His esteem, or rather his passion, for Homer shows, not only with what vigour and success he applied himself to polite literature, but the judicious use he made of it, and the solid advantages he proposed to himself from it. He was not prompted to peruse this poet merely out of curiosity, or to unbend his mind, or from a great fondness for poesy; but his view in studying this admirable writer was, in order to borrow such sentiments from him as are worthy a great king and conqueror; courage, intrepidity, magnanimity, temperance, prudence; the art of commanding well in war, and governing well in peace. And, indeed, the verse which pleased him most in Homer was that where Agamemnon is represented as a good king and a brave warrior. b C After this it is no wonder that Alexander should have so high an esteem for this poet. Thus when, after the battle of Arbela, the Macedonians had found, among the spoils of Darius, a gold casket (enriched with precious stones) in which the exquisite perfumes used by that prince were put, Alexander, who was quite covered with dust, and regardless of essences and perfumes, destined this rich casket to hold Homer's poems, which he considered the most perfect, the most precious, production of the human mind. He admired particularly the Iliad, which he called, "the best pro"vision for a warrior." He always had with him that edition of Homer which Aristotle had revised and corrected, and to which the title of the Edition of the Casket was given; and he laid it, with his sword, every night, under his pillow. d Fond, even to excess, of every kind of glory, he was displeased with Aristotle, his master, for having published, in his absence, certain metaphysical pieces, which he himself desired to possess alone; and, even at the time when he was employed in the conquest of Asia and the pursuit of Darius, he wrote to him a letter, which is still extant, wherein he complains upon that very account. Alexander says in it, that he had much rather surpass the rest of men in "the knowledge of sublime and excellent things than in the greatness and extent of his power." He in like manner requested/Aristotle not to show the treatise on rhetoric above mentioned to any person but himself. I will confess, that there is an excess in this strong desire of glory, which prompts him to suppress the merit of others, in order that his only may appear; but then we at least must confess, that σ' Αμφότερον, βασιλεὺς τ' ἀγαθός, κρατερός τ' αιχμητής. b Pretiosissimum humani animi opus. Plin. 1. vii. c. 29. 66 Iliad, 3. v. 179. • Τῆς πολεμικῆς ἀρετῆς ἐφόδιον. The word, which I have not been able to render better, signifies, that in the Iliad are found whatever relates to the art of war and the qualities of a general; in a word, all things necessary to form a good commander. d Aal, Gel. 1. b. xx. c. 5. e Εγῶ δὲ βυλοίμην ἂν ταῖς περὶ τὰ ἄρισα ἐμπειρίαις. ἢ ταῖς δυνάμεσις δια fArist. p. 609. φέρειν. it discovers such a passion for study as is very laudable in a prince; and the very reverse of that indifference, not to say contempt and aversion, which most young persons of high birth express for all things that relate to learning and study. 66 Plutarch points out to us, in few words, the infinite advantage that Alexander reaped from this taste, with which his master, (than whom no man possessed greater talents for the education of youth,) had inspired him from his most tender infancy. He loved, (says that author), to converse with "learned men, to improve himself in knowledge, and to "study;" a three sources of a monarch's happiness, which enable him to secure himself from numberless difficulties; three certain and infallible methods of learning to reign without the assistance of others. The conversation of persons of fine sense instructs a prince while it amuses him, and teaches him a thousand curious and useful things without costing him the least trouble. The lessons which able masters give him on the most exalted sciences, and particularly upon politics, improve his mind wonderfully, and furnish him with rules to govern his subjects with wisdom. In short, study, especially that of history, crowns all the rest, and is to him a preceptor for all seasons and for all hours, who, without ever growing troublesome, acquaints him with truths which no one else would dare to tell him, and, under fictitious names, exhibits the prince to himself; teaches him to know himself as well as mankind, who are the same in all ages. Alexander owed all these advantages to the excellent education which Aristotle gave him. He had also a taste for the whole circle