Delphi Complete Works of Quintus Curtius Rufus

by Quintus Curtius Rufus

  VII. But Alexander’s great mental endowments, that noble disposition, in which he surpassed all kings, that intrepidity in encountering dangers, his promptness in forming and carrying out plans, his good faith towards those who submitted to him, merciful treatment of his prisoners, temperance even in lawful and usual pleasures, were sullied by an excessive love of wine. At the very time when his enemy and his rival for a throne was preparing to renew the war, when those whom he had conquered were but lately subdued and were hostile to the new rule, he took part in prolonged banquets at which women were present, not indeed those whom it would be a crime to violate, but, to be sure, harlots who were accustomed to live with armed men with more licence than was fitting.

  One of these, Thais by name, herself also drunken, declared that the king would win most favour among all the Greeks, if he should order the palace of the Persians to be set on fire; that this was expected by those whose cities the barbarians had destroyed.

  When a drunken strumpet had given her opinion on a matter of such moment, one or two, themselves also loaded with wine, agreed. The king too, more greedy for wine than able to carry it, cried: “Why do we not, then, avenge Greece and apply torches to the city?”

  All had become heated with wine, and so they arose when drunk to fire the city which they had spared when armed. The king was the first to throw a firebrand upon the palace, then the guests and the servants and courtesans. The palace had been built largely of cedar, which quickly took fire and spread the conflagration widely. When the army, which was encamped not far from the city, saw the fire, thinking it accidental, they rushed to bear aid. But when they came to the vestibule of the palace, they saw the king himself still piling on firebrands. Therefore, they left the water which they had brought, and they too began to throw dry wood upon the burning building.

  Such was the end of the capital of the entire Orient, from which so many nations previously sought jurisdiction, the birthplace of so many kings, once the special terror of Greece, a city that built a fleet of a thousand ships, and armies by which Europe was flooded, bridged the sea with a causeway of boards formed by massive hulks of ships, tunnelled mountains, and let the sea into the cavity thus — made. And not even in the long age which followed its destruction did it rise again. The Macedonian kings laid waste other cities, which the Parthians now possess; of this city not a trace would be found, did not the Araxes River show where it stood. That river had flowed not far from its walls; the neighbouring peoples believe, but do not really know, that the city was twenty stadia distant from it.

  The Macedonians were ashamed that so renowned a city had been destroyed by their king in a drunken revel; therefore the act was taken as earnest, and they forced themselves to believe that it was right that it should be wiped out in exactly that manner.

  It is certain that Alexander himself, as soon as sleep had restored his senses after he had been overcome by drunkenness, regretted what he had done and said that the Greeks would have been more severely avenged upon the Persians, if these had been forced to see Alexander on the throne and in the palace of Xerxes. On the following day he gave the Lycian guide of the route by which he had entered Persia a gift of 30 talents.

  From there he crossed into the district of Media, where a reinforcement of fresh soldiers from Cilicia met him. They consisted of 5000 foot and 1000 horse; both were commanded by Platon, an Athenian. Strengthened by these forces, he resolved to pursue Darius.

  VIII. Darius had already reached Ecbatana. This city was the capital of Media; the Parthians now possess it, and it is their abode for passing the summers. From there he had determined to go to Bactra, but fearing lest he should be overtaken by Alexander’s rapidity, he changed his plan and his route. Alexander was distant from him 1500 stadia, but already no interval seemed great enough in the face of the Macedonian’s swiftness; consequently Darius was preparing himself for battle rather than for flight. He was followed by 30,000 infantry, among whom were 4000 Greeks, whose long fidelity to the king remained invincible to the end. Also he had mustered bands of slingers and archers to the number of 4000; besides these there were 3300 horsemen, mostly Bactriani. Bessus, satrap of the district of Bactra, commanded them. With this force he turned aside a little from the military road, having ordered the camp-followers and the guards of the baggage to precede him.

