15. What stories are related of Alexander and the Gordian knot? 16. How was the second campaign in Asia opened? 17. What danger did Alexander encounter from imprudent bathing? 18. Did he exhibit any remarkable instance of intrepidity during his illness? 19. Whose death at this time was a great loss to the Persians? 20. What imprudent measures did Darius take? 21. How did Alexander behave when he learned his rival's approach? 22. In what manner was the Persian army drawn out? 23. How did the battle begin? 24. In what manner did Alexander behave in this fight? 25. Why was the cowardice of Darius fatal to the Persians? 26. What were the results of the victory at Issus? 27. Did any provinces submit in consequence? 28. How did the Tyrians provoke Alexander? SECTION II. CONQUEST OF TYRE, EGYPT, AND CENTRAL ASIA. 1. THE Phoenicians were the first people who cultivated commerce; at an age when Greece was still possessed only by barbarous tribes of hunters and shepherds, the Phoenician mariners had visited all the coasts of the Mediterranean, and had even ventured into the Atlantic ocean. Sidon was at first their capital, but it was soon eclipsed by the rising greatness of Tyre, which, even before the Trojan war, had become the great emporium of all commerce between Asia and Europe. In the emphatic language of the prophet Isaiah, she was "the crowning city whose merchants were princes, and whose traffickers were the honourable of the earth." The shores of Africa, Sicily, and Spain, were colonized by Tyrian settlers, united to the parent state by a community of religious rites; for the temple of the Tyrian Hercules was to the Phoenicians what Delphi was to the Greeks, the great sanctuary of the nation. 2. Old Tyre stood on the sea-coast, but having been taken by Nebuchadnezzar, it was deserted by the citizens, and a new town erected on an island separated from the shore by a narrow strait, about half a mile in breadth. As the island was small it was easily fortified, and for the same reason the population was greatly crowded-the walls were wide and lofty, their foundations secured by buttresses projecting into the sea, and on the battlements were numerous soldiers, supplied with every munition of war that wealth could purchase. 3. Such was the city which Alexander undertook to besiege, though he had not at the time a fleet to blockade its harbours, or protect his soldiers in their operations. The 4. His first attempt was to run out a causeway from Old Tyre to the walls; but this was soon found to be a work of infinite toil; and when the mound had advanced a little, the Tyrian galleys attacked the workmen in flank, and committed fearful havoc. 5. Soon after the garrison sent out a fire-ship, and placed it beside the mound, while their vessels attacked the soldiers and workmen. The assault was successful, the Macedo'nians, blinded by the smoke, and confused by the attacks on their flanks, fell back in confusion, and in a few minutes the mole with all its engines was destroyed. 6. It now became manifest, that without the assistance of a fleet Tyre could never be taken, and Alexander was fortunate enough to be joined by the navies of Phoeni'cia and Cy'prus at the critical moment. Tyrian galleys were forced to take refuge in their harbours, a new and wider mole was commenced, which the workmen, now protected by their fleet, pushed on with great vigour, and detachments sent out in rafts attacked the city walls in every quarter where there seemed any possibility of effecting a breach. 7. On the other hand the Tyrians made incredible efforts to protract their defence, they caught some of the besiegers with grappling irons, and dragged them within the walls; others they overwhelmed with stones and beams darted from their engines, but their most formidable means of annoyance was showers of heated sand, which, penetrating through the chinks of the armour, burned to the very bone. 8. At length a breach was made in the southern SB.C. wall, and orders were given to prepare for the assault. 332. The siege had now lasted about six months; the army of Alexander, accustomed to rapid conquest, were enraged at the wearying delay caused by the obstinacy of the Tyrians, and were besides eager to avenge the murder of some of their brethren, who, having been accidentally taken prisoners, were barbarously put to death on the walls, in sight of the besiegers. 9. The fleet was divided into three squadrons, two attacked the Tyrian harbours, the third came to anchor opposite the breach, and throwing out moveable bridges, made a way for the storming-party. The Tyrians in the last moment of their struggle bravely maintained their former fame; but nothing could withstand the ardour of Alexander; the towers next the breach and a part of the wall were secured, while at the same time the principal harbour was forced by the Phoenician fleet. 10. The city was "taken, but not rendered;" from house to house, and from street to street, every inch of ground was disputed, mercy was neither asked for nor given, until the greater part of the garrison had fallen. The surviving citizens with their wives and children were sold into slavery, except a few that had taken refuge in the temple of the Tyrian Hercules, and owed their safety to the sanctity of the place. 11. During the siege, Alexander received an embassy from Dari'us, offering him his daughter in marriage, and the western provinces of Asia as her dowry. Parme'nio, seduced by the magnitude of the offer, eagerly pressed its acceptance. "Were I Alexander," said he, "I would accept such terms.' "So would I," replied Alexander, "were I Parme'nio." In conclusion he dismissed the ambassadors, declaring that he would not accept half of the empire of Asia, when fate had destined him to possess the entire. 12. From Phoenicia, Alexander marched to Palestine, and found no town resist his progress but Ga'za, which was bravely defended by Ba'tis the governor. The town was finally taken by storm, and the garrison refusing quarter, put to the sword. 