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ed； which gave him so much satisfaction that he made splendid offerings to Jupiter； and gave the priests very rich presents。 This is what most authors write concerning the oracles。 But Alexander； in a letter to his mother； tells her there were some secret answers； which at his return he would communicate to her only。 Others say that the priest； desirous as a piece of courtesy to address him in Greek； 〃O Paidion；〃 by a slip in pronunciation ended with the s instead of the n； and said 〃O Paidios；〃 which mistake Alexander was well enough pleased with； and it went for current that the oracle had called him so。 Among the sayings of one Psammon； a philosopher； whom he heard in Egypt； he most approved of this； that all men are governed by God； because in everything； that which is chief and commands is divine。 But what he pronounced himself upon this subject was even more like a philosopher； for he said God was the common father of us all； but more particularly of the best of us。 To the barbarians he carried himself very haughtily； as if he were fully persuaded of his divine birth and parentage； but to the Grecians more moderately； and with less affectation of divinity； except it were once in writing to the Athenians about Samos； when he tells them that he should not himself have bestowed upon them that free and glorious city； 〃You received it；〃 he says； 〃from the bounty of him who at that time was called my lord and father；〃 meaning Philip。 However； afterwards being wounded with an arrow； and feeling much pain； he turned to those about him； and told them； 〃This； my friends； is real flowing blood； not Ichor…
〃Such as immortal gods are wont to shed。〃
And another time； when it thundered so much that everybody was afraid； and Anaxarchus； the sophist； asked him if he who was Jupiter's son could do anything like this； 〃Nay；〃 said Alexander； laughing； 〃I have no desire to be formidable to my friends； as you would have me； who despised my table for being furnished with fish； and not with the heads of governors of provinces。〃 For in fact it is related as true； that Anaxarchus； seeing a present of small fishes； which the king sent to Hephaestion； had used this expression； in a sort of irony； and disparagement of those who undergo vast labours and encounter great hazards in pursuit of magnificent objects which after all bring them little more pleasure or enjoyment than what others have。 From what I have said upon this subject； it is apparent that Alexander in himself was not foolishly affected； or had the vanity to think himself really a god； but merely used his claims to divinity as a means of maintaining among other people the sense of his superiority。 At his return out of Egypt into Phoenicia； he sacrificed and made solemn processions； to which were added shows of lyric dances and tragedies； remarkable not merely for the splendour of the equipage and decorations； but for the competition among those who exhibited them。 For the kings of Cyprus were here the exhibitors； just in the same manner as at Athens those who are chosen by lot out of the tribes。 And； indeed； they showed the greatest emulation to outvie each other； especially Nicocreon； King of Salamis； and Pasicrates of Soli； who furnished the chorus； and defrayed the expenses of the two most celebrated actors； Athenodorus and Thessalus； the former performing for Pasicrates； and the latter for Nicocrean。 Thessalus was most favoured by Alexander； though it did not appear till Athenodorus was declared victor by the plurality of votes。 For then at his going away； he said the judges deserved to be commended for what they had done； but that he would willingly have lost part of his kingdom rather than to have seen Thessalus overcome。 However； when he understood Athenodorus was fined by the Athenians for being absent at the festivals of Bacchus； though he refused his request that he would write a letter in his behalf； he gave him a sufficient sum to satisfy the penalty。 Another time； when Lycon of Scarphia happened to act with great applause in the theatre； and in a verse which he introduced into the comic part which he was acting； begged for a present of ten talents； he laughed and gave him the money。 Darius wrote him a letter； and sent friends to intercede with him； requesting him to accept as a ransom of his captives the sum of a thousand talents； and offering him in exchange for his amity and alliance all the countries on this side the river Euphrates； together with one of his daughters in marriage。 These propositions he communicated to his friends； and when Parmenio told him that； for his part； if he were Alexander； he should readily embrace them； 〃So would I；〃 said Alexander； 〃if I were Parmenio。〃 Accordingly； his answer to Darius was； that if he would come and yield himself up into his power he would treat him with all possible kindness； if not； he was resolved immediately to go himself and seek him。 But the death of Darius's wife in childbirth made him soon after regret one part of this answer； and he showed evident marks of grief at thus deprived of a further opportunity of exercising his clemency and good nature； which he manifested； however； as far as he could； by giving her a most sumptuous funeral。 Among the eunuchs who waited in the queen's chamber； and were taken prisoners with the women； there was one Tireus； who； getting out of the camp； fled away on horseback to Darius； to inform him of his wife's death。 He； when he heard it； beating his head； and bursting into tears and lamentations； said； 〃Alas！ how great is the calamity of the Persians！ Was it not enough that their king's consort and sister was a prisoner in her lifetime； but she must； now she is dead； also be but meanly and obscurely buried？〃 〃O king；〃 replied the eunuch； 〃as to her funeral rites； or any respect or honour that should have been shown in them； you have not the least reason to accuse the ill fortune of your country； for to my knowledge neither your queen Statira when alive； nor your mother； nor children； wanted anything of their former happy condition； unless it were the light of your countenance； which I doubt not but the lord Oromasdes will yet restore to its former glory。 And after her decease； I assure you； she had not only all due funeral ornaments； but was honoured also with the tears of your very enemies； for Alexander is as gentle after victory as he is terrible in the field。〃 At the bearing of these words； such was the grief and emotion of Darius's mind； that they carried him into extravagant suspicions； and taking Tireus aside into a more private part of his tent； 〃Unless thou likewise；〃 said he to him； 〃hast deserted me； together with the good fortune of Persia； and art become a Macedonian in thy heart； if thou yet ownest me for thy master Darius； tell me； I charge thee； by the veneration thou payest the light of Mithras； and this right hand of thy king； do I not lament the least of Statira's misfortunes in her captivity and death？ Have I not suffered something more injurious and deplorable in her lifetime？ And had I not been miserable with less dishonour if I had met with a more severe and inhuman enemy？ For how is it possible a young man as he is should treat the wife of his opponent with so much distinction； were it not from some motive that does me disgrace？〃 Whilst he was yet speaking； Tireus threw himself at his feet； and besought him neither to wrong Alexander so much； nor his dead wife and sister； as to give utterance to any such thoughts； which deprived him of the greatest consolation left him in his adversity； the belief that he was overcome by a man whose virtues raised him above human nature； that he ought to look upon Alexander with love and admiration； who had given no less proofs of his continence towards the Persian women； than of his valour among the men。 The eunuch confirmed all he said with solemn and dreadful oaths； and was further enlarging upon Alexander's moderation and magnanimity on other occasions； when Darius； breaking away from him into the other division of the tent； where his friends and courtiers were； lifted up his hands to heaven and uttered this prayer； 〃Ye gods；〃 said he； 〃of my family； and of my kingdom； if it be possible； I beseech you to restore the declining affairs of Persia； that I may leave them in as flourishing a condition as I found them； and have it in my power to make a grateful return to Alexander for the kindness which in my adversity he has shown to those who are dearest to me。 But if； indeed； the fatal time be come； which is to give a period to the Persian monarchy； if our ruin be a debt that must be paid to the divine jealousy and the vicissitude of things； then I beseech you grant that no other man but Alexander may sit upon the throne of Cyrus。〃 Such is the narrative given by the greater number of the historians。 But to return to Alexander。 After he had reduced all Asia on this side the Euphrates； he advanced towards Darius； who was coming down against him with a million of men。 In his march a very ridiculous passage happened。 The servants who followed the camp for sport's sake divided themselves into two parties； and named the commander of one of them Alexander； and the other Darius。 At first they only pelted one another with clods