the palace of their -king, and burst open the gates and brought forth the dame, and led -her to her husband in all honour. So Candoyl thanked him heartily, -and said, “I pray thee, dear prince, pass with me to my mother, -that thou mayst have the honour and reward thou hast merited for -thy deeds.” Then was the King rejoiced at these words, and he said, -“Go we to Alexander to ask his leave, and gladly will I follow thee -and do thy will;” for he would not have him to think him other than -Antiochus; so they went to Ptolemy and he gave him full leave to -depart. - -Now drew they near the city of Candace the queen, and she heard of -the coming of Candoyl her son and his wife, and how she had been -taken prisoner by the king of Bebrik, and released by a knight of -Macedon, who was with them, and she was glad in her heart, and -greatly rejoiced. Into a chamber she went and changed all her -weeds, and put on a robe of red gold and a rich mantle over it, -a crown and a kerchief clustered with gems, and came down from -her palace gate surrounded by her knights, and found them before -it. So she clasped her son in her arms and kissed him, and said, -“Welcome be thou, my loved son, and thou, my dearest daughter, and -I am glad of your guest, as the gods give me joy:” and Alexander -looked on her, and his heart rejoiced, for he thought her likest -of all women to Olympias his mother; fair and fresh was she as a -falcon, or as some spirit from another world. So they came into -her castle-hall, full of precious stones and adorned with gems, -its pillars of porphyry, and its floor of bright crystal, clear -as a river, and there they sat at meat--Alexander and Candace and -Candoyl, served together at the high table. - -On the morrow at first light Candace the queen came with her -ladies and took the Greek knight Antiochus through the palace and -showed him how richly it was built, and all the wonders in it, -great and small. And when he had seen all these things she asked -him of the palace of Alexander, and he told her how it was not so -rich as hers, but was a home for fighting men to rest in, and to -prepare for new wars, while the palaces of the Kings of the East -were fitter to make men long for ease than to give them heart for -the toil and danger of battle. Then said the Queen, “Other wonders -still shall I show thee, O Antiochus, wonders that no king hath the -like of,” and she bade her servants go forth, and giving her hand -to the Greek led him into a room, covered with cypress and with -cedar from floor to roof, where they sat down on two thrones in the -room. Soon a mighty sound was heard, and as the Greek looked out -he saw the trees and the fields and the town moving round him, and -he knew that he was in a chamber that turned round by some hidden -power. It is to be said that this room was turned round by the -strength of twenty tame elephants that the queen kept for this end, -and everyday she came and sat in the chamber and looked from the -window while it was turned for a space. So as the false Antiochus -looked he wondered and said, “Verily, O Queen, were such a wonder -as this in our land of Macedon, proud would our lord the king be of -it above all his treasures”; and Candace looked on him and said, -“Alexander, this is but little to the wonders that the men of this -land can show the Greeks.” - -Then Alexander sprang up from his seat at the calling of his name, -for well he knew the danger he was in, and all his face turned -pale, since any of the kings of India would give his weight in -gold to have him in their power, and he said, “Nay, lady, my name -is Antiochus,” but she rose and took him by the hand with a kindly -laugh, and going to the recess drew back the tapestry banging and -shewed him a picture in parchment whereon he was painted dressed in -his royal robes. “See for thyself,” said she, “that I have made no -mistake.” Then as the king looked on the picture his face turned -yellow, and his flesh trembled. “Why fades thy fair hue?” said the -lady, “thou warrior of all the world, the conqueror of Persia and -of India, the Medes and the Parthians! Lo, now, thou art here in -a woman’s ward, in spite of all thy worthy deeds. Where is now -thy praise that reaches up to heaven? It is gone at once, at the -turning of the breath of a woman.” Then she waited for a space, -but the lord of Macedon answered her naught, for his heart waxed -hot within him, and he ground his teeth with rage as he looked -hither and thither, so she said, “Why dost thou vex thy soul, Sir -Conqueror, what may thy manhood avail thee, or all thy rage?” Then -the King answered her and said, “For one thing only I grieve, that -I have not my sword, nor may I see any weapon.” “And, my fair -knight, what bold brave deed would thy sword help thee to, if thou -hadst one?” “Since I am taken unawares,” quoth he, “surely I would -slay thee where thou sittest, and myself after.” Then Candace the -Queen laughed out, “That were the deed of a true knight,” said she, -“but not yet are we to do and suffer such things; hast thou not -rescued my son’s wife from the hands of the king of Bebrik? Surely -I shall save thee unharmed from my folk. Yet were it known that -thou wert here, not all my power could save thee, since thou hast -slain the Lord of India, good Porus, whose daughter my youngest -son Caratros has taken to wife. But no man has seen thy picture -from the day I had it till now.” Then the Lord of Macedon came near -her, and she took him by the hand and led him into the hall of the -palace. - -Now when Candace the Queen left Alexander in the hall she came on -her two sons Candoyl and Caratros, and they were in sore strife. -For after the Queen had borne away with her the Greek, Caratros -said to his brother Candoyl, “Now has this Greek Lord slain my -father-in-law, Porus the Good, and needs must I have revenge or my -wife will go mad. I will slay this lord Antiochus, his friend and -messenger, and when he comes to revenge his servant, I will go out -and slay him in combat.” But Candoyl answered him, “My brother, -the Lord of Macedon has helped me, and this knight, Sir Antiochus, -has recovered for me my wife: I brought him hither, and I shall -lead him in safety to his lord’s tents.” Then Candace the Queen -said, “Caratros, my son, what honour will come to thee for slaying -a guest and a friend? Shall anything come of it but sorrow?” But -Caratros grew angry and said, “What ails thee brother, that we -should strive with each other in this matter, leave me to do my -will.” Then Candace the Queen went quickly and took Alexander -into council and told him how her son wished to slay him, and how -Candoyl would fight for him. “Lord Alexander,” said she, “I pray -thee, make peace between my children.” Then Alexander rose up, -and came to the room of the brethren, and the clash of swords was -heard, so he caught up a weapon and ran between them and beat down -their swords, saying, “Fair lords, this must not be, ye must not -fight alone.” And after he had quieted them, he spake to Caratros -in fair words, saying, “My good lord, if you end my life, you can -win no praise for it, since I am in thy hands. Alexander has seven -hundred knights as good as I am, if I were precious to him, would -he have let me come in a strange land without ward or retinue? -Not so, my lord, but if in truth you desire to look on Alexander, -you need but give me the goods I crave for and I will immediately -put that prince into your hands.” Then Caratros rejoiced, and -kissed his brother in his joy; and Candace the Queen called to her -Alexander and said, “Happy should I be, if you were ever with me, -then should all my foes be destroyed.” So she gave him a crown of -amethysts and diamonds, and a noble mantle, and dearly she kissed -him, and bade him farewell. And the Lord of Macedon departed and -with him Candoyl went as his guide, for he thought that Caratros -his brother might again change his mind and work him evil, if the -Greek knight returned alone to the camp; and he purposed to lead -him through the mountains and to shew him the place where Candace -his mother worshipped the great gods, and heard oracles of things -to come, and teamed the mysteries of the gods. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. TELLS HOW ALEXANDER DEFEATED GOG AND MAGOG, HOW HE -WENT UP INTO THE AIR, AND DOWN INTO THE SEA. - - -Candoyl and Alexander rode from the city out into the open country, -and all day passed through it, till as the sun went down they came -near the hills, and they found there a cave, great beyond measure, -hidden between two hills, and there they harboured all night. And -when evening was come Candoyl spoke to Alexander and said, “Sir, -in this cave men say that the gods appear, and tell men what shall -come to pass.” Then was Alexander rejoiced and gave thanks to the -gods, and went in to the darkest part of the cave, but Candoyl -abode at the mouth. And as Alexander drew near he saw a great cloud -and from it a light glimmering like stars, and as he gazed him -thought he saw in the midst of it a throne, and on it was a great -grisly god whose eyes shone out fierce like lanterns. Then was -Alexander sore dismayed, and fell to the ground. “Hail, Alexander!” -quoth that high god. “Sire, what is thy name, and now shall I call -thee?” said the king. “Thinthisus is my name, and all the world is -under my hand. Yet hast thou built a city in thy name, and thou -hast set me there no temple.” “Sire, if I return to Macedon, I will -build thee a temple as master of the gods: none shall be like it in -any land.” “Nay, nay, long not thereafter; thou shalt never look -on that land. Go further, and behold.” Then the king looked and he -saw another cloud not far off, so he went thither, and lo! another -grim god seated before him. Kneeling on the earth he asked, “Who -art thou, Lord?” and the god answered him, “I am Serapis, the god -of thy father, the father of gods.” Then said Alexander, “Tell me, -I pray thee, the name of the man that shall slay me:” but the god -answered him, “O king, in time past I told thee that should any man -know the cause of his death beforehand, he would suffer greatly; -be of good heart, thou hast conquered many nations, thou shalt yet -do great deeds; thou hast built a mighty city which shall endure -for ever; many men shall resort there, and many races of kings -shall rule it; thou shalt die and be buried in a noble city far -from thine own land.” Alexander bowed himself down before the god -and returned to the mouth of the cave, and found Candoyl waiting -for him in the morning dawn, and the plain lay before him covered -with his armies, and he bade farewell to the son of Candace, each -departing to his own. - -It fell as Alexander rode on towards his camp that he began to -doubt in his mind that something was wrong, for all things looked -to be untended, and no guards were set round the army, and as he -drew nearer he heard shouts and cries, so he spurred up his steed -and rode into the camp, and no man stopped him, for all were drawn -to one place. But when he had come thither he found that the -Greeks were drawn up in array, and that the Indians and Persians -were running hither and thither, shouting and crying; so that -every now and then a band of them would turn against the Greeks -and make as if to force their way among them, and when they were -driven back they would again begin to cry and shout. So the Lord -of Macedon rode up among them, and no man of the Indians knew him, -for his helmet was closed, and he came to his own men and they -knew him, and shouted for joy and opened a way for him. Then he -sent for Ptolemy, and when he was come he asked him what was the -cause of this trouble and why the Indians were so sore afraid. But -it is to be said that at the sound of Alexander’s voice all men -had returned to their tents and the guard had gone out round the -camp. Then Ptolemy told the king how that men had come to the camp -three days agone telling of a new and strange folk coming from the -north, frightful beyond bearing, and how they destroyed all things -they came across and spared nothing that was good, but what they -consumed not they wasted, and whom they kept not for slaves they -killed in their wanton sport. And they were short, shorter than -any men, and no man might look on them without fear. So these men -had fled from before them, and they had come to King Alexander to -preserve them from their enemies, and Ptolemy charged them to tell -their tale to no man. But when they had been in the camp two days -and had not seen the Lord of Macedon, their fear broke out again, -and they told their tale to whoever would hear them, and the story -spread, and a saying arose among the Indians that this foe was -right at hand, and they clamoured for Alexander to come out and -lead them, and they threatened to tear the camp to pieces if he -came not. - -Then were these ambassadors of fear brought before Alexander, and -he questioned them of this people and of its coming, and they told -him how that they were scarce ten days’ journey from them, and that -they were settled in that land and had sown a crop, for it was ever -their custom to come into a land at sowing time and to make the -men of that land their slaves, so that they reaped the harvest -for them, and then to slay them or drive them out to starve. And -the ambassadors told how this race of dwarfs raged horribly at the -name of Alexander, and said they had come to destroy him and the -Greeks from the face of the earth, and they told last how these men -were enemies of the Gods themselves above all things, so that evil -was their good and good their evil. Then Alexander asked which of -them had seen this folk, but no man had seen them, save one who had -been far off them. So he sent for the clerk who had told him of the -double-dealing of Porus and straitly questioned him, and he told -the king how these folk were scarce two cubits high, but stronger -than mortal men. “For in winter they wear no clothing, but they are -covered with hair from their waist downward; their mouths are huge -and set with fangs like a wild boar, their hands are like lion’s -claws, no man may look on their eyes when they are set on him, and -their ears are so great that in sleep they serve as coverlets. Two -princes have they, whose names are Gog and Magog.” Moreover the -clerk said mayhap the saying of the ambassadors was true, that they -would wait where they were till next spring time, yet mayhap they -might move before winter came on. Then Alexander decided that he -would attack these dwarfs in the land where they were and drive -them back to their own land. - -The tale tells that the march of the army lay through a strange -land and many wonders there befell them, for they passed through -the valley of serpents and fought the griffins; they came to the -shores of the sea and saw there wondrous beasts, and many things -of which it were long to speak. On the third day of their march -they came into a dark valley smelling sweetly of all spices, there -cloves and ginger, and the pepper plant grew. But among these -shrubs were many serpents and adders, who lived on the plants and -had none other food, and these snakes had on their heads an emerald -crown, as it were of goldsmith’s beaten work. Now the people of -that land, when they wish to gather the pepper, set fire to this -wood, and the flame drives away the snakes, but blackens and rivels -the pepper. In the hills of this place were many precious stones -called smaragds, and Alexander set his heart on gathering them, -and sent men to climb the hills, but when they came near the place -where the stones were, beasts came out and fell on them, in shape -like lions but with cleft claws a yard across, and among them -were griffins, with birds’ wings and beak and claws but otherwise -like to a lion, and each of them so strong that it might bear -away a knight full armed on his horse. Then came up Alexander and -encouraged his dukes, and bade them shoot with a will, and the -archers and arbalasters shot altogether, and the knights struck -down and killed many of the beasts with their lances and their -battle-axes, but the griffins tore the knights from their saddles -and with their tails blinded them so that they could not see where -to strike, and at last the Greeks were driven down, and over two -hundred of those who wore golden spurs were slain in that fierce -fight. Yet were a few of the griffins beaten down, and four of them -were bound in strong chains and borne away by Alexander. - -On the morrow after the host had come clear away from these hills, -it came to a great and mighty river running straight down to the -shores of ocean, and its banks were covered with huge reeds, -longer than the highest tree, and so heavy that twenty men could -scarce lift them. Of these reeds Alexander bade them make barges -and ferry over his host, for the river was twenty furlongs broad, -and two days were spent in the crossing over of the army. And -when Alexander and his men were on the further side of the river -the people of the land came to him, and they were a simple folk, -clothed in the skins of great fish and of beasts. Nor were they -inhospitable, for they brought sponges, white and purple, mussels -so great that six men might make a meal of one, eels from the river -thicker than a man’s leg, and lampreys weighing twenty pounds -each. Then Alexander thanked them for their gifts, and gave them -great rewards, and asked them of their land and its wonders, and -they told him of the sirens who lived in that river, women with -long hair for clothing who lived in the water like fishes. Yet -when these creatures saw any man they drew him into the water, -if he knew not their craft, and kept him there till he died, and -sometimes they bound him to the great reeds and forced him to make -sport for them till at the last they killed him, for they had -neither love nor hate nor any care or thought, naught of mankind -save its outward semblance. Then Alexander bade his men to search -for these beasts and offered great rewards, and at the last two -of them were taken and brought before him, and they were white as -snow, their hair came down to their feet round their body, and they -were taller than men have custom to be, yet they could not live -without water, and in few hours’ time both were dead. - -And Alexander the king spoke with their wise men of the combat with -the dwarfs from the desert of the north, since the men of that -land were exceeding wise, and they told him of the way by which -he could fall on them at unawares; and when they knew that he had -with him in the host the griffins they rejoiced and told him of a -marvellous thing. Then the Lord of Macedon caused his smiths to -make him a chair of black iron, and on the top of it at each corner -was a large smaragd stone, and they brought the chair to the top -of an exceeding high mountain in that land, and when they had come -thither they bound the griffins to each corner of the chair at the -bottom with great and very strong chains, for Alexander was minded -to be carried up into the air by the griffins that he might see -all lands. So when he was set in his chair and covered round with -great bars of iron, he bade them uncover the eyes of the griffins, -and they saw the smaragd stones fixed high above them and all at -once they flew up towards the stones, for the sight of that stone -is meat and drink to these animals, and they hunger to gather it -together and to bear it off to their dens, neither care they for -any hurt they receive in the getting of it. So they flew and soon -Alexander was borne out of sight of men, high above the clouds, and -he saw the earth below him like a basin, and the lands, and the -way to the dwarfs, the men of Gog and Magog, and still they flew -higher and the earth grew small like a mill-stone and the ocean and -the rivers seemed like a writhing adder, and then the gods struck -the griffins with fear, and they shut their eyes and stretched out -their wings, and sunk lower and lower till they lay at the last on -the ground in a green field in a strange land, and Alexander looked -round and saw far on the towers of Jerusalem. But the griffins -arose, and flew away till they came to their nest in the mountains, -and when they came thither the Lord of Macedon left his seat and -made his way through the hills till he came to the river, when he -crossed it and came to his army again. - -Then marched the host on its way and at the last it came near the -country of the ambassadors where the abominable dwarfs were, and -when they came there the ambassadors went forward to bring the news -of the coming of the Greeks. It chanced that the third day after -the coming of the ambassadors was a feast of the dwarf-folk, and -all the men of that country kept the news of the coming of the -Greeks from them so that they met in all their number in one place. -It was of custom among them that every feast some one should be -slain in torment that the chief men of the dwarf-folk might give a -presage of what should befall the folk, and that feast one of them -was to be slain for he had given food to a man that was starving -in a prison cell. So the ambassadors returned and told Alexander -what was to be done; and he deemed it well to fall on them when -they were all in one place. And this he did, and the fight was long -and sore between him and the dwarfs, for the dwarfs were so small -that they escaped the lance point, and they ran under the horses -and houghed them, and their skins were so tough that the arrows -glanced off them, if they did not hit straight, and the sword edges -slipped, but the claws of the dwarfs and their teeth and their -arrows availed them little against the armour of the Macedonians. - -In the night after the battle of the first day the guards cried -out for that lights were moving on the field of battle, and soon -three dwarfs came near holding in their hands peeled white wands; -and when the guards saw them they brought them to the tent of -Alexander. Then the eldest of them said, “O leader of the Greeks -from Macedon, truly ye be braver than the Persians or the men of -India, give us now an ounce of gold and a sword for each man and -we will return whence we came.” Then Alexander said, “O leader of -the dwarfs, haters of God and men, meseems I am not come to this -land but to free mankind from you. If ye abide my face till day I -will slay you all, and if ye flee I will pursue you till ye return -to your own land.” Then he bade his men to take them and lead them -from the camp. - -It was of custom among this folk to travel in great waggons, and -to make of these their forts in times of danger, so on the morrow -when the Greeks and the Persians drew out in battle array, the -dwarf-folk came not forth all to attack them as on the day before, -but the more part stayed within the waggons, and when the knights -rode up to the waggons their progress was stopped and they could -go no further, and the dwarfs stood on the waggons and mocked and -jeered at them as they shot their arrows at them, and the knights -were sore angered and brought up firebrands but the dwarfs had -covered the waggons with hides so that they burnt not. So that day -wore on, and when night came the Greeks returned to their camp, -and they spent the night in plans for the morrow. When it was light -the army of Alexander got them ready for another day’s fighting, -but when they came out on the plain, they found not the hordes of -the dwarfs for they had departed, burning all the country round. -Then Alexander provided good store of food and drink and began to -follow up the abominable dwarfs, for well he knew that he should -find neither on the road, for these wretches destroy all the crops -and poison and defile all the springs of water they pass. And after -many days he came to the land of the dwarfs, and there he found -two-and-twenty kings, and fought a great battle with them, and made -them give up all the iron and copper in their land, and then he set -his men to build a great wall at the entrance to their land. - -Now the land of the dwarfs lies behind two very high mountains -and there is no way by which men may come in or go out of it but -between these mountains, so Alexander built a wall across from -one to the other and he strengthened it with the iron and the -copper of the dwarfs, and wrought mighty spells on it, so that no -dwarf should pass over it, and left them there. And all the world -rejoiced and praised the name of Alexander, and this deed of his -was counted the greatest of his life. And in after days a tale -grew, and men told how every day the dwarf-folk came down to the -wall and tore it down bit by bit with their claws, and night by -night the spells of Alexander prevailed and the wall was made whole -again, because this folk feared not the gods, nor obeyed them. But -the tale tells that when the enemy of the gods and the deceiver of -men shall come on earth, he will teach them to name their children -“Inshallah,” which means, if the gods will, and then when they call -their children to help them, they will tear down the wall, and come -out from their prison, and destroy the cities of Alexander, and the -works of men since his time, and bring death on all men, if the -gods stay them not. - -Furthermore men told of this dwarf-folk, that they have among -them sorcerers who work such spells that the might of the dwarfs -is increased an hundred-fold, and that when the time shall come, -these sorcerers will run through the air between heaven and earth, -swifter than the wind, and will slay a child, and will dip the -weapons of the dwarf-folk in its blood, and each of the dwarfs -shall have with him a hundred warriors on horseback, armed with -mace and spear. And when they ride out through the broken wall and -through the iron threshold that Alexander built to strengthen the -wall, the hooves of their horses shall wear away a span-depth from -the lower threshold of iron, and their spear-points shall wear away -a span-height from the upper threshold of brass. And these sayings -of men show how great was their fear of the dwarf-folk, and their -thanks to the Lord of Macedon, who freed the land from them. - -After these things the heart of Alexander was lifted up and he -thought within himself that he was even as one of the high gods, -for he had travelled through the air, where no man had been before, -borne by griffins on an iron throne, and he had saved all men from -the foes of mankind, and he had raised himself above all men in -power and dignity, nor had any man conquered him or stood before -his face. So when his army turned and came to the shores of ocean, -a new thought came into his mind how that he would see the wonders -of the sea, and the things that live there, and come not up to the -surface of the deep. - -So he ordered, and his cunning men began to make for him great -sheets of green glittering glass, and to shape it into a box, and -bind it with great girths of iron, that he might sit in it and see -all things that were without it, while he himself was untouched. -Then he bade them take it to the borders of ocean, and bind great -chains to it, and take it in a boat, and when he was entered into -it to let it sink to the bottom of the sea for a set space of time. -And as all things were ready, and he had given in charge to Roboas, -son of Antipater, whom he loved, to draw him up after the set time, -there came to him a clerk who had been sent to him by Roxana the -Queen on a special errand. So the clerk drew near, and said, “O -Alexander, thus saith Roxana thy Queen and thy love: Many nights -have I been troubled concerning thee, for a man with two horns on -his head has stood by me, and has warned me of evil that may hap -to thee. Now, therefore, I send thee a ring, one of the treasures -of Darius, my father; slay and offer a sacrifice to the gods, rub -the ring with the blood, and wear it, and no evil shall happen thee -on the sea or under it.” Then Alexander did as the messenger bade -him, and offered the sacrifice to the gods, and put the ring on his -finger, but none of those who stood by understood the matter, for -the message was a secret one. - -[Illustration: Alexander sees the wonders of the sea] - -The tale tells that Alexander entered into the vessel of glass, -and quickly shut the wicket; and his princes pointed it with pitch -so that no water might come in at the joints, and in a moment he -entered the deep with a heavy plunge. There saw he fish whose -figures he had never dreamed of, with forms diverse and horrible, -and creeping things and four-footed things crawling on the sea -bottom, and feeding on strange fruits of corals and sea weeds and -trees growing on the sand and sea ooze, and great monsters came -sailing up to the side of the cage and looked in and turned away -affrighted, and other sights he saw such that he would never tell -to any man till the day of his death, for they were so horrible -that tongue could not tell or man hear them told, and Alexander -fell down on the floor of his vessel of glass and lay there for a -time without life. - -Now when the set time was come that Alexander was to be drawn up, -it fell that Roboas, the son of Antipater, was struck by some god -with blindness, for he loosened the chain from the ship and let -it fall so that it ran into the sea and sunk. And as he saw what -he had done, and how he had destroyed the life of his lord, he -plunged into the sea straightway, if so be he might die with him, -for his comrades were like to tear him in pieces. But the great -iron chains falling into the sea broke the vessel of glass, and the -gods saved Alexander again, for the chains crushed him not, and the -glass wounded him not, and he was borne to the surface of the sea -whether by the rush of the water or by the virtue of the ring of -Roxana, and his princes saw him come to the surface and they took -him up, for they thought it was Roboas, and when they found it was -Alexander great was their joy, and Roboas also they brought up, and -Alexander forgave him, for much did he love him. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XX. HOW ALEXANDER CAME TO HIS LIFE’S END AND WAS BURIED, -AND WHAT THEREON BEFELL. - - -Furthermore after the descent of Alexander into the sea, messengers -came from Susa with the word that the king of Babylon, Nabuzardan, -had refused the tribute that he ought to pay, and had declared war -against the Lord of Macedon, for he deemed that Alexander would -not return from the far lands to which he had departed, and he -thought that the city Babylon could not be taken of man, for it was -exceeding great and strong, and needed help of no man when it was -closed up. Then Alexander the king grew very wroth, and bade all -men prepare to go to Babylon, for he would gather all the armies -of the empire against it, and he turned his face towards the land -of Babylon and marched towards it, and they went through mighty -deserts and strange lands, and many strange things they saw and -wild beasts of strange shapes, and some that breathed out fire, and -had teeth and claws like iron, and were covered with scales like -brass. But above all wonders of the land men brought him a certain -bird called Caladrius. Now this bird is white of colour and hath no -part of blackness, and its nature is such that when a man suffers -from great sickness, and this bird turneth away its face from him -that is sick, then without doubt the man shall die. And if the sick -man shall escape, the bird setteth its sight on him and beholdeth -him as it were fawning and playing. And Alexander made proof of its -wondrous gifts. - -Now the land of Babylon is the best land to bear all manner of -bread-corn and fruit and wine; full of sweet spices, herbs, and -trees; and most rich of precious stones and of divers metals, -with great plenty of camels, horses, oxen, asses, mules and other -beasts. And the greatness of the city may scarcely be told, for the -walls were fifty cubits thick, and as much in height, and the city -was four hundred and fourscore furlongs about. The walls were of -burnt tiles and brick, and without was a broad ditch and deep. Into -that ditch ran the river Euphrates all about the city. And in the -front of the walls were an hundred gates, and about the walls were -dwelling places for them that should defend the city, and those -places of defence were wondrous huge and strong. - -On the day that Alexander came into the land of Babylon, there met -him messengers from his mother Olympias and from Aristotle the -wise, whom he had left to govern the land of Macedon. And Olympias -wrote telling of troubles in the kingdom, now Antipater the father -of Cassander and Roboas had stirred up the people against her, -and how he sought to be king of Macedon, for he had heard that -Alexander should return no more to Greece. But Aristotle wrote -praising the wondrous works he had wrought, and the sights he had -seen. - -Soon the Lord of Macedon pitched his tents before the walls of -Babylon, and called on Nabuzardan its king to yield himself up. Now -it was the custom of Alexander when he besieged a town that for -three days a white flag hung over his tent, and after that a black -one flew, and if the town yielded while the white flag was flying, -then Alexander received it into the number of his friends, but if -they yielded not then were they treated as enemies and slain or -sold for slaves. And three days did the heralds come to the walls -of Babylon, and sound their trumpets and call on them to yield, but -they did not, and on the fourth day, Alexander brought up great -catapults and sent huge stones into the city, and the people feared -and sent out the dead body of Nabuzardan their king, and yielded -them to the mercy of Alexander. Then the Lord of Macedon entered -into the city with all his men, and they came into it and abode -there many months. - -So Alexander reigned in Babylon, and of the gold of India and of -Persia he bade men make him a throne, and they brought the gold on -horses, and on camels, and on elephants, and cast it into a heap -twelve cubits high, and this was the fashion of the throne they -made. It was at the top of twelve steps, and was surrounded by -twelve images, the shapes of his twelve tried princes, and each of -these held up the heavy work of the canopy of the throne. The seat -of the throne was of smaragd stone, green and clear, and above all, -in the canopy, was a lovely carbuncle which shone in the darkest of -the night like a sun, and on the steps of the throne were engraved -the names of all the countries of the world, for they were subject -to his rule. Then made he a crown adorned with noble and precious -stones, rich beyond all telling, and on it was a name telling of -his power and might. And his heart swelled within him and he forgot -the warnings of the gods who had told him of his death. - -Then wondrous things began to happen in the land, signs and -marvels, for on one day an ass fell upon a noble lion and kicked it -to death, nor did the lion resist, and on another day a child was -born in shape like a lion from the waist up, and the child spoke a -word and died. So Alexander asked his wise men and the priests of -Babylon, and they told him that it showed evil that should happen -to him. And this is how the evil came. There was a certain great -lord in Macedon, Antipater by name, and he sent to gather poison -from the rock of Nonacris, and so strong was this poison that no -cup or vessel might contain it, save only it were made from the -hoof of a horse. So when he had gathered it he sent messengers to -his son Cassander with the poison, and he bade him fear not to -use it. Now Cassander and Roboas his brother had determined evil -towards Alexander in their hearts since the day when Roboas had let -Alexander loose in the sea, and since the day when Cassander had -come into the camp to Alexander. For when Cassander had done his -homage to his lord, one of the Indian kings came up and fell on the -ground before him, and kissed the ground at his feet, and Cassander -laughed out at the Indian king, wherefore Alexander was offended, -and struck him a blow so that he reeled against the wall. So when -the poison came Cassander rejoiced, and he told his brother, and -they set a day to kill the Lord of Macedon, the noble Alexander. - -The tale tells how Alexander held high feast in his palace at -Babylon, seated on his golden throne with his crown on his head, -and Roxana the queen by his side, and with him the twelve princes -of Greece, who had been his companions and his friends from the -days of his youth up. And they rejoiced and were glad, for all -nations were put under their feet, and the burden of warfare was -over, and now they had to rule the folk and to lead happy days, -and they trusted that they should be great kings under Alexander -the emperor. And now men passed the wine, and full draughts were -drunk, and Nearchus told a tale of the wonders that he had seen in -the great sea of ocean when he had sailed there at the orders of -Alexander, and another great lord reached for a lyre and sung a -song of old days. Then men told tales of their deeds in battle, and -each man boasted how near he had been to Alexander in the days of -the great battles, and at the last men fell to talk of that good -steed Bucephalus, and how he bore the king in battle, and served -him faithfully, and fought with him, and Cassander said to Roboas -his brother “What thou hast to do, that do,” and Roboas rose and -brought a cup to Alexander, and said “Dear Lord, this cup is made -from the hoof of thy brave steed, Bucephalus the white; drink we a -cup in memory of this horse, the best in the world.” And Alexander -rose and said “O Bucephalus, my fair horse, thou failedst me never; -were this cup my bane, I would refuse it not from thee,” and he -drank it down. Then he sat down for a space, and then he fell -forward from his seat, and his sword fell from its sheath, and -pierced his side, and he called but twice “Help! Help!” Yet when -his lords ran to him and raised him, he said “Nay, my good lords of -Macedon, it is nought; drink ye and rejoice for the good days to -come,” but he turned to Cassander and said “My faithful liegeman, -go and fetch me somewhat to ease me of this pain,” for he trusted -in Cassander as he did in his nearest friend. But Cassander brought -him that which only increased his pain. - -That night Alexander the king lay alone in his palace at Babylon, -for he would have no man near him to watch by him or to guard him, -and as he lay the cold poison weighed on his heart. Then his brain -grew dizzy and faint, and the room seemed measurelessly great, -and all men seemed far away. The beginning of the night seemed to -be long time past, the dawn of day was still too far away to hope -for, the pain became over great to bear, the poison ran through the -veins and seemed to eat his throat with a cold fire, and in the -midst of his trouble and fear the light went out and the darkness -came on him like a net round him. Then he feared indeed, for he -knew that he could not stay there with the terror that was on him, -and he tried to stand and walk, but he could not for his wound and -the poison that he had drunk, he thought of the great cold river -flowing near and the water seemed to call him, so he crawled out -of the room on hands and knees painfully, step by step, till the -morning broke and he found himself in the garden of the palace -close on the bank of the river, and said, “The gods have left me, -and I know not why; but one more effort, and I shall be free of -this burning and wound.” Then he heard a great cry “My lord, my -life!” and Roxana the Queen came running down the garden to him, -and after her the women, and the lords of Greece. So one of them -snatched a shield from the guard that came up and laid it on the -ground for the King, and Roxana sat him on the shield and rested -his head on her bosom, while Ptolemy held up his golden shield over -him to guard his eyes from the rays of the morning sun, and a cry -of confused voices went up round him. Then Roxana the Queen said, -for in truth she knew not what to say, “See, my lord, a canopy of -gold for my Emperor.” “Aye, fair lady love,” said Alexander, “a sky -of gold, and a soil of iron; now are the fates accomplished and my -time is surely come; bear me back to my bed that I may die there.” -Then at the word all men there burst into tears and lamentation, -for the end of all things seemed at hand now their lord was to die -so young, and what words can tell the grief of Roxana the Queen. - -So his lords bore him gently to his bed in the palace, and stood -round it, and listened to the words that he spoke, and Alexander -sent for his scribes and bade them bring parchment and an inkhorn -for his will. So it was done and he shared out all the lands that -he had conquered amongst his war-dukes, to every man of them a -kingdom. And he left to the priests of Egypt a thousand talents -of gold and his body that they should keep it for ever, and for -his wife Roxana, if she should have a son he should be Emperor -after him, if a daughter she should be married to the best of -the Macedonians and he should be Emperor. Then Alexander put his -seal to the parchment, and all the dukes put their seals on it as -witnesses, and the will was folded up and laid in a precious casket -before them all. - -Now drew on the time that this noble Prince was to die, and all the -world suffered with the pain of losing him. The thunders rolled -and crashed, the lightnings flashed wide over the land, and there -was a darkness of thick clouds, and the earth was rent hither and -thither, and huge towers toppled and fell, so that all that was -strong and well-founded became weak and unstable as water, and the -foundations of all things were shaken. Then men in far-off lands -feared and wondered what these things should mean, and when they -hurried to the temples of the gods to enquire, the oracles answered -“The earth is poorer to-day by the loss of its most noble knight -and king,” and all men knew that Alexander was dying. Then the -seamen heard voices over the sea of weeping and wailing, and they -knew that all people mourned for the death of the Lord of Macedon, -the bravest, the most courteous, and most generous of knights. - -But the army of the Macedonians came round the dwelling of their -chief, as it ever was their wont in time of danger, though they -knew that they could not help him, nor he them, in this his day of -passing away from them. Their hearts longed to see him once more, -to look on the face that had led them smiling into danger and out -of it again, and it may be, to touch the hand that had struck such -blows in their aid, or had given such gifts to them as he had. -So Alexander the king was brought on his bed into the great hall -of his palace, and the Macedonians crowded round to see him, and -one of them was over-bold and asked him “Whom dost thou leave to -be lord of thine army?” and Alexander lifted up his head and said -“Perdiccas, I leave my army and my Queen in thy charge, take care -of them: as I have loved thee, love and keep them in my memory.” -Then the Macedonians began to weep and lament and those who were -near kissed the cold hand of their king, and they went out, and the -sound of their sobs and lamentations was like the dying away of a -thunder storm far off. - -There stood up in the midst of them a lord of Macedon, Solentius by -name, and said “Men of Macedon, our land was a small one, and our -name was lightly esteemed in Greece, till this man’s father was -born, and he ruled us and made us a mighty people among the Greeks, -and subdued Athens and made us first among the folk of our land. -And when he died, and Alexander our lord came to the throne he went -wide into the world, and rode over it, and conquered it, and he -made the footmen of his army lords over the people and kings among -the barbarian folk, so that no man stands before the Macedonians, -and they are the first of folk under heaven. Now is he at point to -die, and what shall fall to us, for no man has he left behind him -who can take his place. Soon shall the empire of the Macedonians be -broken to pieces, and the name of the country be forgotten.” And -all men said that he had spoken true, and they lamented exceedingly. - -And Alexander died: and the sun was eclipsed. - -Then Ptolemy sent physicians, and they embalmed the body of -Alexander, and dressed it in his imperial robes, and set it in a -chariot, and with all the army of Macedon, marched from the land -of Babylon to the land of Egypt, to the city of Alexandria which -Alexander had built. And when they were come there, Ptolemy built -a golden sepulchre for him in a high place looking over the city -he had built and the sea, and there he set a chair of state, and -in it was the body of Alexander, clothed as the Emperor of the -World, with his crown upon his head: his right hand held a golden -sceptre, and his left a golden ball, and on his knees lay his -sword, sheathed and swaddled in his girdle, for he should no more -draw it in the face of the foe. - -The tale tells of Olympias that when men told in Macedon that -Alexander was dead, Antipater the traitor sent men, and they seized -the lovely queen, and slew her, and cast out her body to the beasts -of the field, and the fowls of the air; and great wars followed -that cruel deed. And other things are told of the son of Alexander -and Roxana, but never did he reach the empire of his father, nor -attain the fame of Alexander. - -On a day there came to the tomb of Alexander wise men from all -lands, and one said, “Alexander made his treasure of gold, and the -gold endures, but not Alexander.” The second said, “Yesterday the -whole world did not satisfy him, to-day four ells are enough.” -The third said, “Yesterday he ruled the people, to-day the people -rules him.” The fourth said, “Yesterday he could save a multitude -from death, to-day he cannot save his own life.” The fifth said, -“Yesterday he led his army from the city, to-day they led him to -his burial.” The sixth said, “Yesterday he pressed down the earth, -to-day it weighs him down.” The seventh said, “Yesterday all men -feared him, to-day they hold him in small honour.” The last said, -“Yesterday he had friends and enemies, to-day all men are alike to -him.” - -Then they went away, and Alexander was alone, sitting in his chair, -of state, watching his city. - -[Illustration: WHO SHALL ME GIVEN TEARES TO COMPLAIN - -THE DEATH OF GENTILLESSE AND OF FRANCHISE. - -THE END] - - - - -AFTER-WORDS - - - - -The story which has just been told may be looked on as the result -of ten centuries of Eastern and Western imagination. The career -of the historical Alexander is perhaps one of the most important -things, in its way, that have happened on our earth, and could not -fail to give rise to a plenteous crop of legend and of marvels. -Even in his lifetime the Greek orators allowed their language -to run riot in the telling of his deeds, which required no -exaggeration to stand out before the world. - -[Sidenote: _Greek Text of Pseud-Callisthenes._] - -The form of the story was fixed much as we have it now, certainly -before the third century of our era, and probably much earlier, in -the work of which a corrupt text has come down to us, under the -name of Callisthenes, one of the companions of Alexander. The Greek -text of this work was printed by Muller (Paris, 1877) from three -MSS. in the Bibliothèque Nationale at Paris, which represent three -different classes of MS. There are about twenty MSS. of the work -known. - -[Sidenote: _Probable Alexandrian origin of the Romance._] - -The origin of this romance is probably Egyptian. In fact, there -seems little reason to doubt Favre’s guess, that its composition -was due to one of the Ptolemies, who were successors of Alexander -on the Egyptian throne, and willing to legitimatise their rule by -connecting it with that of the last of the ancient kings. The style -of the Greek seems to be Alexandrian, and Nicephorus Calistes (X. -36), speaks of the Life of Alexander written by the Alexandrian. -Other considerations tend to support the Egyptian origin of the -romance. The character of the magic is distinctly Egyptian (see -a very interesting discussion of some points in Budge’s Syriac -Version of the Alexander Story, pp. xxxix. _et seq._). The way in -which magic has been attributed to Anectanabus agrees with Egyptian -tradition, which has always attributed supernatural powers to him. -Reuvens, in his Third Letter (p. 76), gives an account of a papyrus -describing some of his magical powers, and Tertullian, in the “De -Anima” (lvii.), names him as one of the masters of magic. - -[Sidenote: _Julius Valerius and his Epitome._] - -The story was translated into Latin by Julius Valerius early in -the fourth century, since the translation is one of the sources of -the “Itinerarium Alexandri” (340-345 A.D.). An epitome of Julius -Valerius, made in the ninth century, was published by Zacher -(Halle, 1867). Our earliest MS. of Julius Valerius is at Turin, and -dates from about 800 A.D. He is quoted by Syncellus in the eighth -century, and by Malala in the ninth. - -The most important translation--the one which is known as the -“Historia Alexandri Magni de Proeliis”--is, however, due to the -tenth century. Leo the Archpriest seems to have been sent on an -embassy to Constantinople to the Emperors Constantine and Romanus -(920-944) by John and Marius, Dukes of Campania (941-965), and -while there he seems to have collected many books, among which was -the Story of Alexander. On his return he was commanded by Duke John -to translate the story into Latin. - -[Sidenote: _Alberic de Besançon. And the decasyllabic poem._] - -[Sidenote: _Lamprecht’s Version._] - -The Alexander Story came into European literature early in the -twelfth century. As far as we know it was introduced by Alberic -de Besançon. Of his work there exists now only a fragment of -about 105 lines, first printed by Heyse, Berlin, 1856, 8vo. We -can, however, judge of it by the decasyllabic poem, of which two -portions are printed by Meyer. It was founded on Julius Valerius -and the authentic histories of Alexander. Alberic rejects with -disdain the story of Anectanabus’ parentage of Alexander, judging -it a disgrace to any true knight to be base-born. The character of -the missing parts of the poem may also be gathered from the German -version of Lamprecht the preacher, who wrote towards the end of the -twelfth century, and who seems to have made use of Alberic’s poem -till it concluded with the episode of Nicholas. The poems printed -by Meyer here change their versification, and are henceforth in -Alexandrines, the continuator being Simon le Poitevin. - -[Sidenote: _Lambert li Tors and Alexandre de Paris._] - -The development of the Alexander Story in Europe is due, however, -neither to Alberic nor Lamprecht, but to Lambert li Tors and -Alexandre de Bernay (or Paris), who in the middle of the century -wrote the romance in Alexandrines. The poem was full of the magical -wonders which Alberic had rejected; it adopted the Egyptian origin -of Alexander and the wondrous stories of Bucephalus, and became -instantaneously popular. - -[Sidenote: _The Alexander Cycle._] - -But medieval listeners were not satisfied with so meagre -information as the Romance of Alexander gave. Here was a great king -foully murdered, beautiful queens beheaded; is there no justice in -the skies? So in quick succession came the “Testament d’Alexandre” -of Pierre de Saint Cloor, and in 1190 “La Vengeance Alexandre” -of Gui de Cambrai. Another poem on the same subject was written -between 1288-1308 by Jean le Nevelois (Nevelaux), and a new cycle -of poems was opened by the “Voeux du Paon” of Jacques de Longuyon, -1312, the “Restor du Paon” of Brisebarre de Douay (before 1338). -The Alexander cycle finishes by Jean de la Mote’s “Parfait du -Paon,” 1340. - -[Sidenote: _Eustace of Kent._] - -Meanwhile the Alexander Story itself had gone on its way. Eustace -of Kent had incorporated it in his (still inedited) “Roman de -Toute Chevalrie” in the middle of the thirteenth century. Four -manuscripts of this work still exist, and it seems to be the stock -from which many English translations have been made, notably -that published by Weber in 1810. About the same time the prose -translation of the “De Proeliis” was made, a translation which -profoundly influenced the later story-tellers. Soon the Epitome of -Julius Valerius, and a letter of Alexander to Aristotle, giving an -account of the wonders of India, were translated. Frère Jehan de -Vignay wrote a prose romance of Alexander in 1341, unfortunately -lost, and the roll is closed in 1445 by “l’Histoire d’Alexandre” of -Jean Wauquelin. - -[Sidenote: _English Versions._] - -Our English versions seem to have been later. Very few of them have -been printed, a fact perhaps due to the very insufficient support -extended to the Early English Text Society, which has printed the -portions to be found of two of them. Our earliest version seems -to be that of which some extracts are given in Warton. There was -an English version of 48,000 lines or so of the Alexander Story, -belonging to the Duke of Roxburghe, but the MS. has disappeared. -Weber, in his “Early English Metrical Romances,” gives a rhymed -poem of 8031 lines. Two fragments are known of an alliterative -translation of Lambert li Tors, which must have been of enormous -length; and a nearly complete poem, which follows pretty closely -the “De Proeliis,” is printed under the name of “The Wars of -Alexander.” The three last are published by the Early English Text -Society. Gower, in the “Confessio Amantis,” also makes use of -episodes of the romance. Cockayne printed an A.S. version of the -letter of Alexander. - -We have thus run down the line which brought the tale from Egypt -to Chaucer’s doors, so that he could sing that-- - - “_Alisaundre’s storie is so commune_ - _That everie wight that hath discrecionne_ - _Hath horde somewhat or al of his fortune;_” - -but we would not have the reader think that here is an exhaustive -list, even along the line of descent we have traced, of the forms -of the Alexander Story. Amongst other European versions are the -German prose version (printed in 1478, Aug. Vind., fo.), made by -John Hartlieb Moller, at the command of Albert, Duke of Bavaria. -There are further, early Spanish, Italian, Norse, Swedish, Dutch, -and Russian versions. An early rhyme, preserving an incident of the -story, is printed by Schiller, “Thesaur. Antiq. Teuton,” t. i., in -the Rhythm. de S. Annone, xiv., xv. - -It hardly comes within our province to refer to other forms of the -Alexander Story in Europe, except in the briefest possible way. A -work often mistaken for the “De Proeliis” is the compilation of -Radulphus of St Albans, who compiled from Quintus Curtius and other -authors a Life of Alexander. In 1236 William of Spoleto wrote a -Life of Alexander in Latin elegiacs, a work quoted by Warton as of -Aretinus Quilichinus. - -[Sidenote: _Independent Legends--Persian, Arabic._] - -The Pseud-Callisthenes is often spoken of as the work of Simeon -Seth, protovestiarius of the palace of Antiochus at Constantinople, -and was in the last century considered a translation from the -Persian about the year 1070. Other reasons apart the dissimilarity -between the Egyptian and the Persian forms of the story would -disprove this theory. Just as the Egyptians represented Alexander -as the son of the last of their native kings, so the Persians -represented him (in the popular legend) as the son of Darius -(Codomannus of the Kayanian dynasty), and of a daughter of Philip -of Macedon, who was brought up by his grandfather, and afterwards -overcame his elder brother. An independent tradition seems to have -grown up among the Arabs, making him the son of an old woman, and -born in obscurity, his name being originally Mazban (Lord of the -Marches), son of Marzabah, descended from Yunan, son of Japhet -(Burton, “Arabian Nights”). - -[Sidenote: _Syriac Versions._] - -An early Arabic version of the Greek must have been made about the -eighth century, from which the Syriac version we have at present -was made, but unfortunately this has not been found. A Syriac -version was made in the eighth century, of which parts exist; -but our most complete version is that made in the seventh-ninth -century, and published with a version by Budge. Eight chapters -of this are missing, and it is noticeable that the source of the -translation did not contain the interpolations from Palladius -(367-431) which the Greek text now does. An Armenian version is -attributed to Moses of Chorene (fifth century), who certainly knew -the story. - -[Sidenote: _Armenian, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Ethiopic, Coptic._] - -The story early passed into Hebrew. It is found in Jos. ben -Gorion (lib. II. p. 94, ed. Oxon. 1704, 4to), and a pseudonymous -translation of the work of Ptolemy, son of Lagos, by Samuel ben -Judah ben Sibbon of Granada, appeared in the thirteenth century. -(See a French translation of a Hebrew version by J. Levi, “Revue -des Etudes Juives,” III. 241.) It is found in the Arabic of -Said ibn Batrik (939 A.D.), Patriarch of Alexandria (Eutychus., -ed. Pocock, Oxon. 1606), and in Gregory Abul Farag (1265). Mohl -believed that Firdusi had an Arab author before him when writing -of Alexander. Among the Persian writers may be named Firdusi -(1024), Nizami (1203), and Mirkond (1497). An Ethiopic version -will shortly be published by Budge; and among others existing are -versions in Coptic, Malay, and Siamese. Several detached incidents -connect themselves with the story. Thus we may mention the “Iter -ad Paradisum,” twelfth century (of Talmudic origin), printed at -Konigsberg, 1859; the Gog and Magog story, &c. - -[Sidenote: _Anectanabus._] - -The Egyptian king who figures in our story as Anectanabus is known -to history as Necht-neb-f (Nakhtenephen). His mutilated statue -and two inscriptions are in the British Museum. He was overthrown -by Ochus, and retreated into Ethiopia some four years after the -birth of Alexander. We have already referred to the reputation -for magic that attached to him early in the Christian era. The -form Anectanabus is used as being the form (sometimes shortened to -Anec) in which the name appears in Gower and the poet of “The Wars -of Alexander.” His history may be read in Wiedemann, “Aegyptische -Geschichte,” p. 716, or in Maspero, “Histoire du Peuples de -l’Orient,” pp. 566-7. - -[Sidenote: _Plutarch and the Alexander Story._] - -It is difficult to resist the conclusion that Plutarch had before -him such a collection of tales as the “Pseud-Callisthenes,” and -was thinking of them when he wrote his first pages of the Life of -Alexander. The tradition of his birth from the visit of a dragon -is accounted for by the habits of the Macedonian women, who are -accustomed to pet large snakes. Justin XI. 2, 3, and XII. 16, -and Solinus, cap. XV., also mention the tradition. Other points -where Plutarch is contradicting the legend will readily suggest -themselves. However, this is saying nothing more than that many of -the stories must have grown up about the time of Alexander, or soon -after his death. The filiation of Alexander and Ammon is one of -these, the cartouche of Alexander being “Alexander, son of Amen.” - -There has been no attempt to give a Greek character to the story. -Even when the alteration of a letter would have made a good Greek -name, as in the case of Pausanius, it has not been altered, and -Sir Samson, Sir Balaan, speak for themselves. But, on the other -hand, as the tales make him Christian or Pagan by turns, we have -not tried to make him consistent. In the same way, it was found -impossible to leave out the visit to Jerusalem, which makes such a -central point in the medieval stories. - -[Sidenote: _Medieval Illuminated Copies._] - -A word as to the illustrations--not those of our book, but those -of the veritable medieval illuminators. Among the chief treasures -of the British Museum are its illuminated copies of the Alexander -Romance, notably 19. D. I and 20. B. XX. Some others are older, but -these are filled with most beautiful paintings of the incidents -of the story. I may be allowed to mention one thing here which -I have noticed. In each of them, at the beginning, is a sort of -frontispiece divided into compartments, and labelled The Castle of -Cairo, The Town of Babylon (with Anectanabus shown on the walls -or elsewhere), The Garden of Balm, and The Mills of Babylon. Now, -these seem to have no connection with the French prose translation -in which they are found. Cairo is not mentioned in it, there is no -story of a garden of balm, and there is no story of the mills of -Babylon, which are large floating water-mills like those at Old -London Bridge. - - -FINISHED THIS THIRTIETH DAY OF MAY 1894 BY ME, ROBERT STEELE, AND -PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO., LONDON, FOR DAVID NUTT IN THE -STRAND. - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber’s note: - - Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been - corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within - the text and consultation of external sources. - - Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, - and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained. - - Pg 25: ‘and gan question’ replaced by ‘and began to question’. - - Pg 55: ‘CHAP. VII’ replaced by ‘CHAPTER VII’. - - Pg 131: ‘and whatsover men’ replaced by ‘and whatsoever men’. - - Pg 163: ‘the earth. Then’ replaced by ‘the earth.” Then’. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF ALEXANDER*** - - -******* This file should be named 64991-0.txt or 64991-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/4/9/9/64991 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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- margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - word-spacing: 0em; - letter-spacing: 0em; - page-break-before: avoid; - line-height: 1; } - h3.pgx { text-align: center; - clear: both; - font-weight: bold; - font-size: 110%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - word-spacing: 0em; - letter-spacing: 0em; - line-height: 1; } - h4.pgx { text-align: center; - clear: both; - font-weight: bold; - font-size: 100%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - word-spacing: 0em; - letter-spacing: 0em; - line-height: 1; } - hr.pgx { width: 100%; - margin-top: 3em; - margin-bottom: 0em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - height: 4px; - border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ - border-style: solid; - border-color: #000000; - clear: both; } - </style> -</head> -<body> -<h1 class="pgx" title="">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Story of Alexander, by Robert Steele, -Illustrated by Fred Mason</h1> -<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States -and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no -restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at <a -href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: The Story of Alexander</p> -<p>Author: Robert Steele</p> -<p>Release Date: April 4, 2021 [eBook #64991]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF ALEXANDER***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4 class="pgx" title="">E-text prepared by MFR, John Campbell,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (https://www.pgdp.net)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive<br /> - (https://archive.org)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/storyofalexander00steeuoft - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<div class="transnote"> -<p class="bold">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</p> -<p>Changes to the text are noted at <a href="#TN">the end of the book</a>. -</p> -</div> -<hr class="pgx" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp56" id="cover" style="max-width: 46.875em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="original cover" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h1>THE STORY OF ALEXANDER</h1> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"></div> -<div class="figcenter illowp63" id="i_title" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_title.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"> -The Story of Alexander<br /> -told by Robert Steele<br /> -& drawn by Fred Mason<br /> - -London in the Strand<br /> -David Nutt<br /> -1894 -</div> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<div class="chapter"></div> - -<p class="p6 pfs120">M. M. S.</p> -<p class="p1 pfs80">A TOKEN OF</p> -<p class="p1 pfs80">FRIENDSHIP AND ADMIRATION</p> - - -<hr class="p4 chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_vii"></a>[Pg vii]</span><br /></p> - -<h2 class="p4 center nobreak" id="AN_OPEN_LETTER">AN OPEN LETTER</h2> -</div> - - -<p><i><span class="smcap">My dear Gracie</span></i></p> - -<p class="in2"><i>When I promised some months ago to tell you a -fairy story, I did not remember that most of them have been -so well told by my friend Mr. Jacobs, and others, that it would -be difficult to find any fresh ones worth telling you.</i></p> - -<p><i>Then I remembered that there was a time, hundreds of years -ago, when folk here in England were fond of hearing and telling -stories, and when, in the long winter evenings, people gathered -round the castle-fire in the great hall, lord and lady, squires and -dames, pages, varlets, children, even the dogs, all of them listening -to the old chaplain who read them a never-ending tale of a -brave knight and a wicked enchanter; or, better still, to a travelling -tale-teller who brought the last story from France and Italy. -“Now,” thought I, “the tales that pleased these folk so well -would perhaps suit young people of to-day.” For the men who -lived then were large hearted and simple souled, and if it is true, -as our great English poet said, “Men are but children of a -larger growth”—and it was true of that time—perhaps the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_viii"></a>[viii]</span> -stories of the men of those days would still have the power to -please the children of ours.</i></p> - -<p><i>Well, I began to turn over some of those big books you have -seen in my room, and to read their stories again to choose one -for you, and the first story I read was the History of Alexander -the Great. You must not be frightened about the tale, however; -there are no dates and summaries at the ends of the chapters to -learn, and, though I believe every word of it myself, I am afraid -that if you were to put some of it in your examination paper on -Greek History, the mistress who marked it would be annoyed, -and I am certain that you will not find the pictures like those of -the Greeks in your other books. This is only a tale, and the -Alexander and Darius, the Greeks and the Jews, it tells about, are -not the ones you have read of, but different people with the same -names.</i></p> - -<p><i>The reason for choosing the story of Alexander to tell you is -this: it was the earliest and one of the most interesting of the -stories of the Middle Age. Everyone liked it, everyone knew -something about it, and everyone told it his own way. Even the -animals (in a tale of Reynard the Fox) liked it, and one of them -told it to the lion. All the English poets of those days knew and -loved it. If, then, you could read any of the Middle Age tales, -you could read this one.</i></p> - -<p><i>So you must now fancy that times are changed; you are -sitting in some great castle-hall, and all the people round you are -in dresses like those that Mr. Mason has drawn for you; perhaps -you are sitting on a throne like the queen in the picture, and I -am sitting on the stool before you, and I begin to tell you a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_ix"></a>[ix]</span> -story of the bravest knight in the world, his wars, and the -wonderful things he saw and did. And as all the young folk -gather round and listen, if the older folk come with them and -bring the great Latin book to see if I tell the story right, when -they can get it (for it is very rare) they will find that I have -taken the story-teller’s privilege—I have left out much that was -not interesting, and I have told you some things the old story-tellers -used to leave out.</i></p> - -<p><i>Perhaps you will find that there is too much fighting in the -story: if so, remember that it was nearly the only game people -played at in those days, so that it took the place of rowing or -tennis, cycling or cricket among the young people then. But the -fighting had this serious side to it—that a young lady might wake -any morning and find an army besieging her home, ready to -burn it down and carry her away prisoner. So, you see, everyone -understood about fighting and took an interest in hearing -of it.</i></p> - -<p><i>And now I leave you with your story. If it pleases you, -and shows you who were the heroes of our ancestors, and what -were the stories they delighted in, it will have reached the -object of</i></p> - -<p class="right padr4"><i>Your loving liegeman</i></p> -<p class="right"><i>R. S.</i></p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_x"></a>[x]</span><br /> - <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_xi"></a>[xi]</span><br /></p> - -<h2 class="p4 pfs150 nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<table class="p1 autotable fs90" summary=""> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"></td> -<td class="tdr fs70">PAGE</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER I. HOW ANECTANABUS WAS KING OF EGYPT, AND WHY HE FLED INTO THE LAND OF MACEDON</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER II. OF OLYMPIAS AND ANECTANABUS, OF THE MAGIC HE WROUGHT, AND OF THE BIRTH OF ALEXANDER</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER III. HOW ALEXANDER TAMED THE HORSE BUCEPHALUS, AND HOW HE DID HIS FIRST DEED OF ARMS</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER IV. TELLS OF THE EMBASSY OF DARIUS, OF THE DEATH OF PHILIP, AND THE CROWNING OF ALEXANDER</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER V. HOW ALEXANDER GATHERED AN ARMY TOGETHER: HOW HE BUILT ALEXANDRIA AND LAID SIEGE TO THE CITY OF TYRE</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER VI. TELLS OF THE FORAY OF KADESH, AND OF ITS ENDING, AND OF THE TAKING OF THE CITY OF TYRE</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER VII. HOW ALEXANDER CAME TO JERUSALEM, HOW THE BISHOP MET HIM, AND WHAT THERE BEFELL HIM - <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_xii"></a>[xii]</span></td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER VIII. TELLS HOW DARIUS THE EMPEROR SENT PRESENTS TO ALEXANDER, AND WHAT WAS THE PRESENT SENT BACK TO HIM</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER IX. TELLS HOW ALEXANDER DESTROYED THEBES AND HOW IT WAS REBUILT, AND OF HIS RETURN TO PERSIA</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER X. HOW ALEXANDER DEFEATED THE PERSIANS, AND HOW HE WENT TO THE FEAST OF DARIUS</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER XI. TELLS OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN ALEXANDER AND DARIUS, AND OF THE SLAYING OF DARIUS</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER XII. HOW ALEXANDER MARRIED ROXANA, THE DAUGHTER OF THE EMPEROR, AND HOW HE DEFEATED PORUS THE KING OF INDIA</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER XIII. HOW ALEXANDER AND HIS MEN PASSED THE NIGHT OF FEAR, AND HOW HE SAW THE GREATEST AND THE LEAST THING ON EARTH</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER XIV. HOW ALEXANDER AND HIS ARMY PASSED THROUGH THE VALLEY OF TERROR AND SOUGHT THE WELLS OF LIFE</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER XV. HOW THE BRAHMANS CAME TO KING ALEXANDER AND WHAT HE LEARNT FROM THEM: AND OF THE COMING OF THE AMAZONS</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER XVI. HOW ALEXANDER PASSED THROUGH THE LAND OF DARKNESS AND SLEW THE BASILISK</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER XVII. HOW ALEXANDER CAME TO THE TREES OF THE SUN AND THE MOON, AND WHAT THEY TOLD HIM - <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_xiii"></a>[xiii]</span></td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER XVIII. HOW ALEXANDER SLEW PORUS AND WON BACK THE WIFE OF CANDOYL AND WAS KNOWN OF CANDACE WHEN HE CAME TO HER</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER XIX. TELLS HOW ALEXANDER DEFEATED GOG AND MAGOG, HOW HE WENT UP INTO THE AIR AND DOWN INTO THE SEA</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_188">188</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">CHAPTER XX. HOW ALEXANDER CAME TO HIS LIFE’S END AND WAS BURIED, AND WHAT THEREON BEFELL</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[Pg 1]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_001" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_001.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. HOW ANECTANABUS WAS -KING OF EGYPT, AND WHY HE FLED -INTO THE LAND OF MACEDON.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_001.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">Once upon a time a king reigned -over the land of Egypt, whose name was -Anectanabus. In his time that land was -the richest in the world, and its people -were wise and happy; but Anectanabus -was the wisest and the noblest of them, and under -his rule all men, both great and small, prospered. -The field-workers ploughed and reaped, the merchants -travelled and chaffered, the wise men studied -and wrote and taught, and the great lords watched -over the land, helped the poor, and guarded all men. -Shortly to say, the land of Egypt was in those days -the home of plenty and of peace, of mirth and of game.</p> - -<p>Now Anectanabus was, above all men, skilled in -the arts of magic, for he had learned the secrets of -Egypt that were not written down in books, but cut<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span> -in the stone on the sides of the great temples, and -on the Pillars of the Sun: and when he was a young -man he had been taken into the secret chambers of -the Pyramids, and had been laid in the stone coffin -of the gods, and there the secrets had been whispered -to him which the kings and priests of Egypt had -discovered for a thousand years. And chief of all -his crafts, he had the power of making images of -men to do what he would, and whatever the images -did, that the men they were like to, did: and he used -this art to save his land from war. For if a fleet of -ships came to attack his land he would make images -of them in wax to float on water, and images of his -own ships, and then he would cause the ships of the -enemy to turn and flee before his ships or ever a -blow was struck, and as he did, so it happened in -the war. Or if an army came against him, he caused -it to flee in the same way, so that no king of the -countries about dared to come out and make war on -Egypt. And many other arts he used, but all for -the good of his land, so that men loved him and -served him with joy.</p> - -<p>It fell upon a day that Anectanabus was sitting in -his palace hall on his daïs, and round him were his -dukes and princes, and the great hall of the palace -was filled with men in rich array. In that land, the -king showed himself to men but rarely, and when he -did so he was clothed in his noblest and fairest -dress, with his crown on his head, and his nobles<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span> -and all men were dressed in their best, so that the -hall shone with gold, and sparkled and dazzled with -gems and stones, and the blue and scarlet and purple -and green of the nobles filled the place with a flood -of colour. The chief men of a certain city had petitioned -the king about a certain matter, and a great -duke had just risen from his seat to speak about it, -when a cry was heard outside, and through the open -doors, past the great screen, a man in half armour -covered with dust and foam rushed into the presence -of the king. Then the heralds hurried up to him, -and crossing their wands before him, asked of him -his errand, and why he entered the hall of the king -in such unseemly dress. But he, heeding their -words never a whit, pressed forward, called out with -a loud voice, “O King, the Persians are on us,” and -straightway staggered, and fell down lifeless, for he -had ridden hard without rest and sleep with the -message of the lord warden of the sea.</p> - -<p>A great silence fell on the hall, men looked on -each other’s faces but none spoke or moved; then -the silence was broken by the shuffle of the heralds -bearing away the body of the messenger, and the -dukes drew up nearer to one another, but still no -man spoke; for the king’s face was dark and -troubled, and he had asked none for counsel. Now -Anectanabus was troubled, not because he feared the -enemy, but because he had never before been taken -by surprise, for ever he knew by his magic art the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span> -words of the message before they were uttered. So -he sat silent for a while, but at last he bethought -himself, and rose and left the hall, going to a little -room behind the daïs, where he could be alone, for -he sought to know by his magic art who, and how -many, and where were his foes. But the great lords -sat on in silence in the king’s hall, waiting till some -of them should be sent against the foe, and silently -and noiselessly the people passed out of the hall.</p> - -<p>As soon as Anectanabus was alone in his room, -he went to a coffer of oak covered with broad bands -of steel, and opened it with a golden key which he -drew from his breast. Then he drew out a robe of -fair white linen, and putting off his rich attire he -clothed himself in it, keeping on his golden crown. -Taking some spices, he threw them on a brazier of -burning embers, and opened the casements of the -room, and round and round the brazier he went till -a heavy smoke filled the room, and hung over a -great copper bowl of water on the table in the middle -of it. This done, Anectanabus took a short wand of -polished steel in his hand and pointing it across the -bowl to the four quarters of the earth—North, East, -South, West—he began to utter spells. And now -it seemed as if the smoke from the room gathered -over the water, and disappeared, leaving the room -full of light, and the outside day darkened, and -looking on the surface of the water the king saw a -fleet of ships coming in full sail towards him. But<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span> -what an endless number of them there seemed to -be,—ships large and small, beating the waves with -their oars, over their sides hanging the shields of -dukes and earls and knights, the sun shining from -their weapons, the masts and pennons rising like a -forest, and high over all the banner of Persia flying, -the rising sun conquering the night. Then Anectanabus -touched the water with his wand, and all -the ships vanished, and the air of the room was clear -and bright.</p> - -<p>With a grave face and a heavy heart Anectanabus -returned to his lords, and ordered them to meet in -arms on the sea-coast in seven days, there to keep -the land from Persians or any other foes, and he -dismissed them each to his place, after he had spoken -brave words to them, and reminded them of the -victories they had won, “and,” he said, “though the -enemy be many, one lion puts many deer to flight, -and we may well destroy our foes as we have done -before.” But ever in his heart he feared, for that -the foe had come upon him by surprise, and his -magic art had told him nothing of it.</p> - -<p>In the night, when all men slept, he rose and went -to the room in which he wrought all his magic, and -clothed himself in the white robes, and brought forth -his instruments from the oaken box, and cast a -yellow powder on the brazier. Then he filled the -great copper bowl with water, looking black in the -dim light of the room, and taking wax he moulded<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span> -ships, some white, some black, and set them to float -on the water in the vessel. Next he drew from the -box a rod of palm-wood and touched them one by one, -and as he did so they separated and gathered into -two fleets at either side of the bowl. Then throwing -some incense on the brazier, Anectanabus began to -mutter his magic words, and round and round the -bowl he walked, and the first time he threw in some -gold, and the second time a stone, and the third -time some dust. Soon the two fleets began to move -towards one another, and Anectanabus began to invoke -destruction on the enemy as he was wont to -do; but when the battle was joined, he saw that the -ships of Egypt were one by one destroyed or taken, -nor could any of his mightiest spells turn the battle. -So he saw that the gods had forsaken him, and that -there was no hope for him; and he deemed it better -to go away and let his kingdom fall into the hands -of the Persians, than to resist them without hope of -victory, and to be made a slave at the end; and his -heart was great, and he had no son or daughter for -whom to fight.</p> - -<p>The next day he rose and went about with a light -heart and a merry cheer, and did the things that -were to be done, and when night fell he laid off the -royal robes and the crown of Egypt, and dressed -him as one of the wise clerks of the land, and went -to the barber and caused him to shave off his beard, -and cut his hair, so that no man should know him,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span> -and he gathered store of gold and jewels, such as he -could carry, and his instruments of magic and of -star-reading, and called to him three of his servants -who had served him all his life, and when they were -loaded with his gear, he slipped out at a postern -gate of the palace, and set off on foot into the world, -not knowing where he should go. Long would it -be to tell what lands he passed through, how he -went from Egypt into Ethiopia, and from thence he -passed through many countries till at the last he -came to Macedon, where it fell that he settled and -ended his days. But no one ever thought him to -be anything but some diviner or soothsayer, nor wist -the folk that he had been a mighty king of men.</p> - -<p>The tale tells of the care he left behind him in his -palace when men found that he had gone. The -princes sought their lord in his private chambers, -and when he was not to be seen there, knights and -barons ran about with tears on their cheeks, their -ladies swooned, and all men cursed the day. At the -last, when they could get no news, they joined in -procession to the temple of Serapis, the greatest of -their gods, to ask his aid and counsel in their sore -strait, and there they burned rich incense, and offered -many noble gifts and sacrifices. Then the god gave -them this answer: “Fear not, O folk, for your king -is safe. Ye shall be subject to the Persians, nor -may ye any way escape. But cease your sorrow; -the son of his works shall return, he shall avenge<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span> -your defeat, he shall destroy Persia, he shall be the -noblest Emperor of the world.”</p> - -<p>So this people made an image of Anectanabus in -black marble, dressed in his royal robes, sceptre in -hand, and crown on head, and beneath the statue -was graved in golden letters the prophecy of their -god Serapis, that men might have it in mind in -the evil days that were on them. For the Persians -conquered them, and year by year they treated them -more hardly, and life was bitter to them, and the -Egyptians looked back year after year to the happy -days of Anectanabus, the last king of Egypt, and -waited in hope till he should come back again.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_008" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_008.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption">ONE LION PVTTETH TO FLIGHT MANY DEER</div> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_009" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_009.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. OF OLYMPIAS AND ANECTANABUS, -OF THE MAGIC HE WROUGHT, -AND OF THE BIRTH OF ALEXANDER.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_009.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">It fell on a day that as Anectanabus -was travelling through the land -of Macedon, he came to the chief city of -the land, and there his yeomen took -lodging for him, and he thought to dwell -there some days, for the city was fair and well placed -on a fertile plain, and it was in the month of May. -And when he talked to the men of the town he heard -say that Philip, the king of the land, had gone out -to war, but that he had left there his queen Olympias -to govern the folk, and that the next day was, as it -happened, the feast of her birthday. Now this queen -had custom on feast days to ride out into the country -near, and there sports and tournaments were held, -and all folk rejoiced before her. So Anectanabus -thought in his mind that he would go out and look<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span> -upon her, for he had heard that Olympias was the -fairest woman in Greece,—nay, in all the world.</p> - -<p>Early next day after meat, the queen mounted a -white mule and rode through the city to the plain, -with her wise men and her maids about her, and -much she joyed to see the fair show that the city -made, for everywhere that she came the town was -hung with rich hangings and embroidery, and every -man was eager to see the queen, and at all corners -were bands of maidens singing and beating drums -and timbrels. So the queen rode through the city, -and when she came to the plain, each man did his -best in the sports, if by any means he could gain a -prize from her hands. Among the crowd of men on -the plain was Anectanabus, and he looked not at -one thing or another but only at the queen, so that -at the last she turned and saw him, and because he -was unlike all other there in clothing and in bearing -she took notice of him and saw at once that he was -a stranger: and since he looked ever at her face nor -looked away when she turned to him, at the end -she sent men to him to know who he was. So -he came and did her reverence, and she asked him -who he was and what he would, and he told her -that he was a clerk, and that he went from place to -place, doing the will of the great gods: and Olympias -bade him come to her at the palace.</p> - -<p>Now every day the queen sat on the royal seat in -the great hall of the palace, and men came to her<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span> -and spoke before her of good and bad, and among -the rest next day came Anectanabus. And as the -queen looked upon him, he bowed him down, and -said, “Hail, fair Queen of Macedon;” and the queen -noted his speech, for he spoke as one that was a king -and not as a clerk, though he were clothed in weeds -of drab and went with shaven crown. So she made -him to sit down before her on a silk-covered seat, -and she began to question him full fairly, whether -he were of Egypt, and what manner of folk were in -that land, and what was the learning of its wise men—for -she knew by his tongue that he was an outlander, -and be like an Egyptian. And Anectanabus -answered her and told her of the land of Egypt, and -of its wonders, and of its wisdom, how some men -told the meaning of dreams, and whether they were -true or false, and when they should come to pass; -some men understood the song of the birds and the -voice of beasts; some could tell of the birth of -children, and of the length of life; some could declare -the secret counsels of men, which never were -spoken to any one; and some could read the course -of the stars and the signs of heaven, and say what -shall come to pass in few years’ time—“and, fair -Queen,” continued he, “I have so clear a knowledge -of all these arts, that I can prove myself a master in -each of them.” So saying, he leaned forward from -his seat, and stared in a study, still as a stone, at her -face. Then said the queen, “What art thou musing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span> -on, Master; why dost thou sit so still?” “I am -thinking, O Queen,” said he, “on the words of my -god, who long ago told me that I should sit in a -strange land an exile, and see the fairest queen on -earth.” Then the queen prayed him to show her -how he sought out these things, and he drew out of -his bosom a little box with seven pieces of ivory in -it, and he showed her how by casting these he could -tell what should happen to men, and answer questions -about their deeds. And he showed her seven -precious stones, on each of which a wondrous figure -was carved, which preserved men who wore them -from all harm. And then he drew out his table of -ivory with three rings upon it, by which he read the -stars: the first ring was of brass, and on it were -marked the twelve houses of fate; the second was -of bright silver, and on it were marked wondrous -beasts, the twelve signs of the heavens; and the -third was of red gold, and on it were marked the -sun and the moon; and as he showed them he told -her the course of the stars, and how they governed -the life of men.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp55" id="i_012f" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_012f.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption">Anectanabus telleth the Queen’s fate.</div> -</div> - -<p>And Olympias said to him, “O Master, tell me -the day on which my lord that I love was born, and -then I shall know thy skill.” “Small skill were -that,” said Anectanabus, “to tell the past; is there -naught of the future you would learn?” “Yea,” -said the Queen, “tell me what shall part Philip and -me, for it is told me by my wise women that if -<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span>he returns from battle he shall take another wife, -and send me away for ever.” “Nay, not for ever,” -said the Egyptian, “not for ever, nor for long shall -he put thee away, for will he nill he, he must have -thee for his queen.” Then Olympias wondered -greatly, and she asked Anectanabus how this should -be, and the wise man answered and told her, how -that the great god of her country, Ammon, should -give her a fair son who should help her all his life, -and how that the god would protect her till her son -was grown. Then was the queen right glad, and -she promised Anectanabus that when these things -should happen she would honour him all her life. -Then the wise man rose from his seat, and after -looking on the queen for a while, went from the hall -to make his enchantments as at other times.</p> - -<p>Now that night the moon was at full, when all herbs -have their strongest might, so Anectanabus got him -forth from the city into a wild place, where no man -might see him, and there he drew up herbs for his -enchantments, marking the fairest and best, and -when the hour of the moon was come he plucked -them out by the roots, and washed the earth from -them in running water. Then he ground them -together in a mortar, and wrung out the juice, and -he made an image of the queen in white wax, and -anointed it with the juice of the plants he had -gathered, and calling on the powers of the air with -is conjurations, he made a dream for the queen.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span> -So she, lying in her palace alone, saw a huge -dragon enter and circle the room three times—then -it came and stood before her, and, lo! it was a man, -but a man in shape like to her god; and the man -told her that she should have a son who should -defend her in all her cares, and override all her foes. -Then the queen woke from her dream, and stretched -out her hands to the god she had seen, but the room -was dark, so, springing from her bed, she ran to the -door, but that was safely fast, and groping round -she found naught in the room; and sad that her -dream was false, she fell asleep again thinking of -the wise Egyptian, who, mayhap, should tell her what -it meant.</p> - -<p>Early on the morrow the queen rose from her -sleep, and sent her housecarles for Anectanabus in -haste; then when he came she took him apart and -told him all her dream. Then said he to the queen: -“If thou art willing, and not afraid, I can show thee -this god face to face, and thou waking; but thine -eyes must be opened to see him.”</p> - -<p>So was the queen glad, and she assigned him a -room in her palace; and the next night did -Anectanabus, by his art magic, change himself -into a dragon such as the queen had seen in her -dream, and flying through the air with his heavy -wings he came into the place of the queen. Then -she rose up to meet him, but the sight was so -terrible to her that she covered her face with her<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span> -hands; but soon she heard a voice bidding her look -up, and lo! before her was the figure of her god -Ammon—a strong, fair man, bearing on his head -two horns. Then was she glad of her life, that she -alone of all living women had seen this thing; and -he spoke to her of all the things that Anectanabus -had told her, and of how her son should ride through -the world.</p> - -<p>So fell she to sleep, and when she woke in the -morning light there was none there, and the doors -of the palace were fast, and great thanks she gave to -Anectanabus for his magic, for she wist not that her -god was but a show of the wise Egyptian.</p> - -<p>But in that same night that the queen had dreamed, -the Egyptian had so wrought his enchantments -that in the hour of Philip’s star he too had fallen -asleep, and he dreamed that a dragon had taken him -up through the air, and had borne him off to his own -palace, and to the room in which Olympias, his -queen, lay sleeping. Then tried he to draw near -her, but she felt not his touch nor heard his voice; -and suddenly he was ware of a god in the room in -the shape of Ammon, and the god came to the queen -and laid his hand on her, and waked her, and sealed -her with a gold seal. So Philip drew near, and saw -that on this seal were three things graved—the head -of a mighty lion, the burst of the morning sun rising -over the world, and a sharp, keen blade of a sword; -and he heard the god say: “Woman, thy son that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span> -I give thee shall be thy defender.” Now Philip -when he woke, was so sore troubled by his dream -that he called on his diviners to say to him what it -should mean. Then said the chief of the magicians: -“O King, this thy dream means that thy wife shall -give thee a son fair and mighty. And because on -the seal thou sawest a lion’s head, as the lion is the -chief of all beasts, this son shall be a chief and a -master among all chieftains. And since on the seal -was the burst of the sunrise, so shall this son ride -through the world, and everywhere shall he be -exalted till he comes to the Land of the East; and -the biting brand showeth that by his sword shall -nations out of number be conquered and bow to -him. But for the dragon that bore thee from hence -to thy own land, he shall be to thee for an aid, and -that right soon.” And then was the king glad in his -heart.</p> - -<p>But Anectanabus knew by his box of stones how -that Philip should be sore beset on a certain day, -and so, going out into a desert place, he called up to -him by art magic a great bird from the sea, with -broad wings, great beak, and strong claws like iron. -And as it drew near him it circled him seven times, -and then sunk down at his feet. Then the Egyptian -took and rubbed him with the juice of the plants he -had gathered, from wingtip to wingtip, and from -head to tail, and then with his mightiest spells he -sent him forth over land and sea. And lo! he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span> -seemed no more a sea bird, but a mighty dragon -flying through the air. But far away Philip was in -deadly battle, for he had been all day fighting, and -now was he wearied, and a great stone had struck -him, so that he reeled to the ground, and his men -were at point to fly, and his foes were clamouring -with joy, and their eyes were burning to slay, when -the great dragon flew towards them, and men paused -to see what should happen, and lo! it fell on the -foemen, and first on him who had struck down -Philip, and men’s swords fell on it and were -shivered, and none dared to see its face, and the -men of Macedon took fresh heart, and Philip -sprang up shouting, “The God, the Gods for us!” -and the foe were routed and their king slain, and far -away the great dragon rose in the air and disappeared, -no man knowing whither.</p> - -<p>So Philip came home with much joy, honoured -of men, and when he met his queen he kissed her -fair, and they spoke of their dreams, and of what the -god had promised them. And it fell that two -wonders happened to them. For one day as they -sat at meat in the hall, and folk around them great -and small, a great dragon came into the palace, and -men fled, save some that drew sword and turned -pale, but the king cried out: “Faith, but this is the -noble dragon that turned the fight for us that other -even.” Then the king was glad, but the great worm -came slowly up the hall till it reached the queen, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span> -there it raised its head on her knees, and she knew -it for the dragon that had come to her, and lifted -its head and kissed it, and all men looked for some -change; but the dragon turned and went its way out -as it came in, and those outside saw nought save -the Egyptian diviner standing at the gate.</p> - -<p>And one other day, as Philip sat in his great hall, -with all his nobles and chief men round him, there -came a singing-bird into the hall and sang a sweet -song, and circled his head, and came and sat on his -knee, and there dropped an egg and flew away. Then -as the king sat and looked, the egg rolled from his -knee and fell to the ground, and there it broke, and -a little worm came out and crawled about, but soon -it died. Then a great clerk near him said: “This -signifieth, O king, that thy blithe lady’s son shall -walk the world and win it, and die a bitter death -before he may return.” These were the wonders -that happened ere the birth of Alexander.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Now drew on the time when this noble child -was to be born, and as he came to earth temples and -towers tumbled on heaps, thunder rang through the -welkin, darkness fell over the earth, the wind rose -and blew, the lightning flashed over the land, and -great stones fell from the sky. Then Philip feared, -and said: “Surely this son that is born shall do -great things, and men will call me the father of this -child”; and with that he went to Olympias and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span> -comforted her. But the child grew, nor was he like -to father nor mother. His hair was yellow-tawny, -like a lion’s, his eyes were bright and glistening, -piercing like blazing stars; grim and fierce was his -look, one of his eyes black as a coal, the other yellow -like gold; his voice was loud, even from his first -cry, nor could any hear it without inward fear. -Alexander was his name, and the wisest man of all -the world, Aristotle, was his tutor, nor would he -learn of other. Clever and wise was he, nor did he -sit with the crowd of boys, but on a bench beside his -master, for it became not a king’s son to sit down -undistinguished from other boys. In four or five -years he learnt more than many scholars learn in -seventy winters. And when he was eleven years old -he set him to learn the art and craft of battle, to -wield a spear and a lance, to ride a noble steed in -armour, so that in a few years was none equal to -him, and in adventures of arms he surpassed all men.</p> - -<p>It fell on a day that Philip the king was with him, -and greatly did he praise him for his deeds, and -much was his heart moved towards him; but he -said: “Sorely my mind is troubled that nought of -me hast thou in look, nor height, nor colour, whereby -men may know that thou art my son”: for Philip -was tall and black and dark-eyed. Then was the -noble queen Olympias grieved when she heard tell -of the king’s saying, and she sent for Anectanabus, -the Egyptian, and he came, but with little speed,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span> -for he was now old and grey. And when he was -before her, she asked him what should fall of the -king’s speech, for ever she had feared the doom that -was to come; but he comforted her, and bade her -fear not, for he read day and night the stars for her, -and none of the king’s thoughts were against her.