13. The Jews having adhered faithfully to the Persian cause, dreaded the resentment of the conqueror, and sent a deputation to solicit pardon, which was readily granted. According to Jose'phus, the Jewish historian, Jaddu'a, the high priest, went to meet Alexander in his sacred robes, and the Macedo'nian monarch no sooner beheld him approach, than he prostrated himself in adoration of the holy name inscribed on the priest's diadem. When the astonished nobles asked the cause of this reverence, Alexander replied, that such a person had appeared to him in a vision before he left Mace'don, and invited him to undertake the conquest of Asia. Jaddu'a still further won the favour of Alexander, by pointing out to him those passages in the book of Daniel,* where his conquest of Persia is distinctly foretold. Such is the narrative of Jose'phus, but doubts of its truth have been entertained by many historians. 14. Egypt next attracted the attention of Alexander, and * Daniel, chap. viii. thither he led his victorious army; but the Egyptians had never been very faithful subjects of the Persians, by whom their country had been oppressed, and their religion insulted. They, therefore, readily submitted to Alexander, and this important country was acquired without the loss of a single man, or the shedding of one drop of blood. 15. Ever 'anxious to forward the interests of commerce, Alexander selected the site of Alexandrei'a as the best place for a commercial city-the wisdom of the choice soon appeared, for the new city in a very few years became one of the most prosperous commercial marts in the world. 16. The fame of the temple of Ju'piter Ammon, situated in an oasis of the great desert, induced Alexander to pay this celebrated oracle a visit. He passed without loss through that celebrated desert, where the army of Cambyses had miserably perished, and arrived safe at this wonderful spot.* 17. The Macedo'nians were astonished at beholding the fertility of the Ammo'nian oasis, which seemed like a green island in the sandy ocean, and this admiration led them more readily to believe the strange stories related of its wonders by the Egyptian priests. Having visited the shrine and oracle, Alexander returned across the desert to Memphis, and having provided for the future government of Egypt, brought his army back to Syria. B.C. 18. Early in the ensuing spring Alexander prepared S to lead his army against Dari'us, but was delayed some 331. time by the necessity of quelling some disturbances in Greece, and providing for the security of the conquered provinces. 19. It was the beginning of July when he crossed the Euphra'tes into Mesopota'mia, and he remained in that province until the latter end of September, when he passed over the Tigris into Assyria. Here he received news of the vicinity of Dari'us, with an army composed of all the nations of the East. 20. Dari'us having left all his baggage at Arbe'la, led his army over the river Ly'cus, in order that they might fight the more desperately, when they knew that their retreat was cut off. His forces are said to have exceeded a million, and he had besides elephants and chariots armed with scythes, which, being strange to the Greeks, were likely to fill them with terror. But this army was after all an inert mass, without spirit or energy; ready to fight indeed for their sovereign, but as ready to fly when he fell or retreated. * See Hist. Miscel. Part I. Chap. IV. 21. Alexander halted four days to refresh his army, and on the fifth advanced against the enemy-but having miscalculated the distance, he came in sight of the enemy at too late an hour, and both armies spent the night on the field of battle. 22. The Macedo'nians not being formed in line, were permitted to sleep, but Dari'us fearing that if his ranks were disturbed, it would be impossible to reorganize such a mighty host, compelled his men to stand to their arms all night. 23. Alexander having with a few friends taken a survey of the Persian position, returned tranquilly to his tent. During the night Parme'nio wished him to take advantage of the darkness, and attack the Persians immediately; but Alexander declared that it was inconsistent with his honour to steal a victory. So sure indeed was he of success, that he slept to a later hour in the morning than he had been accustomed, and the army was already drawn out, when he was roused by his attendants. 24. The battle of Arbela was won by the knowledge of that secret which Cyrus the younger had betrayed to the Greeks. To destroy the king and lower the royal standard was certain victory, for the Asiatics, both in ancient and modern times, immediately disperse when these events happen. Alexander consequently resolved to direct all his efforts against the left centre, where Dari'us himself was posted; but in making such an attack he manifestly exposed himself to be outflanked and taken in the rear by the extended wings of the enemy, and he, therefore, posted some light troops, both horse and foot, on his flanks. 25. The battle commenced by the charge of the Scythian cavalry, and the war-chariots on the Macedo'nian right wing; after a brief but fierce struggle they were driven back, and Dari'us immediately ordered his lines to advance. 26. The eagle eye of Alexander saw that an opportunity of executing his design was thus afforded. He rapidly wheeled his line into close column, and breaking in between the left wing of the enemy and their centre, attacked the latter in flank. 27. This unexpected movement threw the Persians into complete disarray, the cavalry endeavouring to wheel about got entangled in the infantry, and the whole centre was soon a shapeless mass of confusion. Dari'us, after a weak effort to rally his men, fled with precipitation, but he would scarcely have escaped had not the danger to which the rest of his forces were exposed, called Alexander to a different part of the |