XI. And everything else the king had subdued.
There was one rock, which Ariamazes, a native of Sogdiana, was holding with 30,000 armed men, having previously stored there provisions sufficient [2] to support so great a force for fully two years. The rock rises to a height of 30 stadia, and embraces a circuit of 150; it is scarped on every side and [3] approached by a very steep and narrow path. In the middle of its ascent it has a cavern, the entrance of which is narrow and obscure; then farther in it gradually widens, and finally even contains deep recesses. Springs flow almost everywhere in the cavern, and the waters which gather in these send forth a river down the steep sides of the mountain.
[4] The king, having seen the difficulty of the place, had decided to leave it; then a desire entered his mind to wear out even Nature’s strength. Nevertheless, before trying the fortune of a siege, he sent Cophes — he was a son of Artabazus — to the barbarians, to persuade them to surrender the rock. Ariamazes, trusting to his position, made several arrogant replies, and finally asked whether Alexander could even fly.
[8] When this was reported to the king, it so inflamed his mind, that summoning those with whom he was wont to consult, he told them of the insolence of the barbarian, who mocked at them because they did not have wings; but that he on the following night would make him believe that the Macedonians [7] could even fly. “Let each of you,” said he, “bring me 300 of the most active young men from your forces, who at home were accustomed to drive their flocks over mountain pastures and almost [8] impassable rocks.” They quickly brought that number, who excelled in bodily agility and in ardour of courage. The king, looking them over, said: “It is with you, O youths, my comrades, that I have overcome the fortifications of cities that before now were unconquered, that I have traversed the heights of mountains buried in perpetual snow, that I entered the passes of Cilicia, and have endured the intense cold of India without fatigue. I have given you [9] proofs of myself, and I have had proofs of you. The rock which you see has only one approach, which the barbarians beset, they neglect the rest; they have no sentinels except those that are watching our [10] camp. You will find a way, if you seek carefully for paths leading to the top. Nature has placed nothing so high, that valour cannot overcome it. It is by trying what others have despaired of that we have [11] Asia in our power. Go up to the summit; when you have attained it, you will give me a signal with white cloths. I will bring up forces and divert the enemy [12] from you to us. The reward for him who first reaches the top will be ten talents; he who comes next will receive one less, and the same proportion will be maintained up to the number of ten men. But I am sure that you will have an eye, not so much to the reward, as to my desire.”
[13] They heard the king with such alacrity, that it seemed that they had already attained the summit; and when dismissed they prepared iron wedges to insert between the stones and strong ropes. The king rode around the rock, and where the approach seemed least rough and steep he ordered them to set out in the second watch, uttering a prayer to the gods for success. They, taking food sufficient for two days, and armed only with swords and lances, began to climb up. And at first they advanced on foot; then, when they came to very steep places, some grasped projecting stones with their hands and pulled themselves up, others made their way by using nooses of rope, still others drove wedges between the stones and made steps on which to stand.
[16] They spent a day amid fear and toil. After having struggled over rough places, still harder ones awaited them, and the height of the rock seemed to grow. That indeed was a pitiful sight, when those whom their unsteady step had betrayed were hurled down a sheer drop; and the example of others’ disaster showed that they must soon suffer the same fate.
[17] Nevertheless, through all these difficulties they mounted to the top of the mountain, all worn out by the fatigue of constant toil, some maimed in a part of their limbs, and night and sleep came upon them [18] together. With their bodies stretched here and there on the pathless and rough rocks, they forgot their dangerous situation and slept until daybreak; and when at last they awakened as from a deep slumber, examining the hidden valleys that lay below them, and not knowing in what part of the rock so great a force of the enemy was hidden, they saw smoke rolling out from a cavern below them.
[19] From this they knew that it was the hiding place of the enemy. Therefore they raised on their spears the signal which had been agreed upon; and they found that out of their whole number thirty-two had perished during the ascent.
[20] The king, harassed not more from desire of taking the place than for the possible fate of those whom he had sent into such evident danger, stood during the looking at the summit of the mountain; not until night, when darkness prevented him from seeing did he repose for withdraw on the following day., he was the first to see the clothes that showed that the top was taken, But the changing sky where now a gleam of light shown through, which again was hidden, compelled him to doubt whether his eyes did not deceive him. But as a clearer light appeared in the heaven she was the first to see the cloths that showed that the top was taken. But the changing sky, where now a gleam of light shown through, which again was hidden, compelled him to doubt whether his eyes did not deceive him. But as a clearer light appeared in the heavens, his doubt was dispelled; and having summoned Cophes, through whom he had tested the feelings of the barbarians, he sent him to them, to warn them now at least to adopt a better purpose; but if they persisted through confidence in their situation, he ordered that those who had taken possession of the summit should be pointed out to them.
