was so great an honour to Greece: but all the rest of the inhabitants, about thirty thousand, he sold; and upwards of six thousand had been slain in battle.

This severity spread the terror of Alexander's arms throughout all Greece; and immediately the governors and princes of cities, and the most learned men of the age, called philosophers, waited upon the young conqueror. But among the latter, one refused to leave his home, which was merely a large tub attached to the Metroum, the temple of the mother of the gods, in which the philosopher used to live, in order to show how much he could dispense with and still be happy. When the messengers came to him, and told him that he must pay his respects to Alexander, he said, "If this mighty youth wants to see me, he will find me at home."

Alexander, being desirous to see the philosopher, it would have been an easy matter for him to have ordered Diogenes to have been brought to him, tub and all; but he was too noble-minded to do violence to the prejudices of this eccentric old man, who was so much respected by his fellow-citizens that he was freely allowed to rebuke anything of which he disapproved. So to humour his whim, Alexander paid the philosopher a visit, and was surprised to see this great man-for he was a very great man in his wayin such poverty. So, after saluting him in a kind and affable manner, he asked him "What he could do for him?" "Remove yourself," said Diogenes, "out

of the sunshine.

Do not take from me what you cannot give." This answer raised the contempt and indignation of the courtiers, who were disposed to do the philosopher some violence; but Alexander replied to their murmurs, "Were I not Alexander, I would be Diogenes."

Alexander now directed his thoughts to the conquest of Asia; but, before he set out, was determined to consult the oracle of Apollo. He therefore proceeded to Delphi, but he arrived there during those black days marked in the calendar as unfortunate—a season in which it was forbidden to consult the oracle; and, accordingly, the priestess refused to go to the temple. But Alexander, who would bear no contradiction, took her forcibly by the arm, and led her towards the altar. She then cried out: "My son, thou art invincible." This was sufficient, and, catching at these words, which he considered oracular, he immediately returned to Macedonia, in order to make preparations for his great expedition, and soon after set out for Asia, with an army of thirty thousand foot and six thousand horse-a small force, but they were all veterans. When he came within a short distance of the city of Lampsacus, which he had determined to destroy, he saw Anaximenes, the historian, a native of the city, and an old friend of Philip, Alexander's father. The king, suspecting that his object was to implore him to spare the city, although he freely spared Anaximenes and his friends, was determined

not to do so; and, calling for a priest, swore a solemn oath before the gods, that he would never grant the request he was about to make. "The favour I have

to desire of you," said Anaximenes, “is, that you will utterly destroy Lampsacus and all its inhabitants, or sell them into slavery." By this clever evasion was the city saved.

At last Alexander arrived on the banks of the Granicus, a river of Phrygia. Here the satraps, or viceroys, met him, to dispute his passage. Their army consisted of upwards of a hundred thousand foot and ten thousand horse. The horse lined the whole of the opposite shore, and formed an expanded front, in order to oppose him. The infantry were posted behind, and consisted chiefly of Greeks in the service of Darius.

The two armies continued for some time looking at each other from the banks of the river; but, at last, Alexander set spurs to his charger, and dashed into the stream. The Persians let fly their arrows thicker than hail; but, incited by the bravery of their chieftain, the whole army followed his example: the river was speedily passed, and then Alexander charged the thickest part of the enemies' horse, in which the generals fought. He was himself particularly conspicuous by his shield and helmet of dazzling steel. The charge was very furious around him, and the combatants fought hand to hand for a long time without giving way on either side.

Spithrobates, the viceroy of Ionia, and son-in-law

of Darius, the Persian king, distinguished himself above all the Persian generals. He was attended by forty Persian noblemen, who surrounded him on all sides, and carried terror whichever way they moved. Alexander, observing in what a gallant manner this satrap distinguished himself, clapped spurs to his horse, and advanced towards him. They immediately engaged, and each having thrown a javelin, wounded the other slightly. Spithrobates then fell furiously sword in hand upon Alexander, who, being prepared, thrust at him with his spear, and he fell dead from his horse.

Rosace, brother to Spithrobates, anxious to revenge his death, charged boldly towards Alexander, and gave him so furious a blow with his battle-axe that he beat off his plume, and clove his helmet to the skull. As he was about to repeat the blow, Clitus, an old veteran, and bosom friend of Alexander, struck off the assailant's head with one blow of his sword, and thus saved his sovereign's life.

And now the Macedonians fought with renewed courage, and pressed forth like a torrent into the centre of the Persian army. Alexander charged the foot with the same boldness and vigour, and thousands were cut to pieces, till at last the Persians gave way on all sides, and left him master of the field.

After the battle of the Granicus, Alexander advanced through the greater part of Asia, conquering as he went; but, at the same time, Darius was advancing

to meet him with an army of six hundred thousand men, being determined to crush him with this enormous host. He encamped his army on the plains of Syria, near the town of Sochi. It was at about this time that Alexander was taken dangerously ill, from having bathed, when heated by exercise, in the River Cydnus, the water of which was of icy coldness. All his physicians despaired of his life, except one named Philip; and while he was preparing a draught, Alexander received a letter informing him that this physician was bribed by Darius to destroy him. Alexander, without saying a word, took from the hand of Philip the cup containing the potion, and at the same time handed him the letter. While Philip was yet reading, the king swallowed the draught, having nobly convinced himself that the charge was a calumny. Suspicion is a coward's virtue, but the confidence of a brave man is something more than magnani

mous.

Before the battle came on, Darius had entered the mountain passes, where he had entrenched himself, being determined to pour from thence his numerous host like a mighty river. Alexander had chosen a spot of ground between high mountains, not more than a mile in width, where he had room for his whole army to manœuvre, while the Persians could only bring a portion of their army into action at a time. The spot where the battle was fought was the plain near the city of Issus, bounded by mountains on one side and the