</p> - -<p>So he went out, and Alexander with him, and as -they went, ever the Egyptian looked at the stars, -and down at the ground, and sighed. So Alexander -asked him at what planet was he looking, and -Anectanabus showed it him. Then he asked him -why he sighed, and the Egyptian said: “My hour -draws near, the son of my works shall slay me! -Look over our heads and see that red star shine—the -star of Hercules, how bitterly it moves, but -noble Mercury shines ever, and great Jove, how -jollily he shines—the doom of my destiny is on me.” -And as he said the word, Alexander stumbled forward, -and pushing the unhappy Egyptian, he fell from -the wall of the town where they were walking into -the ditch which surrounded it, and with a cry sank. -The youth plunged in after him, but when he found -his body the old man was dead, and with what -grief we cannot tell, Alexander carried home the -body of Anectanabus to the palace of his mother. -Let others tell the story of her grief, of her tears, -and of the splendid tomb of the exiled king—I -cannot.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_021" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_021.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. HOW ALEXANDER TAMED -THE HORSE BUCEPHALUS, AND HOW -HE DID HIS FIRST DEED OF ARMS.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_021.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">So it was that there was at this -time a certain prince in the land of -Cappadocia, and in the night as he lay -sleeping a vision came to him, and it -seemed that his room was filled with a -shimmering blaze of light, and while he looked a great -dragon came into the room, and he shut his eyes for -fear. Then there came a voice, saying, “Fear -not, O king, but look up, and hearken to my -words,” and when he raised his head he saw -an exceeding fair man standing in the room, and -he had two horns on his head, and a golden crown -like one of the gods. Then the vision bade him -convey the horse Bucephalus to the land of Macedonia -to king Philip; and tell him that he who -should tame this horse should rule the land after<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span> -him. The prince answered, “Where is this horse -Bucephalus that I may take him?” and the vision -said that on the morrow the horse should be -brought him. And suddenly the room was dark, -but the prince lay turning this matter in his mind -till the grey of the first dawn, and he slept.</p> - -<p>On the morrow as he sat on his seat under the -oak of judgment, there came to him some of the -country folk bringing with them a fair white colt, -and his mouth was bound with iron chains. As -they came near the king asked them whose was the -foal and why they brought him in chains; and the -men answered that this colt was so wild that no -man dare go near him to mount him, and that he -would take no food since he had left his mother but -the flesh of men. Then they consulted the priest of -the temple, and he bade them carry the young horse -to the king, for he would never be tamed but by a -great king’s son, nor could any other man mount -him. So the king gave them a great reward and -they went their way. Now the horse had on his -forehead two bones like small horns, and the men -called him for that Bucephalus.</p> - -<p>Now when the horse was brought to Philip the -king of Macedonia he was fain of him, for he was of -noble form, and it seemed as if he would be the best -horse in the world, so he thanked the prince greatly, -and made men build a stable for the horse of iron -bars, strong and good. Therein was he put, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span> -men doomed to death were brought to that place -and thrown to him, and he tore them to pieces, and -fed on them. And no man willingly went near the -stable in which he was.</p> - -<p>It fell on a day when Alexander was come to -youth, that he chanced to stand at a window of the -palace while this wild horse was being led by in iron -chains, and the prince wondered at the sight, for it -seemed to him that this was the noblest of horses, -and he could not tell why he was kept in chains. -But when he had come down to the courtyard the -grooms had gone, so he followed them searching for -the horse’s stable, and at the last he came upon the -iron house, and looking into it he wondered at the -horrible things he saw there. Then one of the -grooms came up to him and told him how the horse -fed on man’s flesh, and how that should be till he -was tamed and ridden by a great king’s son. Hearing -this Alexander went up to the bars and called -the horse, and the wild animal came up to them, -and laid out his neck. Then the prince put his -hand through the bars and Bucephalus licked it, -and folded his feet and fell to the ground, looking -up into Alexander’s face.</p> - -<p>Thus was the horse tamed, and Alexander lifted -up the gate-bolts and entered the stable boldly, and -stroked Bucephalus on his back with his hand, -while the horse turned his head round and watched -him fondly. Then he got a bridle and saddle, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span> -girt him round and loosed his chains, and leaping -on his back rode him off, while the good white -horse obeyed the rein as if he had been ridden ten -years. Now, while Alexander was riding him round -the courtyard, men had run to king Philip and had -told him how the prince had gone into the cage of -the fierce man-eating horse, and the king came down -to see what should hap, and found Alexander master -of the horse. Then Philip the fierce remembered -the saying of the gods, and he greeted him with -words of praise, and said, “Son, of a truth thou -shalt reign in my stead when I am gone, and the -land shall wax great. Ask now a gift of me, and I -will give it.” “Then,” said Alexander, “make me -a knight, and a chief with men-at-arms to follow me.”</p> - -<p>Great was the joy of Philip that his son’s first -wish was to be a leader of men in war, and that he -had done this great thing, so he granted it with -good will. “I give thee, O son,” said he, “one -hundred of my best horses, and sixty thousand gold -pieces from my coffers, and the best of my chieftains -and proved princes to be thy men, and free of my -house shalt thou be, to abide there in peace, or to -go from it to seek adventure in war. Thou hast -done a man’s deed, and man shalt thou be called.” -Then the prince gave him lowly thanks, and sped -off to gather together a little band of twelve chieftains, -picked and proved leaders of men, whom he -had chosen to lead his men, and when this was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span> -done each got together tried men to follow them till -the number of the band was made up.</p> - -<p>Now when Alexander had got together his band, -he made ready to go out in search of his first -adventure, and in few days he rode out into the -world in knightly array into a land unknown, nor -did he stay until he came into the land of Peloponnesus. -Now the king of this land was called -Nicholas, and when tidings were brought him that -a band of strange knights had come into his land, he -ordered that a host should be gathered together, and -he with a few knights rode out far before his -following, and came to the men of Alexander <ins class="corr" id="tn-25" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'and gan question'"> -and began to question</ins> them in his wrath and anger, “Oh, ye -knights, who is your leader, and why come you here -in my land?” Then the courteous knight Alexander -came to the front: “Sir knight,” said he, -“Philip the fierce, king of Macedon, is my father, -and I am his heir Alexander.” And the king stood -up in his stirrups, and sternly looking at him, said, -“Whom think you that I am?” “Sir,” said Alexander, -“you are as now king of this folk, nor do I -grudge your honour, but beware of pride, for wise -men tell that the highest thing falls soonest, and -that which is least of all is ofttimes brought to the -stars.”</p> - -<p>“True is thy word,” said the king, “and soon -shalt thou prove its truth it may be; look well to -thyself lest thy speech come home to thee.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span></p> - -<p>Then Alexander burst into rage, and with bitter -words ordered him to return to his following if he -wished safety, and Nicholas the king, flaming with -bitter wasp-like anger, took up a handful of mud -and threw it in the face of Alexander, and swore by -the heart of his father that he would put him to -death with his own hands if he fled not. But the -noble Alexander controlled his rage at the foul -insult, and keeping his face by a mighty effort, -though his hands were gripping each other through, -said, “As thou hast wronged me causelessly, -Nicholas, I swear by my father and by my god that -thou shalt see me ere long for this cause, and that I -shall take thy land from thee, or thou my life from -me.” So a day was set for them to meet in fight, -and they parted on either side.</p> - -<p>Now were men on both parts getting them ready -for the fight. Alexander hurried home into Macedon -and assembled a mighty host of knights and archers, -men proved and skilled in arms. And when the -host was assembled, with his princes and captains, -he sought the presence of Philip and took his leave, -and mounting Bucephalus his brave white horse, he -led, first of all, his army out of the broad gates of -the town. So on the appointed day the field is -covered with the array of either host, and now men -lift up the banners and shake them out to the wind, -and the clarions sound out till the whole field rings -with the music, and the woods and the hills answer<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span> -them again. Then each noble prepares for battle, -his helm on his head he strides to his horse, and -jumps on his steel-clad saddle, he hangs round his -throat his bright shimmering shield, and handles -his lance. Then is the stamping of steeds, the -stripping of banners, the clouds of dust rise in the -air, and suddenly the crowds meet with a shock in -the middle of the plain. Now the steeds rear up -against each other, and the spears break through -the blazoned shields and through the helmet bars, -while the cypress lance shafts splinter into fragments, -and down fall knights and dukes from their -steeds.</p> - -<p>Well and nobly did the young Alexander fight -his first battle. Sir Nicholas took him a spear, -and rushed on the young knight to get him a name, -and to keep his oath that he had sworn. Then -Alexander took another lance from his squire, for -the first one was strained in the fight by this time -and might betray him, and they met one another in -the field, and men stayed to see this fight. So sore -were their strokes that the long lances split, even -from point to handgrip, so that there was not an ell -long piece in either man’s hand. Then each threw -the fragment away, and out flashed their swords -from the sheaths, and they hacked and hewed at -each other through mail-coat and helmet. But mail -and helm were good and gave not way, till Alexander -grew mad with rage, and with one full stroke<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span> -he struck off the head of King Nicholas clear through -the neck and helm, and he fell down to the earth. -So it was that Alexander got him great worship by -this victory, for all the men of that country and -their lords came to him, and falling on their knees -put them in his mercy, and acknowledged him as -ruler of the land. Thus he defeated his enemy, and -revenged the insult of King Nicholas, and returned -home with fame and good to his father.</p> - -<p>The tale tells that as he entered Macedon he -found the town at feast, and his father at his high -table; but another woman sat in the seat of the -queen, for Philip had put away Olympias, as the seers -had told her years before. So Alexander bowed -him down meekly in seeming, and said, “Father, I -pray thee receive the fruits of my first victory ere I -go hence to the wedding.” “And whose wedding -dost thou go to?” said the king. “To my mother’s,” -said he, “for I will marry her to some noble king, -and I will make him the greatest king on earth, for -it likes me not to stay here while she is in disgrace, -and I know not for what.” Then Philip grew white -with wrath, but one Lysias, a knight at the table, -said, “O king, heed not his talk, for this fair queen -shall bring thee a son greater than him.” Turning -to him, Alexander with his truncheon struck him a -blow so that he fell dead to the ground, and men said -that in truth he had deserved it; but Philip started -up at the deed, and snatching a blade rushed on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span> -Alexander, aiming a fierce blow at him, for the gods -had blinded his eyes so that he knew not wisdom -from folly, or right-doing from wrong. But as he -came on, his feet failed him, and ere he reached -Alexander the king staggered, stumbled, and fell to -the ground, though no man saw cause for it. Then -Alexander laughed out loud, and said, “Does the -Governor of Greece fear one youth? What ails -thee to fall?” and he struck over the tables of the -feast, and dragging the bride out of the hall by her -hair he brought her to his mother, for his heart was -full of wrath at the wrong done to her, while Philip -was carried away stricken with sore sickness. Thus -was his mother avenged, and the marriage feast -disturbed.</p> - -<p>But when Alexander’s wrath cooled it came into -his heart to make peace between Philip and his -mother, and rising up he went to the bed of Philip, -and there he spoke words as a friend might speak, -and the gods put in the king’s heart to forgive the -death of Lysias, and to reconcile him to his wife; -and so the king rose up, and leaning on Alexander’s -shoulder, went with him to Olympias, and there he -took her in his arms and kissed her, and forgave -all her faults, and she was made queen again, and -reigned in Macedon to her life’s end.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_030" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_030.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. TELLS OF THE EMBASSY -OF DARIUS, OF THE DEATH OF PHILIP, -AND THE CROWNING OF ALEXANDER.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_030.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">The tale tells that on a day men -told in Macedon that an embassy from the -Emperor of the World, Darius of Persia, -was drawing near; and the whole city -came out, men, women, and children, to -see them enter. But there was doubt and fear in the -court of Philip, for they were coming to demand -from him the tribute which he had not paid for the -last three years, and the king had made up his -mind to be no more subject to the Persians, and -Alexander had sworn to conquer them in war if his -father would raise an army against them, but Philip -would not, for he knew that no man could count the -armies of Darius, spent he his whole life to that end.</p> - -<p>And so the heralds came riding up to the gate of -the town mounted on their high steeds, and there<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span> -were three of them, and each of them was a king, -and wore armour of proof. On each man’s head was -a golden crown, and their pages bore before them -their helmets. The herald who was on the right -wore bright silver armour; his surcoat was dark -green, and on it was worked a fierce tiger rushing -on his prey, and he was the herald of Media. The -herald riding on the left wore black armour from -head to foot, and his surcoat was of scarlet, and on -it was a wild boar turning to face his foe, and this -was the herald of Persia. But the herald in the -middle was clad from head to foot in bright gold, -and his surcoat was of a deep clear blue, and on -it shone the sun high over all the world, and all -men shouted when they saw him, for he was a head -taller than common men, and he was the herald of -the Emperor of the World.</p> - -<p>When they reached the gate the trumpeters blew -three long calls on their trumpets with a silence -between each, and the drawbridge, which had been -raised, slowly fell, and the great gate of the city -opened, and the herald of the King of Macedon came -forth and greeted them fair, and offered them rest -and hostage till such time as they should see the -king. But they said, “O dear brother and friend, -it is not fitting that we eat or drink in this town till -we have done the errand of our lord, or till we know -whether we harbour with friends and servants, or -with foes and traitors of the Master of the World.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span> -Wherefore we pray you, dear brother, that you will -lead us to the hall of your prince that we may do -our errand, not doubting that after it we shall be -beholden to your love for rest and comfort.” So -the heralds dismounted, and their men remained -without with their horses, while they went into the -town and through the streets up to the palace hall -of Philip.</p> - -<p>Now the king was sitting on his throne under the -daïs at the upper end of the hall, and on his right -hand sat the noble Alexander, and round the king -on his right and his left were the nobles of the land, -greybeards and youth. And when the coming of -the heralds was told them the king rose from his -seat, and as they stepped forward so did he, and he -came to the middle of the hall and three steps -further, for all men did reverence in those days to -the herald. And he greeted them, and on the neck -of each man he threw a chain of gold, and much he -praised them for their fame. But the heralds spoke -and said, “O king, we have a message for thee, nor -may we delay.” And he said, “Speak on.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp57" id="i_032f" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_032f.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption">The Heralds of the Emperor Darius.</div> -</div> - -<p>So the Wild Boar of Persia spake: “O Philip, for -three years thou hast not sent thy accustomed tribute -to Persia, nor a part of it. Now, therefore, pay it -at once, or fear the wrath of Persia.” Then the -Tiger of Darius the Mede, spake: “O king, forasmuch -as in past years thou hast served the king, -and as perchance thy land has suffered from famine -<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span>and war, thy king and friend, Darius, forgives thee -freely thy past tribute by my mouth.” But the -herald of the Empire of the World added: “On -this condition only, that thou payest over to me -three sacks full of Grecian earth in token of thy -obedience to the great Emperor, and to show that -hereafter thy tribute shall not fail.”</p> - -<p>For a short time there was silence in the great -hall, and then Alexander spake out: “Fair father -and lord, suffer me to answer for thee.” Then -turning to the heralds, “Return,” said he, “return -to your people and to your master, and bid him to -send no more messages here of this matter, for -know that Philip hath a son grown that yields to -no man, and obeys no lord. Tell him that the land -of Macedon which in times past yielded him wealth -so freely is now barren, and will give him henceforth -no tribute, come what may.” These words -and more he said, yet he departed not from the -courtesy that beseemeth great lords, and the heralds -wondered at his speech, and greatly they praised -him to his father. But Alexander sought out the -herald of the Sun and gave him a fair jewel, and -said to him that it was to retain him against the day -when he should be emperor in his turn.</p> - -<p>It must be said that these heralds had gone -through all the lands subject to the Emperor of -Persia, for they had a secret errand from Darius. -Now Darius had no son, and but one fair daughter,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span> -Roxana by name, and he was minded to marry her -to one of the king’s sons of the lands, so the heralds -were straitly charged to get the portraits of the -princes and kings, and in their train was a skilled -painter. Thus it fell that during the three days of -guesting the painter drew a likeness of the prince -exactly his height and size, and it was taken back -to Darius with the other portraits, that the Emperor -might choose the prince who should marry his -daughter, and succeed him in the empire. And -after the three days of hostage the heralds took -their leave of King Philip, and went their way, and -in due time they arrived at the court of Darius, the -proud king of Persia, and there they told him how -his tribute was lost, and how Philip’s son had -spoken.</p> - -<p>In Macedon meanwhile many things had happened, -for it was told Philip that all the land of -Armenia had revolted against him, and that the -earls and princes were in arms, so Alexander -gathered a host and marched against them, and, -shortly to tell, he laid waste all the land of the -rebels. But while he had marched away a worse -thing fell to Philip, for a prince of the land, Pausanius, -son of Cerastes, who dwelt in the marches of -Macedon, and was one of his noblest knights, rose -against him. And this was the reason of his rebellion:—For -many years this lord had loved the -queen Olympias, and when Philip put her away he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span> -had come to the feast of the king’s new marriage to -defy him and to take her away, but when Alexander -restored her to her place he departed sorrowful, and -the love in his heart burned up, till at the last he -summoned all his friends to make war on Philip, if -by any means he might kill him, and carry off the -fair queen to be his wife.</p> - -<p>Now Philip gathered together all his men and -went out to war with Pausanius, but the folk that -were with him were few, and when they met in the -field fear fell on him, and he turned and fled to his -castle. Then all men shouted when they saw that -the great Philip had shewn his back, and Pausanius -sprung out of the ranks on his proud steed, and -speeding after the king struck him through the back -to the breast and bore him to the earth, and there -he lay on the highway half dead. Then Pausanius -rode on, and all Philip’s men fell back, for they were -sore troubled when they saw their king wounded to -death. So the prince came to the castle, and joy was -in his heart, for he thought to bring out the fair -queen and to lead her away. But in the heat of his -joy Alexander returned victorious from Armenia -with the nobles of Macedon, and when he heard the -noise of the weapons he spurred into the town. -Now the queen had shut the door of the castle-keep, -and when the noise of the host was heard she flew -to the window at the top, and by the arms and spoil -she knew it was her son returned victorious. Then<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span> -the queen called to her son with a loud voice, “O -son, who shall never be conquered, avenge and help -thy mother in her need,” and Alexander heard her, -and wrath rose in his heart. But when Pausanius -heard that Alexander had come, he came armed out -of the palace, and with him a host of mighty men, -and the hosts met in mid-field; yet short was the -fight, for Alexander swung out his sharp sword and -with one blow struck him dead, and all his men -gave up their weapons to the noble conqueror. -Then came one and told him that his father lay -wounded on the highway, and Alexander rushed -forth and found him as one near death, and he fell -down by his side and wept bitterly. But the old -king said, “Ah, son Alexander, now am I near my -end, but yet am I glad to have lived long enough to -see my slayer so soon killed. Well be thou that -thou hast avenged me.” Then he raised up his head -and looked at his son, but the effort was too much -for him, and with one groan he died.</p> - -<p>The tale tells of how Alexander grieved for the -death of Philip as one grieves for the loss of his -father, and of the burial of the old king: how he was -borne on men’s shoulders to bale, how his barons -and knights followed him as he was laid to rest in -his own land, and how all men of the land, rich and -poor, noble and simple, grieved for the loss of the -great king. The next day Alexander sat on his -throne, a bright gold crown studded with gems on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span> -his head, and in his hand the sceptre of his father. -Then the heralds proclaimed that all the court -should draw near, and that all men should do their -liege homage to him, and they came at his call, and -all men acknowledged him as lord on their bended -knees, and Alexander put off his crown from him -and laid it on the throne, and rose up and spoke to -his people in this wise: “Fair lords, I will in no -wise be contrary to your wills, nor to your deeds. -But I show to you that I hate frauds and malice, -and as I have loved you during my father’s life, so -will I do in time to come. And I both counsel and -pray you that ye dread the gods, and obey them; -and that ye choose for king him that shall best -provide for the good estate of his people, and that -shall be most courteous and merciful to poor -folk, him that will best keep justice and the right -of the feeble against the mighty, and him that -most boldly shall put him in array to destroy your -enemies; for such ought to be chosen king and -none other.”</p> - -<p>Now when the lords of the land had heard his -reasons abovesaid, and considered his great discretion, -wit, and understanding, they marvelled -greatly, and answered him thus: “We have heard -and understand thy great reasons, and have received -thy good counsels, and therefore we will and -beseech thee that thou reign over us, and have the -lordship upon us. During thy life may there be<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span> -none who shall deserve to be our king rather than -thou.” And thus they chose him to be their king, -and crowned him, and gave him their troth, and -prayed the gods to bless and maintain him.</p> - -<p>That night as Alexander lay on his bed he -dreamed, and in his dream he saw Anectanabus, -the wise Egyptian, come to him; on his head were -two ram’s horns, and his coat was brown. It -seemed that he came to him as he lay, and put his -hand on his shoulder and said, “Stay thou not in -this land of Macedon, but go forth into all lands, -for thou shalt conquer them, and they shall be subject -to thee, and thou shalt not die, except on a soil -of iron, beneath a sky of gold.” Then came to him -one dressed in robes of blue and purple and gold, -covered with all manner of embroidered figures, and -on his head was a strange crown of gold and pearls -and precious stones, and he said, “The God whom -I serve shall teach thee to destroy the empire of the -Persians.” And last there came to him a very fair -lady, tall and graceful, and she looked on him with -love, and said, “O Alexander, my heart’s lord, when -thou hast overcome the Persians, indeed thou shalt -reign over them, and I shall be thy queen and lady-love. -Let this be the sign between thee and me, -that we meet first at the feast of the Lord of -Persia.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_039" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_039.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. HOW ALEXANDER GATHERED -AN ARMY TOGETHER: HOW HE -BUILT ALEXANDRIA AND LAID SIEGE -TO THE CITY OF TYRE.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_039.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">As to the giving in marriage of -the daughter of Darius, the Emperor -of Persia, it is to be told that on a set -day the wise men of the land came -before him, and the painter brought -out to them the portraits he had made, and they -examined them but found none that was worthy to -rule, for one was covetous, and another quarrelsome, -and a third given to much speaking, and -these faults the wise men read in the faces on the -parchment. Then they came to the likeness of -Alexander and all men said “This man is born to -be lord of men” and they brought it before Darius, -and he sent for his daughter Roxana, and made her -stand by the picture, and when she did so, she was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span> -taller than the figure painted thereon. Then Darius -turned away and said nought, but shook his head, -and Roxana took with her the cast-away drawing -and bore it to her own rooms, and kept it safe; and -she vowed offerings to the gods if they would make -this man her lord and husband.</p> - -<p>But Alexander gathered together all the warriors -of the land, and made them a speech: “Lo, barons -of Macedon, Thrace, and Thessaly, and all true -Greeks, how like you now your liege lord: look on -my face and let fear depart: hold up your hearts, -and flee from no alien while Alexander lives. The -gods have granted me that all the barbarians shall -obey me: and there shall be no nation so rich or -great under heaven that my name shall not be -honoured there, for we of Greece shall be praised -and feared over the wide world. Now, then, prepare -ye for war; he who has arms of his own, trusty and -good, let him take them; he who has them not, let -him come to me, and I will furnish him for battle.”</p> - -<p>Then answered him with one voice all the old -knights and peers of his father’s army: “Sire, we -have fought often in hard fields with Sir Philip, -your father, and many winters have gone over our -heads; now our force fails us and our flesh is weak, -for be the flower never so fresh it fades at the last. -Sir, all the days of our youth are long past, we are -over-travelled and tired, our heads are white and too -weak to bear the helmet or to seek adventures of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span> -arms. Excuse us, Lord, we pray, and take with thee -younger men, stout in battle, and fit to deal heavy -strokes.”</p> - -<p>“Nay, by my crown,” said the king, “I cannot -spare my old men; an army of young men will often -break their line in battle, trusting to their own -strength. I choose the older men who do all their -works by plan and counsel.” And the old knights -yielded to his wishes, and all men praised his -wisdom.</p> - -<p>Now the time had come when kings go out to -war, and Alexander took ship from the coast of -Greece and sailed towards Italy. So at the first his -army turned towards Chalcedon, a strong and -mighty city, and he besieged it. And when the -men of the city fought but faintly, Alexander rode -up to the walls and cried out with a loud voice: “O -men of Chalcedon, either fight bravely or yield up -your town without delay”; and they of the city were -so fearful that at the sound of his voice they owned -him for master, and all the land took him for lord. -Then Alexander sailed into Italy and took tribute -of all men; even the mighty Romans sent him sixty -thousand gold pieces, and Europe was subject to -him.</p> - -<p>From Europe the king sailed over the great sea -into Africa, and many days he sought an enemy and -found none, for the fame of him had gone before him. -On a day he sought a temple of the god Ammon<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span> -with his earls and mighty men, and there happed -on the way a marvel. For it fell as he was going, -that a hart with a huge head leaped forth before -them; hardly had man ever seen so noble a beast. -Then said Alexander: “Lo, the emperor of harts, -slay him ere he escape.” And all men shot, but so -fleet was the hart that none could reach him. Then -Alexander bent a bow, and with a mighty shout let -fly at him, and the arrow struck him and pierced -him through, though all men deemed that the hart -was far out of bowshot. Then his men wondered -greatly, and the country folk who saw the shot -deemed that Alexander was indeed some god, and -the name of the place is called in their tongue -Bowshot to this day. But the king went into the -temple and offered great gifts.</p> - -<p>Then went Alexander on his way and came to a -very fruitful land, a land with twelve rivers running -into the sea. And on a night as he lay on his bed -he saw in a dream the god of the land, tall and fair, -clad in a chestnut-brown robe, wearing on his head -a gold crown, and having two horns like ram’s -horns. And as he dreamed the god said to him, -pointing to a high mountain: “King Alexander, -canst thou lift yonder hill and carry it on thy -shoulder.” “Nay,” said Alexander, “who is there -under heaven who might try?” “King,” said the -god, “your name shall ever be remembered, till -yonder hill is removed from its place.” Then Alexander<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span> -laughed out with joy, and he said to the -vision: “I beseech thee now, O Shining One, tell me -as at this time ere thou pass away how I shall die, -and when my day shall come?” Then the god -looked on him sadly, and said: “Truly I hold it -better that a man should not seek to know that -which shall come upon him; yet since thou hast -asked me, I tell thee that thou shalt conquer all -nations, and die by poison, and thy years shall be -finished ere thou reach middle age. Ask me no -more of this as now; far in the Land of the East -thou shalt be told the end of thy days by number.” -And with these words the light in the room flickered -and blew sideways, and Alexander started up, and -behold there was no man with him. Then in the -morning the king ordered his men to build him -there a city, and that city remains to this day, and -the name of it is Alexandria.</p> - -<p>Now when the city was built, and men from -Greece had come thither, with merchants from Tyre -and from far lands, to dwell, to buy, and to sell, -Alexander went forth with his host through all the -land of Egypt, and the men of that land feared him -as one of the high gods. And as he came to a -certain city he found in it an image of a king carved -in black stone, a crown on its head, and a royal -sceptre in its hand; but below it were many words -carven—the words which the god had told the men -of the land many years before. Then Alexander<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span> -asked the chief men of the city: “Sirs, what statue -is this, and what be the words that are written -beneath it?” And the men of that place answered -him: “Truly, O king, this man was Anectanabus, -once king of all this land; yet because he was -bidden of the gods he left us, and the writing below -tells us that he shall come again and free us from -the Persians, and make us a great people. And -some men say that it shall be a son of his that shall -do these great things.” Then Alexander knew that -this was that same Egyptian who had been his -fosterer, and he said to the men of the place: “I -knew the man, and for his sake I will make ye free -from all men, rich and happy shall ye be.” And he -fell at the feet of the statue and kissed it, and they -stood by him in silence.</p> - -<p>But on a day it was told him that they of Tyre -had destroyed a ship of Alexandria, and had spoken -evil of him, and Alexander marched into Syria with -all his host to subdue it and to conquer Tyre. Now -Tyre was a fair city, built on an island in a bay, -with the sea washing up to its walls. And it was -so strong that no army had ever taken it, and so -rich that its merchants were princes and hired -armies to defend them, and all the country round -owned the men of Tyre as their lords. But they of -the city said: “What king shall injure Tyre, for our -walls defend us, and our ships sail every sea, and -bring to us the good things of earth and food and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span> -drink, and our wealth is great, and all men shall -serve us for it?”</p> - -<p>But Alexander and his host were marching -towards them, and one day the men of Tyre saw -the army of Alexander on the plain before them, -for he had taken two strong cities, Damascus and -Sidon, and had made all the land subject to him. -And as they looked the camp seemed to grow and -tents were raised, and no man could count their -number. So Alexander’s army was before the -town, and he thought that he should take it easily, -but not a few troubles were suffered before Tyre -submitted to him.</p> - -<p>Now it fell that many days had been spent in -fruitless assaults on the city before Alexander found -out that its walls were too high for him to take it -by storm. Everywhere were turrets and towers of -defence, and the wild waves of the sea outside beat -on the walls to as much purpose as the army of -Alexander. Then men began to murmur and complain -first of one thing, then of another, and Alexander -ordered them to construct a great castle beside -the city in the sea, and raise it up to the height of -the walls of the city, that he might prevent ships -coming into it to bring food and riches. But when -the tower was nearly finished the army was in sore -strait, for food was wanting in the camp. Princes, -dukes and fierce knights were famishing, yea, all -men were starving.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span></p> - -<p>Then Alexander pitied his men, and resolved to -get provision and help for them, so he sent special -messengers to those tribes which were near, bidding -them to send him help both in men and in food. -And among others he sent to Jaddua, chief bishop -in Jerusalem, and admonished him to send fresh -men for the fight and food for the folk that were -with him, and to pay all the tribute due to Darius -to the Greeks. And he told his scribe to put into -the letter gentle words, saying that it was better to -be the helpers of the men of Macedon than to be -the servants of Darius.</p> - -<p>Now when the messengers came to Jerusalem -they were received by the chief bishop in a great -hall, and when they gave him the king’s letter he -went away into an upper room to read it by himself. -But when he had read it he stayed a little, and then -coming down the steps into the hall he gave this -answer to the envoys: “Sirs, return to Alexander, -and say thus: Many years have passed since I made -oath never to harm Persia, nor to pass in arms -against Darius all the days of his life.” When Alexander -received this answer he was very wroth, and -he vowed to teach the Jews whose orders they -should obey; yet he would not leave the siege of -Tyre, but sent away a part of his army to obtain -food for him and the rest of the Greeks.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_047" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_047.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. TELLS OF THE FORAY OF -KADESH, AND OF ITS ENDING, AND OF -THE TAKING OF THE CITY OF TYRE.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_047.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">Now the chief of the band he sent -was Meleager, one of Alexander’s most -valiant knights, and he had with him -five hundred lances and their men-at-arms. -His orders were to ride through -the valley to the city of Kadesh, which belonged to -Tyre, to drive together all the cattle and flocks in -the plains, and to bring them to the army of -Alexander. So he set out, and with him was Sir -Sampson, a bold knight of the land, who knew all -the country round about. They were so successful -that they gathered together a host of beasts beyond -number, and soon they turned towards Tyre with -delight in their hearts. But before they had travelled -a mile all the country was alarmed, and rose -in arms against them, and a very valiant knight,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span> -Theosell, came riding out to meet them, and to prevent -their getting away before the host appeared. -Now Theosell and his men were armed in plate, and -they made such a sudden rush on the Greeks that -they struck many down and overrode them, so that -those who fell to the ground never rose after, and -their blows were mighty. Then Meleager was -moved with wrath when he saw the Greeks turn -and flee, and mounted as he was on a young horse -he seized his spear and spurred against the enemy, -striking great blows. Sampson, on the other hand, -broke his lance at the first encounter, and struck -out right and left with the broken end, hewing -down his foes; also Aristes, a noble knight, was -one of those who were chief in their resistance to -the foe, and Caulus had no less an enemy than -Theosell himself. The first stroke of Caulus’ sword -fell on the helmet of Theosell, and struck down -through the wooden crest—the great wild boar’s -head—down into the helmet, and before Theosell -had recovered from the blow a great swing of the -sword struck off his head. Now when this noble -knight was fallen to the ground all the folk that -followed him, and were able, fled away, and Meleager -and his men rejoiced that they had slain the leader -of their foes and had won the field.</p> - -<p>Suddenly they were interrupted by the sound of a -horn, and they saw an army marching out of Kadesh -against them under the command of Beritinus, a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span> -great lord of the country. The tale tells that there -were with him thirty thousand lances clad in plate -armour and mounted, with others following on foot, -so that clouds of dust covered them, and the earth -seemed to shake at their tread. Then the Macedonians -were sore dismayed to see such a great host -come out against them, and Meleager was in great -mind to send a message to Alexander, asking him -for aid before they joined battle. But there was no -man who would go on such an errand, or leave his -comrades in danger of death, and all men set their -faces to live and die together.</p> - -<p>The first onset of the foe was a fierce one, and -not few of them, with their chief Beritinus, met their -death, but the Macedonians lost Sampson and many -another noble. Then began a long struggle between -the few Macedonians and their foes, till at last they -were beaten down to a little group of tired, wounded, -and bleeding soldiers, breathless and faint, hardly -able to strike a blow, yet resolved not to flee. Then -the brave knight Aristes, although sore wounded -himself, slew one of the enemy, and, leaping on his -horse, spurred off to Alexander for help before all -the little band was destroyed. Little need to tell -that the king was sore grieved, and gathering together -in haste as many of his knights as he could, -he rode off to the rescue of Meleager through the -valley, leaving Tyre and the camp. And ever as he -went his eyes dropped tears as he thought of his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span> -good knights slain, and most of all he grieved for -Sampson, whom he loved well.</p> - -<p>But while Alexander was riding through the -valley away from Tyre the men of the town were -busy. He had finished a great tower in the water -over against the city wall, and had left a guard -within it to keep it till his return. But Sir Balaan -of Tyre, one of the chief men of the town, prepared -great machines and engines for casting stones into -the tower, and when he had driven the guard from -its walls, he sallied out of the town with a host of -armed men and attacked it. Then the men of the -tower defended it sharply, and sent out showers of -darts and great stones. But Balaan fought so bitterly, -and sent such a cloud of stones, that none of -the Greeks could show themselves on the tower, -and his slaves brought engines and threw down the -top of the tower and tilted it into the sea, and all -the men in it were slain. Then he got boats and -barges and attacked the bottom of the castle, and -broke down all its lower part, and threw the heaps -into the sea, and the winds and the sea helped him, -and a storm arose and beat the pieces small, so that -not one beam remained fastened to another. Thus -this great work was destroyed in a day, and Balaan -returned to the city and barred the gate as before.</p> - -<p>By this time Alexander had come out of the valley -and reached the plain of Kadesh. Before him he -saw here and there a few of his men fighting in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span> -scattered groups, while others of the enemy were -collecting the cattle and sheep to drive them home -again. All over the plain he saw his men struck -down surrounded by heaps of the enemy. Then his -eyes flamed out with wrath at the sight of their -danger, and he struck spurs into Bucephalus his -horse, and springing out with a spear rode straight -at the thickest of his foes; and ever as he rode he -struck them to earth, so that through the thickest of -the throng his way was marked by a clear wide path -and his nobles rode after him. And when his lance -broke he drew out his long sword and struck down -all before him till no man of the enemy was on the -plain who was not stricken down and a prisoner. -Then he turned to those of his men who were still -alive and comforted them with fair words, and -much he praised their valour, and then bound up -their wounds, and the king left order that the dead -should be buried under stone or marble monuments, -and gathering together the prey, great and small, -flocks and herds, he returned with his men to Tyre.</p> - -<p>The tale tells that as he rode out of the valley and -came into view of Tyre his first look was towards -the great tower he had built, and sore was he grieved -when he found that it had been destroyed, and that -his soldiers that were in it had perished; and all -the Macedonians mourned, and they trusted no -longer that Tyre would be taken. But that same -night Alexander was sleeping by himself in his tent,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span> -and he thought that he saw a great vine before him, -and that he put out his hand and plucked one grape -out of a ripe cluster. Then he flung it on the floor -and put his foot on it, and when he had broken it, -lo! wine flowed out, so much that it was a wonder -to see. In the morning, when the king rose, he -called to him a wise man, and bade him tell what -the dream should mean; and the wise man said: -“O king, fear not; Tyre is thine own; for this berry -that thou didst break is the town of Tyre, and thou -shalt tread under thy feet its towers within few days.” -Then the king rejoiced, and set about to make many -plans, if by any means he might come within the -walls of Tyre.</p> - -<p>Soon another tower was in building, right in the -same place as the first had been, half as large again -and higher than the town-walls, firmly anchored and -fastened so that it could not move, close against the -sea-wall of the town. And when the tower was -built Alexander clad himself in armour of steel, its -plates shining in the sun, and went to the top of it -and looked over the town and saw its walls, and -then he looked to his camp and saw the Greeks, and -he resolved to make no more delay but to take it by -storm at once. So he ordered the Macedonians to -make ready for the battle, and when they saw him -on the walls of Tyre to lose no time, but each man -to follow him. Then began the beating of drums -and the loud blare of the trumpets till the town and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span> -camp rang with their brazen strokes, and all men -rushed to the assault of the walls. The archers -came within bowshot of the walls, covered with -great shields which they held before them, each -shield covering two men, and shot keenly at every -mark that showed itself, and their arrows were -deadly as adders; nor were they of the town less -eager to return their bowshot, and from the walls -they cast great stones among the Greeks. Suddenly -the gates of the town opened, and the Tyrians made -a sally out, wounding and killing many of the -archers, for they were good spearmen, and could -cast the dart.</p> - -<p>But Alexander and his princes had passed up into -the tower, and some of the lords were armed with -lances, and some bore huge two-handed swords, and -many carried the battle-axe, and a few had cross-bows -which shot great bolts of steel. Then from -the tower they passed on to the sea-wall of Tyre and -fought their way among a crowd of foes, Alexander -ever the first. Long were it to tell of the fight and -of his valour, for they of the town worthily withstood -him, and ere they made sure their footing on -the town-wall, many knights had been stricken -down backward into the deep water. But when -they saw that, the Greeks became maddened with -rage, and no wound could make them pause, and as -they obtained a footing they fell to shooting with -cross-bows, and with their great catapults, each stone<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span> -like a man’s head, and the yeomen got out great -crowbars and began to tear down the turrets and -battlements; while the knights hurried forward -beating down their opponents. At last a breach in -the walls was made, and then the host of Alexander -rushed into the town, eager to revenge the death of -so many of their comrades, and the men of Tyre -thronged thick to the wall to guard the entrance. -But Alexander forced his way through them all and -over the broken wall into the city, and the first man -he met was Balaan. Short was the fight, for -one stroke of his mighty sword laid Balaan low, -and he was thrown into the sea beneath the walls. -Then when the Tyrians were driven from the walls -the Greeks clambered up them with all manner of -ladders, on each step a cluster, and those who had -no ladders climbed up the stones without them, and -in short time Tyre was in their hands, for after the -death of Sir Balaan no man could lead the men of -the town or give them heart to fight.</p> - -<p>Then Alexander commanded to cast down the -walls of Tyre, and when it was done it came into -his mind to punish the men of Jerusalem for their -refusal to send him help against Tyre, and his army -moved down towards the city. And on his way he -conquered the land of the Philistines, and burned -down the city of Gaza.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_055" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_055.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"><ins class="corr" id="tn-55" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'CHAP. VII'"> -CHAPTER VII</ins>. HOW ALEXANDER CAME TO -JERUSALEM, HOW THE BISHOP MET -HIM, AND WHAT THERE BEFELL HIM.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_055.