[23] Cophes, being admitted, began to urge Ariamazes to surrender the rock, saying that he would gain the king’s favour if, while he was engaged in such great-enterprises, he should not delay him in the siege o a single rock. He, speaking more proudly and arrogantly than before, ordered Cophes to depart; but he took the barbarian by the hand and asked him to go with him outside the cave. When he had complied, Cophes showed him the young men on the summit, and with good reason mocking his arrogance, said that the soldiers of Alexander had wings.
[26] And now from the camp of the Macedonians the notes of the trumpets and the shouts of the whole army were heard. This, like many other things in war, although vain and empty, moved the barbarians to surrender; for seized with fear, they were unable to estimate rightly the small number of those who were 26 in their rear. Therefore they quickly recalled Cophes, who had left them in their confusion, and sent with him thirty of their leading men, to surrender the rock and to stipulate that they should be allowed to retire [27] unharmed. The king, although he feared that, seeing the fewness of the young men, the barbarians might dislodge them, yet trusting to his fortune and incensed by the arrogance of Ariamazes, replied that he would accept only an unconditional surrender.
[28] Ariamazes, believing that his situation was desperate, whereas it was in fact not hopeless, came down to the king’s camp with his relatives and the principal nobles of his race; Alexander ordered all these to be scourged and crucified at the very foot of the rock.
[29] A multitude of those who had surrendered, together with the booty in money, was given to the settlers in the new cities. Artabazus was left to govern the rock and the region adjacent to it.
CONTENTS OF BOOK VIII
The Massagetae, Dahae and Sogdiani are subdued. The Scythians offer their king’s daughter in marriage to Alexander. He kills Clitus at a banquet for speaking too frankly (i).
The king’s grief and repentance; the Macedonians decide that Clitus was deservedly slain. He advances against the Bactriani and Sisimithres. Death of Philip and of Erigyius (ii).
Alexander expels from his camp the wife of Spit amenés, who brings him her husband’s head. He frees several provinces from the oppression of his governors (iii).
The army on its way to Gazaba is almost destroyed by the cold; Alexander’s endurance and courage; his kindness to a common soldier. Oxyartes submits; Alexander marries his daughter Roxane (iv).
As his thoughts turn towards war in India, Alexander supplies his troops with costly weapons. Influenced by flatterers, he orders the Macedonians to salute him in the Persian fashion, which calls forth a severe speech from Callisthenes (v).
Hermolaus, one of the royal pages, having suffered punishment, forms a conspiracy against Alexander’s life. When it is detected, Callisthenes is suspected of complicity and is imprisoned along with the conspirators (vi).
When allowed to speak in his own defence, Hermolaus inveighs against the haughtiness and cruelty of Alexander; he denies that Callisthenes is implicated in the conspiracy (vii).
Alexander replies at length to Hermolaus; he orders the death of Callisthenes as well as that of the conspirators Alexander marches into India. A description of the country: its rivers, climate, animals, and wealth; the various classes of its people; the luxury of the kings, the manner of life and the wisdom of the gymnosophists (ix).
Alexander receives the submission of some of the princes of India, and conquers various cities and regions which resist him. He is wounded in the siege of Magazae, and admits that he is mortal, though called the son of Jupiter (x).
After much toil he takes the city of Hora and the crag of Aornus, formerly vainly attempted by Hercules (xi).
He crosses the Indus and restores his rule to Omphis, who had surrendered himself and his kingdom. The kings exchange gifts (xii).
Alexander encamps at the river Hydaspes and makes war on Porus; by a clever stratagem he divides Porus forces and crosses the river and takes possession of the opposite bank (xiii). —
The hard-fought battle of the Macedonians and the lndi; Porus is defeated but shows a lofty spirit, which wins Alexander’s clemency and friendship (xiv).
