47

after, when Onesicritus read this story in his fourth book to Lysimachus, who was then king, Lysimachus laughed quietly and asked, "Where could I have been at that time?" But it signifies little to Alexander whether it be credited or no.

Certain it is, that apprehending the Macedonians would be weary of pursuing the war, he left the greater part of them in their quarters; and having with him in Hyrcania the choice of his men only, amounting to twenty thousand foot, and three thousand horse, he spoke to them to this effect: That hitherto the barbarians had seen them no otherwise than as it were in a dream, and if they should think of returning when they had only alarmed Asia, and not conquered it, their enemies would set upon them as upon so many women. However, he told them he would keep none of them with him against their will, they might go if they pleased; he should merely enter his protest, that when on his way to make the Macedonians the masters of the world, he was left alone with a few friends and volunteers. This is almost word for word, as he wrote in a letter to Antipater, where he adds, that when he had thus spoken to them, they all cried out, they would go with him anywhere in the world. After succeeding with these, it was no hard matter to bring over the multitude, which easily followed the example. Now, also, he more and more accommodated himself in his way of living to that of the natives, and tried to bring them, also, as near as he could to the Macedonian customs, considering that whilst he was engaged on a distant expedition far from thence, it would be wiser to depend upon the goodwill which might arise from intermixture and association as a means of maintaining tranquillity, than upon force and com

riage

Roxana,

pulsion. In order to this, he chose out thirty thousand boys, whom he put under numerous masters to teach them the Greek tongue, and to train them up to arms in the Macedonian discipline. As for his marriage with MarRoxana, whose youthfulness and beauty had charmed with him at a drinking entertainment, where he first hap- B.C. 327. pened to see her, taking part in a dance, it was, indeed, a love affair, yet it seemed at the same time to be conducive to the object he had in hand. For it gratified the conquered people to see him choose a wife from among themselves, and it made them feel the most lively affection for him, to find that in the only passion which he, the most temperate of men, was overcome by, he yet forebore till he could receive her in the lawful way. Noticing also, that among his chief friends and favourites, Hephaestion most approved all that he did, and complied with and imitated him in his change of habits, while Craterus continued strict in the customs and fashions of his own country, he made it his practice to employ the first in all transactions with the barbarians, and the latter, when he had to do with the Greeks or Macedonians. And in general he showed more affection for Hephæstion, and more respect for Craterus; Hephaestion, as he used to say, being Alexander's, and Craterus the king's friend. And so these two friends always bore in secret a grudge to each other, and at times quarrelled openly, so much so, that once in India they drew upon one another, and were proceeding in good earnest, with their friends on each side to second them, when Alexander rode up and publicly reproved Hephæstion, calling him fool and madman, not to be sensible that without his favour he was nothing. He rebuked Craterus also, in private severely, and then

48

causing them both to come into his presence, he reconciled them, at the same time swearing by Ammon and the rest of the gods, that he loved them two above all other men, but if ever he perceived them fall out again he would be sure to put both of them to death, or at least the aggressor. After which they neither ever did or said anything, so much as in jest, to offend one another.

There was scarcely any one who had a greater repute among the Macedonians than Philotas, the son of Parmenio. For besides that he was valiant and able to endure any fatigue of war, he was also next to Alexander himself the most munificent, and the greatest lover of his friends, one of whom asking him for some money, he commanded his steward to give it him; and when he told him he had not wherewith, "Have you not any plate then," said he, or any clothes of mine to sell?" But he carried his arrogance and his pride of wealth and his habits of display and luxury to a degree of assumption unbecoming a private man: and affecting all the loftiness without succeeding in showing

any

of the grace or gentleness of true greatness, by this mistaken and spurious majesty he gained so much envy and ill-will, that Parmenio would sometimes tell him, "My son, be not quite so great." For he had long before been complained of, and accused to Alexander. When Darius was defeated in Cilicia, and the great booty taken at Damascus, among the many prisoners brought into the camp there was one Antigone of Pydna, a handsome woman, who fell to Philotas's share. The young man in his cups, in the vaunting, outspoken, soldier's manner, used to tell his mistress, that the great actions were performed by him and his father

the glory and benefit of which, he said, together with the title of king, the boy Alexander reaped and enjoyed by their means. She could not hold, but disclosed what he had said to one of her acquaintance, and he, as is usual in such cases, to another, till at last the story came to Craterus, who brought the woman secretly to the king. Alexander heard her, and commanded her to continue her visits to Philotas, and to give him an account from time to time of all that should fall from him.

Death

of Phi

B.C.330,

ber.*

He, thus unwittingly brought into a snare, to gratify 49 sometimes a fit of anger, sometimes a mere love of vainglory, let himself utter numerous foolish, indiscreet lotas, speeches against the king in Antigone's hearing, of Octowhich though Alexander was informed and convinced by strong evidence, yet he would take no notice of it at present, whether it was that he confided in Parmenio's affection and loyalty, or that he apprehended their great name and influence in the army. But about this time one Limnust, a Macedonian of Chalastra, conspired against Alexander's life, and communicated his design to a youth of whom he was fond, named Nicomachus, inviting him to be of the party. he not relishing the thing, revealed it to his brother Balinus, who immediately addressed himself to Philotas, requiring him to introduce them both to Alexander, to whom they had something of great and urgent importance to impart. He, for what reason is uncertain, did not bring them to the king, who he said was en

But

*In winter quarters, in Aria, not far from Herat, after the march through Parthia from Asterabad and the Caspian.

† Limnus is in other authors Dimnus, and Balinus, Cebalinus.

gaged with affairs of more moment. And this he did again a second time. Upon which, finding themselves slighted by Philotas, they applied to another, by whose means being admitted into Alexander's presence, they first told about Limnus's conspiracy, and by the way let Philotas's negligence appear, who had twice disregarded their application to him. Alexander was greatly incensed, and on finding that Limnus had defended himself, and had been killed by the soldier who was sent to seize him, he was still more discomposed, thinking he had thus lost the means of detecting the plot. As soon as his displeasure against Philotas appeared, at once all Philotas's old enemies showed themselves, and said openly, the king was too easily imposed on, to imagine that one so inconsiderable as Limnus, a Chalastrian, should of his own head undertake such an enterprise; that in all likelihood he was but subservient to the design, an instrument that was moved by some greater spring; that those ought to be more looked to whose interest it had been to conceal it. When they had once gained the king's ear for insinuations of this sort, they went on to show a thousand grounds of suspicion against Philotas; till at last they prevailed to have him seized and put to the torture, which was done in the presence of the principal officers, Alexander himself being placed behind some tapestry. Where when he heard in what a miserable tone, and with what abject submissions Philotas applied himself to Hephæstion, he broke out, it is said, in this manner : "Are you so mean-spirited and effeminate, Philotas, and yet could engage in so great a design?" After his death, he immediately sent into Media, and put