But it would have been far more advantageous to beset with a strong force the narrow pass which opens the way into Cilicia, and to hold possession of a height which opportunely overhangs the road, from which without danger he would have been able to stop or destroy the enemy as they came up. As it was, leaving a few to guard the mountain paths, he himself retreated, a devastator of the land which he ought to have protected against devastation. Therefore those who had been left behind, supposing that they had been betrayed, were not able to endure even the sight of the enemy, although even fewer men than they would have been able to hold the position.
For Cilicia is shut in by a continuous range of rugged and steep mountains. This range, rising from the sea and curving in a kind of winding fold, so to speak, runs back with its other extremity to a different part of the shore.
Through this range, where it withdraws farthest inward from the sea, there are three rough and very narrow passes, one of which must be used for entering Cilicia. That country where it slopes toward the sea is level and its plain is divided by frequent streams; the famous rivers Pyramus and Cydnus flow through it. The Cydnus is noteworthy, not because of the extent of its waters,” but for their clearness; for gliding with gentle course from its springs, it is received by a pure soil, and no torrents empty into it to discolour its quietly flowing channel.
Hence it is undefiled and also extremely cold, since it is shaded charmingly by its banks, and it passes into the sea in the same state throughout as at its source. In that region lapse of time had destroyed many memorials made famous in song; the sites of the cities Lyrnesus and Thebes were pointed out, the cave of Typhon too, and the Corycian grove, where saffron grows,’ and other places of which only the fame has endured.
Alexander entered that pass in the range which is called “the Gates.” Having examined the situation of the region, he is said never to have wondered more at his good fortune; he admitted that he might have been overwhelmed even by rocks, if there had been any to roll them down on his men as they came up. The road barely allowed four armed men to walk abreast; a ridge of the mountain overhung a passage that was not merely narrow, but often broken by frequent streams which crossed it, trickling from the roots of the mountains. Nevertheless he had ordered his light-armed Thracians to go in advance and examine the mountain paths, in order that a hidden foe might not burst forth upon them as they went up the pass. A band of bowmen also had taken their place on the ridge; they kept their bows bent, since they had been warned that they were not entering upon a march, but a battle. In this manner the army came to the city of Tarsus, to which at that, very time the Persians were setting fire, in order that the enemy might not invade a rich city. But Alexander had sent Parmenion on with a light-armed troop to check the fire, and as soon as he knew that the barbarians had been put to flight by the arrival of his men, he entered the city which he had saved.
V. The river Cydnus, which was mentioned a short time ago, flows through the middle of Tarsus; it was then summer, the heat of which burns no other shore more than that of Cilicia with the sun’s fires, and the hottest time of the day had begun. The clear water of the river tempted the king, who was covered with dust and at the same time with sweat, to bathe his body when it was still heated; accordingly, laying off his clothing in the sight of the army — thinking that it would also be fitting if he should show his men that he was content with attention to his person which was simple and easily attained — he went down into the river. But hardly had he entered it when his limbs began to stiffen with a sudden chill, then he lost his colour, and the vital warmth left almost his entire body. His attendants caught him in their arms, looking like a dying man, and carried him almost unconscious into his tent.
There was great anxiety, and already almost mourning in the camp; with tears they lamented that the most glorious king of any age or time, in the midst of so swift a career of success, had been laid low, not in battle (which would have been bad enough), not by the enemy, but had been taken off and done to death while bathing. Darius (they said) was close at hand, a victor before he had seen his enemy. As for them, they must go back to the same lands through which they had passed victorious, where everything had been laid waste by themselves or by the enemy. Marching through desert wastes, even if no one wished to pursue them, they could be vanquished by hunger and want. Who would direct them in their flight? Who would venture to succeed Alexander? Just suppose that they should reach the Hellespont in their flight, who would prepare a fleet in which to cross it? Then their pity turned again to the king himself and, forgetting themselves, they lamented that such flower of youth, so powerful a mind, at once their king and their fellow-soldier, was torn and wrested away from them.
Meanwhile the king’s breath had begun to pass more freely, and he had raised his eyes; and as his senses began to return to him, he recognized his friends who stood about him, and the violence of his illness seemed to have abated for the sole reason that he felt the greatness of the disaster. However, trouble of mind oppressed his body; for it was announced that Darius would be in Cilicia in four days. Therefore he lamented that he was being handed over to him in bonds, that so great a victory was being snatched from his hands, and that he was being blotted out in his tent by an obscure and inglorious death. And so, having admitted his friends, as well as his physicians, he said: “You see in what a crisis of my affairs Fortune has surprised me. Methinks I hear the din of hostile arms, and I who was the aggressor in war, am now challenged. Thus Darius, when he was writing those haughty letters, had regard to my fortune, but to no purpose, if I am allowed to be treated according to my desire. My exigency cannot wait for slow remedies and dilatory physicians; in my opinion it is better even to die speedily than to recover tardily. Therefore, if there is any help, if there is any skill, in physicians, let them know that I do not so much desire a remedy against death as one that will enable me to make war.”