  Then, having called a council, he said: “If Fortune had joined me with cowards, and with those who regard life on any terms preferable to a noble death, I would keep silent rather than waste words to no purpose. But having made trial of your valour and loyalty by a greater test than I could have wished, I ought to strive even more to be worthy of such friends, rather than to doubt whether you are still like yourselves. Out of so many thousands who were under my command you have followed me, although I was twice defeated and twice put to flight. Your fidelity and constancy make me believe that I am a king. Traitors and deserters rule in my cities, not, by Heaven! because they are deemed worthy of such honour, but that your minds may be tempted by their rewards. In spite of this, you have preferred to follow my fortune rather than the victor’s, proving yourselves most worthy of being requited by the gods in my behalf, if it should not be in my own power.

  And, by Heaven! they will recompense you. No future generation will be so deaf, no Fame so ungrateful, as not to extol you to the skies with meed of praise.

  “Therefore, even if I had considered resorting to flight, from which my mind utterly recoils, yet, relying upon your valour I should have gone to meet the foe. How long, pray, shall I be an exile in my realm, and through the bounds of my empire flee before a foreign and alien king, when it is allowed me to the traitors and deserters might tempt some of the adherents of Darius to follow their example. by trying the fortune of war either to regain what I have lost or to meet an honourable death? Unless haply it is better to await a victor’s will and, like Mazaeus or Mithrenes, to accept on sufferance the rule of a single province, supposing that Alexander may now prefer to gratify his vanity rather than his anger. But may the gods forbid that anyone should dare to take from me this adornment of my head, or to bestow it on me, or that I should lose my empire while I still live, but the end of my rule shall be the same as the end of my breath.

  “If you have this spirit and this principle, there is no one of you for whom freedom has not been won. No one of your number will be compelled to endure the disdain of the Macedonians, none their haughty looks; the right hand of each of you will either gain vengeance for so many sufferings, or end them. I myself am an example of Fortune’s mutability, and with good reason I look for milder changes on her part. But if the gods do not favour just and righteous wars, at any rate brave men will be allowed to die — with honour. By the honour of your forefathers, who held the rule of the entire Orient with noteworthy glory, by those men to whom Macedonia formerly paid tribute, by those many fleets of ships sent against Greece, by those many trophies of your kings, I beg and implore you to assume the courage worthy of your fame and that of your nation, in order that with the same resolute spirits with which you endured the evils of the past you may meet whatever Fortune may hereafter allot; on me at any rate either a glorious victory or my overthrow will confer eternal fame.”

  IX. As Darius said these words, the thought of the present peril cramped with horror the hearts and minds of all alike, and they were in doubt what to advise or to say, when Artabazus, the oldest of his friends, who, as I have said above, had been a guest of Philip, said: “We certainly, clad in our richest apparel and adorned with the finest arms that we possess, will follow our king to battle, and that too with the intention of hoping for victory, yet not shrinking from [2] death.” The rest received these words with approval, but Nabarzanes, who took part in the same council, had formed with Bessus a conspiracy for a crime unheard of before, of seizing their king by means of the forces which they both commanded and putting him in fetters; their purpose was that if Alexander should overtake them, they might by delivering the king aliv
e into his hands gain the victor’s favour, since he would surely set a high value on the capture of Darius, but that, if they could escape Alexander, having killed Darius, they themselves might usurp [3] the sovereignty and renew the war. When they had long meditated this treason, Nabarzanes, preparing the way for their abominable purpose, said:

  “I know that I shall express an opinion which at first thought will not be at all pleasing to your ears; but physicians also cure more desperate maladies by harsh remedies, and a pilot, when he fears shipwreck, rescues by jettison whatever can be saved. I, however, offer my advice, not in order that you may suffer any loss, but that by a helpful plan you may save yourself and your kingdom. We began the war with the gods against us, and persistent Fortune does not cease to persecute the Persians; there is need of a new beginning and new omens.

