按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ecessity of abandoning their marine； in which they had a manifest superiority。 Tyre being from principle attached to the Persians； who could not subsist without the commerce and navigation of that city； Alexander destroyed it。 He subdued Egypt； which Darius had left bare of troops while he was assembling immense armies in another world。
To the passage of the Granicus； Alexander owed the conquest of the Greek colonies； to the battle of Issus； the reduction of Tyre and Egypt； to the battle of Arbela； the empire of the world。
After the battle of Issus； he suffered Darius to escape； and employed his time in securing and regulating his conquests： after the battle of Arbela； he pursued him so close＇13＇ as to leave him no place of refuge in his empire。 Darius enters his towns； his provinces； to quit them the next moment； and Alexander marches with such rapidity that the empire of the world seems to be rather the prize of an Olympian race than the fruit of a great victory。 In this manner he carried on his conquests： let us now see how he preserved them。
He opposed those who would have had him treat the Greeks as masters＇14＇ and the Persians as slaves。 He thought only of uniting the two nations； and of abolishing the distinctions of a conquering and a conquered people。 After he had completed his victories； he relinquished all those prejudices that had helped him to obtain them。 He assumed the manners of the Persians； that he might not chagrin them too much by obliging them to conform to those of the Greeks。 It was this humanity which made him show so great a respect for the wife and mother of Darius； and this that made him so continent。 What a conqueror！ He is lamented by all the nations he has subdued！ What a usurper！ At his death the very family he has cast from the throne is all in tears。 These were the most glorious passages in his life； and such as history cannot produce an instance of in any other conqueror。
Nothing consolidates a conquest more than the union formed between the two nations by marriages。＇15＇ Alexander chose his wives from the nation he had subdued； he insisted on his courtiers doing the same； and the rest of the Macedonians followed the example。 The Franks and Burgundians permitted those marriages；＇16＇ the Visigoths forbade them in Spain； and afterwards allowed them。＇17＇ By the Lombards they were not only allowed but encouraged。＇18＇ When the Romans wanted to weaken Macedonia； they ordered that there should be no intermarriages between the people of different provinces。
Alexander； whose aim was to unite the two nations； thought fit to establish in Persia a great number of Greek colonies。 He built； therefore； a multitude of towns； and so strongly were all the parts of this new empire cemented； that after his decease； amidst the disturbances and confusion of the most frightful civil wars； when the Greeks had reduced themselves； as it were； to a state of annihilation； not a single province of Persia revolted。
To prevent Greece and Macedon from being too much exhausted； he sent a colony of Jews＇19＇ to Alexandria； the manners of those people signified nothing to him； provided he could be sure of their fidelity。
He not only suffered the conquered nations to retain their own customs and manners； but likewise their civil laws； and frequently the very kings and governors to whom they had been subject： the Macedonians＇20＇ he placed at the head of the troops； and the natives of the country at the head of the government； rather choosing to run the hazard of a particular disloyalty （which sometimes happened） than of a general revolt。
He paid great respect to the ancient traditions； and to all the public monuments of the glory or vanity of nations。 The Persian monarchs having destroyed the temples of the Greeks； Babylonians； and Egyptians； Alexander rebuilt them：＇21＇ few nations submitted to his yoke to whose religion he did not conform； and his conquests seem to have been intended only to make him the particular monarch of each nation； and the first inhabitant of each city。 The aim of the Romans in conquest was to destroy； his to preserve； and wherever he directed his victorious arms； his chief view was to achieve something whence that country might derive an increase of prosperity and power。 To attain this end； he was enabled first of all by the greatness of his genius； secondly； by his frugality and private economy；＇22＇ thirdly； by his profusion in matters of importance。 He was close and reserved in his private expenses； but generous to the highest degree in those of a public nature。 In regulating his household； he was the private Macedonian； but in paying the troops； in sharing his conquests with the Greeks； and in his largesses to every soldier in his army； he was Alexander。