This headlong rashness of the king had smitten all with great anxiety. Hence each man individually began to entreat him not to increase his danger by haste but to submit to the control of his physicians; that they had good reason to suspect untried remedies, since his enemy was bribing someone to destroy him even from among his own intimates. And in fact Darius had ordered it to be proclaimed that he would give a thousand talents to the slayer of Alexander. Hence they thought that no one would venture even to try a remedy which on account of its novelty could be suspected.
VI. Among the famous physicians who had followed the king from Macedonia was Philip, a native of Acarnania, most loyal to Alexander; made the king’s comrade and the guardian of his health from boyhood, he loved him with extreme affection, not only as his king, but even as a foster-child. He promised to apply a remedy that was not sudden but effective, and to allay the violence of his illness, great — as it was, with a medicated draught. His promise pleased no one except the very one at whose peril it was made. For the king could endure anything except delay; arms and armies were before his eyes, and he thought that victory depended merely upon his ability to take his place before the standards, impatient only because he was not to take the draught until the third day should have come — for so the physician had directed.
In the meantime he received a letter from Parmenion, the most faithful of his generals, in which he strongly warned the king not to trust his life to Philip; that he had been bribed by Darius with a thousand talents and the hope of marriage with the king’s sister. This letter had filled Alexander’s mind with great anxiety, and whatever fear or hope cast into either scale he weighed in secret calculation.
Should I resolve to take the draught, with the result that if poison shall have been given me, it may seem that I deserved whatever shall have happened? Shall I distrust the loyalty of my physician? Shall I then allow myself to be overwhelmed in my tent? But better for me to die of another’s crime than of my own fear.” After having turned his thoughts in various directions for a long time, he revealed to no one what had been written, but impressed the seal
of his ring upon the letter and put it under the pillow on which he was lying.
After he had spent two days in such thoughts as these, the day designated by the physician dawned, and Philip entered with the cup in which he had mixed the drug. On seeing him Alexander raised himself in bed and, holding the letter sent by Parmenion in his left hand, took the cup and drank fearlessly; then he bade Philip read the letter, and he did not turn his eyes from the physician’s face as he read, thinking that he would be able to detect any signs of guilt in his very expression. But Philip, when he had read the letter through, showed more indignation than fear, and throwing his cloak and the letter before the couch: “My king,” said he, “the breath of my life has always depended upon you, but now, I verily believe that it is drawn by your sacred and revered lips. The accusation of murder with which I have been charged your recovery will refute; when saved by me you will have given me life. I beg and beseech you, cease your fear; allow the remedy to be taken into your veins; free for a time your mind, which your friends, faithful indeed but, alas, officious, are disturbing by their ill-timed solicitude.”
These words made the king, not only free from care, but even joyful and full of good hope. Accordingly he said: “If the gods, Philip, had granted you to test my feelings in the manner which you most desired, you would surely have chosen a different way, but you could not even have wished for a surer one than you experienced, since after receiving this letter nevertheless drank the mixture you had prepared.
And now, believe me, I am not less anxious to prove your loyalty than I am for my recovery.” Having said this, he offered Philip his right hand. But so great was the strength of the drug that what followed seemed to support the calumny of Parmenion. The king’s breath was impeded and passed with difficulty. But Philip left nothing untried; it was he that applied hot lotions to the king’s body, he that roused him from languor by the odour now of food, [15] now of wine. As soon as he perceived that Alexander was conscious, he did not cease to remind him at one time of his mother and sisters, again of his [16] approaching great victory. But as the drug spread into the king’s veins and gradually its healing power could be felt in his whole body, at first his mind regained its vigour and then his body also, more speedily than could have been expected; for after the third day which he had spent in that condition, ne appeared in sight of the soldiers.
Nor did the army look with more eagerness upon the king himself than upon Philip; each man individually grasped the physician’s right hand and returned thanks, as if to an all-powerful god. For it is not easily expressed how great, apart from the native reverence of the Macedonians for their kings, was their admiring devotion to this particular king, first of all their burning affection for him. For of all, he seemed to undertake nothing without divine help; for since good fortune everywhere attended him, his very rashness had resulted in glory.
His years too which seemed hardly ripe for such great deeds, but had proved amply sufficient, enhanced all his exploits. Also things which are commonly regarded as trifling, are usually more pleasing to a crowd of soldiers: bodily exercise in their company, dress and bearing differing but little from those of a man in private station, a soldier’s vigour; by these, whether they were natural gifts or consciously acquired, he had made himself alike beloved and worthy of deep respect.
VII. But Darius, after having received news of Alexander’s illness, with all the speed of which so heavy an army was capable hastened to the Euphrates, spanned it with a pontoon bridge, but still got his army across within five days, in his haste to obtain possession of Cilicia. Already Alexander had recovered his physical vigour and had arrived at the city of Soli; having taken possession of this, he exacted, by way of a fine, two hundred talents and placed a garrison of soldiers in the citadel. Then with sport and holiday he paid the vows that had been pledged for his safety, thus showing with what great confidence he scorned the barbarians; for he celebrated games in honour of Aesculapius and Minerva. As he was viewing the games, the joyful news arrived from Halicarnassus that the Persians had been defeated in battle by his troops, and also that the Myndii, the Caunii, and the greater part of that region had been brought under his sway.