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">When the word was brought to -Jerusalem that Tyre was taken, and that -Alexander was on the march towards the -city to punish it for its disobedience, -there was heavy grief and woe, and -Jaddua the bishop was in great awe, for he said to -himself: “Now have I but a few days ago refused -to obey this great warrior, and when he the most -needed help I denied it him; better had it been for me -that anything should have happened before I grieved -this man, and did not his command. Woe is me and -my city.” And Jaddua called together the men of the -city, and said: “Now is Alexander at hand, and -will destroy our city and us unless heaven help us.”</p> - -<p>So men went through the streets, and it was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span> -ordered that all the inhabitants of the city should -fast for three days, men, women and children, and -that they should appear in the temple and cry with -clean hearts to the King of Heaven to keep them -safe from this mighty conqueror. And so it was -that the whole city fell to prayers and fasting, and -woe was on every face. But on the third night, -when all the city was asleep and the sacrifices ended, -then a shining one stood by the bishop and spoke -joyful words to him, saying: “Sir Bishop, I bring -thee tidings of bliss and solace. I am sent to thee -from the Master of men to bid thee be not cast -down. Now, therefore, rise up early and array all -thy city, its streets and its houses, in fair attire, open -its gates wide, let every man be apparelled in clean -and milk-white clothes. And as for thee and thy -priests and prelates, clothe thee in the dress of thy -rule, and when this conqueror comes, go ye forth to -meet him. And fear not to greet him nobly, for he -must ride and reign over the round world to the -day of his death.”</p> - -<p>Then when the day broke the bishop rose and -called together all the chief of the people, and told -them his vision and what the voice had bade him -do; and all his clergy and the city assented that so -it should be, that the city should be adorned and -that all men should go forth to meet this their -sovereign. So all the people hurried home and -brought out their richest treasure to adorn the city.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span></p> - -<p>The broad streets were arched over with awnings -of rich and rare stuffs. The ground was covered -with Tartary silk and with taffeta, that so noble a -ruler should not tread on bare earth. The pavement -was covered over with woven stuffs, and -canopies of fine linen were stretched on high over -the gates of the city to keep off the heat of the sun, -and they were gathered on either side with silken -ropes, and drawn back like curtains, while the -houses were hung with Indian stuff of bright blue -embroidered with stars, even to the eaves. Thus -was the town adorned, and when the gates were -opened, men without might deem that they looked -in on one of the seven heavens.</p> - -<p>And now the people of the city began to come -out in procession, clothed in their richest robes. -First came the bishop with the priests of the temple, -dressed in royal magnificence. He wore under all -a long robe covered with birds and beasts embroidered -in blue and purple, and on that a robe -with gold skirts, with many shining stones sprinkled -all over, and set stiff with sapphires and other gems, -and powdered with pearls of the purest hue. Over -this he cast on a cope of chestnut colour with rich -ribands of gold, and round the hem a border of -violet flowers, embroidered with satyrs and fauns -and the wild beasts of the forest. And on his head -he wore a great mitre forged out of pure gold, -bordered with pearls, and covered with such precious<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span> -stones that no man might look upon it, for it struck -out shimmering shafts of light like the beams of the -bright sun. And with the bishop came the doctors -of law, the judges of the city, and they were all -dressed in tunics of scarlet silk brought from Tartary, -and were loaded with their golden chains of -office; and after them the clergy, all clothed in their -brightest dress. Such a sight had never been seen -before, nor will it be seen again.</p> - -<p>After the bishop and his attendants the whole -city came in order, Mayor, merchants, masters and -men, widows and wives, all came with their companies, -and each of them dressed in white linen -pure as the driven snow. Then a company of -children came forth with bells and banners and -blazing torches; some bore censers with silver chains -and burning spices within, whose smoke rose to the -clouds, two bore a cushion of brown velvet embroidered -with pearls to be held before the bishop -for his book to rest on, others bore candlesticks of -gold and of silver, and the relics of the temple, the -richest of the world. And all the procession went -on till they came to a little place outside the town -whence they could see the temple, and there they -abode the coming of the king.</p> - -<p>And now they heard the tramp of feet and the -distant sound of arms and horses, for all men kept -silence in fear and doubt and half-hope, and they -knew not how soon they might be ridden down and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span> -slain or made slaves, or whether they should indeed -be saved as the bishop had told them. Then they -saw Alexander riding up with a host of dukes and -princes and earls, and at the same time the king -caught sight of their array, and when Alexander -saw this multitude of men in milk-white clothes he -thought it a marvel, and he turned and saw the -crowd of priests in maniples and stoles, and the -doctors of the law and the prelates in their robes; -and amidst them all, the chief amongst them, the -bishop, dressed in his array of gold and purple and -fine linen; and the king’s eyes fixed on him and looking -up he beheld on his mitre a plate of fine gold, -and on it was graven the great name of The Maker -of Men. Then the king commanded his knights to -approach no nearer on pain of their lives, but all, -great and small, to remain behind, and he spurred -on his horse till he came up to the spot where the -bishop was standing, and then jumping down he -fell on his knees before the bishop on the cold earth, -and beating his breast worshipped the Holy Name -that he saw written on his head.</p> - -<p>Then all the people bowed themselves down before -Alexander as he stood up, and meekly kneeling they -cried with a keen voice: “Long may he live, long -may he live.” Then the fairest lady of them all -came out and cried: “Lo, Alexander, the noblest -lord under heaven, long may he live, the mighty -emperor, the wielder of all the world, the mightiest<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span> -on the earth.” And all the people of the city -answered her with one voice: “Long may he live, -long may he live.” Then stepped out a man and -he cried out: “Lo, he that overcometh all men, who -shall be overcome never; The greatest, the most -glorious, that ever was made by God.” And all the -people cried out at once: “Long may he live, long -may he live.”</p> - -<p>Now there were with Alexander many of the rulers -of the land of Syria who had yielded up their lands -to him, and when they saw him bow down, as they -thought, to the bishop of the Jews, they held it a -great wonder. Then Parmeon, one of Alexander’s -princes, went up to him, and asked him why he -bowed down to the bishop of Jews, when all other -men bowed before him instead. And Alexander -answered him: “Nay, I neither hailed him nor -bowed down to him, but to the King of Heaven -alone, the Father of gods and of men. For many -days ago, when I was in Macedon, one appeared to -me in such a dress and shape as this man now wears. -And I mused in my mind how I might win Asia, -and he bade me fear not, but that all the land should -be mine, and when I saw this man, verily he seemed -the same god who had spoken to me. Now have I -good hope, by the help of this God whose Name is -written yonder, to conquer Darius and to destroy -the empire of the Persians.”</p> - -<p>And now the bishop had greeted Alexander full<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span> -lowly, and all men had done him homage, and -they prayed the king to enter into the town, and -Alexander marvelled to see how fair a city it was, -and the people of the land received him with -reverence and joy as he were the leader of them all, -or as one come down from the gods. Then went -they through the town, and the bishop brought them -to the temple that the great knight and king, Dan -Solomon, had built, and the wise men of the temple -came forth, and Alexander heard of their lore. -Then came one of the oldest of them all and spoke -words to the bishop, and he arose and bowed down -before Alexander and said: “O king, verily there are -words concerning thee and thy deeds in the books -of our holy place,” and he ordered the temple -guardians, and they brought out a huge roll, a broad -book full of dark sayings of the times to be, and -there was the saying of a mighty seer, one Daniel -by name, and Alexander read how that the men -out of Greece should utterly destroy the people of -Persia.</p> - -<p>Thereupon was Alexander merry of heart, for he -deemed that the time had come, and that he should -indeed beat down Persia, and he ordered his men to -fetch great gifts, and to each man he gave chains of -gold, and jewels of pearls and of rubies, and to the -bishop he gave store of bezants, great round heavy -golden coins, such as bishops love, and he showed -him a heap of golden talents, but the bishop feared<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span> -to take such riches. Then said the king: “O Bishop, -ask what thou wilt in this world, anything mayest -thou ask that I may give, and I will grant it thee -ere I go hence.” And the bishop bowed him down -to the ground and said: “O King Alexander, this -thing of all others I deeply desire, durst I name it, -that thou wouldst grant us the use of our law, as -our fathers before us have obeyed it, and if it may -be, grant us that we pay no tribute for seven years, -in memory of the joy of thy coming, then shall all -men pray for thee and serve thee, and, if I may but -add one thing, grant to those of Media and of -Babylon that they may freely obey our law.”</p> - -<p>“That grant I thee,” said the king, “ask now for -thyself, and be served.” “Nay, lord, no more, if I -may have your love and your lordship while my life -lasts,” said the bishop, and he and all men meekly -thanked Alexander. And Alexander appointed a -lord to dwell in the town, hear what men said, and -be his viceroy, and the bishop blessed him, and -he departed into the cities near at hand, and all of -them came out to welcome him and to acknowledge -him their lord.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_063" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_063.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. TELLS HOW DARIUS -THE EMPEROR SENT PRESENTS TO -ALEXANDER, AND WHAT WAS THE -PRESENT SENT BACK TO HIM.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_063.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">But it fell that some of them -of Tyre had fled into the court of -Darius, and they complained to him of -their city destroyed, and “all this,” said -they, “we suffered because we obeyed the -great king, the Emperor Darius.” Then began the -Emperor to question them concerning this Alexander, -what manner of man he was, what was his -stature and his strength, whether he were brave or -no. And they, willing to bring shame on the name -of their enemy, shewed Darius a painting of him on -parchment. But when Darius looked on it he burst -into laughter, and all men smiled, and he said: -“Well for ye, ye men of Tyre, if ye were beaten by -such a man as this, for never saw I such a warrior,”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span> -for they had painted him a little shrivelled creature, -more like an ape than a man, with long arms, and -one leg longer than the other, blinking and stupid, -the most miserable object that had ever been seen. -And Darius drove the men of Tyre from his presence, -and asked his wise men concerning Alexander, who -and what manner of man he was; and they told him -how he was the king’s son of Macedon, and how -they had chosen him as fit to be the husband of -Roxana, and how he had rejected him because of -his small stature.</p> - -<p>Then Darius bade search for his portrait and -bring it before him that he might look on him; but -when they sought it they found it not among the -other likenesses, for it is to be said that Roxana the -Queen had borne it with her and treasured it up -with her chief treasures. So he thought within -himself that he would prove the heart and wit of the -Greek, and he commanded, and they brought him -presents for Alexander, and first was a ball covered -with gold; “for,” said he, “he must have something -to play with;” then he added a hat, “and,” said -he, “this is better than a crown;” and last they -brought him a head-covering made of twigs and -osiers; “this is better for such an one as thou, O -Alexander, than a bright steel helm.” And Darius -fell back upon his throne, laughing, and ordered -messengers to take them to Alexander, bearing with -them a letter under his broad seal.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span></p> - -<p>So Darius called for his scribes, and they came -before him, and he ordered them to write a letter to -Alexander, and this was the form of the letter -he wrote:</p> - -<p>“DARIUS, the Emperor, king of kings, lord of -lords, predecessor of princes, equal to the Sun, the -lord of the earth, to Alexander, our subject and our -servant.</p> - -<p>“For it is reported to us that thou, through the -vanity and vainglory of thy heart, hast got together -warriors to lay waste parts of our kingdom, and hast -now with thee a number of wretches, thieves and -vagabonds, and by their means dost think to wield -at thy will the power of Persia:</p> - -<p>“Now, therefore, be warned in time, for thou art -weak before me, even if thou hadst gathered against -my empire all the men in the world outside it, for -my people are so many that they are like to the stars -of heaven in number. Submit in time; the Persians -are famed to be unbeaten.</p> - -<p>“It is told me that thou, a dwarf and weakling, -dost covet the rule of all the lands under the wide -heavens, and that, like a storm of wind-blown snow, -driven hither and thither, thou passest over all lands -with a train of ruffians behind thee. I have not yet -armed my men against thee; beware, when my hand -shall be raised, thy life is done. Turn again, boy, -to thy mother’s care; take these toys I send thee. -Know that the riches of Persia are so great, that a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span> -heap of its gold would shut out the light of the sun, -and blame thyself for all the evils that shall fall -on thee if thou disobey.</p> - -<p>“Now, therefore, return at once to Macedon, or, -not as the son of Philip, but as a leader of a band of -petty thieves shalt thou be hung.”</p> - -<p>And when the letter was written the bearer of the -kind’s seal came forward, and the letter was closed, -and cords of green silk run through the edges, and -dipped in wax, and the great seal was stamped upon -the wax, and it was given to the messengers of the -king, with strait commandment that they should -tarry neither night nor day until the king’s letter -was given into the hands of Alexander.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp55" id="i_066f" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_066f.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption">When he saw the letter, his heart -was filled with rage nevertheless -he read it out in the hearing -of his knights & nobles -& they were moved with fear.</div> -</div> - -<p>Now, Alexander was standing in the midst of his -barons when the messengers of Darius arrived, and -as their commandment was urgent, he bade them to -be brought to him at once. And when he saw the -letter his heart was filled with rage, nevertheless he -read it out in the hearing of his knights and nobles; -and when these heard it their hearts were moved -with fear of the mighty words of Darius. So -Alexander looked on them and he saw that they were -afraid, and he spoke to them: “What now! my -worthy warriors, my bold knights and barons, the -best under heaven that ever king had, let it never -be told against you that the proud boasting of a -letter of Darius brought you to doubt yourselves, -else were it shame indeed. Look you, now, every -<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span>day we ride through a village you may hear as loud -a yelping from any cur at a cottage door, but loud -as they bark they never bite. But methinks his -letter should rather make you rejoice, when he tells -you what treasure of gold he has, for it needs but -to be bold and that treasure shall be yours.” And -then the anger in the king’s heart broke out, and -turning to the messengers of Darius, he said: “But -for ye, that dare to bring such threats to a Greek, ye -shall learn the anger of Alexander. Take them by -the throats,” said he to the attendants, “and for -their master’s sake, hang them on the gallows.”</p> - -<p>Then the messengers were amazed, and with a -keen cry called to Alexander: “Alas, O king, what -fault lies in us, if it please thee, that we should die -thus suddenly.” “The sayings of your sovereign -lord,” said he, “force me to such deeds as I would -never have done else: lo, now, he calls me a thief in -this letter.” But they fell on their knees before him -and said: “O king, Darius himself dictated those -words, for he knew not of your knighthood, nor of -your strength, nor of your worthiness, and so he -wrote boldly; but grant us our lives, and leave to -go, and we will show him all your power and your -might.” So Alexander forgave them and made -them a great feast in his own tent, and made much -of them, so that he won their hearts; and they said -to him: “Sir Alexander, send with us, we pray thee, -but one thousand of your knights, and we will<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span> -deliver Darius into your hands.” But the king -answered them with little love: “Rejoice in your -feast, O messengers; verily no knight of mine shall -be sent to aid in betraying your lord.”</p> - -<p>But in the night, one of the Persian messengers, -a little man and a crooked, having one arm longer -than the other, came to the tent of the king, and -when he was admitted he asked that all men might -be put forth. So they were left alone, and the -messenger drew from his breast a leathern roll, and -in it was a blue embroidered silk bag of fair work, -the lion on one side and the rising sun on the other, -and he laid it in the hand of the king. Then Alexander -opened it, and found within a scarf of green -covered with fair half-open flowers, and he looked -on the messenger, and he answered: “O king, the -fairest dame in Persia sends thee this to the end -that thou mayest wear it in thy helm. One -day, if the gods will, thou shalt see her and -know her name.” Then the messenger bowed -low, and went his way to his fellows, and all men -slept.</p> - -<p>The next day the messengers were called before -Alexander and his council, and a letter was given -them, closely sealed up, to bear to Darius. Now -this was the form of the letter:</p> - -<p>“I, ALEXANDER OF MACEDON, son and -heir of Philip the defender of Greece, and of -Olympias the fair, to thee Darius, prince of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span> -Persians, the conqueror of every land—as you say -yourself—thus write under my seal.</p> - -<p>“Let no man despise any neighbour who seems -to be smaller and poorer than himself, since the -lowest is often raised to the heavens, and the -proudest ground to dust. And thou, Emperor of -the World as thou callest thyself, dost dishonour to -thy name when thou sendest such gifts out of -Persia. Thou speakest as if thou wert one of the -gods that cannot die. I am but a mortal man, and -will attack thee.</p> - -<p>“Thou hast destroyed thine own renown. If I -am beaten, thou thyself hast called me but a petty -thief, and no honour shalt thou have: if I overcome -thee, the greater glory is mine, and men shall ever -tell how I have conquered a king, the greatest -in the world. Nevertheless I hope that one of -thy tales is true, that of the greatness of thy -riches, for it has raised our hopes, and sharpened -our wits, and made us eager for battle, that we -may the sooner exchange our poverty for thy -riches.</p> - -<p>“But as for thy presents, know, O Darius, that -the ball thou hast sent represents the world, and -thou hast handed over the mastery of the world to -me: the hollow hat held before the head when it is -bowed, shows that all kings shall bow before me: -and this headpiece of twigs is to say that ever shall -I overcome, and be overcome never. In the day of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span> -thy defeat, O Darius, remember my interpretation -of thy gifts.”</p> - -<p>Then great gifts were given to the messengers, -and they were sent out of the camp to Darius, and -Alexander made all his preparations for the war -against the Persians. But when Darius had read -the letter of Alexander, and heard the words of the -messengers, he was sore angered, and he made up -his mind to fall on the Greeks and to destroy the -power of Alexander. So he wrote to two of his -greatest satraps, the duke Priam and the duke -Antigonus, ordering them to get their forces together -and to go out and seize this insolent lad who -was so bold as to defy the army of the Persians, -and who had entered the borders of Asia with such -a large number of followers. “Then,” said Darius, -“bring him bound to me, that he may be well beaten -with scourges and then I will sew him up in a -mantle of bright purple and send him to his mother. -Since he is so proud, the punishment of a child will -be best for him, and when all is over he may play -at home at bowls or handball with his mother’s -servants.”</p> - -<p>Now this letter reached the dukes soon after they -had fought a great battle with Alexander’s men and -had been defeated; so when they had broken the -king’s broad seal and turned the leaf to read the -letter, they looked on one another, and they thought -that Darius could not know what manner of man<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span> -Alexander was, or how hard it was to stand before -him in battle. So Sir Priam the duke wrote to -Darius by a special messenger that this child, whom -they had been ordered to seize, had wasted all their -lands, and had passed through the province, and -that when they had raised an army to meet him, -neither prince nor soldier could face him sword in -hand: and the letter ended by begging the king to -come at once to their aid with as many men as he -could, that the honour of Persia might not be put -to shame.</p> - -<p>So Darius called a council to advise him as to the -best means of meeting Alexander, but before they -were met another messenger came with tidings that -the Greeks had crossed the river that was called the -boundary of Persia, and that they were now in the -Emperor’s own land. And when this was told the -council all men wondered how that Alexander should -be so bold as to enter Persia, or to disobey the letter -of Darius, and they advised the king to write once -again to him, reproving him, and that if he still -disobeyed, that he should be crushed to the earth, -and the king did so, for he knew not how a man -could disobey his order.</p> - -<p>The tale tells that when this letter reached Alexander -it found him in great grief, for messengers -had come from Macedon telling that his mother was -like to die, and Alexander had bidden his men strike -their tents and return home to Macedon. So the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span> -messengers drew near trembling, and gave the letter -of Darius to Alexander, and with it was a glove full -of poppy seeds, which are almost the smallest of all -seeds. So Alexander read the letter and he laughed -out, for Darius had told him that even the gods -obeyed him on earth, and now bade him return to -Macedonia ere his wrath should arise. “And as a -token,” added Darius, “I send thee this glove full -of seeds, count them if thou canst, and thou hast -the number of knights in my army. But the seeds -are numberless, and so are the soldiers I rule.”</p> - -<p>Then Alexander called to him the messengers, -and said: “Hearken, and tell the king that which -you see and hear.” Then he took the glove and -poured out some of the seeds into his hand, and -biting them he said: “Here I see that the soldiers -of Darius are passing many, but they seem to be -soft and feeble, as these seeds prove. But be they -soft or hard, it matters but little.” And he wrote a -letter to Darius telling him that though he was -returning to Macedon it was not on account of the -threats of the Persians, but because his mother was -at point of death, and that he would return with an -army larger than before. “And in answer to thy -glove full of seeds, I send thee a purse full of black -pepper, that thou mayst see the comparison between -the Persian and the Macedonian.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_073" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_073.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. TELLS HOW ALEXANDER -DESTROYED THEBES AND HOW IT WAS -REBUILT AND OF HIS RETURN TO -PERSIA.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_073.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">The tale tells that when the -messengers of Darius departed, loaded -with rich presents, to carry the message -of Alexander to their lord, Alexander and -his host set out on their homeward way, -and passing through Arabia, a great army of Persians -fell on them, under the leadership of duke Amonta, -the head of all that province. Long were it to tell of -this fight, for Amonta was one of the bravest of the -Persians, and it seemed that Alexander had found -an equal. Two days the fight had lasted, from the -grey morning till dark night; many were the noble -knights overthrown on both sides, and such showers -of blood fell that the fetlocks of the horses were -covered with blood. But on the third day, the story<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span> -tells that in broad mid-day the battle was at its -highest, when suddenly the sky began to grow dark, -and, looking up, men saw darkness over the face of -the sun. Then all men feared for the wrath of the -gods, but Alexander cried out to the Greeks with a -mighty voice: “See, the Greeks have conquered the -sun of Persia,” and with a great shout, the men of -Macedon fell again on the Persians, and they turned -and fled from the field, and many of them were slain, -struck from their horses by the mighty blows of the -Greeks. Then Amonta the duke was borne away -from the field by the mad rush of the frightened -horses, and his wounds were sore, so that he could -not face the enemy, and at the last he fled with -the rest.</p> - -<p>But so it was, that when he came to the Court of -Darius, that he found there the king’s messengers, -who had just arrived from the camp of Alexander, -for they had ridden slowly with the letter and the -gifts. And Darius the emperor was seated on his -daïs, holding the letter in his hand unopened, and -he questioned the messengers: “What said he of -the seeds I sent him?” Then the messengers -answered: “The king caught up a handful of -them and bit them, and he said, truly the Persians -were many, but there was one thing that pleased him, -they were but soft.” Then Darius put forth his hand -to the purse and bit at one of the grains in it, and he -said: “Truly, be his men even as few as these, if<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span> -they be but as keen and sharp, all the world would -be too weak to meet them in arms.”</p> - -<p>Then the Duke Amonta spake up among the -peers who were standing round, and he said: “By -your leave, my most gracious lord, this king leads -but few men, but never were there fiercer in the field -than they are. For I fell on them with an army -greater than their own by five thousand men, and -yet they defeated us and slew many fierce earls and -brave knights, and threw down my banner. Three -days we fought with hard blows on either side, yet at -the last hardly did I escape unslain from their hands. -Yet was Alexander none the prouder for their victory, -but he buried the dead Greeks and Persians side by -side in the grave with all honour.” Then the King -of Persia grieved for the death of his knights, but -he rejoiced more at the going of Alexander.</p> - -<p>The march of Alexander took him on through -Cilicia and over the mountains of Taurus and into -the land of Troy, and there he saw the place where -Troy had once been, and the famous river Scamander, -and grieved because there was no noble -poet like Homer to tell of his deeds. And at the -last he came to Macedon, and there he found his -mother mended of her malady, and great was his -joy. Then he stayed with her some days rejoicing, -and he got together fresh soldiers, and set his -face against the land of Persia, ready to begin a -journey from which he was never to return.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span></p> - -<p>Now Alexander marched through the land of -Greece, and the story tells of many adventures -which fell to his lot, for some cities welcomed him -gladly, and others closed their gates against him, -and once the horses of his army were like to have -been lost for want of forage, so that his knights -feared, and murmured against him; but the tale -tells chiefly how he warred against Thebes and -Athens, and what there befell him. Now the town -of Thebes was famous for deeds of arms, and Alexander -sent to the town to ask for four bold knights -to go with him to the war with Darius; but the folk -of Thebes shut the gates of the town, and bade him -pass on if he did not wish to meet his death at their -hands. Then Alexander laughed out in scorn and -said: “Ye be brave men, O Thebans, the mightiest -on earth, and now ye have proffered war to my -princes and to me. Why shut ye your gates, for -honour bids you come out and meet me in the field -to maintain your words?”</p> - -<p>Then the siege of Thebes began: he placed four -thousand archers round the town, with orders to -shoot at every wight that showed himself on the -walls; he set two thousand men, armed with coats -of mail and plate armour, to dig down the walls and -buildings; one thousand were told off to fire the -gates of the town, and three thousand were appointed -to the engines of war. Alexander got together too -a body of slingers to help any of these that were<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span> -overpowered. Now when all things were set, the -trumpets blew out and the assault commenced. -First the archers advanced, covered with their broad -shields, till they got within bowshot of the walls, -and all at once the hemp cords were drawn and the -arrows flew through the air. Then the arbalasters -bent their cross-bows and out whirred the quarrels, -crashing through the coats of mail. The engines -shot out their great stones into the towers, and then -the fire began to burst out at the gates, and soon -the four gates of the town were in flames, and the -town itself began to burn. Then those who were -unslain in the town yielded them up.</p> - -<p>But there were two minds in the camp as to -Thebes; some of Alexander’s peers rejoiced to see -the town burning, but a minstrel of Thebes, Hismon -by name, came before Alexander with a sad face, -asking Alexander to have some mercy on the town. -Then said the king: “Why art thou so sad of cheer, -my clerk, before me?” and the minstrel answered: -“O mighty conqueror, if by any means thou canst -show mercy on our rich town.” Then was Alexander -wroth that any man should be sad before him -at what the king had willed, and without more -words he gave strait command that the walls of the -town should be beaten down and every house in it -burnt; and that done he went on his way with his -men, and many of the Thebans went with him, for -that they had no longer a city.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span></p> - -<p>The tale tells that one of the knights of Thebes -who followed Alexander’s host, a valiant and a -mighty man, asked at the temple of his god when -Thebes should be rebuilt and who should build it, -and the god answered: “He who shall build the -town shall conquer thrice in strife; when that shall -be, then shall he raise the walls.” Now as the -knight returned to the army of Alexander he heard -the herald proclaiming with the sound of a trumpet -that the king would hold a tournament at Corinth, -and that great games should there be played. So -when the day came the Theban knight came into -the ring, and asked of Alexander permission to -wrestle, and the king appointed a champion to -wrestle with him, and soon the champion was -thrown. Then another wrestler came forth, and he -too was cast to the earth. And Alexander said: -“Now, in faith, if thou conquer but once again, -thou shalt be crowned for the noblest wrestler in -Greece.” Then came forth a mighty man, the tallest -of the Macedonians, and the Theban knight deemed -that he should indeed be beaten, but he thought on -the words of the god, and the love of his city filled -him, and they scarce grappled before he threw the -giant on the ground, and a great shout went up -from all men.</p> - -<p>Then he was brought to the king and knelt -before him, and Alexander took a fair gold crown -filled with precious stones, and set it on his head;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span> -and the heralds came to him and said: “Tell us thy -name, O noble knight, that we may write it in our -books,” And he said: “Truly, sirs, my name is -Cityless.” “How so,” said the king; “what -name is that, and how got you it?” “My lovely -lord,” said the knight, “before you came I had a -people and a town, now have I none, and Cityless -am I, and Cityless must be my name.” Then the -king knew that he was a knight of Thebes, and his -heart relented for the city, and he gave orders to -cry aloud that all men might return with the knight -to rebuild the town in its first state. So was the -saying of the god fulfilled.</p> - -<p>So Alexander went on his way through the land -of Greece, and from each town he received help and -tokens of his lordship. But two great cities refused -at first, the cities of Athens and Sparta, though -afterwards they obeyed him. Then he came to the -ocean and sailed over into Asia, and with him were -two hundred thousand men, and tidings came to -Darius, and he called his council and said unto -them: “Lo, how this Greek grows in might, the -more I despise him the greater his power. I sent -him playthings, but now he will master us if we -take not heed.” Then said the king’s brother to -him: “If your majesty do not as this man does, we -may leave our land to him, for in strife he helps his -men in all their needs, and so his name increases.” -And another lord spoke: “This Macedonian is like<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span> -a lion who leaps on his prey with joy.” “How so?” -said Darius, and the knight answered: “Years -agone, I was sent with your heralds to Philip his -father to claim our tribute, and then I saw and -heard him. For your herald told how all men -would gather at your orders against the foe of the -empire—Medes, Parthians, Italians—and the youth -said: ‘Yes, but one wolf will worry many sheep, -and a Greek army will rout many barbarians,’ for -so he called the army of the great king.” So Darius -got together his army.</p> - -<p>The tale tells that Alexander on a day went to -bathe in a river, and the king was heated and the -river cold, so that he fell sick of a fever and was -like to have died. And all the men of his army -mourned, and said: “Did Darius but know this he -would fall on us with his might;” and truly they -did well to grieve, for the health of the head keeps -all the body well. Then one Philip the Leech, a -young man, but well skilled in all manner of medicine, -came to the tent of Alexander, and said: “My -lord, I can cure you in few hours with a syrup of -herbs.” When the duke Parmenides heard this he -was jealous of Philip, for he feared that Alexander -would promote him to great power, so he came -privily to the king, and said: “O king Alexander, -take not the drink of Philip, and trust him not, for -verily it has been told me that Darius has offered -his fair daughter and great wealth to the man that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span> -shall slay thee,” and with that he showed the king -a letter in which these things were written. Now -Philip had brought the cup to Alexander, and the -king stretched out his hand, and looked him in the -face, and took the cup, and drank it, and gave the -letter to Philip, and the physician looked on it, and -said: “My life for thine, O king, as I am guiltless -of evil towards thee.” So Alexander fell into a -sleep, and all men kept such watch that no noise -was heard in the camp, and when he awoke he was -whole and healthy. So he called Philip the Leech -to him, and gave him great rewards, but Parmenides -the traitor he beheaded.</p> - -<p>Then marched he through the land of Media and -Armenia till he came to the great river, the river -Euphrates; and there was no ford over which the army -could pass, so needs must they make a bridge, and -men brought boats and bound them together with -chains, and then they passed over, first the horses and -the baggage, and then the army. And when they -were all over the king took his axe and smote the -chains in sunder so that the swift stream drove down -the boats, and the bridge was broken; then turning to -his men, he said: “If we flee, here shall we be overtaken -and slain; better is it that never we turn our -back to the foe, for he that follows has the flower of -victory, and in no wise he that flees. Be happy and -rejoice, for never shall we see Macedon till the barbarians -bow before us—then shall we blithe return.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_082" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_082.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. HOW ALEXANDER DEFEATED -THE PERSIANS, AND HOW HE -WENT TO THE FEAST OF DARIUS.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_082.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">Now for the first time the -armies of the Macedonians and the Persians -came in face of each other, and -hopes of victory were on either side, for -the Persians were many, and their battle-leaders -were five hundred noble knights. The sun -shone brightly, the trumpets rang out against each -other, and the long streamers of the lances danced -in the wind; the horses pranced, and the young -knights clashed their arms. Soon Darius ordered -the battle to begin, the knights laid their spears -in rest, and each, with his shield hung before him, -spurred his horse; the Greeks came on to meet -them, and they crashed into each other with a thundering -noise and a shout, and all the fair field was -covered with stumbling steeds and knights dismounted<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span> -and wounded and dead; and the clash of -sword-strokes cutting through coats of mail sounded -like the noise of a giant’s smithy. For few minutes -the field was covered with clouds of dust, and Alexander -could see nothing of the result, but soon it -appeared that the Greeks had driven back the foe, -and that the first attack of the Persians had failed. -So he called the Greek knights around him, and -after a breathing space he gave orders that in their -turn they should ride on the enemy.</p> - -<p>But Darius had seen how his men were being -borne down, and had noted how their king was -first among the Macedonians, and how that no man -stood before his blows, so he called to him one of -his bravest champions, and said to him: “Sir Knight, -seest thou yon leader of the Greeks, look you now, -he wears the colour of my daughter; go thou, arm -thee in fresh armour as a man of Macedon, and -slay him. And if thou so doest, I will give thee -my daughter Roxana to wife, and thou shalt be -after me in the land of Persia.” Then that knight -answered and said: “Thou art my lord; whatsoever -thou biddest that will I do, and I will -smite his head from off his shoulders, that no -man may hereafter stand against the Emperor.” -So he arrayed him in clean bright armour, and -over his armour he put on a silk surcoat in colour -like to that of the Macedonians, and rode out -among them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span></p> - -<p>Now Alexander was ranging his knights for their -grand attack on the Persians, and the trumpets -blew, and all together they charged down on the foe. -Close behind Alexander rode the Persian knight, -and no man could see who he was, for the bars of -his helmet were closed. And Alexander, as his -wont was, rode into the thick of the fight, and struck -great blows here and there, and no man stood before -him. Then the knight drew his sword and spurred -on his horse, and struck the king such a blow that -it cut through his helmet and down into his cheek, -and then as the king wheeled round his horse the -sword broke in the helmet. And when the knights -around saw the blow they rushed on the disguised -Persian, but Alexander stayed them from hurting -him, and said:</p> - -<p>“What, my knight, why hast thou wounded thy -lord and thy helper?”</p> - -<p>“Nay,” said the knight, “I am no knight of -thine; this did I for Sir Darius, who promised me -his daughter if I hewed off thy head.”</p> - -<p>“Take him away,” said the king, “but harm him -not till I give order about him.”</p> - -<p>Then Alexander turned to his lords and said:</p> - -<p>“What shall be done to him for this deed?”</p> - -<p>And one man advised to hang him, and another -to cut off his head, and another to burn him alive. -But Alexander looked displeased, and said:</p> - -<p>“Nay, he has but done his duly to his lord, in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span> -that he obeyed his word, and his lord has all the -blame of his deed. He that condemns him judges -himself, for did I order one of you to slay Darius -that must ye do. Let him depart and go to his -lord, for he strikes a good stroke.”</p> - -<p>So that Persian knight went unharmed from the -camp of Alexander, and told all these things to -Darius.</p> - -<p>Then Darius feared, for his army was put to flight, -and his knights began to compare him with the -king of the Macedonians, and he rode away to a -strong city near that place, and there he stayed but -short time, for Alexander followed him, and came -against that city and took it, and found there treasure -untold, and the wife of Darius, and his mother, -the wisest woman in all Asia; but Darius himself -escaped him and fled away. There came one of -the princes of Persia to Alexander and offered to -deliver Darius into his hand, for that he had served -that king for twenty years, and yet he had never -given him reward; but Alexander refused to take -Darius by treachery, and he said: “One king must -not betray another.” So day by day the Persian lords -came into the Greek camp and owned Alexander as -their emperor.</p> - -<p>Now was another army and a greater one being -got together, for all the lords of Persia and the -kings of the countries about, and Porus, king of -India, were summoned for a set day. But letters<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span> -came from the king of India saying that he was -sore sick, and could give no aid till he was recovered, -and that then he would come; and letters -came from the mother of Darius, an exceeding wise -woman, in which she bade him make peace with -Alexander and submit to him, or otherwise the -empire of the Persians would be utterly overthrown. -But he would not obey her, for he hoped to destroy -the army of the Greeks from the face of the earth. -So all the might of Persia met at its chief town, -Susa.</p> - -<p>After short time the army of the Greeks had got -them ready for the fight, and they began to follow -up the war against Darius, and they went not so -quickly as the Persians, since they were in an -enemy’s land; but at the last they came in sight of -the town of Susa, and behold, it lay in a great plain, -and a river a furlong broad lay between it and them. -So Alexander purposed in his mind to send a herald -to challenge the Persians to fight, for he would not -be said to attack them without granting them due -time. That night, as he lay asleep in his tent, he -dreamed a dream, and a man of Macedon stood by -him, dressed in rich attire, with two horns on his -head, and he knew that it was one of the gods, and -the god said to him: “My son, send no messenger -to Susa, but go thyself, so shalt thou see Darius -and his court, for I will be with thee, and no harm -shall come to thee.” Then Alexander arose early in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span> -the morning and told his knights his dream, and -how the god had promised to guard him. So he -dressed himself as a herald, and rode off with one -of his knights before the sun rose to the army of -Darius. Now when they came to the great river -Granton, which lay between them and the town of -Susa, they found it frozen over with ice a foot thick, -so he bade the lord that was with him to wait there -for him, and he himself rode over the river alone to -the camp of Darius.</p> - -<p>The tale tells that this river was wondrous cold -by nature, and that whether by art magic, or because -it was so cold every night, it froze into ice after the -sun went down, and the ice was exceeding thick; -but when the sun rose and the day warmed, then the -ice cracked and melted, and the river ran so fast that -no man might swim in it, nor might any boat cross -it but with danger, and no bridge could be built -across it for the ice. When the day broke the -ice began to thaw, but Alexander was safely over, -and he rode slowly towards the town. Now when -he came to the wall of Susa he stopped at the -barrier, and bade the men bring him before Darius, -and they obeyed him, for his rich clothing and his -speech showed him to be some great man. And -Darius asked him: “What man art thou, and what -doest thou here?” Then Alexander answered him: -“O king, I am sent to thee by Alexander, he bids -thee prepare for battle; why dost thou stay in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span> -walls of thy town; either come out and fight him -or own him for master.” And Darius said: “Wert -thou the man himself thou couldst not speak more -proudly, but I care never a deal for all thy bold -sayings. Still for thy sovereign’s sake that sent -thee hither, thou shalt sit at supper with me this -even;” and Darius did him great honour, for all -men in those days reverenced the heralds.</p> - -<p>So the heralds of Persia welcomed him, and there -came clerks and wise men and talked with him of -the lands of Greece and of the West, and they told -him of the nobles of Persia and of the wonders of -the land and its richness, and of the land of India -and the marvels that men spoke of it. Now among -the clerks was one who was short and crooked and -ungainly, and the others took little heed of him, -and he stayed for a while behind and listened, -saying nought. Then Alexander noticed him and -said within himself: “Such a crooked and misshapen -man would not be in the court of a king if -he were not exceeding wise,” so he spake to him, -and the clerk answered him in few words but -weighty. But when those of the court were without -for a space, the clerk said: “Were Alexander here, -he would see the fairest maid on earth at the supper -this even; and much honour would she do the -knight who wore her scarf in the front of battle.” -And with that he drew back, nor did he speak when -Alexander drew out the scarf from his breast. Then<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span> -the clerks and wise men departed and the great -lords came to ask him of the arms of the Greek -lords, and of their deeds in battle, and of Alexander.</p> - -<p>When even was come the king gave his hand to -Alexander and led him into the hall of his palace, -and he sat at meat with Darius. And ever he -thought within himself: “This barbarian does me -great honour in this hall, but soon shall the hall be -mine by right.” Now the hall of the palace was of -beaten gold; the walls, the seats, the tables, the floor, -all were covered with thick plates of gold, and the -vessels of service, the cups and dishes and platens, -were of fine gold. And those of the Persians that -were there looked upon Alexander with curiosity, -and they thought little of him since he was so -short, for the heralds of the King of Persia were -taller than any man in Persia, and the Persians are -tall men; but they knew not the wisdom and the -valour of the man, for they wist not that it was -Alexander himself.</p> - -<p>As they sat down to meat, Alexander was put in -a seat on the left hand of Darius, and as he looked -around him he saw at the table on the right hand -of the King the fairest damsel that man had ever -seen, and his eyes saw, almost without seeing, that -her robe was of green covered with fair opening -buds, the crown of spring and the promise of -summer. And as he looked on her she lifted her<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span> -eyes on him, and saw the scarf of green he wore, -and she looked on his face eagerly and then looked -down and away, and fear and longing and content -and hope and joy struggled in her heart, but her -face was that of a king’s daughter in the palace -hall of her father. Then Alexander rejoiced in his -heart and he said: “This maid shall be my very -love and my queen.”