He committed two very bad actions in setting Persepolis on fire and slaying Clitus； but he rendered them famous by his repentance。 Hence it is that his crimes are forgotten； while his regard for virtue was recorded： they were considered rather as unlucky accidents than as his own deliberate acts。 Posterity； struck with the beauty of his mind； even in the midst of his irregular passion； can view him only with pity； but never with an eye of hatred。
Let us draw a comparison between him and C？sar。 The Roman general； by attempting to imitate the Asiatic monarch； flung his fellow…citizens into a state of despair for a matter of mere ostentation； the Macedonian prince； by the same imitation； did a thing which was quite agreeable to his original scheme of conquest。
15。 New Methods of preserving a Conquest。 When a monarch has subdued a large country； he may make use of an admirable method； equally proper for moderating despotic power； and for preserving the conquest； it is a method practised by the conquerors of China。
In order to prevent the vanquished nation from falling into despair； the victors from growing insolent and proud； the government from becoming military； and to contain the two nations within their duty； the Tartar family now on the throne of China has ordained that every military corps in the provinces should be composed half of Chinese and half Tartars； to the end that the jealousy between the two nations may keep them within bounds。 The courts of judicature are likewise half Chinese and half Tartars。 This is productive of several good effects； 1。 The two nations are a check to one another。 2。 They both preserve the civil and military power； and one is not destroyed by the other； 3。 The conquering nation may spread itself without being weakened and lost。 It is likewise enabled to withstand civil and foreign wars。 The want of so wise an institution as this has been the ruin of almost all the conquerors that ever existed。
16。 Of Conquests made by a despotic Prince。 When a conquest happens to be vastly large； it supposes a despotic power； and then the army dispersed in the provinces is not sufficient。 There should be always a body of faithful troops near the prince； ready to fall instantly upon any part of the empire that may chance to waver。 This military corps ought to awe the rest； and to strike terror into those who through necessity have been entrusted with any authority in the empire。 The emperor of China has always a large body of Tartars near his person； ready upon all occasions。 In India； in Turkey； in Japan； the prince has always a body…guard independent of the other regular forces。 This particular corps keeps the dispersed troops in awe。
17。 The same Subject continued。 We have observed that the countries subdued by a despotic monarch ought to be held by a vassal。 Historians are very lavish of their praises of the generosity of those conquerors who restored the princes to the throne whom they had vanquished。 Extremely generous then were the Romans； who made such a number of kings； in order to have instruments of slavery。＇23＇ A proceeding of that kind is absolutely necessary。 If the conqueror intends to preserve the country which he has subdued； neither the governors he sends will be able to contain the subjects within duty； nor he himself the governors。 He will be obliged to strip his ancient patrimony of troops； in order to secure his new dominions。 The miseries of each nation will be common to both； civil broils will spread themselves from one to the other。 On the contrary； if the conqueror restores the legitimate prince to the throne； he will of course have an ally； by the junction of whose forces his own power will be augmented。 We have a recent instance of this in Shah Nadir； who conquered the Mogul； seized his treasures； and left him in possession of Hindostan。
______
1。 See the Code of Barbarian Laws； and Book xxviii below。
2。 See the anonymous author of the Life of Louis le Debonnaire； in Duchesne's collection； ii； p。 296。
3。 See M。 Barbeyrac's collection； art。 112。
4。 With regard to Tockenburg。
5。 He was at the head of a faction。
6。 Hanno wanted to deliver Hannibal up to the Romans； as Cato would fain have delivered up C？sar to the Gauls。
7。 Of the 18th of October； 1738； printed at Genoa by Franchelli。 See also the Amsterdam Gazette； Dec。 23； 1738。
8。 See Pufendorff's Universal History。
9。 Dionysius Halicarnassus； vii。
10。 See Arrian； De Expedit。 Alex。； i。
11。 Ibid。