Alexander. This prince, surprised to see so famous a philosopher reduced to such extreme poverty, after saluting him in the kindest manner, asked whether he wanted any thing? Diogenes replied, “Yes, that you would stand a little "out of my sunshine." This answer raised the contempt and indignation of all the courtiers; but the monarch, struck with the philosopher's greatness of soul, "Were I not Alexander," says he, "I would be Diogenes." A very profound sense lies hid in this expression, which shows perfectly the bent and disposition of the heart of man. Alexander is sensible that he is formed to possess all things? such is his destiny, in which he makes his happiness consist: but then, in case he should not be able to compass his ends, he is also sensible, that, to be happy, he must endeavour to bring his mind to such a frame as to want nothing. In a word, all or nothing presents us with the true image of Alexander and Diogenes. How great and powerful soever that prince might think himself, he could not on this occasion deny himself to be inferior to a man, to whom he could give, and from whom he could take, nothing.

Alexander, before he set out for Asia, was determined to consult the oracle of Apollo, on the event of the war. He therefore went to Delphos ; but, happened to arrive there during those days which are called unlucky, a season in which people were forbidden consulting the oracle; and accordingly the priestess refused to go to the temple. But Alexander, who could not bear any contradiction to his will, took her forcibly by the arm; and, as he was leading her to the temple, she cried out", "My son, thou art irresistible." This was all he desired; and, catching at these words, which he considered as spoken by the oracle, he set out for Macedonia, in order to make preparations for his great expedition.

Note, with regard to the sequel of this history.

I could have wished, and it was even my design, to prefix to the exploits of Alexander a geographical map, as I did to those of Cyrus the Younger; as this is of great assistance to the reader, and enables him to follow the hero in all his conquests. But it was not in my power to do this here, the map of Alexander's conquests being too large to be conveniently inserted in this volume. But to supply, in some measure, this defect, I shall here give, in one view, a short account of those countries through which Alexander passed, till his return from India.

Alexander sets out from Macedonia, which is part of Tura Homo supra mensuram humanæ superbiæ tumens, vidit aliquem, cui nee dare quidquam posset, nec eripere. Seneca de Benef. 1. v. c. 6.

ὁ Ανίκητα εν ᾧ παι

key in Europe, and crosses the Hellespont, or the Straits of the Dardanelles.

He crosses Asia Minor (Natolia,) where he fights two battles; the first at the passage of the river Granicus, and the second near the city of Issus.

After this second battle, he enters Syria and Palestine ; goes into Egypt, where he builds Alexandria, on one of the arms of the Nile ; advances as far as Lybia to the temple of Jupiter Ammon; whence he returns, arrives at Tyre, and from thence marches towards the Euphrates.

He crosses that river, then the Tygris, and gains the celebrated victory of Arbela; possesses himself of a Babylon and Ecbatana, the chief city of Media.

From thence he passes into Hyrcania, to the sea which goes by that name, otherwise called the Caspian Sea; and enters Parthia, Drangiana, and the country of Paropamisus.

He afterwards goes into Bactriana and Sogdiana; advances as far as the river laxarthes, called by Quintus Curtius the Tanais, the farther side of which is inhabited by the Scythians, whose country forms part of Great Tartary.

Alexander, after having gone through various countries, crosses the river Indus; enters India, which lies on this side the Ganges, and forms past of the Grand Mogul's empire, and advances very near the river Ganges, which he also intended to pass, had not his army refused to follow him. He therefore contents himself with marching to view the ocean, and goes down the river Indus to its mouth.

From Macedonia to the Ganges, very near to which river Alexander marched, is computed at least 1100 leagues.

Add to this the various turnings in Alexander's marches, first, from the extremity of Cilicia, where the battle of Issus was fought, to the temple of Jupiter Ammon, in Lybia; and his returning from thence to Tyre, a journey of 300 leagues at least, and as much space at least for the windings of his route in different places; we shall find that Alexander, in less than eight years, marched his army upwards of 1700 leagues, without including his return to Babylon.

SECT. III.

Alexander sets out against the Persians. Obtains a famous victory at the river Granicus.

b Alexander, being arrived in his kingdom, held a council with the chief officers of his army, and the grandees of his court, on the expedition which he meditated against Persia,

a The capital of Babylonia. b A. M. 3670 Ant. J. C. 334. 23-36. Plut. in Alex. p. 672, 673.

Diod. 1. xvii. p. 499-503. Arrian. I. i. p.
Justin. l. xi. c. 5, 6,

and the measures to be taken in order to succeed in it. The whole assembly was unanimous, except on one article. Antipater and Parmenio were of opinion, that the king, before he engaged in an enterprize which would necessarily be a long one, ought to make choice of a consort, in order to secure himself a successor to his throne. But Alexander, who was of a violent, fiery, temper, did not approve of this advice; and believed, that, after he had been nominated generalissimo of the Greeks, and that his father had left him an invincible army, it would be a shame for him to loose his time in solemnizing his nuptials, and waiting for the fruits of it; for which reason, he determined to set out immediately.

Accordingly, he offered up very splendid sacrifices to the gods, and caused to be celebrated, at Dia, a city of Macedon, a Scenical games, that had been instituted by one of his ancestors in honour of Jupiter and the Muses. This festival Continued nine days, agreeably to the number of those goddesses. He had a tent raised, large enough to hold 100 tables, on which consequently 900 covers might be laid. To this feast, the several princes of his family, all the ambassadors, generals, and officers, were invited. He also treated his whole army.

It was then he had the famous vision in which he was exhorted to march speedily into Asia, of which mention will be made in the sequel.

Before he set out upon this expedition, he settled the affairs of Macedon, over which he appointed Antipater as viceroy, with twelve thousand foot, and nearly the same number of horse.

