diers to defend, and the enemy to attack him. And now the battle grew more furious and bloody than before; so that a great number of Persian noblemen were killed. Each side fought with incredible bravery. Oxarthes, brother to Darius, observing that Alexander was going to charge that monarch with the utmost vigour, rushed before his chariot with the horse under his command, and distinguished himself above all the rest. The horses that drew Darius' chariot, being quite covered with wounds, began to prance about, and shook the yoke so violently, that they were npon the point of overturning the king, who seeing himself going to fall alive into the hands of his enemies, leaped down, and mounted another chariot. The rest observing this, fled as fast as possible, and, throwing down their arms, made the best of their way. Alexander had received a slight wound in his thigh, but happily it was not attended with ill consequences.

Whilst part of the Macedonian infantry, posted to the right, were carrying on the advantages they had gained against the Persians, the remainder of them who engaged the Greeks met with greater resistance. These observing that the body of infantry in question were no longer covered by the right wing of Alexander's army, which was pursuing the enemy, came and attacked it in flank. The engagement was very bloody, and victory a long time doubtful. The Greeks endeavoured to push the Macedonians into the river, and to recover the disorder into which the left wing had been thrown. The Macedonians also signalized themselves with the utmost bravery, in order to preserve the advantage Alexander had just before gained, and support the honour of their phalanx, which had always been considered as invincible. There was also a perpetual jealousy between these two nations, the Greeks and Macedonians, which greatly increas ed their courage, and made the resistance on each side very vigorous. On Alexander's side, Ptolemy the son of Seleucus lost his life, with 120 more considerable officers, who all haď behaved with the utmost gallantry.

In the mean time the right wing, which was victorious under its monarch, after defeating all who opposed it, wheeled to the left against those Greeks who were fighting with the rest of the Macedonian phalanx, whom they charged very vigorously; and attacking them in flank, entirely routed

them.

At the very beginning of the engagement the Persian cav alry which was on the right wing, without waiting for their being attacked by the Macedonians, had crossed the river, and rushed upon the Thessalian horse, several of whose squadrons were broke by it. Upon this the remainder of the

latter, in order to avoid the impetuosity of the first charge, and oblige the Persians to break their ranks, made a feint of retiring, as if terrified by the prodigious numbers of the enemy. The Persians seeing this, were filled with boldness and confidence; and thereupon the greatest part of them, advancing without order or precaution, as to a certain victory, had no thoughts but of pursuing the enemy. Upon this, the Thessalians seeing them in such confusion, faced about on a sudden, and renewed the fight with fresh ardour. The Persians made a brave defence, till they saw Darius put to flight, and the Greeks cut to pieces by the phalanx.

The routing of the Persian cavalry completed the defeat of the army. The Persian horse suffered very much in the retreat, from the great weight of the arms of their riders; not to mention, that as they retired in disorder, and crowded in great numbers through passes, they bruised and unhorsed one another, and were more annoyed by their own soldiers than by the enemy. Besides, the 'I'hessalian cavalry pursued them with so much fury, that they were as much shattered as the infantry, and lost as many men.

With regard to Darius, as we before observed, the instant he saw his left wing broke, he was one of the first who fled in his chariot; but getting afterwards into craggy rugged places, he mounted on horseback, throwing down his bow, sied, and royal mantle. Alexander, however, did not attempt to pursue him, till he saw his phalanx had conquered the Greeks, and the Persian horse put to flight; which was of great advantage to the prince that fled.

About 8000 of the Greeks that were in Darius' service, with their officers at their head, who were very brave, retired over the mountains towards Tripoli in Syria, where, finding the transports which had brought them from Lesbos upon dry ground, they fitted out as many of them as suited their purpose, and burned the rest, to prevent their being pursued.

t

As for the barbarians, having exerted themselves with bravery enough in the first attack, they afterwards gave way in the most shameful manner; and being intent upon nothing but saving themselves, they took different ways. Some struck into the high road which led directly to Persia; others ran into woods and lonely mountains; and a small number returned to their camp, which the victorious enemy had already taken and plundered.

Sysigambis, Darius' mother, and that monarch's queen, who also was his sister, remained in it, with two of the king's daughters, a son of his, a child, and some Persian ladies for the rest had been carried to Damascus, with part of Da

rius' treasure, and all such things as contributed only to the luxury and magnificence of his court. No more than 3000* talents were found in his camp; but the rest of the treasure fell afterwards into the hands of Parmenio, at his taking the city of Damascus.

† Alexander, weary of pursuing Darius, seeing night draw on, and that it would be impossible for him to overtake that monarch, returned to the enemy's camp, which his soldiers had just before plundered. Such was the end of this memorable battle, fought the fourth year of Alexander's reign. The Persians, either in the engagement or the rout, lost a great number of their forces, both horse and foot; but very few were killed on Alexander's side,

That very evening he invited the grandees of his court, and his chief officers, to a feast, at which he himself was present, notwithstanding the wound he had received, it having only grazed the skin. But they were no sooner set down at table, than they heard from a neighbouring tent, a great noise, intermized with groans, which frighted all the company, insomuch that the soldiers, who were upon guard before the king's tent, ran to their arms, being afraid of an insurrection. But it was found, that the persons who made this clamour were the mother and wife of Darius, and the rest of the captive ladies, who supposing that prince dead, bewailed his loss, according to the custom of the barbarians, with dreadful cries and howlings. An eunuch who had seen Darius' cloak in the hands of a soldier, imagining he had killed him, and afterwards stripped him of that garment, had carried them that false account.

