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erance； and running about after him； he got him into his power。 The soothsayers； making two words of Satyrus； assured him that Tyre should be his own。 The inhabitants at this time show a spring of water； near which they say Alexander slept when he fancied the satyr appeared to him。 While the body of the army lay before Tyre； he made an excursion against the Arabians who inhabit the Mount Antilibanus； in which he hazarded his life extremely to bring off his master Lysimachus； who would needs go along with him； declaring he was neither older nor inferior in courage to Phoenix； Achilles's guardian。 For when； quitting their horses； they began to march up the hills on foot； the rest of the soldiers outwent them a great deal； so that night drawing on； and the enemy near； Alexander was fain to stay behind so long； to encourage and help up the lagging and tired old man； that before he was aware he was left behind； a great way from his soldiers； with a slender attendance； and forced to pass an extremely cold night in the dark； and in a very inconvenient place； till seeing a great many scattered fires of the enemy at some distance； and trusting to his agility of body； and as he was always wont by undergoing toils and labours himself to cheer and support the Macedonians in any distress； he ran straight to one of the nearest fires； and with his dagger despatching two of the barbarians that sat by it； snatched up a lighted brand； and returned with it to his own men。 They immediately made a great fire； which so alarmed the enemy that most of them fled； and those that assaulted them were soon routed and thus they rested securely the remainder of the night。 Thus Chares writes。 But to return to the siege； it had this issue。 Alexander； that he might refresh his army； harassed with many former encounters； had led only a small party towards the walls； rather to keep the enemy busy than with any prospect of much advantage。 It happened at this time that Aristander； the soothsayer； after he had sacrificed； upon view of the entrails； affirmed confidently to those who stood by that the city should be certainly taken that very month； upon which there was a laugh and some mockery among the soldiers； as this was the last day of it。 The king； seeing him in perplexity； and always anxious to support the credit of the predictions； gave order that they should not count it as the thirtieth； but as the twenty…third of the month； and ordering the trumpets to sound； attacked the walls more seriously than he at first intended。 The sharpness of the assault so inflamed the rest of his forces who were left in the camp； that they could not hold from advancing to second it； which they performed with so much vigour that the Tyrians retired； and the town was carried that very day。 The next place he sat down before was Gaza； one of the largest cities of Syria； when this accident befell him。 A large bird flying over him let a clod of earth fall upon his shoulder； and then settling upon one of the battering engines； was suddenly entangled and caught in the nets； composed of sinews； which protected the ropes with which the machine was managed。 This fell out exactly according to Aristander's prediction； which was； that Alexander should be wounded and the city reduced。 From hence he sent great part of the spoils to Olympias； Cleopatra； and the rest of his friends； not omitting his preceptor Leonidas； on whom he bestowed five hundred talents' weight of frankincense and an hundred of myrrh； in remembrance of the hopes he had once expressed of him when he was but a child。 For Leonidas； it seems； standing by him one day while he was sacrificing； and seeing him take both his hands full of incense to throw into the fire； told him it became him to be more sparing in his offerings； and not to be so profuse till he was master of the countries which those sweet gums and saying； come from。 So Alexander now wrote to him； saying； 〃We have sent you abundance of myrrh and frankincense； that for the future you may not be stingy to the gods。〃 Among the treasures and other booty that was taken from Darius； there was a very precious casket； which being brought to Alexander for a great rarity； he asked those about him what they thought fittest to be laid up in it； and when they had delivered their various opinions； he told them he should keep Homer's Iliad in it。 This is attested by many credible authors； and if what those of Alexandria tell us； relying upon the authority of Heraclides； be true； Homer was neither an idle nor an unprofitable companion to him in his expedition。 For when he was master of Egypt； designing to settle a colony of Grecians there； he resolved to build a large and populous city； and give it his own name。 In order to which； after he had measured and staked out the ground with the advice of the best architects； he chanced one night in his sleep to see a wonderful vision； a grey…headed old man； of a venerable aspect； appeared to stand by him； and pronounce these verses：…
〃An island lies； where loud the billows roar； Pharos they call it； on the Egyptian shore。〃
Alexander upon this immediately rose up and went to Pharos； which； at that time； was an island lying a little above the Canobic mouth of the river Nile； though it has now been joined to the mainland by a mole。 As soon as he saw the commodious situation of the place； it being a long neck of land； stretching like an isthmus between large lagoons and shallow waters on one side and the sea on the other； the latter at the end of it making a spacious harbour； he said； Homer； besides his other excellences； was a very good architect； and ordered the plan of a city to be drawn out answerable to the place。 To do which； for want of chalk； the soil being black； they laid out their lines with flour； taking in a pretty large compass of ground in a semi…circular figure； and drawing into the inside of the circumference equal straight lines from each end； thus giving it something of the form of a cloak or cape； while he was pleasing himself with his design； on a sudden an infinite number of great birds of several kinds； rising like a black cloud out of the river and the lake； devoured every morsel of the flour that had been used in setting out the lines； at which omen even Alexander himself was troubled； till the augurs restored his confidence again by telling him it was a sign the city he was about to build would not only abound in all things within itself； but also be the nurse and feeder of many nations。 He commanded the workmen to proceed； while he went to visit the temple of Ammon。 This was a long and painful； and； in two respects； a dangerous journey； first； if they should lose their provision of water； as for several days none could be obtained； and； secondly； if a violent south wind should rise upon them； while they were travelling through the wide extent of deep sands； as it is said to have done when Cambyses led his army that way； blowing the sand together in heaps； and raising； as it were； the whole desert like a sea upon them； till fifty thousand were swallowed up and destroyed by it。 All these difficulties were weighed and represented to him； but Alexander was not easily to be diverted from anything he was bent upon。 For fortune having hitherto seconded him in his designs； made him resolute and firm in his opinions； and the boldness of his temper raised a sort of passion in him for surmounting difficulties； as if it were not enough to be always victorious in the field； unless places and seasons and nature herself submitted to him。 In this journey； the relief and assistance the gods afforded him in his distresses were more remarkable； and obtained greater belief than the oracles he received afterwards； which； however； were valued and credited the more on account of those occurrences。 For first； plentiful rains that fell preserved them from any fear of perishing by drought； and； allaying the extreme dryness of the sand； which now became moist and firm to travel on； cleared and purified the air。 Besides this； when they were out of their way； and were wandering up and down； because the marks which were wont to direct the guides were disordered and lost； they were set right again by some ravens； which flew before them when on their march； and waited for them when they lingered and fell behind； and the greatest miracle； as Callisthenes tells us； was that if any of the company went astray in the night； they never ceased croaking and making a noise till by that means they had brought them into the right way again。 Having passed through the wilderness； they came to the place where the high priest； at the first salutation； bade Alexander welcome from his father Ammon。 And being asked by him whether any of his father's murderers had escaped punishment； he charged him to speak with more respect； since his was not a mortal father。 Then Alexander； changing his expression； desired to know of him if any of those who murdered Philip were yet unpunished； and further concerning dominion； whether the empire of the world was reserved for him？ This； the god answered； he should obtain； and that Philip's death was fully revenged； which gave him so much satisfaction that he made splendid offerings to Jupiter； and gave the pri