</p> - -<p>Now the feast began, servants ran to and fro, -busily helping one another and serving the guests -diligently; lutes and harps were played by the -minstrels, and as fast as one dish was taken from -the table another was brought, and the butlers -brought forth the wine in great goblets of gold, -studded with gems, and handed them to the guests. -Now Alexander did after the manner of heralds at -the feast of a king, for when he had drunk from the -cup that which was in it, he took it up and put -it in the breast of his doublet. Then Roxana the -Queen called to her the servants and they brought -her a cup of wine, and she bade them carry it to the -herald of the Greeks from Roxana the daughter of -the Emperor, and they did so. Then Alexander -bowed low, and rejoiced, and drank from the cup, -and when it was empty, he put it also in his breast. -So the servants of the Persian King saw it and -they were envious and wondered, and one said to -another: “Let us see if he will do it again;” and -they brought him a third cup, yet more precious, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span> -Alexander took it, and again when he had drunk he -put it in his breast for himself. Then these servants -went and fell before the king and told him of the -case, how that the Greek herald had drunk from the -golden cups, and had put them in his breast to take -them away from the feast. So Darius rose up in -his seat, and with a proud, disdainful look, said: -“O friend, why dost thou take my vessels from me? -That is shame to thee and me.” “Sire,” said Alexander, -“it is custom in our king’s feasts that the -goblet given to the guest is his with what is in it; -but since you keep not this custom here, I give you -your cups,” and taking them from his breast he gave -them to the butlers. So all men’s eyes were on -Alexander, and they wondered that he could stand -before the face of Darius, and they began to consider -his face, his form, and his voice.</p> - -<p>Now amongst them that were at meat with -Darius that even was one Anepo, the Herald of the -Sun, he who had formerly visited Macedon, and to -whom Alexander had given a golden chain in earnest -of the days to come. And Anepo looked on him, -and said to himself: “Is not this the son of Philip?” -and just then their eyes crossed, and he saw the face -of Alexander, and noticed how that the eyes were -of two colours—one blue, one dark—and getting up -from his seat he came softly near Darius, who was -sitting on his high seat, and he said to him: -“Verily, O king of kings, this messenger that sitteth<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span> -here is no herald, but Alexander the Macedonian -himself, or I am no true herald.” Now Alexander -had seen the eyes of Anepo, and when he got up he -watched him, and he heard the sound of his name -in the whisper, and he rose from the table as if he -would handle a lute, but instead he snatched a torch -from the hands of one of them that stood by, and -was out of the hall towards the stables before any -man could say he was gone.</p> - -<p>Now by good fortune his horse was fed, so he -loosed him and sprang on his back, and out of the -court like a spark from a fire, and no man could -stop him. But when the alarm was given, Darius -ordered all men to follow, and men rushed in all -directions; they searched the rooms of the palace, they -searched the stables, some clad them in armour and -rode out into the night, and some to the city gates. -But little avail they made, for there was no moon, -and the clearness of the night served but to mislead -them, and their shouts served to warn Alexander of -where they were, and if they kept silence one rode -against another, and many rode into the deep ditches -of the fields or stumbled in the miry ways, and at -last, one by one, they came in, and no man among -them all had heard or seen aught of Alexander, and -well was it for them that they had to face the wrath -of Darius, rather than the sword of the Greek.</p> - -<p>In that same hour that Alexander fled out of the -palace of Darius a golden image of the emperor of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span> -Persia fell to the ground, and when men came to -raise it they found it broken into fragments, and -they feared greatly; and when Darius heard of it -he fell aweeping, and he said: “Surely this tokens -trouble to the empire, and death to me;” and he sat -in sore grief thinking of the boldness of Alexander, -and his courage left him, so that he became weak as -a woman.</p> - -<p>Of Roxana it is to be told how her heart was -glad that she had seen the lord of Macedon, and -great thanks she gave to the gods because he had -seen her face, and noted how fair she was, for she -had watched without looking at him the turning of -his eyes toward her, and the joy of his heart in her -beauty. That night she sat with her maidens, and -ever she sent one or another for tidings of the -herald, and none brought answer, and at the end -one came and told how all the knights had come -back from the pursuit. Then her maidens came -round about her and praised her beauty above all -other times, and she gave a great gift to that one -who had brought the news of the safety of the -Greek, howbeit the maiden knew not that it was -the meed of her tidings, and thought it was the pay -of her flattering words.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_094" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_094.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. TELLS OF THE BATTLE -BETWEEN ALEXANDER AND DARIUS, -AND OF THE SLAYING OF DARIUS.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_094.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">But Alexander had ridden -out into the night, and knew not at first -in what direction he was riding, but -soon, when the lights borne by the -mounted men began to scatter over -the fields, he reined in his bonny steed and looked -up to the sky, and there low down he saw the -seven stars rising from the plain, and he turned -his horse’s head and rode slowly towards them, -and ever he waited for some sign, for he knew -that he was coming near the river Granton. But -while he was waiting he saw a great flame rise in -the air far on his left hand, and its rays lay along a -stretch of smooth ice, and beside it was a man on -horseback, and he knew him for his companion that -he had left at the river, and he shouted to him in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span> -the Greek tongue, and when he heard the answer -he spurred his horse and rode on to the ice. But -it was well for him that the fire was before him, for -far on the right the river ice began to crack and -grind, since it was not yet firm, and suddenly his horse -slipped and both sank into the river; and the man -struggled out by the help of the thin ice which broke -off piece by piece before him till he touched bottom, -but the good steed was belike struck by the ice, for -it sank and was drowned. Now when he came to -the shore he was amazed, for there was neither fire -nor light, so he called to the Greek knight, and -when he came up he questioned him, and he found -him sore afraid, “for,” said he, “a great dragon has -circled me about for hours, so that I feared to raise -my head.” Then Alexander straitly charged him -that he should not speak of this thing, and they -returned to the camp, and all men rejoiced to see -him.</p> - -<p>On the next day King Alexander called to him his -dukes and his captains, and they brought up their -men in fifties and in hundreds and in thousands, till -they were assembled on the plain; and Alexander -rose on high and told them how that he had seen the -might of the Persians, and he encouraged them and -told them that never should the crowds of the -Persians equal the Greeks, for, said he, “It takes -many flies to make war on wasps, be they but few;” -and all the army laughed and rejoiced in his bravery<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span> -and knowledge. Now by this time Darius had -assembled his host and led them forth on the plain -to the shores of Granton, and there he set up the -tents, and prepared him a royal seat and passed his -army before him in review. First the war-chariots -drove by, drawn by swift coursers, and on either side -the chariots were set with scythe blades, keen and -sharp as knives, then the knights passed him in full -armour, and every man followed by his squire and -his footmen, and then passed a host of archers and -crossbowmen: and as each host passed, they went -on into the field and set themselves in array, and -the knights mounted their huge war-horses. And -on their side the Greeks were drawn up in array, -and Alexander was at their head, mounted on his -steed Bucephalus, the best horse under heaven. -Now Alexander spurred out into the open space -and rode before the army of the Persians, and dared -any of their champions to come out and fight with -him, but not one of them durst meet him, for their -hearts were stricken with fear.</p> - -<p>So with the sound of trumpets both sides advanced -to the attack, and in few minutes they were -at the sword’s point. The tale tells that for two -miles there was a fight all along the line between -the Persian and the Greek knights. From sunrise -to sunset the slaughter lasted and both sides fought -bravely, the air was thick with arrows, a hail-storm -of winged darts; and now the Persians began to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span> -give way, their noblest captains were dead, and nowhere -had they driven back the Greeks. King -Darius had set himself on his golden car at the -early dawn, and all day he had watched the fiercest -of the fight, and messengers had told him of what -befell, but in the end he lost hope, and took to flight; -and suddenly darkness came upon the land, so that -men feared to move, for the great war-chariots were -thundering over the plain, and whoso got in their -way was cut to pieces by the blades on their wheels, -and the hosts of Persians were mowed down like -corn before them. So Darius reached the Granton -which his men had crossed so proudly the day before, -and he rejoiced that he found it frozen over, and -he rode over the stream in the dead of night, and -many of his great nobles were with him. Then -after him came the flying host of the Persians, and -on they came, till the broad stream was covered -with men and horses. But their weight was too -much for the ice, and it bent down and broke away -from the banks, and then of a sudden it broke into -thousands of pieces, and the night was filled with -the screams of horses and men and their shouts -and cries, and the dark water was filled with struggling -crowds striving to pull themselves up on to -little pieces of ice that would not bear their weight; -until one by one their struggles ceased, and the -rush of the river bore them away, so that of that -mighty host scarce a tenth reached the shore in -safety.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span></p> - -<p>Now over against the plain was a certain castle, -not very strong, and Darius had brought thither -his daughter Roxana, that she might see the battle, -for she had much besought him to let her see the -field, though she told him not that her chief desire -was to see the glory of the Lord of Macedon. But -when the battle was over, and the Persians were -fleeing, the lord of the castle shut the gates, and set -a ward, opening to no man small or great. So on -the morrow the host of the Greeks came near and -summoned this lord to yield up the castle to -Alexander, but he withstood them and laughed at -them. Then Alexander came near, and swore by -the gods that if he yielded not up the castle in an -hour he would hang every man in it on its battlements, -but if they yielded to his power he would -save them alive. Then the lord came forth and -sought speech of Alexander, and prayed him concerning -the safety of Roxana, and the King laughed -out and said: “Where should she be safer than -with her mother and her grandam, who are with -me in my camp?” So the lord of the castle opened -his gates and they brought forth Roxana in her -litter to Alexander, and he opened not the litter, -but bowed before it, and bade them bear it to her -mother in the camp; and great was the joy of the -queens when they met, for Alexander bore him to -them as a son and not as a conqueror.</p> - -<p>Then was Darius in sore grief; for his empire<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span> -was broken, his mother and his wife and his only -daughter were in the hands of his enemy, and -nought of hope was there save the help that Porus -had promised him: so he sent messengers to Alexander -offering him all his wealth if he would return -his family into his hands, and go to his own land. -But when the messengers had come to Alexander -and had done their errand to him, Alexander received -them roughly, and though all the Macedonians -rejoiced, he said, “Why does your master -speak thus to me; if I have conquered him, let him -own me as lord; if not, let him come out and meet -me in the field. As for his gold, it is mine when I -wish to take it, without his offer.” And the messengers -returned to Darius loaded with gifts and -honour, while Alexander’s men were gathering -together the bodies of them that were slain and -tending the hurts of the wounded. And after the -army was rested, Alexander gave them leave and -they scattered over the plain up and down, and they -found the old-time palace of the kings of Persia and -the tombs of the lords of the land, and one of these -was made of a noble amethyst, graven over with -palm trees and with birds, and so clear was it, that -men might see within it the body; and the name -written on it was Ninus. Others among them came -on a great tower, and they forced it open and found -in it men of all nations, Greeks and barbarians, -who had been put there by Darius, and some had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span> -lost a hand, and some an eye, and some a foot. -So when they were brought before Alexander, they -cried to him, and he set them free and gave to each -of them a talent, and they went their ways whither -they would, blessing the Greeks.</p> - -<p>Now when the messengers returned to Darius -and told him the words of Alexander, and how that -he needs must give up his empire if he could not -conquer him, the Persian set him to try one last -chance to recover his power, and he sent letters to -Porus, king of India, offering him great wealth and -honour if he would come and fight with Alexander, -and saying that he would pay the wage of the armies -himself, and that all the spoil of the Greeks should -be theirs. And the messengers went their way to -India, but one of the chief men of Darius’ council -came by night secretly to Alexander, and told him -all that was in the mind of Darius. So Alexander -was wroth, and he swore that he would never take -the name of Emperor till Darius was slain, and he -began to prepare his soldiers for an attack upon -Susa, but ere he had given his orders tidings came -that Darius was slain.</p> - -<p>And this was the manner of his death. When it -was told in Susa that the Greeks were preparing to -assault the town, all men feared, even the knights -of Darius, and the king withdrew himself into an -inner room of his palace. There came to him two -of his knights whom he loved, and whom he had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span> -raised up from the lowest of the people, and had -made great and rich, so that they were equal with -great peers. These foul traitors had said within -themselves, “Surely Alexander has sworn the death -of Darius, and he will give us great praise and -honour if we slay him,” so that when they came -into the room to the king, they drew their swords -and looked on one another, and smote at Darius. -But their hands failed them for fear, so that they -slew not the king at first, and he cried out, “O -sons, why slay ye me; is not my sorrow great -enough, that ye of all men should turn against me? -Yea, and the lord of the Greeks will reward ye and -avenge my death at your hands.” But his words -moved them not, and they thrust their swords -through him, so that the royal robes were covered -with blood, and he fell down, as if dead; while the -knights went out, and none knew that they had -been with the king.</p> - -<p>Long did he lie there alone, for his servants -feared to come in before him, but at last his nurse, -an old dame of eighty winters, made as if she had a -petition to offer, and opened the door of the room, -and saw him stricken to death. So she cried aloud, -and the servants ran in, and bore him to a bed in -the palace.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_102" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_102.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. HOW ALEXANDER MARRIED -ROXANA, THE DAUGHTER OF THE -EMPEROR, AND HOW HE DEFEATED -PORUS THE KING OF INDIA.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_102.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">Then came messengers to Alexander -bringing word that Darius lay in -his palace nigh death, and that there -was no man among the Persians who -might give orders or make head against -him. So the king bade arm his knights, and he -rode into the city of Susa, and when the men of the -city saw them coming the chief of them went out to -the gate of the city and received him royally with -reverence and joy, saying, “Welcome be thou, O -warrior, famed o’er all the world,” while the hearts -of those who had rebelled against Darius failed -them, and they fled from him and hid their heads -till they should know Alexander the King’s thought -of the death of the lord of the Persians.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span></p> - -<p>Then Alexander rode through the town to the -palace of Darius, and when he entered it he wondered -at its beauty, that any mortal man should -make one so fair. The floor was wrought of clear -stones and crystal in divers colours, the walls were -covered with golden plates, on which were set gems -and stars of blue, whose sight dazzled the eyes, and -high over all rose a beautiful dome covered with -enamel and ornaments of trees and flowers. Now -when Alexander had seen these things he went -through the hall and into the chamber of Darius, -and there he saw him laid on his bed at point of -death; for he was so sore smitten that no man -could bind up his wounds, and at every breath the -blood gushed out. And the king of the Greeks was -moved by pure pity, and he leaned over the dying -man and kissed him, and said, “Comfort thee, my -lord, and rise and be emperor still in all thy former -honour and dignity, for as for these defeats they are -the fortune of war, which exalts one man and puts -down another; but I, O King, will defend thee and -avenge thee on thine enemies;” and he burst into -sobs of grief. And Darius raised him on his bed, -and kissed his hand and his neck, and said, “O son, -this is but the common fate of man, nor must I -grieve overmuch. I was rich and grew proud, now -am I poor. Bury me, my son, among my fathers, -the lords of Persia, and rule thou the land. My -mother and my wife are with you; guard them as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span> -you have done and help them. My daughter Roxana -I leave to you for wife; it suits well that a noble -king should have the fairest wife on earth. Take -heed of what I have said; be tender of my knights,” -and Darius the king fell back and died.</p> - -<p>So it was that in few days after the chief men of -Persia and of Medea came to Alexander and led -him to the throne of Darius, and crowned him with -the golden crown, hailing him Emperor of the -World; and they brought to him the fair damsel -Roxana, the daughter of Darius, covered with a -thick veil, and set her on the throne beside him. -Now Alexander had not seen the damsel, except -once at the supper of Darius her father, though -she had been in his camp for many days, but she -knew him, for she had preserved his portrait since -the time that Darius had thrown it aside, and her -heart was glad that she was to be his queen. And -as the rulers of Persia brought Alexander to the -throne they showed him that it had seven steps—the -first an amethyst, which showed the king should -be of sober mind; the second an emerald, to show -that a king should see clearly; the third a topaz, to -remind him how things are not what they seem -always; the fourth step a garnet, to remind him of -fame and honour; the fifth an adamant, to show a -king should be steadfast; the sixth of pure gold, to -show a king should be chief; the seventh of earth, -to remind the king that he must die. And at each<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span> -step the wise men explained its meaning to him, -and on the seventh they crowned him, and fell -down before him, and Roxana with them, and he -lifted her up and raised her veil before them, and -when he saw her he loved her, and with his own -hands he put a crown on her head.</p> - -<p>After Alexander was crowned he sent messengers -into all parts of the land to spread the news, and to -give orders for the safety of the land, and he made -a proclamation offering their due reward to the -slayers of Darius. When they heard this the two -knights came forward in hope, and looked to get -great riches, but he ordered them to be hanged near -the grave of Darius, and all the Persian nobles -rejoiced, for they loved Darius, and had grieved -sore at his murder. Then Alexander appointed -one of the uncles of Darius to be lord and governor -of Persia, and he married Roxana, and made a -great feast through the land, which lasted for eight -days, and all the land of Persia rejoiced and was -glad.</p> - -<p>In few days, however, the warlike spirit of Alexander -came upon him again, and he resolved to set -out and conquer the king of India, Porus, who had -threatened him with war if he attacked Darius. So -he gathered together a great host of Medes and -Persians, and added them to his own Greeks, and -with them he marched out of Persia towards the -borders of India, through the great desert which lay<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span> -between them, leaving Roxana his queen behind with -her mother and uncle. And after they had spent -many days in the passage, and were wearied of the -wild waste where no water was, and the high hills and -the hollows and the broad plains, the Greeks began -to murmur among themselves, and to ask, “Why -should we do more, since we have conquered the -Persians, and seized the empire which formerly -took tribute of our fathers? This land of India is -inhabited but by beasts, and as for Alexander, he -lives but for fighting, and if he lived in peace he -would die as if he were starved. Let us leave him -to fight with these barbarians, and go home in -peace.” When Alexander heard them, he gathered -together his knights and peers, and reproached -them. He told them how he had saved them in -their troubles, how he had exposed himself to -danger on their behalf, and how he had always -been first in battle among them. Then he said that -if they feared and deserted him, he would keep -on alone till he had fulfilled his fate, nor would he -return to Greece until he had conquered all lands -under heaven. And when he had finished his -speech the hearts of his princes turned to him, -and they sought his grace, and promised to follow -him everywhere to the death, without question or -murmur.</p> - -<p>In these days a messenger arrived from Porus -bearing a message of threats and sneers to Alexander,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span> -and when the message was given to him in -the presence of his men, some of the Greeks feared, -for this was a new land to them, and they knew not -what wonders Porus might bring against them. -But Alexander cared never a whit for any of his -words, and the message he sent back was bolder -than that he received, so that Porus became very -angry when he heard it, and he assembled his army -in haste and sent them out forthwith against Alexander, -without waiting for a part of it not yet come -to him. And though he had not all his army, yet -he had more soldiers than Alexander, and he had -with him chariots armed with scythes, ten thousand -at least, and he had unicorns in his host, and more -than all he had four hundred elephants, each with a -castle on its back and thirty men in armour. Now -the Greeks had never fought against elephants, nor -had they even seen them, so that they were sore -afraid, for their swords could not pierce the skin of -the elephants, and the great beasts trampled them -down, and the men on their backs threw darts at -them and shot arrows, and there was no means of -turning them back. Thus the Greeks and the -Persians were driven back that day by the Indians -through their elephants. But when night came on -Alexander ordered all his men and they got great -suits of armour and hammered them together, and -they filled them with coals and lit great fires round -about them, so that they became red hot, and all the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span> -night the Greeks made these brazen men and kept -them hot, and at first dawn the fires were put out -and these red-hot brazen men were brought before -the host, and when the elephants attacked them as -before and threw their trunks round them to cast -them on the ground and trample them, the hot -metal burnt their trunks and their feet, and they -turned and fled, and trampled down their own men, -hooting horribly. Then Alexander ordered the -Persians to attack the Indian army while it was in -confusion, but Porus rallied them and there was a -great battle; but at the last Alexander with his men -came to the aid of the Persians, and the Indians -were defeated and Porus took to flight, and fled -away in haste, and Alexander and his host were left -masters of the field.</p> - -<p>Next day he marched to a city near that place, -the chief of all that Porus was lord of, and no man -hindered, so that Alexander entered it and found -there the palace of Porus, and his house was noble -and fair. It had four hundred pillars of gold, and -between each was a grape vine with carved leaves -and grapes of all precious stones, some of clear -crystals, some of pearls, some of emeralds, and of -other gems. And all the walls were covered with -thick plates of gold, the thinnest of them was an -inch thick, and they were set with stones like the -stars of heaven, and the doors of the rooms were of -ivory carved and adorned, and the bars and bolts<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span> -were of ebony; the upper rooms were all of cypress -or of cedar, and in all the rooms there were golden -statues and images seated on thrones of gold, and -over them hangings of rich embroidery; and in the -palace hall there was a fair tree, and on the branches -of it were all manner of birds, each painted and -made like to its nature, but with their bills and -claws of fine gold, and whenever the king wished -they made as sweet a melody as if it were the month -of May. But time fails us to tell of all the beauties -of this palace. And when Alexander entered the -palace he wondered greatly and went through it till -he came to a room which was shut, and on it was a -label, “For Alexander alone.” Then he stayed, and -he would not enter the room, for he feared some -wile of the Indian King, and he got together his -wise men, and with them he opened the door. But -when he did so, he heard a burst of merry laughter, -and he looked, and lo, before him was a fair young -girl, and she said to him, “It is bravely done of -thee, O Alexander, to open this door with such -aid; am I then so fearful?” And Alexander was -abashed for a moment, but he said, “O damsel, the -presents of Indian kings are not always so charming -as thou art,” and he sat down beside her and -talked with her. But while she was speaking, one -of the wise men of Greece had watched her, and he -liked not the manner of her eyes, and he came near -to the king and spoke to him, “O King, beware<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span> -of this damsel, for methinketh that she is not of -human kind like to other women.” Then the damsel -said, “Away with this dotard, O King, kiss my lips -and see if I be not a woman.” And the wise man -said, “O Alexander, verily this is one of the poison-maidens -of India, for in this land they feed girls -from their birth on deadly poison, so that poison is -their food, and food their poison, and whoever -kisses them dies immediately.” Then one of the -lords of the Persians came forward and said, “O -fool, how tellest thou such a tale to my lord Alexander,” -and turning to Alexander, he said, “May -thy slave show this dotard is wrong?” And the -king doubted, but he trusted his wise man, so the -Persian lord leaned forward and kissed the girl on -the lips, and fell down dead. Then she laughed -merrily, and said, “O Alexander, if thou hadst not -been guided by the counsel of thy wise men, such -would have been thy fate.” But all the Greeks fled -out of the room. Then the maiden blew a whistle -and two great serpents came from their holes in the -corner of the room, and circled round her.</p> - -<p>Now the next morn, when men went to fetch -the damsel before King Alexander, they found the -room empty, but for one great snake that lay on -the divan, and they came and told the King, and -he knew that the damsel had been left there to -cause his death, and he was on his guard.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_111" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_111.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. HOW ALEXANDER AND -HIS MEN PASSED THE NIGHT OF FEAR, -AND HOW HE SAW THE GREATEST -AND THE LEAST THING ON EARTH.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_111.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">Within a month came tidings -that Porus had gathered together another -army, and would wage war with -Alexander, for the hosts that had been -on the march to him were there, and -those of the Indians who had fled from the first -battle, and all were anxious to overcome the Greeks. -Alexander set out with his men, though it was in -August, in the hottest of the year, for it was his -habit to attack the enemy and never let them -attack him. But his men suffered greatly from the -heat, and some died of it alone, since their way led -them into a desert place where they had to wear all -their armour, for the land was full of snakes and -adders shining in gold and bright colours, and if<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span> -a man put off his armour and one of these bit him, -his death was certain.</p> - -<p>And when they passed the place of the snakes -they came into a dry land where were no rivers or -wells of water, and the army suffered greatly, for the -water in their vessels dried up, and no man had to -drink. For two days they toiled on, searching for -water and finding none, and in the evening a certain -knight, Severus by name, came on a little water in -a hollow beneath some stones, and put it in his -helmet and brought it with joy to Alexander and -offered it to him. Then Alexander thanked him -greatly, and before all his knights he took it up in -his hands, as if he were going to drink it, and then -he put it down and said, “If I drink this, will it -sustain all the army, or shall I only be refreshed, -and they thirsty still?” And the knight said, -“Lord, our will is that you be first refreshed.” -“What, and all ye perish?” said the Prince, and he -held out the helmet before his lords, and poured out -the water on the dry ground. “I will thirst first -and feast last of all my men.” And the hearts of -all his army were rejoiced, as if they had drunk -abundantly.</p> - -<p>And that night the wind began to blow, and the -camels smelt water on the breeze, and they lifted -themselves up and went towards it, and none could -stop them, all the hosts followed them, and they -led them after four hours’ journey to a little stream<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113"></a>[113]</span> -full of reeds. The soldiers of the host drank therein, -but when it came to watering the beasts they found -that there were too many of them, for all the goods -of the camp were loaded on elephants, and on -camels, and on mules. Then they searched about, -but they found no other water near, so they made -up their minds to follow this brook till they came to -its end in some great river or lake, and in a day’s -time they came to a great castle in a lake all full of -reeds. So the beasts and the men drank, and when -they had rested they began to enquire whose was -this castle, and what was inside it. Now they rode -round the lake, but nowhere did they see any road -by which the castle could be entered, nor any gate -to it, but there seemed to be men on the walls -who were looking at them and their array. At the -last, however, they saw two rows of great trees -running across the lake towards the castle, and -some of the knights spurred their horses into the -water between them, and found a passage where the -water came up to their horses’ necks. Then they -sounded the trumpets from the shore, but there was -no answer from the castle, nor any banner displayed. -So the knights rode into the water along the causeway, -and on and on till they came near the castle, -and saw a great gate closed, and over it a notice -carved in great letters filled with bright gold.</p> - -<p>And when they had read it they tried to pass on -to the castle, but they found that the road sank, so<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114"></a>[114]</span> -that their horses had to swim, and great beasts -like sea lions rose through the water, and threw -them off their steeds, so that they turned their -horses’ heads and came to land again, and shewed -all these things to Alexander.</p> - -<p>Now these were the words on the stone:</p> - -<p>“<span class="allsmcap">NO MAN MAY ENTER TO THE GREATEST AND -LEAST TREASURE OF THE WORLD, TILL HE HAS -PASSED THE NIGHT OF FEAR.</span>”</p> - -<p>And as the day began to fall, the whole camp -heard a roar as of many wild beasts, and they -looked and saw an army of tigers and dragons -coming against them, and Alexander and his men -drew their swords, but the beasts of the army were -so terrified by the roaring of the wild beasts that -they fled away and no man could stop them, and -needs most the knights and soldiers follow them. -But not far from there was a small lake of sweet -water, and the horses and mules, the camels and the -elephants, crowded into this pool, and gathered together -in a ring in the middle of it, and stood there -trembling and shivering. Then Alexander ordered -his men to pitch their tents round this pool and to -remain on guard, and they began to cut down wood -for fires, and to prepare to lie there at their ease for -some days. When night fell the moon rose over -the mountains, and men ceased work and rested to -enjoy the sweet coolness of the evening air, and the -quiet rest of all things in the moonlight.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_115"></a>[115]</span></p> - -<p>On a sudden, the plain seemed covered with -crawling monsters making for the pool round which -the Greeks were encamped; giant crayfish, of many -colours, scorpions, and scaled adders. At first their -coming was silent, and they could only be seen in -the bright moonlight coming nearer and nearer, and -then the hiss of the adders and the dash of the -shells was heard, and then the sound grew louder -till it seemed that all the hills resounded with it, and -men heard the keen cry of great dragons coming -down among them. Under the moon the knights -could see the dragons’ crested heads and their golden -breasts, and their eyes flashing out flames of fire, as -they came on and on, nearer and nearer the line, -and they said one to another, “Verily, this is a -night of fear, beyond all other.”</p> - -<p>And Alexander looked to the safety of all men, for -he went round the camp, and saw that all men were -in their place, and he called to him his knights and -strengthened their hearts, and bade them take example -by him and do as he did. Then he armed -himself and took a shield and a sword, and with his -knights went out before the line and began to slay -the loathsome beasts that had come against them, -while his archers and bowmen were shooting them -down. But ever as they slew and slew, the reptiles -swarmed up, and now and then the shrill cry of a -man in agony would show that one of his knights -or archers was overborne by the flood of writhing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116"></a>[116]</span> -beasts, and carried away or slain. For hours the -fight lasted, but when the moon was high in the -heaven the flood of reptiles seemed to cease, and in -a few minutes there were no more living round the -camp, and Alexander gathered his knights and found -that twenty knights and thirty archers had been -slain in this attack.</p> - -<p>After the fight was over, men began to light fires -around the camp, and there was soon a ring of flames -round the host, but before an hour had passed and -men called the fourth hour of the night, the watchmen -raised a cry, and all the army saw a host of -great crabs drawing near the camp. So the knights -in armour of plate came out against them with their -lances, for no swords could smite through their -shells. And again the fighting was fierce, for the -lances were shivered against the crabs, and when -men hewed off their claws they clung still to the -armour and bit through it, till at the last the knights -snatched up brands from the fires and thrust them -into the open jaws of the crabs, and they turned and -fled, and left the camp at peace.</p> - -<p>And when the watchmen called the fifth hour of -the night, there came up from the desert a band of -fierce great lions, white and large as bulls. These -the knights went out to meet, and a fierce battle -took place, but the Greeks feared them not, and soon -these also were put to flight. And there followed -them a rush of wild boars, with great teeth and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117"></a>[117]</span> -stout bristles, and these too were slain or driven -away.</p> - -<p>Now the sixth hour of the night drew nigh, and -the moon was low down in the heavens, and the -burden beasts of the army began to come to shore -and lie down, and the men of the host were a-weary, -when the watchmen cried out with a loud voice and -there came up a host of wild men of the woods, -having six hands, and these came up, and they -feared not to rush on the knights, for they knew not -the use of iron, but with bowshots and handblows -they were driven off, and they escaped to the hills -and the woods.</p> - -<p>And in the seventh hour there came up a great -fierce beast against them, with a black head, and on -it were three huge horns, and he was larger than an -elephant, and so sore was his attack on the host that -he slew eight and twenty men, but Alexander ran up -to him, and with his sword he slew him, and men -rejoiced, for their hearts began to fail them for the -long watch of the Night of Fear.</p> - -<p>Now the day began to break, and the earth was -lightened, though as yet there was no dawn, and the -watchmen called the eighth hour, and there came up -mice as large as foxes, and they came near and fed -on the bodies of those things that were slain, and -when men or beasts came near them, they bit them, -and whatever was bitten fell down dead, and the -archers shot at them and drove them away. Then<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118"></a>[118]</span> -came a crowd of foul bats as large as doves, and -they flew about and flapped their wings in the face -of the soldiers and bit them where they could on -cheeks, or nose, or chin, or ears, and none could -deliver themselves from them, but suddenly the -dawn came, and the sun leaped up over the hills, -and the black bats fled away, and men saw birds of -a red colour come flying in among them, yet without -harming them, as if to wish them joy of the day; -and the Night of Fear was over.</p> - -<p>Then the trumpeters of the Greeks sounded out -their morning blast, and when it was over men -heard another blast of the trumpets from the castle -that they had seen the day before, and a great drawbridge -was let down, and a boat was brought to it -and set on the lake, and into it entered an old man -dressed in long flowing robes, bearing a precious -casket in his hands, and with him were heralds and -trumpeters. And when they came to the shore -they were met by the guards whom Alexander had -sent to meet them, and they came on to the camp, -and at the gate of the camp the aged man halted, -and Alexander came out to him. Then they greeted -each other, and the elder told Alexander who he -was, and that the castle was set there to guard a -precious thing, the greatest and the lightest thing -in the world, and to show those who came there -what they should do in times to come. Then Alexander -was glad of heart, and he besought him to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119"></a>[119]</span> -show him some of his wisdom. So the elder took -a gold crown out of the casket he bore, and put it -on Alexander’s head, and bade him come with him -to the castle, for that there he should see all these -things.</p> - -<p>In going to the castle, Alexander went by boat -with the elder, and his chief knights rode after him -on horseback along the path through the water, and -when they came to the deep place the drawbridge -was let down to them and they mounted it and rode -through the gateway into the courtyard of the castle, -and Alexander and the elder were with them. So -they were led into the great hall of the castle, and -when they entered it they saw, at the place where -the seat of the lord should be, a niche cut in the -wall, and on the arch over it were written the words, -“<span class="allsmcap">THE GREATEST TREASURE</span>,” and below it were the -words, “<span class="allsmcap">AND THE LEAST</span>.” Now when they went -up to it, they saw a rich cushion, and on it was -lying an egg-shaped stone, and as they looked on it -they saw a circle of brown on it and inside a clear -black ring; and the stone was clear as crystal, and -when one looked into it one saw men, and houses, -and riches, and wealth, and all that man could desire -or think of. So they brought out this treasure and -laid it in the hand of Alexander, and lo! it became -so heavy that he could not hold it, and they laid it -on a beam of a balance, and in the other pan they -placed gold and silver, a great quantity, and it<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120"></a>[120]</span> -weighed more than all. Then they cast on the beam -all the treasures they had, and the stone outweighed -them all. Then Alexander sent for the gold that -he had with him, but the stone was heavier than all -the treasure of the Persians and the Greeks. And -Alexander said. “Truly, this is the greatest of -treasures.”</p> - -<p>Then the elder bade them take away all those -treasures to their owners, and he took up a pinch of -dust from the ground and laid it on the stone, and -lo! from being so great, there was no mean thing -that did not outweigh it; a blade of straw, a scrap of -wood was heavier than this, and all its beauty and -goodness were gone from it, so that no man would -desire it or look upon it. Then Alexander asked -of him what was this wonder, and why it did -thus, and the elder told him the meaning of all -this, and the name of the stone, and he said -that the castle was put there to guard the way -to the Wells of Life, and he told Alexander -things that should come to pass. Then Alexander -asked him how long he should live, and how should -he die, and the elder told him not, but he said that -he should learn from the trees of the sun and of the -moon when he came to the shores of the great sea. -And he told him that first must he go north into the -desert and meet and conquer King Porus, and that -then he should pass into the east through the Valley -of Terror till he saw the Three Wells of Life, and that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121"></a>[121]</span> -then he should find the Temple of the Sun and the -trees which should tell him of what was to befall -him. And Alexander gave him great gifts and left -him and returned to his camp.</p> - -<p>Thus Alexander turned northward, and in few -days he was in the land of Bactria, and all the men -of the land came to him with presents and gifts, and -he received them, and abode there thirty days, that -his men might recover their strength. And there -came to him messengers and told him that Porus -was encamped with his host a four days’ journey -off; and Alexander disguised himself as one of -those that supplied the camp with wine and flesh, -and driving some cattle before him he came into -the camp of Porus, that he might see how many -men he had and what was their mind towards him. -The guards of the camp laid hold on Alexander, for -that he was a stranger, and brought him before -Porus, and the king asked him who he was and -whence he came. Then Alexander answered that -he was a poor man of that land, and the Macedonians -had taken away his cattle and his goods, -but he had escaped with some which he was trying -to sell. And Porus asked him had he seen Alexander, -and what was he doing, and Alexander -answered that he was sitting in his tent warming -himself at a fire. Then Porus laughed out, and he -was glad to hear that his enemy was so feeble that -he had to sit in his tent, and he asked how old he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122"></a>[122]</span> -was. And Alexander answered that he was a poor -herdsman and knew not the king’s matters; so -Porus gave him a letter to Alexander and a great -reward, and promised him more if he should bring -an answer again, and Alexander returned to his -camp.</p> - -<p>Now the letter of Porus was a challenge to Alexander, -offering to meet him in single combat, for he -said that no king or emperor should be such a -coward as to send men to battle unless he joined in -it himself, and that it would be better if only the -kings on each side fought, for it would spare the -blood of the people; and he offered to let the whole -matter rest on this combat, so that if Alexander -won he should be king of India, and if he won then -all the lands should obey him. Now Porus was a -tall man, a head and shoulders taller than any -man of his army, while Alexander was short even -among little men, and Porus counted on an easy -victory.</p> - -<p>When the armies drew near in line of battle, -Alexander sent out a herald to Porus accepting his -offer, and in short time all was ready for the fight, -and the two kings, armed in full armour, were -opposite one another. When the fight began, Porus -advanced, proud of his strength and size, and -ignorant of the great strength of Alexander, and -both spurred at each other full tilt, and their lances -broke to shivers, but neither was unhorsed. So<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123"></a>[123]</span> -they turned their horses and drew their swords, and -Porus struck Alexander with his sword, and cut -into the helmet, but the blow of Alexander was so -fierce that it struck Porus out of his saddle and -threw him to the ground senseless. Then all the -knights of India cast up a keen cry, but Alexander -dismounted, and caused the heralds to take off the -helmet of Porus and to give him aid; and when -Porus came to life again he owned him vanquished, -and Alexander gave him back his kingdom, and -from an enemy he became a friend and a subject to -the lord of the Greeks.</p> - -<p>On a night after Alexander lay in his tent musing -alone, and he fell to thinking of his short life, and of -the way he had come, and of the wonders of the land, -and of the deeds he should do, when it seemed that -there was with him in the tent his fosterer, the whilom -King of Egypt, and he said to him, “O my son -Alexander, many deeds shalt thou do, and many -wonders shalt thou see, yet trust thou not to thy -sight. Remember the stone in the Castle of the -Lake, which was but the eye of man, for while he -lives it may not be satisfied. Trust men who seem -thy friends, but trust them not overmuch: fear the -gods and them alone, for I am with thee to help thee.” -Then the god departed, and Alexander lay alone -asleep.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124"></a>[124]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_124" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_124.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. HOW ALEXANDER AND -HIS ARMY PASSED THROUGH THE -VALLEY OF TERROR AND SOUGHT THE -WELLS OF LIFE.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_124.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">Many hundred years before, -one of the great heroes of the Greeks, -Hercules by name, had come into India, -and had conquered the people of the -land, and had set up great pillars -of marble wherever he had come. So Alexander, -now that he had beaten Porus in battle, made up -his mind to follow in the footsteps of Hercules and -to see the wonders of India; and King Porus promised -to go with him and to guide him. But -before this he sought to find the Wells of Life of -which the Elder had spoken to him in the castle in -the lake. But Porus knew not of the way, nor any -of the men in his army. So he turned again -towards the South as the Elder had bidden him, -and fared on his way.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125"></a>[125]</span></p> - -<p>Now as the host was on its march, it fell that the -Greeks came among a poor folk which lived in -holes and caves of the earth, and so poor were they -that no man or woman of them had clothing or -ornament, but they all went naked, save that their -king wore a ring of gold on his head. As Alexander -and his host drew near, this folk sent messengers to -him asking what he wanted among them, and telling -him of their poverty, so that he could win nothing -from them. Then the king made strait inquiry -into their lives, and he found that they were indeed -so poor that they lived in caves and holes of the -hillside, and he was moved by compassion, and -made up his mind that they should be the better -of his coming to them, so he offered to give them -what thing they should ask of him, however great -it should be. Then the king of that folk of naked -wise men drew near, and said: “O Alexander, this -is our request; that thou grant us never to die, for -nothing else do we need.” Then said the king to -them: “O people, needs must that I die one day -myself; how, then, may I grant ye this thing?” -And the naked wise men said: “Since thou must -die, O King, why dost thou hurry from one side of -the world to the other to slay a peaceful folk?” -For a short while Alexander was silent; then he -spoke: “Know, O feeble folk, that as the sea is -stirred not by itself but by the breath of heaven, so -I am driven to do the will of the gods.” Then the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126"></a>[126]</span> -naked wise men left him and returned to their own -place, for they would take no gifts from Alexander -lest they should become rich.