We are told that Alexander, upon being told the reason of this false alarm, could not refrain from tears, when he considered the sad calamity of Darius, and the tender disposition of those princesses, whom his misfortunes only affected. He thereupon sent Leonatus, one of his chief courtiers, to assure them, that the man whose death they bewailed was alive. Leonatus, taking some soldiers with him, came to the tent of the princesses, and sent word that he was come to pay them a visit in the king's name. The persons who were at the entrance of the tent, seeing a band of armed men, imagined that their mistresses were undone; and accordingly ran into the tent, crying aloud, that their last hour was come,

• About 440,000l. sterling. †A. M. 3672, Ant. J. C. 33%. ‡ According to Quintus Curtius and Arrian, the Persiane lost 100,000 foot, and 10,000 horse. And the former historian relates that no more than 150 horse, and 300 foot, were lost on Alexander's side, which does not seem very probable.

and that soldiers were dispatched to murder them; so that these princesses, being seized with the utmost distraction, did not make the least answer, but waited in deep silence for the orders of the conqueror. At last, Leonatus having staid a long time, and seeing no one appear, left his soldiers at the door, and came into the tent: but their terror increased when they saw a man enter among them without being introduced. They thereupon threw themselves at his feet, and entreated, that "before he put them to death, they 66 might be allowed to bury Darius after the manner of their 56 country, and that when they had paid this last duty to their "king, they should die contented." Leonatus answered,

that Darius was living; and that so far from giving them 66 any offence, they should be treated as queens, and live in "their former splendour." Sysigambis, hearing this, began to recover her spirits, and permitted Leonatus to give her his hand to raise her from the ground.

The next day Alexander, after visiting the wounded, caused the last honours to be paid to the dead, in presence of the whole army, drawn up in the most splendid order of battle. He treated the Persians of distinction in the same manner, and permitted Darius' mother to bury whatever persons she pleased, according to the customs and ceremo nies practised jn her country. However, this prudent princess used that permission in regard only to a few who were her near relations, and that with such a modesty and reserve as she thought suited her present condition. The king testified his joy and gratitude to the whole army, especially to the chief officers, whose actions he applauded in the strongest terms, as well those of which he himself had been an eye-witness, as such as had been only related to him; and he made presents to all, according to their merit and station.

After Alexander had performed these several duties, tryly worthy a great monarch, he sent a message to the queens, to inform them that he was coming to pay them a visit; and accordingly, commanding all his train to withdraw, he entered the tent, accompanied only by Hephæstion. He was his favourite; and as they had been brought up together, the king revealed his secrets to him, and no body else dared to speak so freely to him*; but even Hephaestion made so cautious and discreet an use of that liberty, that he seemed to take it not so much out of inclination, as from a desire to obey the king who would have it so, They were of the same

Libertatis quoque in eo admonendo non alius jus habebat ; quod tamen ita usurpabat, ut magis a rege permissum quam vindicatum ab co videretur, Q. Curt,

age, but Hephæstion was taller, so that the queens took him at first for the king, and paid him their respects as such: but some captive eunuchs showing them Alexander, Sysigambis fell prostrate before him, and begged his pardon; declaring, that as she had never seen him, she hoped that consideration would plead her apology. The king raising her from the ground, "dear mother," said he, "you are not "mistaken, for he also is an Alexander* :" A fine expression, which does honour to both,! Had Alexander always thought and acted in this manner, he would justly have merited the title of great; but fortune had not corrupted his soul. He bore her at first with moderation and wisdom; but at last she overpowered him, and he became unable to resist her.

Sysigambis, strongly affected with these testimonies of goodness and humanity, could not forbear testifying her grafitude upon that account: "Great prince," said she to him, "what words shall I find to express my thanks, in such a "manner as may answer your generosity! you call me your "mother, and honour me still with the title of queen, where"as I confess myslf your captive. 1 know what I have "been, and what I now am. I know the whole extent of my past grandeur, and find I can support all the weight "of my present ill fortune. But it will be glorious for you, as you now have an absolute power over us, to make us "feel it by your clemency only, and not by ill treatment."

The king after comforting the princesses, took Darius' son in his arms. This little child without discovering the least terror, embraced Alexander, who being affected with his confidence, and turning about to Hephæstion, said to him "O that Darius had had some portion of this tender disposi ❝tion !"

It is certain that Darius, in the beginning of his reign, behaved in such a manner, that he surpassed in clemency and goodness all the kings his predecessors, and was superior to a passion which conquers and enslaves the strongest. Darius' consort was the most lovely princess in the world, as he himself was the most beautiful of princes, and of a very tall and most majestic shape; and the princesses their daugh

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

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

+ Et præteritæ fortune fastigium capio, et præsentis jugum pati

possum, Curt.