of the arts, but in such a manner as becomes a prince; that is, he knew the value and usefulness of them. Music, painting, sculpture, architecture, flourished in his reign, because they found in him both a skilful judge and a generous protector, who was able to distinguish and reward merit, wherever displayed. But he despised certain trifling feats of dexterity that were of no use. Much admiration was lavished on a man, who employed himself very earnestly in throwing small peas through the eye of a needle, which he would do at a considerable distance, and without once missing. Alexander, seeing him thus engaged, ordered him, as we are told, a present suitable to his employment, viz. a basket of peas. Alexander was of a lively disposition; resolute, and very tenacious of his opinion, which never gave way to compulsion, but at the same time would submit immediately to rea« *Ην φιλόλογΘ, καὶ φιλομαθής, καὶ φιλαναγνώςης. b Plut. de Fortun. Alex. Serm. ii. p. 333. • Μάρτυρα ἔλαβον καὶ θεατὴν τὸν ἄριςα κρῖναι τὸ κατορθέμενον, καὶ μάλισα αμείψασθαι δυνάμενον. d Quintil. lib. ii. cap. 21. We may suppose was some instrument in the shape of a needle. son and good sense. It requires great judgment and delicacy to manage such a disposition. Philip, accordingly, notwithstanding his double authority of king and father, believed it necessary to employ persuasion rather than constraint, with respect to his son, and endeavoured to make himself beloved rather than feared by him. An accident made him entertain a very advantageous opinion of Alexander. There had been sent from Thessaly to Philip a war-horse, a noble, fiery, generous, beast, called Bucephalus. The owner offered to sell him for 13 talents, about 19007. sterling. The king went into the plains, attended by his courtiers, in order to view the perfections of this horse; but, upon trial, he appeared so very fierce, and reared so when any one came near him, that no one dared to mount him. Philip, being angry that so furious and unmanageable a creature had been sent him, ordered him back again. Alexander, who was present, cried out, "What a "noble horse they are going to lose, for want of address and "boldness to back him!" Philip, at first, considered these words as the effect of folly and rashness so common to young men: but, as Alexander insisted still more upon what he had said, and was very much vexed to see so noble a creature just going to be sent home again, his father gave him leave to try what he could do. The young prince, overjoyed at this permission, goes up to Bucephalus, takes hold of his bridle, and turns his head to the sun; having observed that what frightened him was his own shadow, he seeing it dance about, or sink down in proportion as he moved. He therefore, first stroked him gently with his hand, and soothed him with his voice; then, seeing his fierceness abate, and artfully taking his opportunity, he let fall his cloak, and, springing swiftly upon his back, first slackens the rein, without once striking or vexing him; and when he perceived that his fire was cooled, that he was no longer so furious and violent, and wanted only to move forward, he gave him the rein, and spurring him with great vigour, animated him with his voice to his full speed. While this was doing, Philip, and his whole court, trembled with fear, and did not once open their lips; but when the prince, after having run his first heat, returned with joy and pride, at his having broke a horse which was judged absolutely ungovernable, all the courtiers in general endeavoured to outvie one another in their applauses and congratulations; and, we are told, Philip shed tears of joy on this occasion, and embraced Alexander after he was alighted, and kissing his head he said to him, "My son, seek a kingdom more worthy of thee, for "Macedon is below thy merit." a Some think he was called so, because his head was like that of an ox. We are told a great many surprising particulars of this Bucephalus; for, whatever had any relation to Alexander was to be of the marvellous kind. When this creature was saddled and equipped for battle he would suffer no one to back him but his master; and it would not have been safe for any other person to go near him. Whenever Alexander wanted to mount him, he would kneel down upon his forefeet. According to some historians, in the battle against Porus, where Alexander had plunged too imprudently amidst a body of the enemy, his horse, though wounded in every part of his body, did however exert himself in so vigorous a manner that he saved his master's life; and, notwithstanding the deep