Accordingly, having finished the public games, moved his camp, and bridged the Pyramus River, he arrived at the city of Mallus, and from there, on the second day, he came to the town of Castabalum.
There Parmenion met the king; he had been sent ahead to reconnoitre the road through the mountain-pass through which they must go to reach the city called Issus. And Parmenion, after taking possession of the narrowest part of this road, and leaving there a guard of moderate size, had captured Issus, which also had been abandoned by the barbarians. From this as a base he dislodged those who held posts in the mountains farther inland, secured everything by garrisons, and having got possession of the road, as was said a little while ago, came as newsbringer of his own accomplishments.
[8] Then Alexander moved his forces to Issus. There, after deliberating whether they ought to advance farther or wait where they were for the fresh troops that were known to be coming from Macedonia, Parmenion expressed the opinion that no other place was more suitable for a battle. For there the forces of both kings would be equal in number, since the narrow space could not contain a multitude of men; his men ought to avoid a plain and the open fields, where they might be caught and crushed in a pincer manœuvre. He feared that they might be defeated, not by the enemies’ valour, but by their own weariness; fresh Persians would constantly be coming to the front, if they were allowed to take more open order. The force of such salutary advice was readily acknowledged. Therefore Alexander decided to aw ait the enemy amid the defiles of the mountains.
[11] There was in the king’s army a Persian called Sisines; he had been sent formerly to King Philip by the satrap of Egypt, and having been courted with gifts and honours of every kind, he had exchanged his native abode for exile; later he followed Alexander into Asia and was regarded as one of his loyal companions. To him a Cretan soldier delivered a letter sealed with a ring the device of which was not at all known to him. Nabarzanes, a general of Darius, had sent it, urging Sisines to accomplish something worthy of his rank and character; that it would bring him great honour with Darius. This letter Sisines, since he was innocent of any evil intention, often tried to turn over to Alexander, but since he saw that the king was burdened with so many cares and with preparation for war, he waited from time to time for a more favourable opportunity, and thus incurred the suspicion of having harboured some criminal design. For the letter, before it was delivered to him, had come into Alexander’s hands, who, after reading and sealing it with a ring unknown to Sisines, had ordered that it be given to him, for the purpose of testing the barbarian’s loyalty. But since he had not approached Alexander for several days, it seemed that he had suppressed the letter with criminal intent, and he was killed on the march by the Cretans, undoubtedly by Alexander’s order.
VIII. And now the Greek soldiers whom Thymondas had received from Pharnabazus had come to Darius, his principal and almost sole hope. They strongly advised him to go back and return to the spacious plains of Mesopotamia; or, if he disapproved of that plan, that he should at least divide his count - less forces and not allow the entire strength of his kingdom to fall under one stroke of Fortune. This advice was less displeasing to the king than to his courtiers; they declared that men of doubtful loyalty, to be bought for pay, were intent upon treachery, and wished his forces to be divided for no other purpose than that the Greeks might go off in different directions, and betray to Alexander whatever should be entrusted to them; that nothing would be more prudent than to surround them with his whole army and overwhelm them with weapons, as a lesson that treachery does not go unpunished.
[4] But Darius, being upright and mild, declared that he certainly would not commit such a crime as to order men who had trusted his word, his own soldiers, to be [5] butchered; what man of the foreign nations would ever thereafter trust his saf
ety to him, if he should have stained his hands with the blood of so many soldiers? No one ought to atone for stupid advice with his life; for there would be none who would give counsel, if to have advised were perilous. Finally they themselves were daily called to him for consultation, and expressed varying opinions, yet one who advised more wisely than another was not regarded as of greater loyalty. Accordingly, he ordered reply to be made to the Greeks, that he personally thanked them for their goodwill, but that if he should proceed to withdraw, he would undoubtedly be handing over his kingdom to the enemy; that the result of wars depends on reputation and one who retreats is believed to be in flight. In fact, there was hardly any reason for prolonging the war; for, especially since winter was already at hand, there would not be sufficient supplies for so great a multitude as his, in a devastated region which had been laid waste in turn by his own forces and by the enemy. Besides, his forces could not be divided if the custom of his forefathers was observed, who always opposed their entire strength to a crisis in war. And, by Heaven! Alexander, a king terrible before and now raised to vain self-confidence by the absence of his opponent, as soon as he knew that he was coming, made wary instead of rash, had hidden in the defiles of the mountains after the manner of inglorious beasts, which, when they hear the noise of wayfarers, conceal themselves in their lairs in the woods. That, moreover, Alexander was now deluding his soldiers by pretending to be ill. But that he would no longer suffer him to shun the conflict; in that cave into which the cowards had fled for refuge he would crush them all as they skulked there.
[12] These boasts were more pretentious than justified. However, after sending all his money and his most valuable possessions to Damascus in Syria, with a moderately large guard of soldiers, he led the rest of his forces into Cilicia, his wife and mother following the army, according to the custom of his nation. His unmarried daughters also, and his little son, accompanied their father.
Delphi Complete Works of Quintus Curtius Rufus Page 8