  Hand over the auspices and the rule for a time to another, who shall be called king no longer than until the enemy shall withdraw from Asia; then he will return the sovereignty to you when he has won victory. Moreover, reason shows that this will soon come to pass; Bactra is untouched, the Indi and Sacae are under your rule, so many peoples, so many armies, so many thousands of horse and foot have strength available for restoring our affairs, that greater material for war is left than has been used up. Why do we, like brute beasts, rush into a destruction that is not necessary? It is the part of brave men rather to scorn death than to hate life; often through distaste for toil cowards are driven to hold themselves cheap. But valour leaves nothing untried. Assuredly death is the end of everything, and we may as well go to meet it in no passive spirit.

  Accordingly, if we desire to go to Bactra, which is the safest place of refuge, let us make Bessus, the satrap of that region, king, because of the exigency; when affairs are settled, he will restore to you, the legitimate king, the rule which he has held in trust.”

  It is not at all surprising that Darius could not control his anger, although he did not know how great a crime lurked under these detestable words. Hence he said: “Basest of slaves, have you found the time which you desired, when you might disclose your treason?” and drawing his sword, he seemed to be on the point of killing Nabarzanes, had not Bessus and the Bactriani quickly surrounded the king, as if to plead against the act, under pretence of sorrow, but actually intending to make him prisoner, if he should persist. Nabarzanes meanwhile had slipped away and Bessus also followed him; they ordered the forces which they commanded to withdraw from the rest of the army, intending to hold a secret council. Artabazus, starting to express an opinion suitable to the present situation, began to try to soothe Darius, from time to time reminding him of the exigencies; the king, he said, ought to bear with patience either the folly or the error of those, of whatever sort they might be, who were nevertheless his subjects. Alexander was already close upon him, a dangerous foe even if all his men were on hand; what would happen if those who had followed him in his flight should be alienated? Darius followed the advice of Artabazus, albeit reluctantly, and although he had determined to move his camp, yet since the minds of all were disturbed, he remained where he was. But being overwhelmed with sadness and at the same time with despair, he shut himself in his tent.

  The result was, that in the camp, which was under no one’s command, there were varied impulses, and they no longer took council for the common good, as before. The leader of the Greek troops, Patron,” ordered his men to arm themselves and be ready to carry out his orders. The Persians had formed a separate group; Bessus was with the Bactriani and was trying to win over the Persians, telling them of Bactra and the riches of that untouched region, and at the same time of the dangers which threatened those who remained where they were. The reply of all the Persians was about the same, that it was impious for the king to be deserted. Meanwhile Artabazus performed all the duties of a commander; he did not cease to go round the tents of the Persians, to exhort them, and to warn them, now one by one, now in a body, until it was clear that they would obey his orders. He also induced Darius, though with difficulty, to take food and to turn his attention to the situation.

  But Bessus and Nabarzanes resolved to carry out the criminal design which they had formerly agitated, being inflamed with a desire for sovereignty; but they could not hope for so great power while Darius lived. For in those nations the majesty of their kings is extraordinary; in response to his mere name the barbarians assemble, and veneration for his former fortune attends him even in adversity. The impious minds of the conspirators were puffed up by the province which they governed, one which in arms and men, as well as in extent of territory is second to none among those nations; it occupies a third part of Asia, and the number of its men of military age equalled the armies which Darius had lost. Therefore they scorned, not only Darius, but also Alexander; from there they expected to regain the power of the empire, should they succeed in getting possession of the province. After long deliberation on all possibilities, they decided to seize the king with the aid of the Bactrian troops, who could be counted upon for absolute obedience, and that then a message should be sent to Alexander, to make known to him that Darius was being held alive in their power; if, as they feared, Alexander should have rejected their betrayal, they intended to kill Darius, and make for Bactra with the forces of their nations.

  However, Darius could not be seized openly, when so many thousands of the Persians would bear aid to their king; the loyalty of the Greeks also was feared.

  Accordingly, they tried to effect through stratagem what they could not do by force; they decided to feign regret for their secession, and to excuse it to the king on the ground of their consternation. Meanwhile emissaries were sent to appeal to the Persians.