</p> - -<p>Two days after the parting with these men the -host of Alexander came on a desert place in which -men saw a great temple, but no man was therein. -Then entered the priests and wise men, and they -saw nought save two great images, one of gold and -the other of silver. And as they considered the -images they saw thereon writing in the old language -of the Greeks, and when they had read it they -understood that these were the images of Hercules -which he had set up when he came into India. -When Alexander saw them he wondered at their -size, and could not believe that they were of solid -gold, so he ordered his men to pierce them through, -and they found no hollow within, but all was of -pure metal. Now by the finding of these images -Alexander knew that he was in the right way, -because here it was that Hercules had turned back -when he came into the land; but Alexander and his -host went on, for he desired to see all the marvels -of the land of India. So it was that, on the third -day from their parting from the temple, they heard -the sound of a river, and going near it, they found -that it was very broad and deep; and when the -men came up they found that in no wise could -men swim in it to cross it. On the further side -they saw women carrying great maces and battle-axes<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_127"></a>[127]</span> -of gold and silver, but there was no man -among them, or any weapon of iron or bronze, only -of gold or silver. Then Alexander and his men -sought to cross the river in boats, but great black -beasts rose out of the river and bit the boats in half, -so that scarcely did they escape to land with their -lives, and they gave up the thought of seeing the -land guarded by women, and marched on by the -side of the river.</p> - -<p>As they were in camp next evening, they heard -suddenly the sound of trumpeting, and the watchmen -told of a host of elephants coming toward -them. Then Alexander asked Porus and his men, -but none knew of any king of this land who could -gather such a host, so men on horseback rode out -to see them, and when they came near they saw no -man with the elephants, and they returned and told -the king. All men were in fear, and the Indians -most of all, for they knew the madness of elephants, -but Alexander bade a few of his men mount their -steeds, and to drag with them each man some swine -before the elephants, for he knew how that the -elephant loathes the swine and cannot remain in -his presence. And it fell as Alexander had said, -for when the elephants heard the squealing and -grunting of the swine their wrath fell, and they -turned, with lowered trunks and flapping ears, and -hurried away from the loathsome sound. Then the -Indians praised the wisdom of Alexander, for that,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128"></a>[128]</span> -though he was mighty in fight, he would not risk -the lives of his men when he could use craft to -save them.</p> - -<p>Now no man in the army had ever been in this -land before, and their hearts began to fail them -when they thought that Hercules had turned back -from the journey, and they grew afraid, and Alexander -began to think that the gods were angered at -his boldness, and had sent the herd of elephants to -drive him away; and so next day he moved the -camp to the west instead of keeping on his march -to the south, and pitched it on a great plain where -there was no shelter of hills or trees, save that to the -south many miles off there was a range of hills. -When even was near, suddenly the clear sky became -covered with thick clouds, the sun became red and -then seemed to go out, and from the thick gloom a -storm broke on the camp. The winds blew, as it -seemed, from all sides, north and south, east and -west; they tore down the tents and scattered them, -so that no shelter was left; and then the thunder -rolled, the lightning flashed, and the hail and rain -ran along the ground. Never had the Greeks and -Indians seen such a storm, and they said among -themselves, “We are rightly served for leaving the -road we were told to follow, till we had seen the -things we were bidden to see.” So at morning -light Alexander turned his face towards the south, -and the army marched towards the hills. Now<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129"></a>[129]</span> -though these hills seemed small and near, yet they -were really great and far off, so that it was five -days before they came to a valley near them by -which they could enter into the hills; and as they -came near it they found but a narrow passage into -it, and well-trodden. When they were in it they -found that the valley was broad, and shut in -between high hills on all sides, that no man could -climb them, and there was no water in that valley, -and no living or green thing. Here then they -pitched their tents.</p> - -<p>Next morning when they awoke they found the -air thick with snow, and the cold was piercing, so -Alexander ordered great fires to be lit on all sides, -while the varlets were bidden to tread down the snow -and stamp it flat with their feet. Then, as it grew -near mid-day, the air grew darker and a cloud filled -the valley, and they heard a great noise as if the -earth was being torn apart, and sparks of fire fell -through the cloud, so that the tents were burnt -where they fell, and if they fell on men they burnt -into the flesh and left a scar. Then all the host -were in terror, and Alexander bade them offer -incense and sacrifices to the gods, and they did so, -and a wind sprung up and drove away the clouds, -and left the air clear and cold. When men had -rested for a short time and given thanks to the gods -for their safety, they began to move to the other end -of the valley to pass out, and they came to an altar<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130"></a>[130]</span> -in the midst, with the bones of dead men lying -round it, but they had not been slain there, for -there was no mark of wound or gyves. On sight of -this the leaders of the host halted around it, but -none of them could read the marks on it or know -to what god it was raised. Now while they were -gathered round it men came running in haste from -the front, and they bore news that there was no way -by which men could leave the valley, and that they -must needs turn back by the way they came in. -Then Alexander gave orders to return, but when -the army did so, lo, there was no way out in that -direction or in any other, for no man could tell the -way by which they had come into that vale. In -short time all men were seeking for a road, but -none could be found, though great rewards were -offered by the king to him who should come upon -the path. Then were the host in great fear, for -they said that the gods were wroth with them, and -had brought them into this land to slay them; but -Alexander had trust in the words of his god and -feared not.</p> - -<p>The wise men of the army and the priests of the -gods were all this time gathered round the altar in -the midst of the valley, trying to make out the -meaning of the marks upon it, and now an old -Egyptian diviner came and stood before Alexander -and said to him, “O King, I have read the writing -on the altar, and I can tell thee the way out;” and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131"></a>[131]</span> -the king said, “Say on.” Then said he, “O Alexander, -this valley is the Valley of Terror, of which -ancient stories tell, <ins class="corr" id="tn-131" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'and whatsover men'"> -and whatsoever men</ins> come into it, -they cannot leave it except one man of them stays -behind a willing victim, to save the rest, wherefore -on the altar are these words, ‘<span class="allsmcap">THE ALTAR OF -WILLING VICTIMS</span>.’ Now, O King, we cannot leave -this valley till one man of the host stands at the -altar and offers himself to stay here for the safety of -the army, with a willing mind.” And when the -other wise men heard this, they bade the king to -make speed before the whole army should die of -fear, or of hunger. So Alexander called the host -together by the sound of the trumpet, and when they -were all in one place, he rose up and told them how -that the whole army was doomed to die, except that -one man would offer himself willingly to die for the -host. Then all men burst into grief for many men -there were who would not fear death for the army, -but there was none who would willingly die. So -for the space of half an hour no one came forward. -Then Alexander the Emperor arose and said, “O -Greeks, Persians, and Indians, seeing that I have -led ye into this land it is fitting that I lead you out, -and since this may not be, I myself will stay here so -that ye may safely depart.” Then the leaders came -round him with tears and sobs, but he would not -listen to them, but bade them prepare for their -journey. The trumpets sounded again, and all men<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_132"></a>[132]</span> -kept silence, for they saw Alexander with his left -hand on the Altar of Willing Victims, and his right -hand raised on high, and they heard him devote -himself to the God of the Valley—a willing victim -for the release of the army.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp55" id="i_132f" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_132f.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption">Now when all had left the valley -but Alexander, standing at the -Altar of Willing Victims, and -Bucephalus his horse by him, it -was already evening, & the earth seemed -to shake & the way out was closed up.</div> -</div> - -<p>Soon as the words were said, a crash was heard -at the head of the valley, and when men looked they -saw that a huge cliff had fallen, and had opened a -broad way out into the open plain beyond, and men -hurried to load their beasts and the knights rode on, -and at the last Porus rode on with them, for Alexander -had bidden him fear nothing, for the gods had -promised him that he should not die save between a -soil of iron and a sky of gold, so that needs must he -escape from this Valley of Terror, and Alexander -had told the leaders of the host to abide forty days -for him on the plain outside if need be. Now when -all the army had passed through, and no man was -left in the valley but Alexander, standing at the -Altar of Willing Victims, and Bucephalus his horse -by him, it was already evening, and the earth -seemed to shake, and the way out was closed up. -When night fell, and all was dark, then the air -seemed full of fright, and from one side or another -groans were heard, but none came near. As hours -drew on, the horse shivered with fear, and when -Alexander patted his flanks they were covered -with cold dew, and at last Bucephalus put his head -under his master’s cloak, and stood still, trembling. -<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133"></a>[133]</span>But Alexander stood all that night by the altar with -one hand on it, and he saw nothing, and heard but -the groans which echoed through the air.</p> - -<p>When day dawned all was still in the valley, and -as Alexander looked about he saw around him -nothing but high rocks coming sheer down from -the mountain sides, but when the sun shone into the -valley, he took heart and began to ride round the -sides to examine them for himself, and this he did -three times, but he found no way out. Then he sat -down by a great stone, on which was marked a five-pointed -star, with many letters written on it, and as -he did so the words of Anectanabus came into his -mind, how that this star was put for a seal over -spirits in prison, and he remembered the mighty -words that call on the spirits of the air and the -earth, and he said them, and bade the spirit under -the seal answer him. Then a voice came from under -the stone and answered him, and told who he was, -and how he had been shut under that stone for -hundreds of years to work the will of the gods; and -he asked Alexander to let him go free. So Alexander -knew that if he set free this spirit he would -destroy the enchantment of the Valley of Terror, -and he determined to let the spirit go, but first he -questioned him as to the way out, and the road to -the Wells of Life, and how he should know them. -Then said the spirit, “O Alexander, there be three -Wells of Life, nor is it easy to find them. These be<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134"></a>[134]</span> -their properties. The first is the Well of Life, -and in it if any dead thing is put, it straightway -comes to life again. The second is the Well of -Youth, and in it all who bathe come again to the age -of twenty-five, be they an hundred winters old. The -third is the Well of Never-dying Men, and he who -bathes in it shall not die of any disease or hurt of -iron, yet may he suffer pain of disease and hunger, -but he cannot die. Nor can this well be seen of all -men, or at any day, for but once in a year can it be -seen, and then no more of any man for another year. -For the way out, I myself will lead you and your -horse, and I will give you the stone Elmas, which -shall guide you to the wells, for it shall shine and -sparkle while you are in the right way, and when -you are in the wrong it shall grow dull and dark. -Long and dreary shall the road be, and few may go -with thee to that land.”</p> - -<p>Then Alexander drew his sword and cut away the -words marked on the five-pointed star, and when -they were rubbed out, he hacked away the comers of -the star, and as he did so, the earth-shook, and the -stone rolled over, and a young man stood by him -holding a ruby in his hand, and he said, “O King, -take the stone Elmas, and set it in the handle of thy -sword, and come thou and thy horse with me, for -the valley is open, and men shall call it no longer -the Valley of Terror.” So the king came with his -horse, and he passed out where the army had gone,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135"></a>[135]</span> -and mounted his horse, and turned to thank his -guide, and lo I he was alone. Then he rode into -camp, and all men rejoiced to see him.</p> - -<p>Now, as Alexander came into the camp of the -Greeks from the valley, an old man of the country -came up on the other side, and the guards brought -him before the King. Then he asked him concerning -the land, and who was the lord of it, and the -old man said that no man ruled in it, and few lived -in it. Then Alexander asked him of the Wells of -Life, and the old man answered that he had seen -them in his youth and had bathed in the Well of -Youth. Then Alexander asked him if he would -guide him to them, and the old man said he would, -but that he would not bathe in them, for he wished -not to live past his time. So he went with Alexander -and his host as they travelled far into the -land of Ind.</p> - -<p>For many days the host travelled, till at last the -old man said that they were near the land of the -Wells of Life, and then Alexander bade the army to -halt, and he chose out a few of his Greeks and with -them he set out on his search. It had been told -Alexander that in the land there were many wells, -and that none could tell one from another, till they -came to the right one, so that he had prepared a way -to find them out. Now the first well they should -come to was the Well of Life, and Alexander bade -all his men take in hand a salt fish, and wash it in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136"></a>[136]</span> -every well they came to, till they should see some -strange thing, when they were to tell it to him. It -must be said that they of the host knew not what -Alexander was seeking, nor what was the reason of -this washing of salt fish. So the men went from -one well to another, laughing and joking, and washing -their salt fish, till one of them, Andreas by name, -dipped his fish into a certain well, and suddenly the -fish came to life in his hand and slipped out into -the well. Then he cried out with a loud voice, and -all the men near came running up to him, but he -could say or do nothing but point to the fish swimming -about in the spring. So they fetched Alexander -to the spring, and he gave orders to fill a cask -with the water of it, but the old man said that the -water was useless except it were drunk when it -was drawn from the spring.</p> - -<p>Then he came to the Well of Youth, and it was -in a dry land where no man dwelt, for there was no -river or tree near. And Alexander would fain have -the old man bathe in that well, but he would not, -for he said that it was good to be young once, and -to be foolish once, but to be young twice would be -to be always a fool, and old age was best when a man -was tired of life. So the young men bathed in the -spring and their hearts grew hopeful, and they rejoiced -in their youth.</p> - -<p>There remained the Well of Never-dying Men to -be sought for, but the old man told them that this<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137"></a>[137]</span> -was not here, nor was there any way to it from that -place, for they must seek it in the dark desert. On -this Alexander asked him of that desert, and he said -that there the land was dark day and night, the sun -shone not there, and there was no track or path for -men to travel by. “Yet,” said the old man “it will -be easy for thee to enter into the land and to find the -well, for thy stone Elmas will guide thee to it when -thou art in the land.” And with these words the -old man turned away, and when Alexander looked -for him, behold, he was not with them. Then -Alexander and his men returned to the army.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp96" id="i_137" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_137.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138"></a>[138]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_138" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_138.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. HOW THE BRAHMANS -CAME TO KING ALEXANDER AND -WHAT HE LEARNT FROM THEM: AND -OF THE COMING OF THE AMAZONS.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_138.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">Now the tale tells that by -this time the army was encamped near the -great river of India, the river Ganges. -The river was very broad so that men -could just see across it from one bank -to another, and it was full of all manner of living -beasts, crocodiles, scorpions, and snakes, so that men -dare not swim in it nor drive in their horses. It -happened on a day, that three men came to the -other side of the river, and stood there, so that the -guards came to Alexander and told him of it, and -he came to the bank over against them. Then the -king bade one of his nobles ask them who they -were, whence they came, and what was their wish; -and they answered, “We be Brahmans, that never -thought or did harm, and we bear a message from<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139"></a>[139]</span> -our lord Dindimus to the lord of this army, Sir -Alexander of Greece.” And when he heard this the -king ordered a carpenter to make a boat to pass the -river, and as soon as it was ready, he sent a knight -over the river with a message inviting them to -come: so they crossed the river and stood before -him. Now they were very old men.</p> - -<p>Then Alexander spoke to these Brahmans of one -thing and another, and found that they lived in -another manner than the Greeks; for what he esteemed -rich and noble and good, they set little or -no store by, and what they admired he thought mean -and poor. But since he was a wise king, and one -who desired to learn the secrets of things, he sent a -letter to the chief of the Brahmans asking him to -describe what their nation did, “for,” said he, “you -differ from us very greatly, it cannot harm you to -tell us about yourselves, and we may learn from -your example. A candle when it is alight can light -many others without burning less brightly.” And -with this letter of Alexander’s the Brahmans went -away to their lord, and in due time they returned -bearing an answer.</p> - -<p>The tale tells in full of these letters, though it -likes me not to write them here at length, but the -answer of Dindimus astonished the Greeks. He -told them that the Brahmans were a lowly folk, who -neither ploughed nor reaped, fished nor hunted, who -lived on the fruits of the earth, and who drank<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140"></a>[140]</span> -water, who fought not and lied not, who studied not, -nor wore fine clothing, who loved the sun and the -sea, the woods and the song of birds, and who cared -neither for iron nor for gold. Then he went on to -reprove them for their worship of evil gods, for their -pride, cruelty, and avarice. However, Alexander -answered him fairly, but only drew on himself a -worse reproof. Then Alexander seized eight of the -chief Brahmans, and put to each of them a question, -saying that the one who answered worst should be -put to death first.</p> - -<p>So the first of them was brought before him, and -he said to him, “This is thy question: Why have -you no graves in which to bury your dead?” The -old man said, “We are buried in the cave in the -hillside where we pass our days, that we may know -that our present life is but a training for the future.” -Then came the second, and the king asked him, -“Which are more in number, the dead or the -living?” “Those that are dead are more in number -than the living, thou thyself knowest how many -men thou hast slain,” said the old man. Then came -the third and Alexander said, “What is the most -wicked thing in creation?” “Man is the most -wicked thing, and thou thyself art one of the worst -of men, for many men hast thou slain, and few hast -thou saved from death.” “Is night older than day, -or day older than night?” was the next question of -the king, and the Brahman answered him that night<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141"></a>[141]</span> -was older than day. Then he asked the others these -questions, and to each of them the wise men gave -him a good answer. “How do you live, and now -do you die?” “Is death mightier than life?” -“Who is it that has never been born?” “Which -is man’s strongest limb, his right hand or his left?”</p> - -<p>At the last the lord of Macedon forgave their -bold speech and let them go; but, before they -went, Alexander asked them, as his custom was, -what were the wonders of their land?</p> - -<p>Then the eldest of the Brahmans told him of a -wonderful well in the land, that few men dare drink -of, for he that was miserly or unfaithful to his trust -and drank of it, went mad on the spot. But Alexander -did not fear this, for no man had ever thought -him miserly, for when he had shared the spoil at -Macedon, he left for himself only hope and glory. -Then the king asked to be led to that place, and he -went with few of his knights without fear, for the -Brahmans were an unarmed folk. Now, as he went -on his way with the Brahman, he came into a certain -town of the land, and saw two men pleading -before the Judge, and he drew near to listen to them. -The first of them stood up before the Judge, and -said, “Sir, in time past I bought a house from this -man, and dwelt in it; now, long after, I have found -in it a treasure hid under the earth of the garden, -which is not mine. Accordingly I offered to deliver -the treasure to him, and carried it to his house, but<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142"></a>[142]</span> -he has refused it and will not take it. Wherefore, -sir, I beseech you that he be compelled to take this -treasure, since he knows full well that it is not mine, -for I have no right to it.” Then Alexander said to -the Brahman, “Surely this man is foolish, for he -might keep this treasure to himself.” But the -Judge turned to the other man, and bade him -answer what was said against him. So he stood -up and said, “Sir Judge, that same treasure was -never mine, but he has digged in a place that no -other man who had the house has digged, and hath -made that his own which before had no master. -And, therefore, I have no right to take it.” Then -Alexander said to the Brahman, “Surely this man -may take it, for the land was his, and the other -man wishes him to take it.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke, the two men talked together for a -moment, and then they turned toward the Judge, and -begged him to take the treasure himself, for they -would have none of it. Then the Judge answered, -and said, “Since ye say that ye have no right thereto, -so that neither he to whom the heritage belonged in -time past, nor he to whom it now belongs may have -it, how should I have any right thereto, that am -but a stranger in the matter, and never before heard -a word spoken of it. Would you escape the burden -that falls on you, and give me the charge of the -treasure; that were evil done of you.” And, after -awhile, he took them and asked of him that had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143"></a>[143]</span> -found the treasure whether they had any children -or no: so one of them answered that he had a young -son. Then he asked the other if he had a daughter, -and he said that he had. When he heard that, the -Judge was glad, and he ordered them to make a -marriage between the two, and that they should give -them the treasure between them as a marriage -portion. And when Alexander heard this judgment, -he had great marvel thereof, and said thus to the -Judge: “I trow there is not in all the world so -righteous a judge as thou art.” Then the Judge -looked on him with wonder, for he knew that he was -an outlander by his speech, though he wist not that -he was Alexander, and he asked him whether any -Judge in his own country would have done otherwise. -“Yea, certainly,” said Alexander, “in many -lands would they have judged otherwise.” Then -the Judge had great marvel thereat, and he asked -the king whether it rained, and if the sun shone in -that land; as if he would give him to understand -that it was strange that the gods should send any -light, or rain, or other good things to them that do not -right and true judgment. But Alexander had greater -marvel than before, and he said there were but few -such nations upon earth as the people of this land.</p> - -<p>Then king Alexander went with the old Brahman -in search of the well, and at the last they came to -the place where the well was, and it was a great -square tank, built down into the ground with blocks<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144"></a>[144]</span> -of stone, the sides covered with green moss, and -the steps damp and slippery, the water at the bottom -dark and clear, but the Brahman put forth his hand -and said to the King, “O foolish of heart, bathe not -in this well, for thou art both miser and unfaithful. -Miser art thou for thy words about him who found -the treasure: unfaithful in that thy heart judged -not as the Judge of the land did.” And Alexander -turned away in silence, for his heart judged him, -and he dared not enter the well, so he returned to -his army.</p> - -<p>And as Alexander went out of that land he -passed through a city, in the which all the houses -of the city were of one height, neither was any -house greater in show than another. Now before -the door of every house was a great pit dug, and -this pit was always open. Then Alexander asked -for the lord or judge of that city, and they told him -that there was in their city no judge or lord. And -the king wondered greatly how such a thing should -be, that a city could remain without a head or a -judge; and he asked of the inhabitants thereof -whereto such things should serve. So the dwellers -in that place answered him and said: “O king, -whereas thou dost wonder that we have no lord -over us to do justice among us, know thou that we -have learnt to do justice ourselves, wherefore we -need no man over us to do it for us.” Then said -he to the men of the city: “Why do ye make these<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145"></a>[145]</span> -pits before the doors of your houses?” And they -answered him: “Know, O Alexander, that these -pits are our graves, which every man makes before -his door to be his own house, to which each of us -must go, and there dwell until his deeds are -judged.” And Alexander asked them yet another -question: “Why are your houses built of one -height?” and they answered him: “O King, love -and justice cannot be even among all the people of -a place if some of them are greater than others, and -no house nor family shall be greater than other in -this our town.” Then Alexander departed from -them, wondering, but well pleased.</p> - -<p>The tale tells that before Alexander fought -against Porus he sent messengers to all lands in -Asia, and among the rest to the land of the -Amazons. It is said of that land that only women -live in it, and it is governed by women, and whatever -man comes into it he is straightway slain; for -the first founders of that land were the wives of the -men that were called Goths, the which men were -cruelly slain, and then their wives took their husbands’ -armour and weapons, and fell on their -enemies with manly hearts, and took revenge of the -death of their husbands. For by dint of sword -they slew all men, both old men and children, and -saved the females, and parted out the prey, and -purposed to live ever after without company of -men. And by the example of their husbands they<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146"></a>[146]</span> -had ever two queens among them, one to lead the -host and fight against enemies, the other to govern -and rule the kindreds. In short time they became -such fierce warriors that they had a great part of -Asia under their lordship nigh a hundred years; -and among them they suffered no man to live or -abide, but of the nations that were nigh to them -they chose husbands, and they nourished their -children till they were seven years old, and then -their sons they sent to their fathers, but they saved -their daughters and taught them to shoot and to -hunt. It is told that the great Hercules was the -first who daunted their fierceness, and that was -more by friendship than by strength.</p> - -<p>Now came messengers from Calistris, queen of -the Amazons, to Alexander, bearing letters from -her in answer to his demand of tribute, for she had -heard how Alexander had followed in the footsteps -of Hercules, and had gone into India, and the -letters told of her land and its customs, and of the -number of warriors she had, and she went on: “I -wonder at thy wit, that thou purposest to fight -with women, for if fortune be on our side, and if it -hap that thou be overcome, then art thou shamed -for evermore, when thou art overcome of women; -and if our gods be wroth with us, and thou overcomest -us, it shall be little honour to thee that thou -hast overcome a band of women.” And when -Alexander looked over the letter he laughed, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147"></a>[147]</span> -wondered on her answer, and said that it was not -seemly to overcome women with sword and anger, -but rather with love and noble dealing: and therefore -he sent messengers to them offering friendship -and a treaty. Then the queen of the Amazons -came with many of her maidens, and they reached -Alexander when he returned from the land of the -Brahmans, and abode with him many months, and -at the last they departed from him and went to -their own land, being subject to his empire, not by -violence, but by friendship and by love.</p> - -<p>And after these things Alexander reared up a -pillar of marble, and upon it he wrote in the tongue -of the Greeks and of the Indians. Now the inscription -in Greek characters was but this:—</p> - -<p class="pfs80">Α Β Γ Δ Ε</p> - -<p>the first five letters of the alphabet, and they stood -for the same words as those in the Indian inscription:</p> - -<p class="pfs80">ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΓΕΝΟΣ ΔΙΟΣ ΕΚΤΙΣΕ</p> - -<p>“King Alexander the God-born built this:” and -he graved it deep on the sides of the pillar.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148"></a>[148]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_148" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_148.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. HOW ALEXANDER -PASSED THROUGH THE LAND OF DARKNESS -AND SLEW THE BASILISK.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_148.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">Few days after Alexander and -his army entered into a plain full of -fair flowers and trees. Now the trees -of this land were fruitful and bore all -manner of food for man, and amongst -them were apples and almonds, vines and pomegranates, -and plums and damsons; and it was -in this land that the Greeks first ate of damsons, -for they did eat of them three days while they were -in the forest. But as they went through the -wood, they came upon giants twice as high as other -men, clad in coats of skin, and covered with long -hair. So the Greeks and the Indians were sore -afraid lest these giants should fall upon them and -slay them, while the giants called one to another, -and came together through the trees to gaze on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149"></a>[149]</span> -them, for they had never seen men before. When -the Greeks saw that these giants were calling to -one another and coming together, they drew up in -line of battle, and the knights clad in armour -mounted their battle horses, and the archers and -spearmen prepared their weapons for the onset: for -the Greeks had never heard of giants who did no -harm to men. But these giants were great stupid -oafs who stood gazing with open mouths at Alexander -and his men preparing to slay them, and -their food was grapes and pomegranates. And -when the army was drawn up in line, and all men -were ready, Alexander gave the word and they -raised a loud shout so that the woods rang again, -and the giants turned and fled, for they had never -heard sound of man or of trumpet. Then the -knights followed them and slew some six hundred -of them in the field and in the chase, so that none -of them were left in the land round about.</p> - -<p>The tale tells that Alexander passed on with -his army, still seeking the wonders of the land and -finding no man in this part of it, till he came to -another river where he halted for many days. And -there came men of the land to him, and Alexander -asked them of the wonders of the land, so they told -him of certain trees near by which grew with the -sun, and when it was high they were great, and as -the sun fell below the earth so the trees grew -smaller and sank down into the soil. But when<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150"></a>[150]</span> -the king would set out to see this marvel, they told -him that no man could go near it for there was a -wild man who guarded the wood and suffered no -one to pass. Then Alexander sought counsel of -his wise men, and they bade him take a fair white -maiden such as the wild man had never seen and -hold her before him, and so they did, and the wild -man became quiet and still at the sight of her, so -the Greeks crept up to him and bound him in great -chains, and brought him before the King’s tent: -now this wild man was covered with hair stout and -strong, and his arms were great, and his strength -was as that of ten men. And when the King had -gazed on him they bound him to a tree, and slew -him, and burnt him to ashes, for he had slain -much folk of that country.</p> - -<p>Next day the King and his company came to the -place of the trees, and they wondered at the sight, -how they grew as the day grew, and the height of -them was a spear’s length, and on them were fruits -like to apples, and men called them the trees of the -sun. Now the tent of the King was over against -the place where the trees grew, and in the hot -sunlight he felt thirst, so he bade one of his carles -fetch him an apple, and the man sprang forth to do -his bidding, but when he laid his hand on the fruit -he fell to the ground as if he was slain. There -were birds on those trees among the branches and -some men wished to put their hands on them, for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151"></a>[151]</span> -they did not fly away from them, but as they did -so, flames of fire came out from the trees; and the -men of the country told them that no man could -touch these trees and live. Then Alexander asked -them of the Land of Darkness, for the stone Elmas -shone brightly, and he knew that he was drawing -near that land: but they said that no man went to -that land, for the way was through a desert that -none could cross.</p> - -<p>Then Alexander chose him out of all his army -three hundred young men, able to endure hardship, -and they made them ready to go with him to the -Land of Darkness, while the army was left in the -hand of King Porus; and he gave orders that the -young men should carry with them stores of food -and water to pass through the desert to the land -they sought. Now there was a certain old man in -the army named Bushi, who had two sons chosen -to go with the King, and he bade them to take -him with them to the Land of Darkness, but they -said to him that the King had straightly commanded -that no old man should go with them. Then said -the old man, “O Sons, make strong a box, and put -me inside it, and set the box on a mule and carry -it with the baggage, and it shall be for your good, -for a party without old men to advise can come to -no good.” So his sons did as he bade them, and -closed him in a box, and set him on a mule’s back, -and carried him with them to the land. And as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_152"></a>[152]</span> -Alexander went on his way they met men of the -land, journeying in the desert, and these told them -of the Well of Life, and how a man had drunk of -that well, but he could not find his way out of the -Land of Darkness, and ever he wandered to and -fro, up and down, till at last he gave up the search, -and dwelt in a tower alone, and as the years rolled -on he grew smaller and smaller, and more and -more cruel, and when men came into that land, he -slew them and fed on their flesh.</p> - -<p>Now when Alexander drew near the Land he -came to a desert land, where was neither well nor -living thing, and they hastened through it for five -days, but on the morrow of the sixth day the sun -rose not, and there was no light of day: and so the -king knew that he had come on the Land of Darkness, -but the tales that he had heard came to his -mind, and he feared, for he had no mind to wander -through that land without a guide. Then he went -back with his men for half a day’s journey, and lo! -the light of the evening, so he camped in that place -and waited for morning light. On the morrow he -took counsel with his men, as to the way of return, -and he offered great reward to any man who should -show the way of a safe journey back, but his young -men said, “O King, it is ours to go where thou dost -order us, and what thou biddest, that will we do:” -and he found no counsel in them. Then the two -sons told their father how the King had stopped<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153"></a>[153]</span> -and asked for counsel, and Bushi bade them bring -him before Alexander, and when they feared he -bade them be bold, for he had good counsel to -give.</p> - -<p>The tale tells that the King was sitting sorrowful -in his tent that day, for he dared not enter the Land -without some means of safe return, and he was -unwilling to go back to the army without having -reached his object; and when the guards entered -and told that an old man sought speech of him, he -thought that one of the gods must have come to -his help. So he made him to sit in his own seat, -for the man was very old and feeble, and asked -him what he would. Then Bushi answered and -said, “O King, hear the words of an old man; -there is no love like the love of a mother for her -young. Now thou hast here with thee, many asses -with their foals. This is my word to thee. Leave -here on the borders of the Land, half thy men -with their baggage trains, and leave with them the -young foals, and go thou with their mothers and -the rest of thy men into the Land, and do thy -heart’s desire: then when thou wilt return from this -Land, loosen the mothers and leave them free, and -take them for thy guides, and they will lead thee -back to the place where their young ones be.”</p> - -<p>Then Alexander the King praised him greatly, -and gave rich reward to the young men, his sons, -and he offered to take the old man to the Well of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154"></a>[154]</span> -Life, but he would not, for he said, “How should I -desire to live for ever, being such a man as I am, for -the bitterness of death is past to me.” Then he -gave counsel to the King that no man should bathe -in any well in the land, till he had seen it, for if he -did the well would disappear for a year. So -Alexander did as the old man Bushi advised him, -for he divided his men into two bands, and one he -left on the borders of the Land of Darkness, with -their baggage and with the young foals, and one he -took with him, and the men he took with him he -straightly charged to come to him when they found -the well, and on no account to bathe in it. So he -entered the Land, and the stone Elmas shone with a -light like a star, and guided them on the road for -three days. But on the fourth day it grew duller, -and Alexander knew that he had passed the place of -the Well of Life; and he ordered his men to search -for the well in all directions, but not to go out of -sound of the trumpets which rang out every hour, -and to come into the camp when it sounded. Seven -times did the trumpet sound, and the scouts came -in, but on the seventh time, one of them, Philotus -by name, came in with his hair wet, and Alexander -knew that he had disobeyed the word of the king, -and had bathed in the well. Then said he to him, -“O Philotus, canst thou lead me to the well thou -hast bathed in,” and the man answered, “Yea, -Lord;” and they set out together, but no well<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155"></a>[155]</span> -could be found. Then the wrath of the King burst -out, for he knew that he should see the Well no -more for a year if he remained in that place, and -that all the labour of his expedition was spent for -nought but to make this Indian immortal, and he -bade men bring great stones, and build them in a -pillar round the Indian and close it at the top, and -they did so, and he was left alive inside the pillar, for -indeed the Greeks could not slay him. This done, -Alexander put the reins on the necks of his asses, -and they turned and led the way to their young, and -in three days he was out of the Land of Darkness -and on his way to the army.</p> - -<p>In few days the King set out again with his host -and went on his way towards the mountain lands, -and ever the way led upward till after eleven days’ -journey they came to a great plain among the mountains, -covered with trees and plants, and well -watered by noble rivers. The fruits were of the -finest savour, and the water was sweeter than milk -or mead, and clearer than crystal. So they went on -through the land for many days, but they found no -man in it, and no houses or temples of the gods; -until they came to a high mountain which seemed -to reach even to the clouds, and no way was there of -crossing it, it was so steep and rugged. But when -they came up to this range they found two passes -which led through the range, and where they met -was a great temple, and the one path led to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156"></a>[156]</span> -East, the way of the sun-rising, and the other to the -North. Now there was no man to tell them where -these paths led, or what was to be met in them. -Then Alexander thought within himself that he -would go to the East, for the Gods had predicted -that in the East he should learn when and where was -the end of his days, and the army of the King went -through the pass for seven days.</p> - -<p>But on the eighth day, a sudden death fell on -many of the men in the host, for when they came -to a certain spot or place among the mountains, ever -one or another noble knight would fall down suddenly -and lie dead on the road, nor did all men who -passed the place die, but some only. Then fear -came upon all men, and those who had passed the -place dared not move either forward or backward, -and those who had not passed it would not go -forward, nor indeed did the King command them, -for all men said, “The wrath of the gods is upon us -for coming into this land.” So Alexander sought to -find the reason for this death, and he went with one -of his knights up the mountains at the side of the -pass, till he came to a place whence he could see -the whole of the pass and the mountains behind it, -and looking down into the valley he saw in one of the -clefts of the hills a loathly serpent, old and wrinkled, -his thin long neck and great head lying on the -ground before it. And while the King looked down, -the ungainly worm slowly raised its heavy head and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157"></a>[157]</span> -looked down on the valley, and let it fall again, and -a cry of grief from his men told him that two more -of his knights had fallen dead on the pass, and -Alexander knew that his eyes saw the Basilisk.</p> - -<p>The tale tells that this beast is the most deadly -of all serpents, for its venom is such that whatsoever -living thing it looks on it slays, yea, the very -grass is withered by its deadly breath. And no man -may slay it unawares easily, for once a man slew -one with a lance, and the venom of it was such that -he died from it, though he came no nearer the body -than a spear’s length. This the king knew and he -sought not to slay it with a weapon, but he worked -so that the worm should kill itself; for he caused -his men to make a shield larger than a man, and on -this shield he bade put a bright polished mirror, -and he wrapped his feet in linen, and put off his -armour, and going softly he bore the shield with its -mirror before him, and set it down before the den of -the basilisk, and went his way. But the basilisk -raised its head as its manner was, and looked before -it, and saw its face in the mirror, and the poison of -its own look killed it, so it fell dead with its eyes wide -open, and lay along the path. Then the knight who -was on the mountain watching blew his horn, and -all men heard it and rejoiced and praised the brave -king who had delivered them from the basilisk.</p> - -<p>All this while the march of the host had lain -between mountains, and when men climbed to the top<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_158"></a>[158]</span> -they saw nothing but other mountains stretching -away as far as they could see, no towns, no villages, -no living things, and on the day after the basilisk -was slain, the road suddenly stopped among the -mountains, and the host could go no further. Then -Alexander the King bade them turn back to the -parting of the ways, and as they passed the place -where the basilisk had been he bade them burn it -in asbestos cloth, and take its ashes, for the ashes -of the basilisk are a precious thing, able to turn lead -into pure gold, but the men found it not, though the -great mirror was still there. And at the last they -came to the temple at the parting of the ways, and -the army lay round the temple for a day to rest, for -they were sore wearied with the passage through -the Eastward way. The next day at sunrise two aged -men came out of the temple, and Alexander spoke -with them and they told him of the ways, how that -Bacchus, one of the gods, had made this road when -he came into India and conquered it, and how he -had caused the mountains to come together and -block it up, so that no man should pass through by -it after. Then Alexander asked them of the Northward -way, and they told him how it led to the Trees -of the Sun and Moon: and they told of the wonders -of the trees, and how they spoke with men’s tongues, -and told what should be in time to come, and -Alexander the King rejoiced.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159"></a>[159]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_159" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_159.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. HOW ALEXANDER -CAME TO THE TREES OF THE SUN AND -THE MOON, AND WHAT THEY TOLD -HIM.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_159.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">Howbeit Alexander made no -sign to them of his joy, for he seemed -not to believe the old men, and he -said: “Have I spread the might of -my name from the East even unto the -West to no end but to become a sport to old -men and dotards.” Then the old men made oath -by the gods that this thing was true, and they told -the King how that these trees spoke both in the -Greek and the Indian language; and Alexander -asked them of the way to this marvel, and the men -answered: “O King, whosoever thou art, no greater -marvel shalt thou see than this we tell thee of. -The way to it is a journey of ten days, nor can your -army pass because of the narrow paths, and the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160"></a>[160]</span> -want of water, but at the most four thousand men -with their beasts of burden and their food.” Then -all the friends of the King and his companions -besought him to go and see this great thing, and -he made as if he hearkened to their prayers, and -consented to go with them. So he left the army -with its baggage and the elephants in the hands of -King Porus his friend, and set out on the Northward -Way to seek the trees which spoke to men.