BOOK VIII
I. ALEXANDER, having brought the rock under his sway with more fame than glory, divided the army into three parts, since the roving nature of the enemy made it necessary for him to spread his forces about. He gave the lead of one part to Hephaestion, of a second to Coenus, and he himself commanded the [2] third. But the barbarians were not all of the same mind; some were subdued by his arms, still more submitted without a contest. To the latter he ordered to be assigned the cities and lands of those [3] who had persisted in rebellion. But the Bactriani who had been dispossessed devastated, in company with 900 horsemen of the Massagetae, the neighbouring villages. To check them, Attinas, the governor of that region, led out 300 horsemen, being unaware of the ambuscade that was being laid.
[4] For in the woods — and it chanced that they were close to a plain — the enemy hid an armed force, while a few drove flocks before them, in order that the hope of booty might lead Attinas unawares into the [6] snare. Accordingly he, marching in disorder and in loose formation, was following them, thinking only of plunder; but when he had passed by the woods those who had taken post there suddenly attacked him and slew him with all his men.
[6] The report of this disaster was quickly brought to Craterus, who came to the spot with all his cavalry. The Massagetae, for their part, had already fled, but 1000 of the Dahae were slain, and by their slaughter [7] the rebellion of the whole region was ended. Alexander also, having again subdued the Sogdiani, returned to Maracanda. There Derdas whom he had sent to the Scythians dwelling east of the Bosphorus, met him with envoys of that people.
[8] Phrataphernes also, satrap of the Chorasmii, a neighbour to the Massagetae and the Dahae, had sent [9] messengers to promise his obedience. The Scythians asked that he should marry the daughter of their king; if he considered her unworthy of the alliance, that he should suffer the leading men of the Macedonians to contract marriages with the great ladies of his race; they promised that the king himself [10] also would come to him. Both deputations were courteously heard and Alexander remained in camp for a few days, waiting for Hephaestion and Artabazus; when they joined him, he passed into the district called Bazaira.
[11] There are no greater indications of the wealth of the barbarians in those regions than their herds of noble wild beasts, confined in great woods and parks.
[12] For this purpose they choose extensive forests made attractive by perennial springs; they surround the woods with walls and have towers as stands for [13] the hunters. The forest was known to have been undisturbed for four successive generations, when Alexander, entering it with his whole army, ordered [14] an attack on the wild beasts from every side. Among these when a lion of extraordinary size rushed to attack the king himself, it happened that Lysimachus, who was afterwards a king, being beside Alexander, began to oppose his hunting-spear to the animal; but the king pushed him aside and ordered him to retire, adding that a lion could be killed by [15] himself alone as well as by Lysimachus. And in fact Lysimachus, once when they were hunting in Syria, had indeed alone killed a lion of remarkable size, but had had his left shoulder torn to the bone [16] and thus had come into great peril of his life. The king, taunting him with this very experience, acted more vigorously than he spoke; for he not only met the wild beast, but killed him with a single wound.
[17] I am inclined to believe that the story which without evidence spread the report that Lysimachus was exposed by the king to the attack of a lion arose from the incident which we have just mentioned.
[18] But the Macedonians, although Alexander had been successful in his attempt, nevertheless voted in the manner of their nation that he should neither hunt on foot nor without being accompanied by selected [19] officers or friends. He, after having laid low 4000 wild beasts, banqueted in that same park with his entire army.
From there the king returned to Maracanda; and having accepted Artabazus’ excuse of old age, he [20] made over his province to Clitus. It was he, an old soldier of Philip and distinguished by many exploits in war, who at the river Granicus covered the king with his shield when he was fighting bareheaded, and with his sword cut off the hand of Rhosaces, when [21] it threatened the king’s life. And Hellanice, his sister, who had reared Alexander, was loved by the king as dearly as if she were his own mother. It was for these reasons that he entrusted to Clitus’ faith and protection the strongest part of his empire.”
[22] And now, after being bidden to prepare for a march on the following day, Clitus was invited to one of the king’s usual prolonged banquets. There, when the king had been heated by an abundance of wine, having an immoderate opinion of himself, he began to boast of his exploits, to the displeasure even of the ears of those who knew that what he said was true.
[23] But the older men remained silent until he began to belittle the deeds of Philip and to boast that the famous victory at Chaeronea had been his work, but that the glory of so great a battle had been taken from him by the grudgingness and jealousy of his father.