  Now by hope, now by fear they work upon the feelings of the soldiers, saying that they were exposing themselves to utter ruin and were being dragged to destruction, when Bactra was open to receive them with possessions and wealth such as were beyond their imagination. While they were busy with these matters, Artabazus appeared, either by the order of the king or of his own accord, declaring that Darius had been appeased and that the same degree of friendship with the king was open to them. They, shedding tears, now excused themselves, now begged Artabazus that he would plead their cause and present their entreaties. Accordingly, when the night had been thus spent, at daybreak Bessus and Nabarzanes, with the Bactrian soldiers, came to the vestibule of the king’s tent, hiding their secret crime under pretence of their customary service. Darius, having given the signal for marching, mounted his chariot according to his former custom; and Bessus and the rest of the traitors, prostrating themselves on the ground, had the audacity to pretend to venerate the man whom a little later they were intending to make prisoner, and they even shed tears as indications of repentance. So ready is deceit in the human heart. Then their entreaties, presented in suppliant guise, forced Darius, who was by nature trusting and mild, not only to believe what they affirmed, but — even to weep. But not even then did the traitors repent of the crime which they had planned, although they saw what kind of man and king they were deceiving. He indeed, unaware of the danger which threatened him, was hastening to escape Alexander’s hands, which alone he feared. —

  But Patron, the leader of the Greeks, ordered his men to put on their arms, which before were carried with the baggage, and to be ready and on the alert for every order of his. He himself was following the king’s chariot, eager for a chance to speak to him; for he had a premonition of the evil design of Bessus. But Bessus, in fear of that very thing, did not move from the chariot, acting as a guard rather than as a companion. Therefore Patron after waiting for a long time and often being restrained from speaking, kept his eyes fixed upon the king, wavering between loyalty and fear. When at last the king turned towards him, he ordered Bubaces, a eunuch who was following the chariot among those nearest Darius, to ask the Greek whether he wished to say anything to him. Patron replied that he did in fact wish to talk with him, but without witnesses, and when bidden to come nearer without an inter
preter for Darius was not unacquainted with the Greek language — he said: “My king, out of 50,000 Greeks we are the few that are left, companions of all your fortune, and in your present state unchanged from what we were in your prosperity, ready to seek, in place of our native land and our homes, whatever lands you shall select. Your prosperity and adversity-have linked us with you. By this invincible loyalty I beg and conjure you, pitch your tent in our camp; suffer us to be your body-guards. We have abandoned Greece, no Bactra belongs to us, all our hope is in you; would that it were true also of the rest! It is needless to say more. I, a foreigner and of an alien race, should not demand the guard of your person, if I believed that another could guarantee it.” [7] Although Bessus was unacquainted with the Greek language, yet, pricked by conscience, he believed that Patron had surely revealed his plot; and since the words of the Greek were concealed from interpreters, any doubt was removed. Darius, however, being so far as could be inferred from his expression not at all alarmed, began to question Patron as to the reason for the advice which he brought. The Greek, thinking that there was no room for further delay, said: “Bessus and Nabarzanes are plotting against you, your fortune and your life are in extreme danger, this day will be the last for the traitors or for you.” [9] And in fact Patron had gained the illustrious glory of saving the king. Those may scoff at my belief who haply are convinced that human affairs roll on and take place by mere chance, or that each man runs his ordered course in accordance with a combination of hidden causes determined long beforehand by an immutable law; at any rate, Darius replied, that although the loyalty of the Greek soldiers was well known to him, yet he would never separate himself from his own countrymen; that it was more difficult for him to condemn than to be deceived. Whatever Fortune should offer him he preferred to endure among his own subjects rather than to become a deserter. He was perishing too late, if his own 12 soldiers did not wish him to be saved. Patron, despairing of the king’s safety, returned to those whom he commanded, prepared to submit to every possible trial to the best of his loyalty.