</p> - -<p>Now the Northward Way was like the Eastward -one, a narrow road among high mountains, and -little ease was there in going through it, and for -three days they came to no water, but at noon on -the fourth day they came to a spring which flowed -out of a cave on the hillside. Then the Indians -told Alexander that this cave was sacred to Bacchus, -so he entered it and offered up a sacrifice to the -god, and prayed him that he might return safe to -Macedon, lord of the world, but he got no sign -from the god that his prayer was heard. Then on -the morrow he set out, and on the tenth day at even -they came to the foot of a great cliff, shining in the -setting sun from thousands of brilliant points like -diamonds, and from chains of red gold leading from -step to step up the face of the rock, high up beyond -the ken of men. And as the sun shone on it the -steps seemed carved from sapphires and rubies, so -deep were the blue and red of their colour. Then -Alexander the king set up altars to the gods of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161"></a>[161]</span> -heaven, and offered sacrifices to each one of them, and -he and his men lay that night at the foot of the cliff.</p> - -<p>Early in the morning he arose, and when he had -called to him his twelve tried princes, he began to -ascend the steps on the side of the mountain, -and as he went up it seemed to him that he was -going into the clouds, and when he looked down, -the path by which he had come seemed as a silver -ribbon among the hills, and the men of his host -seemed smaller than bees, and nothing that might -happen seemed strange to him, for his joy and -lightness of heart. So on and on they went and -at length they came to the last of the steps, two -thousand five hundred of them, and they found -that on the top of the cliff was a wide plain, and in -the distance they saw a fair palace set in a garden, -and a noble minster shining in the sun like gold. -All the plain was full of rich and noble trees -bearing precious balm and spices, and many fruits -grew on their branches, and the inhabitants of the -plain fed on them, for there were many men on -the plain, and all men and women were clothed in -the skins of panthers or of tigers sewn together, and -they spoke in the Indian tongue. As the Greeks -drew near the palace they saw it, what a fair home it -was, and how it had two broad doors to its hall, -and seventy windows of diverse shape, and when -they came to the doors they found them covered -with beaten gold, and set with fair stones.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162"></a>[162]</span></p> - -<p>But the doors of the palace opened and shut, -and there stood before them a negro, ten feet high, -with great teeth showing over his lips, his ears -pierced and a great pearl in each, and clothed in -skins. And when he had saluted them he asked -them why they had come to that land, and they -said that they wished to see the trees that spoke, -and to hear something from them. Then the -negro bade them to take three of them, and to put -off their shoes, and their weapons and ornaments, -and to clothe themselves in fair white linen, and -Alexander and two of his companions did so, and -the negro brought them within the palace, leaving -the rest of their companions outside. And as they -went in they marked the fair garden, and in it -were golden vines bearing on them grapes of rubies -and carbuncles, and they saw how precious a place -it was, so that Paradise alone excelled it.</p> - -<p>Now when they were come to the inner door of -the hall, the negro bowed himself down before -them, and opened the door before them, but went -not in himself, for that room was the chief of the -palace, and when they lifted up their heads they -saw before them a couch and on it was a man. -Now the hangings of the couch were of golden -brocade, and its coverlet was blue, embroidered -with shining ones in bright gold, and the bedhead -was embroidered with cherubim with glancing -wings, and the canopy with the bright seraphim.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163"></a>[163]</span> -The curtains were of silk and on them was a fair -garden of needlework, and in it were beasts and -birds, and the pillars were of the same, and all the -points and ornaments were of pearl. The romance -tells that he who rested in that room was one of -the noblest-looking men that ever had life, with a -face bright and bold as fire, his hair was long and -grey, and his beard was as white as the driven -snow. When the King and his peers saw him they -knew that he must be of the blood of the gods and -not of mankind, and they knelt down on the ground -before him, and saluted him with all reverence. -Then he reached out his arms to them, and raised -him on the bed, and answered them: “Hail, -Alexander,” said he, “All hail, thou who wieldest -the earth, thou and thy princes are welcome. Sir, -thou shalt see with thy sight such marvels as never -before man saw; and thou shalt hear of what shall -come, things that no man hath heard but thee.” -Then was the King astonished that his name was -known, and he said, “Oh, holy happy man, how -dost thou name my name, since thou hast never -seen me before?” And the god answered: “Yea, -I knew thee ere a word of thy fame had spread -over <ins class="corr" id="tn-163" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'the earth. Then'"> -the earth.” Then</ins> he went on: “Wish ye to -look upon the trees that bloom for ever, the trees -of the sun and of the moon, that can speak and tell -thee of what is to be?” And Alexander the king -said, “Yes by my crown, this would I do more<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164"></a>[164]</span> -than anything else in the world.” Then the god -said, “Art thou clean of body and mind, thou and -thy friends; for no man may enter the place where -they are who is not pure of all stain?” and -Alexander answered that they were. So the Elder -arose from his bed, and cast on him a mantle of -gold, and the ground glittered for the glory of his -weeds, and he led them to the door, and there -stood there two elders like to those Alexander had -seen at the Parting of the Ways, and he gave them -into their hands, and bade them lead them to the -place where they would be. Then he turned and -departed, and Alexander and his friends Ptolemy -and Antiochus went with the elders.</p> - -<p>As they went the elders asked them if they had -any metal or rich thing with them, and bade them -cast it off, and one of the elders stayed at the door -of the minster while the other led them through it, -and after that the three Greek lords passed through -a wondrous thick wood, full of most precious trees, -olives and sycamores, cypresses and cedars, with -balm and myrrh trickling down the trunk and all -manner of incense and aromatic spices. In this -wood they came upon a little round clear space, and -when they looked they saw a great tree whereon -was neither fruit nor leaves, bark nor bast, and it -was one hundred feet high. And on it they saw a -bird resting on one Of its branches, and the bird -was of the size of a peacock, with a crest such as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165"></a>[165]</span> -the peacock has, and its cheeks and jaws were red -like a fowl, and its breast was of golden feathers, -and its back and tail of blue speckled with crimson, -and its body of gold and red speckled with grey. -Then Alexander the king stayed and considered -this bird and wondered at it, and the guide -answered his thought: “Why dost thou wait -and wonder, yon is the Phœnix, the bird that lives -a hundred years, and has no mate:” and he turned -them a little way and they saw a spot where two -trees grew side by side, the trees of the Sun and -the Moon. “Behold now,” quoth the guide, “these -holy trees; form in thy mind the question thou -wouldst ask of them, but say it not in words that -can be heard; and thou shalt have an answer in -plain words, such as no other oracle gives. And -this shall be a sign to thee that the gods are good -to thee, since they read thy thoughts and need not -words to tell them thy question.”</p> - -<p>The tale tells us that these trees were not like -others, but their boles and leaves shone like metal, -and the tree of the sun was like gold, and the tree -of the moon was like silver, and the tree of the sun -was the male, and that of the moon the female. -Then Alexander asked his guide: “In what -way will the trees answer me?” and the Elder -answered him: “Truly, O King, the Sun-tree -begins to speak in the Indian tongue, and ends in -Greek; but the Moon-tree, since it is female, speaks<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166"></a>[166]</span> -in a contrary manner, for it begins in Greek and -finishes in Indian, and thus in two tongues each -tells us its mission of fate.” Then he wished to -offer sacrifices before the trees to honour them as -gods, but the Elder forbade him, for he said that -no living thing was to be injured in this place, and -no fire must be brought there, but that the only -sacrifices offered to the trees were kisses on the -tree-boles. And when he heard this Alexander the -King knelt down on the ground and kissed the -boles of the trees one after the other, and asked -within himself whether he should return to Macedon, -where his mother dwelt, having conquered all -the earth.</p> - -<p>Now, when he had asked this question in his -mind, and he and his fellows were kneeling on the -ground before the tree, suddenly it began to move, -and the leaves began to quiver, though all was still -and calm in the forest, and there was a sound of -going in the tree-tops, and a sighing as if the wind -was rustling through the leaves, and the sighing -and moaning of the leaves grew louder, and with a -swaying sough this answer came to the King: -“O Alexander, unbeaten in war thou art, and shalt -be lord of all the world, yet never shalt thou see -the soil of thy sires, or return to thy dear land of -Macedon; thou shalt see thy mother and thy land -no more.” When they heard these things the companions -of Alexander fell down to the ground as if<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_167"></a>[167]</span> -dead, so great was their grief, and they heard no -more of what was said; but Alexander knelt down -before the Moon-tree to ask of it a question. Then -the Elder came to him and said: “O King, the -tree of the Moon answers not till the night has -come, and the moon is full in the sky.” So the -King turned to his companions, and comforted -them with his kind words and gifts, and bade them -be of good cheer.</p> - -<p>When the night was come Alexander rose up -again to go before the Moon-tree, and to hear its -oracles, and his companions told him of the danger -of being unarmed and alone by night, but Alexander -feared not, for it was not lawful to slay any one in -that forest, neither was there any man in it save the -guide and themselves. And having adored the tree -and kissed it, he knelt down before it, and thought -to ask when and where should be his end. Then -at the moment when the rays of the moon made -the leaves shine with splendour, he heard a voice -from the tree: “Alexander, the end of thy life -draws near; this year shall be thine, but in the -ninth month of the next thou shalt die at Babylon, -deceived by him in whom you fully trust.” Then -he was filled with grief and he looked at his friends, -and he knew that they were ready to die for him if -need be, and he thought of the other companions in -whom he trusted, and that if he slew them he might -save himself, and then he thought of the endless<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_168"></a>[168]</span> -suspicion and sorrow he would live in for the rest -of his days, and he remembered the words of the -god when he told him that it was not good for men -to know the end of their days, and he strengthened -his heart and comforted his friends, and he bade -them swear never to reveal the things they had -heard, and again they returned to the minster, and -found tents thereby where they might rest, and beds -of skins, and on an ivory table there was food and -drink set for them, fruit and bread, and water from -the stream. So they slept and rested.</p> - -<p>Then in the morning the Elder woke him from -sleep, and led him before the bare tree, and bade -him ask of it what he would, and he knelt before it -and kissed it, and asked in his mind, “Who is it -that shall harm my mother or sisters or myself?” -Then he had this answer from the tree: “O mighty -lord, if I should tell thee the man who should betray -thee it were easy for thee to slay him and to overcome -thy fate, and the oracles would be made of -none effect. Therefore thou shalt die at Babylon, -not by iron, as thou deemest, nor by gold, silver, -nor by any vile metal, but by poison. Thy mother -shall die by the vilest death, and shall lie unburied -in the common way, to be eaten by birds and dogs. -Thy sisters shall live long and happy lives. Short -as thy life shall be, thou shalt be lord of all lands. -Now ask no more, but return to thy army and to -Porus thy friend.” And the Elder came up to him<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_169"></a>[169]</span> -and said: “Let us depart with speed, for the weeping -and moaning of thy companions have offended -the holy ones of the trees,” and Alexander and his -companions departed from the forest. Then he -asked the Elder who was the god of the palace, and he -told the King it was Bacchus, who had sent him to -the temple at the Parting of the Ways, and who -had welcomed him in the palace. So Alexander -came to his peers, and with them went down the -golden stairway and joined the host, and hurried on -day after day until he came to the Parting of the -Ways, and there he found his army under the -command of Porus his friend.</p> - -<p>And after the army was gathered together, Alexander -the King spoke of his journey to the oracles, -and how he had climbed the stairway, and how he -had been guided by the god, and had asked the trees -of his fate, and he told them that the trees had promised -him that he should conquer the world, and -return to Macedon, and live a long life, and all the -army shouted with joy. But the comrades of -Alexander and his twelve peers were sad, for they -knew what was foretold, yet they said not a word -of it, but shouted with the rest. Then Porus the -Indian doubted of the truth, and he questioned the -king’s companions closely, but they told him not of -the oracle: howbeit he was assured in his heart that -Alexander was to die, and he thought to seize on -the empire, and he began to contrive the king’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_170"></a>[170]</span> -death; and Alexander knew of his questionings, -and kept watch over his doings.</p> - -<p>Then orders were sent to the host to prepare for -their march, for Alexander was minded to set out -and conquer the nations that had not yet submitted -to him, yet before he started, he bade men set up -two marble pillars at the temple of the Parting of -the Ways, and between them a pillar of gold, and -on it was written in the language of the land, how -that Alexander the king had come to this spot and -had conquered all nations, and it said how that -there was no passage to the Eastward but to the -Northward only. And when this was done all the -tents were struck and the host moved into a land to -the north, where they had not yet been; and the -people of the land brought him tribute.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_170" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_170.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_171"></a>[171]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_171" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_171.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. HOW ALEXANDER -SLEW PORUS AND WON BACK THE -WIFE OF CANDOYL AND WAS KNOWN -OF CANDACE WHEN HE CAME TO HER.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_171.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">After these things the host of -the Greeks and the Persians and the -Indians was gathered together, in one -place, and messengers came from all -the kings of the land to it to Alexander -the king, bringing gifts of rare and precious -things, of gold and spices, of the skins of a fish like -to a leopard’s skin, of living lions and other wild -beasts. Now, among these was the messenger of a -Queen of the land, Candace by name, the widow of -a great king friend and cousin of Porus; and they -brought with them letters to King Porus from her. -And when Alexander heard tell of her, he asked the -King of India concerning her, who she was, and what -manner of men she ruled over, and Porus answered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_172"></a>[172]</span> -and told him how she was the fairest woman in India, -and how she had married his near kinsman, and -had borne him three sons, Candoyl, Marcippus, and -Caratros. Then he told him how he had sent his -daughter to her for safety, and how she had married -her to Caratros, her youngest son, who should reign -after her, as the custom of that folk was: and he -told of the gods she worshipped, and of the people -she ruled, and of the riches of the land. Then -Alexander was fain of her presence, and sent rich -gifts, and a golden image of Ammon his god, and a -letter in which he asked her to journey towards the -mountains and meet him there, and he gave the -messengers wealth and a strict command to tarry -not till they brought him word again. But Porus -purposed evil in his heart, for he sought to stir up -wrath against Alexander in Roxana the Queen.</p> - -<p>Thus the messengers came to Queen Candace -and they laid before her the letter of Alexander, and -his gifts, and told how she had been honoured by -the wealth given to her messengers, and besought -her to meet the Lord of the Greeks, but she would -not, for she knew the double mind of Porus, and -would not adventure herself where she could meet -him, yet was she willing to please Alexander, so -she sent again her messengers, and richer gifts than -before, and a letter praising his knighthood and -his valour, and the power of his gods. Now these -were her gifts, a crown of gold set with a hundred<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_173"></a>[173]</span> -precious stones, and two hundred and ten chains of -red gold, and thirty rich goblets carved with pelicans -and parrots, five Ethiopian slaves of one age, -a rhinoceros, a thousand beryls in caskets of ebon-wood, -and four elephants to carry this wealth, and -on the back of each was the skin of a spotted panther, -rich and precious. So the messengers went their -way, and with them Queen Candace sent a cunning -painter, and she prayed him in private to make her -a portrait of the king on parchment, noting all his -shape and proportion. And it was done as she -said, for Alexander received her gifts and well -entreated her messengers, and sent them home; -and when they came the painter brought his drawing -before her, and she rejoiced, for she had longed -to see what manner of man the Greek lord was, -and now was her wish fulfilled.</p> - -<p>It fell on a day that Alexander was in his tent, -and one of his clerks was there with him, and as -men went out and he chanced to be alone with the -king, he fell on his knees before him, and besought -grace. Then Alexander comforted him and bade -him speak out boldly and fear not. So this clerk -told the king how Porus knew that the death of -Alexander was near, and that he had gathered -together men from all parts to slay him, and he told -him how that the men of Gog and Magog were on -the march from the frozen lands of the North at the -pay of Porus. Then Alexander asked how this<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_174"></a>[174]</span> -should be, and the clerk told him that he had been -sent to them in years back by Darius, and that then -it had been a full year’s journey, but now had they -come nearer, so that one month saw the beginning -and the end of the way to them, when Porus had -sent him. Then the Lord of the Greeks grew -wrathful and began to doubt all men, for he remembered -that he should die by the hands of a friend -whom he trusted, wherefore he sent messengers for -Porus, and when he came he said to him: “O Porus, -is not the half of my throne sufficient for thee, but -thou must adventure to slay me by the hand of the -outer barbarians? True knight thou art not, or -thou wouldest scorn to do by another what thou -durst not attempt thyself.” But Porus the king -stood silent, and turned red and purple and white -in turns, and then he tugged off his glove and threw -it at the feet of Alexander on the ground. Then -said Alexander: “O Porus, though mayhap it were -better to slay thee as a traitor, yet thou hast been -my fellow at board and bed, and I will meet thee as -thou wishest, that at least thou shalt die as a true -knight, if thou couldst not live as one.” Then he -called for his page and he bade him take up the -glove and put it in his helmet against the set day.</p> - -<p>On the third day at sunrise all men rose up early -and came to the field of war outside the camp, and -each man took his place round the field, the Greeks -on the south, the Indians on the north, and the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_175"></a>[175]</span> -Persians where they would on either side. And as -they looked they saw the tent of Alexander hung -with green silk and embroideries at the east end of -the field, and the tent of Porus hung with cloth of -gold at the other. Before the doors stood pages -and trumpeters, and from time to time long calls rung -out in the air, notes of defiance and of confidence. -From end to end of the field ran a partition dividing -it into two strips, for the battle was to be fought -out with the lance alone, and in the middle was a -high seat in which Ptolemy the king’s lieutenant -was to sit as judge. Beside and below him were -places for the heralds, and as time wore on they -took their seats. And now the bustle round the -tents increased, and men went in and out, and the -noise of the hammer on the rivets rose between the -calls. Then came a pause, and the squires brought -long lances and laid them before the heralds, and -they measured them side by side, and returned -them to the squires, who bore them back to their -tents. A long call was sounded, and a troop of -men brought in between them the famous white -horse Bucephalus, and at the sight of him all the -warriors of Greece shouted, for many times had -they followed him in battle, and they deemed him -the best horse in the world, though he was now -stricken in years; and when this shout died away -another was raised by the Indian knights as their -lord’s great black horse came in to the field, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_176"></a>[176]</span> -the two horses smelled each other from afar, and -neighed out their defiance.</p> - -<p>Now sounded the drums and clarions, and from -afar the procession of the lord of the lists came into -the field, and amid the shouts of the army Ptolemy -sat down on the throne, and all men kept silence. -Then the heralds rose and saluted him, and he -spoke to them, and soon they broke up into two -parties, and went one to each tent, and each man’s -eyes followed a party, this way or that. As they -came before the tent doors, the squires drew aside -the curtains and the kings stood before the heralds, -clad in armour from head to foot. Then the processions -re-formed and with lowly reverence the -knights were brought before the lord of the lists, -where they repeated one by one the solemn oath that -they had used no charm or magic against their foe, -but that the battle should be fought, man to man -and horse to horse, till death: and as they stood -side by side the giant Porus showed taller and -stronger when compared with the Lord of Macedon.</p> - -<p>Then the knights mounted their horses, and -saluting each other and the lord of the lists, they -turned away and rode to the end of the lists and -stood there two images of bright steel, waiting for -the sign of battle. A few moments pass, the lord -of the field rises, and the trumpet-call rings out, first -low and steady and strong, then higher and louder -till it seems to carry men’s hearts with it to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_177"></a>[177]</span> -clouds, and in the midst of its last and loudest call -the baton is thrown down, and the two knights are -spurring towards one another; no man breathes, -each stride brings them nearer, their aim seems -true, when a shout rises from the Greeks, and next -second both knights are on the ground, the air is -filled with curses and cries, the lists are peopled -with heralds and knights and squires, the black -horse is galloping wildly over the field, Alexander -is kneeling by the side of his horse Bucephalus, -and Porus is lying still on the field, for he had -shifted his lance and taken traitor’s aim at the good -horse and slain him, while Alexander had struck -him on the helm and thrown him far on the -ground.</p> - -<p>So the lord of the lists stood up and bade the -heralds bring the knights before him, but they -came back and told him how Porus lay deathlike -on the field, yet was he unhurt to all seeming, so -Ptolemy spake to Alexander and said, “Sir Alexander, -thou hast done thy duly as a true knight, -thine adversary is at thy mercy to slay or to spare.” -Then Alexander answered, “Were it not for his -traitorous dealing to my good steed I would forgive -him yet again, nor may I slay him unarmed, but by -to-morrow morn I will meet him again on foot, -sword to sword, till one of us die.” Then the -squires carried Porus away to his tent, and the -Indian knights went away from the field shamefast,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_178"></a>[178]</span> -but the Persians and the Greeks rejoiced in the -fame of their lord, and mourned over the death of -the good steed Bucephalus. That day Alexander -built a tomb for his horse and laid him there, and -bitter were the tears he shed, for it seemed to him -that the best days of his life were beginning to leave -him, and his evil days had begun.</p> - -<p>When the morrow came all men went again to -their places, and the heralds and the trumpeters -sat down in their seats, and Ptolemy bade silence. -Then the two knights were brought before him, on -foot, armed with sword and dagger, and he placed -them before each other, and bade them fall to when -the trumpet sounded. The heralds rose and made -proclamation: “Lo ye, all men here present, these -knights, Sir Alexander of Macedon and Sir Porus -of India, be met for the agreement of certain differences -between them; if now any man shall enter -this field, or aid them in any way, he shall fall -under pain of death, until this difference be voided.” -Then all men kept silence, till the lord of the field -let fall his sceptre and the trumpets rang out one -shrill call.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had the sound died away before the two -knights began circling round each other, like birds -watching an opportunity to dart in and seize their -prey; but they dared not adventure, for Porus was -tall and long of reach, and Alexander was nimble -and long-armed and very mighty, and each man<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_179"></a>[179]</span> -wished to strike a blow that would end the fight at -once, and time after time they came near each other -and stepped back again, till at the last Porus struck -at the left shoulder of Alexander, which was just in -his reach, and Alexander caught the blow on his -shoulder, and running forward struck with his right -arm alone, and drove his sword-edge through helm -and cheek-bone and skull, and Porus fell dead on the -ground, and the Greeks shouted with joy. Thus -was the treason of Porus, his evil thoughts and his -unknightly deeds, avenged by Alexander. But when -he was dead the Lord of Macedon gave him burial -like one of the kings, and he built over him a -temple, with walls and towers and priests to pray -for him perpetually.</p> - -<p>At this time it fell that Candoyl, the eldest son of -Candace the queen, came before his mother and -said to her, “Fair mother and queen, grant me that -I may leave thy lands and journey out into the -world;” and she said, “Go, my son, with my -blessing and leave, and tarry not till thou return.” -So he got together much wealth and departed, with -his wife and his servants, and came to a certain -strong city called Bebrik, and harboured there, and -when the morrow was come and he departed, the -king of Bebrik came round and met him on a certain -bent, and slew many of his men, and one of the -king’s knights took the lady and bore her off to the -town, shrieking and lamenting so as to pierce the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_180"></a>[180]</span> -heart of any true knight: for it is to be said that -the king of Bebrik had loved her for many years. -Then was Candoyl sore troubled, and he went on -his way to the army of Alexander to seek his grace, -if by any means he would help him to recover his -lady and love. Soon he came near the camp and -entered it, and the watchmen took him and brought -him before Ptolemy, the most noble of the Greeks -after Alexander, and he asked him, “What manner -of man art thou, and what dost thou here? What -is the cause of thy coming? Let us know thy -name?” “Sire,” said he, “I am Candoyl, the son -of Candace the conqueress,” and he told him of his -coming, and of what befell him in the way. Then -Ptolemy hurried from the tent, leaving Candoyl in -ward of a knight, and went into the cabin where the -King was lying, and found him asleep. So he waked -him gently and told him the tidings, how a knight, -the son of Candace the queen, had come to crave -his help against the king of Bebrik, who had reft -his wife from him.</p> - -<p>Then said Alexander, “Go back again to thy -tent, put on thy head the richest diadem I have, a -crown of red gold, and a king’s mantle, and seat -thee in the king’s seat as though thou wert myself, -let my knights come about thee and call thee by my -name with all due reverence, and then send messengers -for me, and call me Antiochus, and I shall -obey thy bidding as I were thy liegeman. And<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_181"></a>[181]</span> -when I come to thy call, and kneel before thee, -declare to me all the case of Candoyl’s adventure -openly before him, and be not abashed when I bow, -nor bid me not to rise, but let thy countenance be -solemn when thou art speaking, and say then, -‘Antiochus, my noble, let us see thy wisdom in -this matter, do thou wisely advise me.’” So Ptolemy -hurried away and clothed him in the dress of an -emperor, and sent for Alexander in the name of -Antiochus, and when he was come, he told him the -tale before Candoyl, and asked his advice. Then -answered Antiochus, “Were it your will, noble -Emperor, I would fare with this knight to recover -his wife, and would bid the king of Bebrik on pain -of his eyes restore her, and if not, we should grind -his city and him to dust.” Then Candoyl bowed -before the king, and said, “Sir Antiochus, of all -men be thou happy, thy wisdom is worthy of a -king clad in gold with crown and sceptre.” So -Alexander and Candoyl rode forth that same night, -and when it was dawn they came before the walls of -Bebrik. Then the watch on the gate saw them, and -cried out, “Who are ye, O knights; whence and -what is your errand?” And Alexander answered, -“It is Sir Candoyl, that has come for his spouse, -and I am the messenger of the Lord of Macedon, -and I bid you, if you will save your city from -destruction, to yield his bride to him without delay.” -Then the burghers of the city were filled with fear,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_182"></a>[182]</span> -though they were a stiff-necked folk, and they went -in a body to the palace of their king, and burst open -the gates and brought forth the dame, and led her -to her husband in all honour. So Candoyl thanked -him heartily, and said, “I pray thee, dear prince, -pass with me to my mother, that thou mayst have -the honour and reward thou hast merited for thy -deeds.” Then was the King rejoiced at these words, -and he said, “Go we to Alexander to ask his leave, -and gladly will I follow thee and do thy will;” for -he would not have him to think him other than -Antiochus; so they went to Ptolemy and he gave -him full leave to depart.</p> - -<p>Now drew they near the city of Candace the -queen, and she heard of the coming of Candoyl her -son and his wife, and how she had been taken prisoner -by the king of Bebrik, and released by a -knight of Macedon, who was with them, and she -was glad in her heart, and greatly rejoiced. Into a -chamber she went and changed all her weeds, and -put on a robe of red gold and a rich mantle over it, -a crown and a kerchief clustered with gems, and -came down from her palace gate surrounded by her -knights, and found them before it. So she clasped -her son in her arms and kissed him, and said, -“Welcome be thou, my loved son, and thou, my -dearest daughter, and I am glad of your guest, as -the gods give me joy:” and Alexander looked on -her, and his heart rejoiced, for he thought her likest<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_183"></a>[183]</span> -of all women to Olympias his mother; fair and fresh -was she as a falcon, or as some spirit from another -world. So they came into her castle-hall, full of -precious stones and adorned with gems, its pillars -of porphyry, and its floor of bright crystal, clear as -a river, and there they sat at meat—Alexander and -Candace and Candoyl, served together at the high -table.</p> - -<p>On the morrow at first light Candace the queen -came with her ladies and took the Greek knight -Antiochus through the palace and showed him how -richly it was built, and all the wonders in it, great -and small. And when he had seen all these things -she asked him of the palace of Alexander, and he -told her how it was not so rich as hers, but was a -home for fighting men to rest in, and to prepare for -new wars, while the palaces of the Kings of the East -were fitter to make men long for ease than to give -them heart for the toil and danger of battle. Then -said the Queen, “Other wonders still shall I show -thee, O Antiochus, wonders that no king hath the like -of,” and she bade her servants go forth, and giving -her hand to the Greek led him into a room, covered -with cypress and with cedar from floor to roof, -where they sat down on two thrones in the room. -Soon a mighty sound was heard, and as the Greek -looked out he saw the trees and the fields and the -town moving round him, and he knew that he was -in a chamber that turned round by some hidden<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_184"></a>[184]</span> -power. It is to be said that this room was turned -round by the strength of twenty tame elephants that -the queen kept for this end, and everyday she came -and sat in the chamber and looked from the window -while it was turned for a space. So as the false -Antiochus looked he wondered and said, “Verily, -O Queen, were such a wonder as this in our land -of Macedon, proud would our lord the king be of it -above all his treasures”; and Candace looked on -him and said, “Alexander, this is but little to the -wonders that the men of this land can show the -Greeks.”</p> - -<p>Then Alexander sprang up from his seat at the -calling of his name, for well he knew the danger he -was in, and all his face turned pale, since any of the -kings of India would give his weight in gold to -have him in their power, and he said, “Nay, lady, -my name is Antiochus,” but she rose and took him -by the hand with a kindly laugh, and going to the -recess drew back the tapestry banging and shewed -him a picture in parchment whereon he was painted -dressed in his royal robes. “See for thyself,” said -she, “that I have made no mistake.” Then as the -king looked on the picture his face turned yellow, -and his flesh trembled. “Why fades thy fair hue?” -said the lady, “thou warrior of all the world, the -conqueror of Persia and of India, the Medes and -the Parthians! Lo, now, thou art here in a woman’s -ward, in spite of all thy worthy deeds. Where is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_185"></a>[185]</span> -now thy praise that reaches up to heaven? It is -gone at once, at the turning of the breath of a -woman.” Then she waited for a space, but the lord -of Macedon answered her naught, for his heart -waxed hot within him, and he ground his teeth with -rage as he looked hither and thither, so she said, -“Why dost thou vex thy soul, Sir Conqueror, what -may thy manhood avail thee, or all thy rage?” -Then the King answered her and said, “For one -thing only I grieve, that I have not my sword, nor -may I see any weapon.” “And, my fair knight, -what bold brave deed would thy sword help thee to, if -thou hadst one?” “Since I am taken unawares,” -quoth he, “surely I would slay thee where thou -sittest, and myself after.” Then Candace the Queen -laughed out, “That were the deed of a true knight,” -said she, “but not yet are we to do and suffer such -things; hast thou not rescued my son’s wife from -the hands of the king of Bebrik? Surely I shall -save thee unharmed from my folk. Yet were it -known that thou wert here, not all my power could -save thee, since thou hast slain the Lord of India, -good Porus, whose daughter my youngest son Caratros -has taken to wife. But no man has seen thy -picture from the day I had it till now.” Then the -Lord of Macedon came near her, and she took him -by the hand and led him into the hall of the -palace.</p> - -<p>Now when Candace the Queen left Alexander<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_186"></a>[186]</span> -in the hall she came on her two sons Candoyl and -Caratros, and they were in sore strife. For after the -Queen had borne away with her the Greek, Caratros -said to his brother Candoyl, “Now has this Greek -Lord slain my father-in-law, Porus the Good, and -needs must I have revenge or my wife will go mad. -I will slay this lord Antiochus, his friend and -messenger, and when he comes to revenge his servant, -I will go out and slay him in combat.” But -Candoyl answered him, “My brother, the Lord of -Macedon has helped me, and this knight, Sir -Antiochus, has recovered for me my wife: I brought -him hither, and I shall lead him in safety to his -lord’s tents.” Then Candace the Queen said, -“Caratros, my son, what honour will come to thee -for slaying a guest and a friend? Shall anything -come of it but sorrow?” But Caratros grew angry -and said, “What ails thee brother, that we should -strive with each other in this matter, leave me to -do my will.” Then Candace the Queen went quickly -and took Alexander into council and told him how -her son wished to slay him, and how Candoyl -would fight for him. “Lord Alexander,” said she, -“I pray thee, make peace between my children.” -Then Alexander rose up, and came to the room of -the brethren, and the clash of swords was heard, -so he caught up a weapon and ran between them -and beat down their swords, saying, “Fair lords, -this must not be, ye must not fight alone.” And<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_187"></a>[187]</span> -after he had quieted them, he spake to Caratros in -fair words, saying, “My good lord, if you end my -life, you can win no praise for it, since I am in thy -hands. Alexander has seven hundred knights as -good as I am, if I were precious to him, would he -have let me come in a strange land without ward or -retinue? Not so, my lord, but if in truth you -desire to look on Alexander, you need but give me -the goods I crave for and I will immediately put -that prince into your hands.” Then Caratros -rejoiced, and kissed his brother in his joy; and -Candace the Queen called to her Alexander and -said, “Happy should I be, if you were ever with -me, then should all my foes be destroyed.” So -she gave him a crown of amethysts and diamonds, -and a noble mantle, and dearly she kissed him, and -bade him farewell. And the Lord of Macedon -departed and with him Candoyl went as his guide, -for he thought that Caratros his brother might again -change his mind and work him evil, if the Greek -knight returned alone to the camp; and he purposed -to lead him through the mountains and to shew him -the place where Candace his mother worshipped the -great gods, and heard oracles of things to come, and -teamed the mysteries of the gods.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_188"></a>[188]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_188" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_188.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. TELLS HOW ALEXANDER -DEFEATED GOG AND MAGOG, HOW HE -WENT UP INTO THE AIR, AND DOWN -INTO THE SEA.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_188.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">Candoyl and Alexander rode from the -city out into the open country, and all -day passed through it, till as the sun -went down they came near the hills, -and they found there a cave, great -beyond measure, hidden between two hills, and -there they harboured all night. And when evening -was come Candoyl spoke to Alexander and said, -“Sir, in this cave men say that the gods appear, -and tell men what shall come to pass.” Then was -Alexander rejoiced and gave thanks to the gods, -and went in to the darkest part of the cave, but -Candoyl abode at the mouth. And as Alexander -drew near he saw a great cloud and from it a light -glimmering like stars, and as he gazed him thought<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_189"></a>[189]</span> -he saw in the midst of it a throne, and on it was a -great grisly god whose eyes shone out fierce like -lanterns. Then was Alexander sore dismayed, and -fell to the ground. “Hail, Alexander!” quoth that -high god. “Sire, what is thy name, and now shall -I call thee?” said the king. “Thinthisus is my -name, and all the world is under my hand. Yet -hast thou built a city in thy name, and thou hast -set me there no temple.” “Sire, if I return to -Macedon, I will build thee a temple as master of the -gods: none shall be like it in any land.” “Nay, -nay, long not thereafter; thou shalt never look on -that land. Go further, and behold.” Then the king -looked and he saw another cloud not far off, so he -went thither, and lo! another grim god seated before -him. Kneeling on the earth he asked, “Who art -thou, Lord?” and the god answered him, “I am -Serapis, the god of thy father, the father of gods.” -Then said Alexander, “Tell me, I pray thee, the -name of the man that shall slay me:” but the god -answered him, “O king, in time past I told thee -that should any man know the cause of his death -beforehand, he would suffer greatly; be of good -heart, thou hast conquered many nations, thou shalt -yet do great deeds; thou hast built a mighty city -which shall endure for ever; many men shall resort -there, and many races of kings shall rule it; thou -shalt die and be buried in a noble city far from -thine own land.” Alexander bowed himself down<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_190"></a>[190]</span> -before the god and returned to the mouth of the -cave, and found Candoyl waiting for him in the -morning dawn, and the plain lay before him covered -with his armies, and he bade farewell to the son of -Candace, each departing to his own.</p> - -<p>It fell as Alexander rode on towards his camp -that he began to doubt in his mind that something -was wrong, for all things looked to be untended, -and no guards were set round the army, and as he -drew nearer he heard shouts and cries, so he -spurred up his steed and rode into the camp, and -no man stopped him, for all were drawn to one -place. But when he had come thither he found -that the Greeks were drawn up in array, and that -the Indians and Persians were running hither and -thither, shouting and crying; so that every now -and then a band of them would turn against the -Greeks and make as if to force their way among -them, and when they were driven back they would -again begin to cry and shout. So the Lord of -Macedon rode up among them, and no man of the -Indians knew him, for his helmet was closed, and -he came to his own men and they knew him, and -shouted for joy and opened a way for him. Then -he sent for Ptolemy, and when he was come he -asked him what was the cause of this trouble and -why the Indians were so sore afraid. But it is to -be said that at the sound of Alexander’s voice all -men had returned to their tents and the guard had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_191"></a>[191]</span> -gone out round the camp. Then Ptolemy told the -king how that men had come to the camp three -days agone telling of a new and strange folk coming -from the north, frightful beyond bearing, and how -they destroyed all things they came across and -spared nothing that was good, but what they consumed -not they wasted, and whom they kept not -for slaves they killed in their wanton sport. And -they were short, shorter than any men, and no man -might look on them without fear. So these men -had fled from before them, and they had come to -King Alexander to preserve them from their enemies, -and Ptolemy charged them to tell their tale to -no man. But when they had been in the camp two -days and had not seen the Lord of Macedon, their -fear broke out again, and they told their tale to -whoever would hear them, and the story spread, and -a saying arose among the Indians that this foe was -right at hand, and they clamoured for Alexander to -come out and lead them, and they threatened to tear -the camp to pieces if he came not.</p> - -<p>Then were these ambassadors of fear brought -before Alexander, and he questioned them of this -people and of its coming, and they told him how -that they were scarce ten days’ journey from them, -and that they were settled in that land and had -sown a crop, for it was ever their custom to come -into a land at sowing time and to make the men of -that land their slaves, so that they reaped the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_192"></a>[192]</span> -harvest for them, and then to slay them or drive -them out to starve. And the ambassadors told how -this race of dwarfs raged horribly at the name of -Alexander, and said they had come to destroy him -and the Greeks from the face of the earth, and they -told last how these men were enemies of the Gods -themselves above all things, so that evil was their -good and good their evil. Then Alexander asked -which of them had seen this folk, but no man had -seen them, save one who had been far off them. So -he sent for the clerk who had told him of the double-dealing -of Porus and straitly questioned him, and -he told the king how these folk were scarce two -cubits high, but stronger than mortal men. “For -in winter they wear no clothing, but they are covered -with hair from their waist downward; their mouths -are huge and set with fangs like a wild boar, their -hands are like lion’s claws, no man may look on -their eyes when they are set on him, and their ears -are so great that in sleep they serve as coverlets. -Two princes have they, whose names are Gog and -Magog.” Moreover the clerk said mayhap the -saying of the ambassadors was true, that they would -wait where they were till next spring time, yet -mayhap they might move before winter came on. -Then Alexander decided that he would attack these -dwarfs in the land where they were and drive them -back to their own land.</p> - -<p>The tale tells that the march of the army lay<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_193"></a>[193]</span> -through a strange land and many wonders there -befell them, for they passed through the valley of -serpents and fought the griffins; they came to the -shores of the sea and saw there wondrous beasts, -and many things of which it were long to speak. -On the third day of their march they came into a -dark valley smelling sweetly of all spices, there -cloves and ginger, and the pepper plant grew. But -among these shrubs were many serpents and adders, -who lived on the plants and had none other food, -and these snakes had on their heads an emerald -crown, as it were of goldsmith’s beaten work. Now -the people of that land, when they wish to gather -the pepper, set fire to this wood, and the flame -drives away the snakes, but blackens and rivels the -pepper. In the hills of this place were many -precious stones called smaragds, and Alexander set -his heart on gathering them, and sent men to climb -the hills, but when they came near the place where -the stones were, beasts came out and fell on them, -in shape like lions but with cleft claws a yard across, -and among them were griffins, with birds’ wings -and beak and claws but otherwise like to a lion, -and each of them so strong that it might bear away -a knight full armed on his horse. Then came -up Alexander and encouraged his dukes, and bade -them shoot with a will, and the archers and arbalasters -shot altogether, and the knights struck down -and killed many of the beasts with their lances and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_194"></a>[194]</span> -their battle-axes, but the griffins tore the knights -from their saddles and with their tails blinded them -so that they could not see where to strike, and at -last the Greeks were driven down, and over two -hundred of those who wore golden spurs were slain -in that fierce fight. Yet were a few of the griffins -beaten down, and four of them were bound in strong -chains and borne away by Alexander.