[24] That Philip, when a quarrel had arisen between the Macedonian soldiers and the Greek mercenaries, being disabled by a wound which he had suffered during that disturbance, had fallen to the ground and could find no other expedient to protect himself better than feigning death; but that he had protected his father’s body with his shield, and with his own hand 26 had slain those who were rushing upon him. This Philip could never bring himself to admit, being unwilling to be indebted for his life to his son. Also, that after the campaign which he himself had made without Philip against the Illyrians, when victorious he had written to his father that the enemy had been routed and put to flight; and that Philip had 26 nowhere been present. He said that praise was due, not to those who had witnessed the initiatory rites of Samothrace at a time when Asia should have been laid waste by fire, but to those who by the greatness of their deeds had surpassed belief.
[27] These and similar things the young soldiers heard with pleasure, but they were odious to the older men, especially because of Philip, under whom they [28] had lived longer, when Clitus, who was himself by no means wholly sober, turned to those who were reclining below him, and quoted a line of Euripides in such a tone that the sound could be heard by the king [29] rather than the words made out, to the effect that it was a
bad custom of the Greeks to inscribe on their trophies only the names of kings; for the kings stole the glory won by the blood of others. Therefore Alexander, for he suspected that the words had been somewhat malicious, began to ask those next to him [30] what they had heard Clitus say. And when they maintained an obstinate silence, Clitus, gradually raising his voice, spoke of the deeds of Philip and the wars which he had waged in Greece, rating them [31] all higher than the present victories. From this there arose a dispute between the younger and the older soldiers. And the king, although he appeared to hear with patience the words in which Clitus [32] belittled his glory, had become exceedingly angry. But when it seemed that he would control himself if Clitus would put an end to the talk which he had wantonly begun, as he did not in any way moderate it, the king became more exasperated.
[33] And now Clitus even ventured to defend Parmenion and extolled the victory of Philip over the Athenians above the destruction of Thebes, being carried away, not only by wine, but by a perverse spirit of contention Finally he said: “If someone must die for you, Clitus is the first choice; but when you award the prizes of a victory, those bear off the palm who most wantonly mock the memory of your father.
[35] You assign to me the province of Sogdiana, so often rebellious, and not only untamed but not even capable of being subdued. I am sent to wild beasts, to which [36] Nature has given incorrigible recklessness. But of what concerns me I have nothing to say. You scorn the soldiers of Philip, forgetting that if old Atarrhias here had not called back the younger men when they shrank from battle, we should still be lingering around [37] Halicarnassus. How then would you have subdued all Asia with those young men of yours? That is true, in my opinion, which your uncle is known to have said in Italy, that he had encountered men, you women.” [38] Nothing among all the taunts which Clitus had ill advisedly and rashly uttered had more aroused the king than the honourable mention made of Parmenion. Yet he restrained his resentment, content [39] with ordering Clitus to leave the banquet. And he added nothing else than that perhaps if Clitus had spoken at greater length, he would have taunted him with having saved his life; for of this he had often [40] arrogantly boasted. And when Clitus still delayed to rise, those who had reclined next to him laid hands upon him and with remonstrances and warning were [41] trying to lead him from the room. As he was being taken away, anger also was added to his former drunkenness, and he shouted that the king’s back had been protected by his own breast, but that now, after the time of so great a service had passed, even [42] the memory of it was odious. Then he also reproached the king with the murder of Attalus, and finally, mocking the oracle of Jupiter, whom Alexander claimed as his father, he said that he himself, had spoken to the king more truly than his father [43] By now Alexander was filled with such great wrath as he could hardly have mastered when sober. In fact, his senses having long since been overcome by [44] wine, he suddenly leaped from his couch. His friends, in a panic, having not even put down their cups but thrown them aside, arose in a body, their thoughts centred upon the result of the act which he was about [45] to commit with such impetuosity. Alexander, wresting a lance from the hands of one of his guards, and attempting to kill Clitus, who was still raging with the same unbridled language, was prevented by Ptolemy [40] and Perdiccas. Throwing their arms about his waist, they kept holding him back while he continued to struggle; Lysimachus and Leonnatus had even taken [47] away the lance; the king, invoking the loyalty of his soldiers, cried that he was being seized by his closest friends, as had lately happened to Darius, and ordered the signal to be given with the trumpet for the soldiers to take arms and come to the royal quarters.
Delphi Complete Works of Quintus Curtius Rufus Page 31