wounds he had received, and though almost spent through the great effusion of blood, he brought off Alexander from among the combatants, and carried him with inexpressible vigour to a place of security; where, perceiving the king was no longer in danger, and overjoyed in some measure to die, after the service he had done him, he expired. This indeed is a very noble end for a horse. Others say, that Bucephalus, quite worn out, died at 30 years of age. Alexander bewailed his death bitterly, believing that he had lost in him a most faithful and affectionate friend; and afterwards built a city on the very spot where he was buried, near the river Hydaspes, and called it Bucephalia, in honour of him. I have related elsewhere that Alexander, at 16 years of age, was appointed regent of Macedonia, and invested with absolute authority during his father's absence; that he behaved with great prudence and bravery; and that afterwards he distinguished himself in a most signal manner at the battle of Charonea. SECT. II. Alexander ascends the throne. Declared generalissimo of the Greeks against the Persians. c Darius and Alexander began to reign the same year: the latter was but 20 when he succeeded to the crown. His first care was to solemnize the funeral obsequies of his father with the utmost pomp, and to revenge his death. Upon his accession to the throne, he saw himself surrounded on every side with extreme dangers. The barbarous nations against whom Philip had fought during his whole reign, and from whom he had made several conquests, which a Aul. Gel. I v. c. 2. Et Domini jam superstitis securus, quæsi cum sensus humani solatio, animam expiravit. Aul. Geli. c A. M. 3668. Ant. J. C. 336. 486-489. Arrian. 1. i. de Expedit. Plut. in Alex. p. 670, 672. Diod. l. xvii. p. he had united to his crown, after having dethroned their natural kings, thought proper to take the advantage of this juncture, in which a new prince, who was but young, had ascended the throne, for recovering their liberty, and uniting against the common usurper. Nor was he under less apprehensions from Greece. Philip, though he had permitted the several cities and commonwealths to continue their ancient form of government, had however entirely changed it in reality, and made himself absolute master of it. Though absent, he nevertheless predominated in all the assemblies; and not a single resolution was taken but in subordination to his will. Though he had subdued all Greece, either by the terror of his arms, or the secret machinations of policy, he had not had time sufficient to subject and accustom it to his power, but had left all things in it in great ferment and disorder, the minds of the vanquished not being yet calmed nor moulded to subjection. The Macedonians, reflecting on this precarious situation of things, advised Alexander to relinquish Greece, and not persist in his resolution of subduing it by force; to recover by gentle methods the Barbarians who had taken arms, and to soothe, " as it were, those glimmerings of revolt and innovation by prudent reserve, complacency, and insinuations, in order to conciliate affection. However, Alexander would not listen to these timorous counsels, but resolved to secure and support his affairs by boldness and magnanimity; firm.. ly persuaded, that, should he relax in any point at first, all his neighbours would fall upon him; and that, were he to endeavour to compromise matters, he should be obliged to give up all Philip's conquests, and thus to confine his dominions to the narrow limits of Macedon. He, therefore, made all possible haste to check the arms of the Barbarians, by marching his troops with the greatest expedition to the banks of the Danube, which he crossed in one night. He defeated the king of the Triballi in a great battle; made the Getæ fly at his approach; subdued several barbarous nations, some by the terror of his name and others by force of arms; and, notwithstanding the arrogant answer of their ambassadors, he taught them to dread a danger still more near them than the falling of the sky and planets. b Whilst Alexander was thus employed at a distance against the barbarians, all the cities of Greece, who were animated more particularly by Demosthenes, formed a powerful alliance against that prince. A false report which prevailed • Θεραπεύειν τὰς ἀρχὰς τῶν νεωτερισμῶν. Alexander imagining that his name only had struck these people with ter ror, asked their ambassadors what things they dreaded most? they replied with a haughty tone of voice, that they were afraid of nothing but the falling of the sky and stars. |