He also inquired into the domestic affairs of his friends, giving to one an estate in land, to another a village, to a third the revenues of a town, to a fourth the toll of a harbour. And as all the revenues of his demesnes were already employed and exhausted by his donations, Perdiccas said to him, "My lord, what is it you reserve for yourself?" Alexander replying," Hope;" says Perdiccas," The same hope ought, therefore, to satisfy us;" and very generously refused to accept of what the king had assigned to him.

The knowledge of the human heart, and the art of gaining it, is of great importance to a prince. Now Alexander was sensible that this secret consists in making it the interest of every individual to promote his grandeur, and in governing his subjects in such a manner that they should feel his power by no other marks than his bounty. It is then the interest of every person unites with that of the prince. They are one's own possessions, one's own happiness, which we a Theatrical representations were so called. b Joseph. Antiquit. lib. xi.

love in his person; and we are so many times attached to him (and by as close ties) as there are things we love, and receive from him. All the sequel of this history will show, that no person ever made a more happy use of this maxim than Alexander, who thought himself raised to the throne merely that he might do good; and, indeed, his liberality, which was truly royal, was neither satisfied nor exhausted by the noblest acts of beneficence.

Alexander, after having completely settled affairs in Macedonia, and used all the precautions imaginable to prevent any troubles from arising in it during his absence, set out for Asia in the beginning of the spring. His army consisted of little more than 30,000 foot, and four or five thousand horse; but then they were all brave men; were well disciplined, and inured to fatigues; had made several campaigns under Philip; and were each of them, in case of necessity, capable of commanding. Most of the officers were nearly 60 years of age; and, when they were either assembled, or drawn up at the head of a camp, they had the air of a venerable senate. Parmenio commanded the infantry. Philotas, his son, had 1,800 horse c under him; and Callas, the son of Harpalus, the same number of Thessalian cavalry. The rest of the horse, who were composed of natives of the several states of Greece, and amounted to 600, had their particular commander. The Thracians and Pæonians, who were always in front, were headed by Cassander. Alexander began his route along the lake Cercinum, towards Amphipolis; crossed the river Strymon, near its mouth; afterwards, the Hebrus; and arrived at Sestos after 20 days march. He then commanded Parmenio to cross over, from Sestos to Abydos, with all the horse and part of the foot; which he accordingly did, by the assistance of 160 galleys and several flat bottomed vessels. As for Alexander, he went from Eleontum to the port of the Achaians, himself steering his own galley; and being got to the middle of the Hellespont, he sacrificed a bull to Neptune and the Nereides; and made libations in the sea from a golden cup. It is also related, that, after having thrown a javelin at the land, as thereby to take possession of it, he landed the first in Asia, and, leaping from the ship, completely armed, and in the highest transports of joy, he erected altars on the shore to Jupiter, to Minerva, and to Hercules, for having favoured him with so propitious a descent. He had done the same at his leaving Europe. He depended so entirely on the happy success of his arms, and the rich spoils he should find in Asia, a Ut non tam milites, quam magistros militæ electos putares. Justin. l. xi. c. 6. b Ut, si principia castrorum cerneres, senatuin te alicujus priscæ reip. videre diceres id.

These were all Macedonians,

that he had made very little provision for so great an expedition, persuaded that war, when carried on successfully, would supply all things necessary for war. He had but 70 a talents in money, to pay his army, and only a month's provision. I before observed, that, on leaving Macedon, he had divided his patrimony among his generals and officers; and a circumstance of still greater importace is, that he had inspired his soldiers with so much courage and confidence, that they fancied they marched, not to precarious war, but certain victory.

When he came within a short distance of the city of Lampsacus, which he had determined to destroy, in order to punish the rebellion of its inhabitants, he saw Anaximenes, a native of that place, coming to him. This man, who was a famous historian, had been very intimate with Philip, his father; and Alexander himself had a great esteem for him, having been his pupil. The king, suspecting the business he was come upon, to be beforehand with him, swore, in express terms, that he would never grant his request. "The "favour I have to desire of you,' says Anaximenes, “is, "that you would destroy Lampsacus.' By this witty evasion the historian saved his country.

From thence Alexander arrived at Ilion, where he paid great honours to the manes of Achilles, and caused games to be celebrated round his tomb. He admired and envied the double felicity of that renowned Grecian, in having found, during his lifetime, a faithful friend in Patroclus; and, after his death, a herald in Homer, worthy the greatness of his exploits. And indeed, had it not been for the Iliad, the name of Achilles would have perished in the same grave with his body.

At last Alexander arrived on the banks of the Granicus, a river of Phrygia. The Satrapa, or deputy-lieutenants, waiting his coming on the other side of it, firmly resolved to dispute the passage with him. Their army consisted of 4 100,000 foot and upwards of 10,000 horse. Memnon, who was a Rhodian, and commanded, under Darius, all the coast of Asia, had advised the generals not to venture a battle; but to lay waste the plains, and even the cities, thereby to starve Alexander's army, and oblige him to return back into Europe. Memnon was the most able of all Darius's gene

a Seventy thousand crowns.

b Val, Max. I. vii. c. iii.

e Cum in Sigo ad Achillis tumulum constitisset: O fortunate, inquit, ado lescens, qui tuæ virtutis Homerum præconem inveneris! Et vere. Nam nisi Ilias illa extitisset, idem tumulus, qui corpus ejus contexerat, etiam nomen obruisset. Cic. pro Arch. n. 24.

d According to Justin, their army consisted of 600,000 foot; whereas Arrian declares there were no more than 20,000. Both these accounts are improbable, and there is, doubtless, some fault in the text, and therefore I follow Diodorus Siculus.