</p> - -<p>On the morrow after the host had come clear -away from these hills, it came to a great and mighty -river running straight down to the shores of ocean, -and its banks were covered with huge reeds, longer -than the highest tree, and so heavy that twenty men -could scarce lift them. Of these reeds Alexander -bade them make barges and ferry over his host, for -the river was twenty furlongs broad, and two days -were spent in the crossing over of the army. And -when Alexander and his men were on the further -side of the river the people of the land came to him, -and they were a simple folk, clothed in the skins of -great fish and of beasts. Nor were they inhospitable, -for they brought sponges, white and purple, -mussels so great that six men might make a meal -of one, eels from the river thicker than a man’s -leg, and lampreys weighing twenty pounds each. -Then Alexander thanked them for their gifts, and -gave them great rewards, and asked them of their -land and its wonders, and they told him of the -sirens who lived in that river, women with long<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_195"></a>[195]</span> -hair for clothing who lived in the water like fishes. -Yet when these creatures saw any man they drew -him into the water, if he knew not their craft, and -kept him there till he died, and sometimes they -bound him to the great reeds and forced him to -make sport for them till at the last they killed him, -for they had neither love nor hate nor any care or -thought, naught of mankind save its outward semblance. -Then Alexander bade his men to search for -these beasts and offered great rewards, and at the -last two of them were taken and brought before -him, and they were white as snow, their hair came -down to their feet round their body, and they were -taller than men have custom to be, yet they could -not live without water, and in few hours’ time both -were dead.</p> - -<p>And Alexander the king spoke with their wise -men of the combat with the dwarfs from the desert -of the north, since the men of that land were exceeding -wise, and they told him of the way by which -he could fall on them at unawares; and when they -knew that he had with him in the host the griffins -they rejoiced and told him of a marvellous thing. -Then the Lord of Macedon caused his smiths to -make him a chair of black iron, and on the top of -it at each corner was a large smaragd stone, and -they brought the chair to the top of an exceeding -high mountain in that land, and when they had -come thither they bound the griffins to each corner<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_196"></a>[196]</span> -of the chair at the bottom with great and very -strong chains, for Alexander was minded to be -carried up into the air by the griffins that he might -see all lands. So when he was set in his chair and -covered round with great bars of iron, he bade -them uncover the eyes of the griffins, and they saw -the smaragd stones fixed high above them and all -at once they flew up towards the stones, for the -sight of that stone is meat and drink to these -animals, and they hunger to gather it together and -to bear it off to their dens, neither care they for -any hurt they receive in the getting of it. So they -flew and soon Alexander was borne out of sight of -men, high above the clouds, and he saw the earth -below him like a basin, and the lands, and the way -to the dwarfs, the men of Gog and Magog, and still -they flew higher and the earth grew small like a -mill-stone and the ocean and the rivers seemed like -a writhing adder, and then the gods struck the -griffins with fear, and they shut their eyes and -stretched out their wings, and sunk lower and lower -till they lay at the last on the ground in a green -field in a strange land, and Alexander looked round -and saw far on the towers of Jerusalem. But the -griffins arose, and flew away till they came to their -nest in the mountains, and when they came thither -the Lord of Macedon left his seat and made his -way through the hills till he came to the river, -when he crossed it and came to his army again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_197"></a>[197]</span></p> - -<p>Then marched the host on its way and at the -last it came near the country of the ambassadors -where the abominable dwarfs were, and when they -came there the ambassadors went forward to bring -the news of the coming of the Greeks. It chanced -that the third day after the coming of the ambassadors -was a feast of the dwarf-folk, and all the -men of that country kept the news of the coming -of the Greeks from them so that they met in all -their number in one place. It was of custom -among them that every feast some one should be -slain in torment that the chief men of the dwarf-folk -might give a presage of what should befall the -folk, and that feast one of them was to be slain for -he had given food to a man that was starving in a -prison cell. So the ambassadors returned and told -Alexander what was to be done; and he deemed it -well to fall on them when they were all in one place. -And this he did, and the fight was long and sore -between him and the dwarfs, for the dwarfs were -so small that they escaped the lance point, and they -ran under the horses and houghed them, and their -skins were so tough that the arrows glanced off -them, if they did not hit straight, and the sword -edges slipped, but the claws of the dwarfs and their -teeth and their arrows availed them little against -the armour of the Macedonians.</p> - -<p>In the night after the battle of the first day the -guards cried out for that lights were moving on the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_198"></a>[198]</span> -field of battle, and soon three dwarfs came near -holding in their hands peeled white wands; and -when the guards saw them they brought them to -the tent of Alexander. Then the eldest of them -said, “O leader of the Greeks from Macedon, truly -ye be braver than the Persians or the men of India, -give us now an ounce of gold and a sword for each -man and we will return whence we came.” Then -Alexander said, “O leader of the dwarfs, haters of -God and men, meseems I am not come to this land -but to free mankind from you. If ye abide my face -till day I will slay you all, and if ye flee I will -pursue you till ye return to your own land.” Then -he bade his men to take them and lead them from -the camp.</p> - -<p>It was of custom among this folk to travel in -great waggons, and to make of these their forts in -times of danger, so on the morrow when the Greeks -and the Persians drew out in battle array, the -dwarf-folk came not forth all to attack them as on -the day before, but the more part stayed within the -waggons, and when the knights rode up to the -waggons their progress was stopped and they could -go no further, and the dwarfs stood on the waggons -and mocked and jeered at them as they shot their -arrows at them, and the knights were sore angered -and brought up firebrands but the dwarfs had -covered the waggons with hides so that they burnt -not. So that day wore on, and when night came<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_199"></a>[199]</span> -the Greeks returned to their camp, and they spent -the night in plans for the morrow. When it was -light the army of Alexander got them ready for -another day’s fighting, but when they came out on -the plain, they found not the hordes of the dwarfs -for they had departed, burning all the country round. -Then Alexander provided good store of food and -drink and began to follow up the abominable dwarfs, -for well he knew that he should find neither on the -road, for these wretches destroy all the crops and -poison and defile all the springs of water they pass. -And after many days he came to the land of the -dwarfs, and there he found two-and-twenty kings, -and fought a great battle with them, and made -them give up all the iron and copper in their land, -and then he set his men to build a great wall at the -entrance to their land.</p> - -<p>Now the land of the dwarfs lies behind two very -high mountains and there is no way by which men -may come in or go out of it but between these -mountains, so Alexander built a wall across from -one to the other and he strengthened it with the -iron and the copper of the dwarfs, and wrought -mighty spells on it, so that no dwarf should pass -over it, and left them there. And all the world -rejoiced and praised the name of Alexander, and -this deed of his was counted the greatest of his life. -And in after days a tale grew, and men told how -every day the dwarf-folk came down to the wall and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_200"></a>[200]</span> -tore it down bit by bit with their claws, and night -by night the spells of Alexander prevailed and the -wall was made whole again, because this folk feared -not the gods, nor obeyed them. But the tale tells -that when the enemy of the gods and the deceiver -of men shall come on earth, he will teach them to -name their children “Inshallah,” which means, -if the gods will, and then when they call their -children to help them, they will tear down the wall, -and come out from their prison, and destroy the -cities of Alexander, and the works of men since his -time, and bring death on all men, if the gods stay -them not.</p> - -<p>Furthermore men told of this dwarf-folk, that they -have among them sorcerers who work such spells -that the might of the dwarfs is increased an hundred-fold, -and that when the time shall come, these sorcerers -will run through the air between heaven and -earth, swifter than the wind, and will slay a child, and -will dip the weapons of the dwarf-folk in its blood, -and each of the dwarfs shall have with him a hundred -warriors on horseback, armed with mace and spear. -And when they ride out through the broken wall and -through the iron threshold that Alexander built to -strengthen the wall, the hooves of their horses shall -wear away a span-depth from the lower threshold of -iron, and their spear-points shall wear away a span-height -from the upper threshold of brass. And these -sayings of men show how great was their fear of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_201"></a>[201]</span> -dwarf-folk, and their thanks to the Lord of Macedon, -who freed the land from them.</p> - -<p>After these things the heart of Alexander was -lifted up and he thought within himself that he was -even as one of the high gods, for he had travelled -through the air, where no man had been before, -borne by griffins on an iron throne, and he had -saved all men from the foes of mankind, and he had -raised himself above all men in power and dignity, -nor had any man conquered him or stood before his -face. So when his army turned and came to the -shores of ocean, a new thought came into his mind -how that he would see the wonders of the sea, and -the things that live there, and come not up to the -surface of the deep.</p> - -<p>So he ordered, and his cunning men began to -make for him great sheets of green glittering glass, -and to shape it into a box, and bind it with great -girths of iron, that he might sit in it and see all -things that were without it, while he himself was -untouched. Then he bade them take it to the -borders of ocean, and bind great chains to it, and -take it in a boat, and when he was entered into it to -let it sink to the bottom of the sea for a set space of -time. And as all things were ready, and he had -given in charge to Roboas, son of Antipater, whom -he loved, to draw him up after the set time, there -came to him a clerk who had been sent to him by -Roxana the Queen on a special errand. So the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_202"></a>[202]</span> -clerk drew near, and said, “O Alexander, thus -saith Roxana thy Queen and thy love: Many nights -have I been troubled concerning thee, for a man -with two horns on his head has stood by me, and -has warned me of evil that may hap to thee. Now, -therefore, I send thee a ring, one of the treasures of -Darius, my father; slay and offer a sacrifice to the -gods, rub the ring with the blood, and wear it, and -no evil shall happen thee on the sea or under it.” -Then Alexander did as the messenger bade him, -and offered the sacrifice to the gods, and put the -ring on his finger, but none of those who stood by -understood the matter, for the message was a secret -one.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp54" id="i_202f" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_202f.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption">Alexander sees the wonders of the sea</div> -</div> - -<p>The tale tells that Alexander entered into the -vessel of glass, and quickly shut the wicket; and -his princes pointed it with pitch so that no water -might come in at the joints, and in a moment he -entered the deep with a heavy plunge. There saw -he fish whose figures he had never dreamed of, -with forms diverse and horrible, and creeping -things and four-footed things crawling on the sea -bottom, and feeding on strange fruits of corals and -sea weeds and trees growing on the sand and sea -ooze, and great monsters came sailing up to the -side of the cage and looked in and turned away -affrighted, and other sights he saw such that he -would never tell to any man till the day of his -death, for they were so horrible that tongue could -<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_203"></a>[203]</span>not tell or man hear them told, and Alexander fell -down on the floor of his vessel of glass and lay -there for a time without life.</p> - -<p>Now when the set time was come that Alexander -was to be drawn up, it fell that Roboas, the son of -Antipater, was struck by some god with blindness, -for he loosened the chain from the ship and let it -fall so that it ran into the sea and sunk. And as -he saw what he had done, and how he had destroyed -the life of his lord, he plunged into the sea straightway, -if so be he might die with him, for his -comrades were like to tear him in pieces. But the -great iron chains falling into the sea broke the -vessel of glass, and the gods saved Alexander again, -for the chains crushed him not, and the glass -wounded him not, and he was borne to the surface -of the sea whether by the rush of the water or by -the virtue of the ring of Roxana, and his princes -saw him come to the surface and they took him up, -for they thought it was Roboas, and when they -found it was Alexander great was their joy, and -Roboas also they brought up, and Alexander forgave -him, for much did he love him.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_204"></a>[204]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_204" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_204.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. HOW ALEXANDER CAME -TO HIS LIFE’S END AND WAS BURIED, -AND WHAT THEREON BEFELL.</h2> - -<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dc_204.jpg" width="100" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="drop-cap">Furthermore after the -descent of Alexander into the sea, messengers -came from Susa with the word -that the king of Babylon, Nabuzardan, -had refused the tribute that he ought to -pay, and had declared war against the Lord of Macedon, -for he deemed that Alexander would not -return from the far lands to which he had departed, -and he thought that the city Babylon could not -be taken of man, for it was exceeding great and -strong, and needed help of no man when it was -closed up. Then Alexander the king grew very -wroth, and bade all men prepare to go to Babylon, -for he would gather all the armies of the empire -against it, and he turned his face towards the land -of Babylon and marched towards it, and they went<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_205"></a>[205]</span> -through mighty deserts and strange lands, and -many strange things they saw and wild beasts of -strange shapes, and some that breathed out fire, -and had teeth and claws like iron, and were covered -with scales like brass. But above all wonders of -the land men brought him a certain bird called -Caladrius. Now this bird is white of colour and -hath no part of blackness, and its nature is such -that when a man suffers from great sickness, and -this bird turneth away its face from him that is -sick, then without doubt the man shall die. And -if the sick man shall escape, the bird setteth its -sight on him and beholdeth him as it were fawning -and playing. And Alexander made proof of its -wondrous gifts.</p> - -<p>Now the land of Babylon is the best land to bear -all manner of bread-corn and fruit and wine; full of -sweet spices, herbs, and trees; and most rich of -precious stones and of divers metals, with great -plenty of camels, horses, oxen, asses, mules and -other beasts. And the greatness of the city may -scarcely be told, for the walls were fifty cubits thick, -and as much in height, and the city was four -hundred and fourscore furlongs about. The walls -were of burnt tiles and brick, and without was a -broad ditch and deep. Into that ditch ran the -river Euphrates all about the city. And in the -front of the walls were an hundred gates, and about -the walls were dwelling places for them that should<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_206"></a>[206]</span> -defend the city, and those places of defence were -wondrous huge and strong.</p> - -<p>On the day that Alexander came into the land of -Babylon, there met him messengers from his -mother Olympias and from Aristotle the wise, -whom he had left to govern the land of Macedon. -And Olympias wrote telling of troubles in the -kingdom, now Antipater the father of Cassander -and Roboas had stirred up the people against her, -and how he sought to be king of Macedon, for he -had heard that Alexander should return no more to -Greece. But Aristotle wrote praising the wondrous -works he had wrought, and the sights he had seen.</p> - -<p>Soon the Lord of Macedon pitched his tents before -the walls of Babylon, and called on Nabuzardan its -king to yield himself up. Now it was the custom -of Alexander when he besieged a town that for -three days a white flag hung over his tent, and -after that a black one flew, and if the town yielded -while the white flag was flying, then Alexander -received it into the number of his friends, but if -they yielded not then were they treated as enemies -and slain or sold for slaves. And three days did -the heralds come to the walls of Babylon, and -sound their trumpets and call on them to yield, but -they did not, and on the fourth day, Alexander -brought up great catapults and sent huge stones -into the city, and the people feared and sent out the -dead body of Nabuzardan their king, and yielded<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_207"></a>[207]</span> -them to the mercy of Alexander. Then the Lord of -Macedon entered into the city with all his men, -and they came into it and abode there many -months.</p> - -<p>So Alexander reigned in Babylon, and of the gold -of India and of Persia he bade men make him a -throne, and they brought the gold on horses, and -on camels, and on elephants, and cast it into a heap -twelve cubits high, and this was the fashion of the -throne they made. It was at the top of twelve steps, -and was surrounded by twelve images, the shapes of -his twelve tried princes, and each of these held up the -heavy work of the canopy of the throne. The seat -of the throne was of smaragd stone, green and clear, -and above all, in the canopy, was a lovely carbuncle -which shone in the darkest of the night like a sun, -and on the steps of the throne were engraved the -names of all the countries of the world, for they -were subject to his rule. Then made he a crown -adorned with noble and precious stones, rich beyond -all telling, and on it was a name telling of his -power and might. And his heart swelled within -him and he forgot the warnings of the gods who -had told him of his death.</p> - -<p>Then wondrous things began to happen in the -land, signs and marvels, for on one day an ass fell -upon a noble lion and kicked it to death, nor did -the lion resist, and on another day a child was born -in shape like a lion from the waist up, and the child<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_208"></a>[208]</span> -spoke a word and died. So Alexander asked his -wise men and the priests of Babylon, and they told -him that it showed evil that should happen to him. -And this is how the evil came. There was a certain -great lord in Macedon, Antipater by name, and he -sent to gather poison from the rock of Nonacris, -and so strong was this poison that no cup or vessel -might contain it, save only it were made from the -hoof of a horse. So when he had gathered it he -sent messengers to his son Cassander with the -poison, and he bade him fear not to use it. Now -Cassander and Roboas his brother had determined -evil towards Alexander in their hearts since the day -when Roboas had let Alexander loose in the sea, -and since the day when Cassander had come into -the camp to Alexander. For when Cassander had -done his homage to his lord, one of the Indian kings -came up and fell on the ground before him, and -kissed the ground at his feet, and Cassander laughed -out at the Indian king, wherefore Alexander was -offended, and struck him a blow so that he reeled -against the wall. So when the poison came Cassander -rejoiced, and he told his brother, and they set -a day to kill the Lord of Macedon, the noble Alexander.</p> - -<p>The tale tells how Alexander held high feast in -his palace at Babylon, seated on his golden throne -with his crown on his head, and Roxana the queen -by his side, and with him the twelve princes of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_209"></a>[209]</span> -Greece, who had been his companions and his -friends from the days of his youth up. And they -rejoiced and were glad, for all nations were put -under their feet, and the burden of warfare was -over, and now they had to rule the folk and to lead -happy days, and they trusted that they should be -great kings under Alexander the emperor. And -now men passed the wine, and full draughts were -drunk, and Nearchus told a tale of the wonders -that he had seen in the great sea of ocean when he -had sailed there at the orders of Alexander, and -another great lord reached for a lyre and sung a -song of old days. Then men told tales of their -deeds in battle, and each man boasted how near he -had been to Alexander in the days of the great -battles, and at the last men fell to talk of that good -steed Bucephalus, and how he bore the king in battle, -and served him faithfully, and fought with him, -and Cassander said to Roboas his brother “What -thou hast to do, that do,” and Roboas rose and -brought a cup to Alexander, and said “Dear Lord, -this cup is made from the hoof of thy brave steed, -Bucephalus the white; drink we a cup in memory -of this horse, the best in the world.” And Alexander -rose and said “O Bucephalus, my fair horse, -thou failedst me never; were this cup my bane, I -would refuse it not from thee,” and he drank it -down. Then he sat down for a space, and then he -fell forward from his seat, and his sword fell from<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_210"></a>[210]</span> -its sheath, and pierced his side, and he called but -twice “Help! Help!” Yet when his lords ran to -him and raised him, he said “Nay, my good lords -of Macedon, it is nought; drink ye and rejoice for -the good days to come,” but he turned to Cassander -and said “My faithful liegeman, go and fetch me -somewhat to ease me of this pain,” for he trusted -in Cassander as he did in his nearest friend. But -Cassander brought him that which only increased -his pain.</p> - -<p>That night Alexander the king lay alone in his -palace at Babylon, for he would have no man near -him to watch by him or to guard him, and as he -lay the cold poison weighed on his heart. Then his -brain grew dizzy and faint, and the room seemed -measurelessly great, and all men seemed far away. -The beginning of the night seemed to be long time -past, the dawn of day was still too far away to -hope for, the pain became over great to bear, the -poison ran through the veins and seemed to eat his -throat with a cold fire, and in the midst of his -trouble and fear the light went out and the darkness -came on him like a net round him. Then he -feared indeed, for he knew that he could not stay -there with the terror that was on him, and he tried -to stand and walk, but he could not for his wound -and the poison that he had drunk, he thought of -the great cold river flowing near and the water -seemed to call him, so he crawled out of the room<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_211"></a>[211]</span> -on hands and knees painfully, step by step, till the -morning broke and he found himself in the garden -of the palace close on the bank of the river, and -said, “The gods have left me, and I know not why; -but one more effort, and I shall be free of this -burning and wound.” Then he heard a great cry -“My lord, my life!” and Roxana the Queen came -running down the garden to him, and after her the -women, and the lords of Greece. So one of them -snatched a shield from the guard that came up and -laid it on the ground for the King, and Roxana -sat him on the shield and rested his head on her -bosom, while Ptolemy held up his golden shield -over him to guard his eyes from the rays of the -morning sun, and a cry of confused voices went up -round him. Then Roxana the Queen said, for in -truth she knew not what to say, “See, my lord, a -canopy of gold for my Emperor.” “Aye, fair lady -love,” said Alexander, “a sky of gold, and a soil -of iron; now are the fates accomplished and my -time is surely come; bear me back to my bed that -I may die there.” Then at the word all men there -burst into tears and lamentation, for the end of all -things seemed at hand now their lord was to die so -young, and what words can tell the grief of Roxana -the Queen.</p> - -<p>So his lords bore him gently to his bed in the -palace, and stood round it, and listened to the words -that he spoke, and Alexander sent for his scribes<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_212"></a>[212]</span> -and bade them bring parchment and an inkhorn for -his will. So it was done and he shared out all the -lands that he had conquered amongst his war-dukes, -to every man of them a kingdom. And he left to -the priests of Egypt a thousand talents of gold and -his body that they should keep it for ever, and for -his wife Roxana, if she should have a son he should -be Emperor after him, if a daughter she should be -married to the best of the Macedonians and he -should be Emperor. Then Alexander put his seal -to the parchment, and all the dukes put their seals -on it as witnesses, and the will was folded up and -laid in a precious casket before them all.</p> - -<p>Now drew on the time that this noble Prince was -to die, and all the world suffered with the pain of -losing him. The thunders rolled and crashed, the -lightnings flashed wide over the land, and there -was a darkness of thick clouds, and the earth was -rent hither and thither, and huge towers toppled and -fell, so that all that was strong and well-founded -became weak and unstable as water, and the foundations -of all things were shaken. Then men in far-off -lands feared and wondered what these things -should mean, and when they hurried to the temples -of the gods to enquire, the oracles answered “The -earth is poorer to-day by the loss of its most noble -knight and king,” and all men knew that Alexander -was dying. Then the seamen heard voices over the -sea of weeping and wailing, and they knew that all<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_213"></a>[213]</span> -people mourned for the death of the Lord of Macedon, -the bravest, the most courteous, and most generous -of knights.</p> - -<p>But the army of the Macedonians came round -the dwelling of their chief, as it ever was their wont -in time of danger, though they knew that they could -not help him, nor he them, in this his day of passing -away from them. Their hearts longed to see him -once more, to look on the face that had led them -smiling into danger and out of it again, and it may -be, to touch the hand that had struck such blows in -their aid, or had given such gifts to them as he had. -So Alexander the king was brought on his bed into -the great hall of his palace, and the Macedonians -crowded round to see him, and one of them was -over-bold and asked him “Whom dost thou leave -to be lord of thine army?” and Alexander lifted up -his head and said “Perdiccas, I leave my army and -my Queen in thy charge, take care of them: as I have -loved thee, love and keep them in my memory.” -Then the Macedonians began to weep and lament -and those who were near kissed the cold hand of -their king, and they went out, and the sound of their -sobs and lamentations was like the dying away of a -thunder storm far off.</p> - -<p>There stood up in the midst of them a lord of -Macedon, Solentius by name, and said “Men of -Macedon, our land was a small one, and our name -was lightly esteemed in Greece, till this man’s father<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_214"></a>[214]</span> -was born, and he ruled us and made us a mighty -people among the Greeks, and subdued Athens and -made us first among the folk of our land. And -when he died, and Alexander our lord came to the -throne he went wide into the world, and rode over -it, and conquered it, and he made the footmen of -his army lords over the people and kings among -the barbarian folk, so that no man stands before -the Macedonians, and they are the first of folk -under heaven. Now is he at point to die, and what -shall fall to us, for no man has he left behind him -who can take his place. Soon shall the empire of -the Macedonians be broken to pieces, and the name -of the country be forgotten.” And all men said that -he had spoken true, and they lamented exceedingly.</p> - -<p>And Alexander died: and the sun was eclipsed.</p> - -<p>Then Ptolemy sent physicians, and they embalmed -the body of Alexander, and dressed it in -his imperial robes, and set it in a chariot, and with -all the army of Macedon, marched from the land of -Babylon to the land of Egypt, to the city of -Alexandria which Alexander had built. And when -they were come there, Ptolemy built a golden -sepulchre for him in a high place looking over the -city he had built and the sea, and there he set a -chair of state, and in it was the body of Alexander, -clothed as the Emperor of the World, with his crown -upon his head: his right hand held a golden sceptre, -and his left a golden ball, and on his knees lay his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_215"></a>[215]</span> -sword, sheathed and swaddled in his girdle, for he -should no more draw it in the face of the foe.</p> - -<p>The tale tells of Olympias that when men told in -Macedon that Alexander was dead, Antipater the -traitor sent men, and they seized the lovely queen, -and slew her, and cast out her body to the beasts of -the field, and the fowls of the air; and great wars -followed that cruel deed. And other things are told -of the son of Alexander and Roxana, but never did -he reach the empire of his father, nor attain the -fame of Alexander.</p> - -<p>On a day there came to the tomb of Alexander -wise men from all lands, and one said, “Alexander -made his treasure of gold, and the gold endures, but -not Alexander.” The second said, “Yesterday the -whole world did not satisfy him, to-day four ells are -enough.” The third said, “Yesterday he ruled the -people, to-day the people rules him.” The fourth -said, “Yesterday he could save a multitude from -death, to-day he cannot save his own life.” The -fifth said, “Yesterday he led his army from the city, -to-day they led him to his burial.” The sixth said, -“Yesterday he pressed down the earth, to-day it -weighs him down.” The seventh said, “Yesterday -all men feared him, to-day they hold him in small -honour.” The last said, “Yesterday he had friends -and enemies, to-day all men are alike to him.”</p> - -<p>Then they went away, and Alexander was alone, -sitting in his chair, of state, watching his city.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_216"></a>[216]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp57" id="i_216" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_216.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption fs70">WHO SHALL ME GIVEN TEARES TO COMPLAIN<br /> -THE DEATH OF GENTILLESSE AND OF FRANCHISE.<br /> -THE END</div> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_217"></a>[217]</span><br /></p> - -<h2 class="p2 pad4 nobreak" id="AFTER-WORDS">AFTER-WORDS</h2> -</div> - -<hr class="p6 chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_218"></a>[218]</span><br /> - <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_219"></a>[219]</span></p> - - -<p>The story which has just been told -may be looked on as the result of ten centuries of Eastern -and Western imagination. The career of the historical -Alexander is perhaps one of the most important things, -in its way, that have happened on our earth, and could -not fail to give rise to a plenteous crop of legend and of -marvels. Even in his lifetime the Greek orators allowed -their language to run riot in the telling of his deeds, which -required no exaggeration to stand out before the world.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Greek Text -of Pseud-Callisthenes.</em></div> - -<p>The form of the story was fixed much as we have it now, -certainly before the third century of our era, and probably -much earlier, in the work of which a corrupt text -has come down to us, under the name of Callisthenes, -one of the companions of Alexander. -The Greek text of this work was printed by -Muller (Paris, 1877) from three MSS. in the Bibliothèque -Nationale at Paris, which represent three different classes of -MS. There are about twenty MSS. of the work known.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Probable -Alexandrian -origin -of the -Romance.</em></div> - -<p>The origin of this romance is probably Egyptian. In -fact, there seems little reason to doubt Favre’s guess, that -its composition was due to one of the Ptolemies, -who were successors of Alexander on the Egyptian -throne, and willing to legitimatise their rule -by connecting it with that of the last of the -ancient kings. The style of the Greek seems to -be Alexandrian, and Nicephorus Calistes (X. 36), speaks of -the Life of Alexander written by the Alexandrian. Other -considerations tend to support the Egyptian origin of the -romance. The character of the magic is distinctly Egyptian -(see a very interesting discussion of some points in -Budge’s Syriac Version of the Alexander Story, pp. xxxix. -<em>et seq.</em>). The way in which magic has been attributed to -Anectanabus agrees with Egyptian tradition, which has<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_220"></a>[220]</span> -always attributed supernatural powers to him. Reuvens, -in his Third Letter (p. 76), gives an account of a papyrus -describing some of his magical powers, and Tertullian, -in the “De Anima” (lvii.), names him as one of the -masters of magic.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Julius Valerius -and his Epitome.</em></div> - -<p>The story was translated into Latin by Julius Valerius -early in the fourth century, since the translation is one of the -sources of the “Itinerarium Alexandri” (340-345 -<span class="allsmcap">A.D.</span>). An epitome of Julius Valerius, made -in the ninth century, was published by Zacher -(Halle, 1867). Our earliest MS. of Julius Valerius -is at Turin, and dates from about 800 <span class="allsmcap">A.D.</span> He is -quoted by Syncellus in the eighth century, and by Malala in -the ninth.</p> - -<p>The most important translation—the one which is known -as the “Historia Alexandri Magni de Proeliis”—is, however, -due to the tenth century. Leo the Archpriest seems -to have been sent on an embassy to Constantinople to the -Emperors Constantine and Romanus (920-944) by John -and Marius, Dukes of Campania (941-965), and while there -he seems to have collected many books, among which was -the Story of Alexander. On his return he was commanded -by Duke John to translate the story into Latin.</p> - - <div class="screenonly"> -<div class="sidenote"><em>Alberic de Besançon. -And the decasyllabic poem.</em></div> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Lamprecht’s Version.</em></div> - </div> - - <!-- epub does not handle 2 sidenotes properly; combine them --> - <div class="handonly"> -<div class="sidenote"><em>Alberic de Besançon. -And the decasyllabic poem.</em><br /> -----------<br /> -<em>Lamprecht’s Version.</em></div> - </div> - -<p>The Alexander Story came into European literature early -in the twelfth century. As far as we know it was introduced -by Alberic de Besançon. Of his work there -exists now only a fragment of about 105 lines, -first printed by Heyse, Berlin, 1856, 8vo. We -can, however, judge of it by the decasyllabic -poem, of which two portions are printed by -Meyer. It was founded on Julius Valerius and the authentic -histories of Alexander. Alberic rejects with disdain the -story of Anectanabus’ parentage of Alexander, judging it a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_221"></a>[221]</span> -disgrace to any true knight to be base-born. The character -of the missing parts of the poem may also be -gathered from the German version of Lamprecht -the preacher, who wrote towards the end of the -twelfth century, and who seems to have made use of -Alberic’s poem till it concluded with the episode of -Nicholas. The poems printed by Meyer here change their -versification, and are henceforth in Alexandrines, the continuator -being Simon le Poitevin.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Lambert li Tors and -Alexandre de Paris.</em></div> - -<p>The development of the Alexander Story in Europe is -due, however, neither to Alberic nor Lamprecht, but to -Lambert li Tors and Alexandre de Bernay (or -Paris), who in the middle of the century wrote -the romance in Alexandrines. The poem was -full of the magical wonders which Alberic had -rejected; it adopted the Egyptian origin of Alexander -and the wondrous stories of Bucephalus, and became -instantaneously popular.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>The Alexander -Cycle.</em></div> - -<p>But medieval listeners were not satisfied with so meagre -information as the Romance of Alexander gave. Here -was a great king foully murdered, beautiful queens -beheaded; is there no justice in the skies? So in -quick succession came the “Testament d’Alexandre” -of Pierre de Saint Cloor, and in 1190 “La Vengeance -Alexandre” of Gui de Cambrai. Another poem on the -same subject was written between 1288-1308 by Jean le -Nevelois (Nevelaux), and a new cycle of poems was opened -by the “Voeux du Paon” of Jacques de Longuyon, 1312, -the “Restor du Paon” of Brisebarre de Douay (before -1338). The Alexander cycle finishes by Jean de la Mote’s -“Parfait du Paon,” 1340.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Eustace of Kent.</em></div> - -<p>Meanwhile the Alexander Story itself had gone on its -way. Eustace of Kent had incorporated it in his (still<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_222"></a>[222]</span> -inedited) “Roman de Toute Chevalrie” in the middle of -the thirteenth century. Four manuscripts of -this work still exist, and it seems to be the stock -from which many English translations have been -made, notably that published by Weber in 1810. About -the same time the prose translation of the “De Proeliis” -was made, a translation which profoundly influenced the -later story-tellers. Soon the Epitome of Julius Valerius, -and a letter of Alexander to Aristotle, giving an account of -the wonders of India, were translated. Frère Jehan de -Vignay wrote a prose romance of Alexander in 1341, unfortunately -lost, and the roll is closed in 1445 by “l’Histoire -d’Alexandre” of Jean Wauquelin.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>English -Versions.</em></div> - -<p>Our English versions seem to have been later. Very -few of them have been printed, a fact perhaps due to the -very insufficient support extended to the Early -English Text Society, which has printed the -portions to be found of two of them. Our earliest -version seems to be that of which some extracts are given -in Warton. There was an English version of 48,000 -lines or so of the Alexander Story, belonging to the Duke -of Roxburghe, but the MS. has disappeared. Weber, in -his “Early English Metrical Romances,” gives a rhymed -poem of 8031 lines. Two fragments are known of an -alliterative translation of Lambert li Tors, which must -have been of enormous length; and a nearly complete -poem, which follows pretty closely the “De Proeliis,” is -printed under the name of “The Wars of Alexander.” -The three last are published by the Early English Text -Society. Gower, in the “Confessio Amantis,” also makes -use of episodes of the romance. Cockayne printed an A.S. -version of the letter of Alexander.</p> - -<p>We have thus run down the line which brought the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_223"></a>[223]</span> -tale from Egypt to Chaucer’s doors, so that he could sing -that—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="verse indentq">“<em>Alisaundre’s storie is so commune</em></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>That everie wight that hath discrecionne</em></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><em>Hath horde somewhat or al of his fortune;</em>”</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="noindent">but we would not have the reader think that here is an -exhaustive list, even along the line of descent we have -traced, of the forms of the Alexander Story. Amongst -other European versions are the German prose version -(printed in 1478, Aug. Vind., fo.), made by John Hartlieb -Moller, at the command of Albert, Duke of Bavaria. -There are further, early Spanish, Italian, Norse, Swedish, -Dutch, and Russian versions. An early rhyme, preserving -an incident of the story, is printed by Schiller, “Thesaur. -Antiq. Teuton,” t. i., in the Rhythm. de S. Annone, xiv., xv.</p> - -<p>It hardly comes within our province to refer to other -forms of the Alexander Story in Europe, except in the -briefest possible way. A work often mistaken for the “De -Proeliis” is the compilation of Radulphus of St Albans, -who compiled from Quintus Curtius and other authors a Life -of Alexander. In 1236 William of Spoleto wrote a Life of -Alexander in Latin elegiacs, a work quoted by Warton as -of Aretinus Quilichinus.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Independent -Legends—Persian, -Arabic.</em></div> - -<p>The Pseud-Callisthenes is often spoken of as the work -of Simeon Seth, protovestiarius of the palace of Antiochus -at Constantinople, and was in the last century considered -a translation from the Persian about the year 1070. Other -reasons apart the dissimilarity between the -Egyptian and the Persian forms of the story -would disprove this theory. Just as the Egyptians -represented Alexander as the son of the last of -their native kings, so the Persians represented -him (in the popular legend) as the son of Darius (Codomannus<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_224"></a>[224]</span> -of the Kayanian dynasty), and of a daughter of -Philip of Macedon, who was brought up by his grandfather, -and afterwards overcame his elder brother. An -independent tradition seems to have grown up among -the Arabs, making him the son of an old woman, and born -in obscurity, his name being originally Mazban (Lord of -the Marches), son of Marzabah, descended from Yunan, -son of Japhet (Burton, “Arabian Nights”).</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Syriac Versions.</em></div> - -<p>An early Arabic version of the Greek must have been made -about the eighth century, from which the Syriac version we -have at present was made, but unfortunately this -has not been found. A Syriac version was made -in the eighth century, of which parts exist; but -our most complete version is that made in the seventh-ninth -century, and published with a version by Budge. Eight -chapters of this are missing, and it is noticeable that the -source of the translation did not contain the interpolations -from Palladius (367-431) which the Greek text now does. -An Armenian version is attributed to Moses of Chorene -(fifth century), who certainly knew the story.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Armenian, -Hebrew, -Arabic, Persian, -Ethiopic, -Coptic.</em></div> - -<p>The story early passed into Hebrew. It is found in Jos. -ben Gorion (lib. II. p. 94, ed. Oxon. 1704, 4to), and a -pseudonymous translation of the work of Ptolemy, son of -Lagos, by Samuel ben Judah ben Sibbon of Granada, -appeared in the thirteenth century. (See a French translation -of a Hebrew version by J. Levi, “Revue des Etudes -Juives,” III. 241.) It is found in the Arabic of Said ibn -Batrik (939 <span class="allsmcap">A.D.</span>), Patriarch of Alexandria (Eutychus., -ed. Pocock, Oxon. 1606), and in Gregory -Abul Farag (1265). Mohl believed that Firdusi -had an Arab author before him when writing -of Alexander. Among the Persian writers may -be named Firdusi (1024), Nizami (1203), and Mirkond<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_225"></a>[225]</span> -(1497). An Ethiopic version will shortly be published -by Budge; and among others existing are versions in -Coptic, Malay, and Siamese. Several detached incidents -connect themselves with the story. Thus we may mention -the “Iter ad Paradisum,” twelfth century (of Talmudic -origin), printed at Konigsberg, 1859; the Gog and Magog -story, &c.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Anectanabus.</em></div> - -<p>The Egyptian king who figures in our story as Anectanabus -is known to history as Necht-neb-f (Nakhtenephen). -His mutilated statue and two inscriptions are in -the British Museum. He was overthrown by -Ochus, and retreated into Ethiopia some four -years after the birth of Alexander. We have already -referred to the reputation for magic that attached to him -early in the Christian era. The form Anectanabus is used -as being the form (sometimes shortened to Anec) in which -the name appears in Gower and the poet of “The Wars of -Alexander.” His history may be read in Wiedemann, -“Aegyptische Geschichte,” p. 716, or in Maspero, “Histoire -du Peuples de l’Orient,” pp. 566-7.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Plutarch -and the -Alexander -Story.</em></div> - -<p>It is difficult to resist the conclusion that Plutarch -had before him such a collection of tales as the -“Pseud-Callisthenes,” and was thinking of them -when he wrote his first pages of the Life of Alexander. -The tradition of his birth from the visit -of a dragon is accounted for by the habits of the -Macedonian women, who are accustomed to pet large snakes. -Justin XI. 2, 3, and XII. 16, and Solinus, cap. XV., also -mention the tradition. Other points where Plutarch is -contradicting the legend will readily suggest themselves. -However, this is saying nothing more than that many of -the stories must have grown up about the time of Alexander, -or soon after his death. The filiation of Alexander<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_226"></a>[226]</span> -and Ammon is one of these, the cartouche of Alexander -being “Alexander, son of Amen.”</p> - -<p>There has been no attempt to give a Greek character to -the story. Even when the alteration of a letter would have -made a good Greek name, as in the case of Pausanius, it -has not been altered, and Sir Samson, Sir Balaan, speak for -themselves. But, on the other hand, as the tales make him -Christian or Pagan by turns, we have not tried to make -him consistent. In the same way, it was found impossible -to leave out the visit to Jerusalem, which makes such a -central point in the medieval stories.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Medieval -Illuminated -Copies.</em></div> - -<p>A word as to the illustrations—not those of our book, -but those of the veritable medieval illuminators. Among -the chief treasures of the British Museum are its -illuminated copies of the Alexander Romance, -notably 19. D. <span class="allsmcap">I</span> and 20. B. <span class="allsmcap">XX</span>. Some others are -older, but these are filled with most beautiful -paintings of the incidents of the story. I may be allowed -to mention one thing here which I have noticed. In each -of them, at the beginning, is a sort of frontispiece divided -into compartments, and labelled The Castle of Cairo, The -Town of Babylon (with Anectanabus shown on the walls or -elsewhere), The Garden of Balm, and The Mills of Babylon. -Now, these seem to have no connection with the French -prose translation in which they are found. Cairo is not -mentioned in it, there is no story of a garden of balm, and -there is no story of the mills of Babylon, which are large -floating water-mills like those at Old London Bridge.</p> - - -<p class="p1 noindent">FINISHED THIS THIRTIETH DAY OF MAY -1894 BY ME, ROBERT STEELE, AND PRINTED -BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO., LONDON, -FOR DAVID NUTT IN THE STRAND.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class="chapter"></div> -<div class="transnote"> -<a id="TN"></a> -<p class="bold">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</p> - -<p>Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been -corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within -the text and consultation of external sources.</p> - -<p>Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, -and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.</p> - -<p> -<a href="#tn-25">Pg 25</a>: ‘and gan question’ replaced by ‘and began to question’.<br /> -<a href="#tn-55">Pg 55</a>: ‘CHAP. VII’ replaced by ‘CHAPTER VII’.<br /> -<a href="#tn-131">Pg 131</a>: ‘and whatsover men’ replaced by ‘and whatsoever men’.<br /> -<a href="#tn-163">Pg 163</a>: ‘the earth. Then’ replaced by ‘the earth.” Then’.<br /> -</p> -</div> - -<p> </p> -<hr class="pgx" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF ALEXANDER***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 64991-h.htm or 64991-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/4/9/9/64991">http://www.gutenberg.org/6/4/9/9/64991</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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