Delphi Complete Works of Quintus Curtius Rufus

by Quintus Curtius Rufus

  Meanwhile a serious quarrel had arisen between and Hephaestion. For Hephaestion slaves from the lodging of which they had taken for their master, in order that be put up in it. And not long afterwards when their haired seemed to be already put to sleep, through a new cause of strife that arose it revived to such an extent that they even broke out into a dreadful wrangle and Utter abuse of each other. But by the intervention of Alexander and at his command their enmity at least in appearance, after he had even Hephaestion, who, since he enjoyed the kings greatest favour, persistently repulsed Eumenes, although the latter of Media, and they are conspicuous for their size and beauty. More than 50,000 were found there when Alexander crossed into that country, as was noted by his companions; that formerly there had been three times that number, but amid the confusion of the wars brigands had driven off the greatest part of them. There the king halted for about thirty days. Thither Atropates, satrap of Media, brought a hundred barbarian women skilled in horsemanship and armed with round shields and axes; this equipment led some to believe that they were survivors of the race of the Amazons. Then in seven days he came to Ecbatana, the capital of Media. There he offered solemn sacrifices to the gods, exhibited games, and relaxed his mind with banquets and festal days, in order to be stronger for new tasks.

  But as he was meditating on these tasks, Fate, as if laying her hand upon him, drew him elsewhere and snatched away the life of the dearest of his friends, and not long afterwards of the king himself He was viewing the boys contesting in the stadium when it was announced that Hephaestion was failing; he had already been sick abed for seven days from over-indulgence in wine. Alarmed by the danger of his friend, the king at once rose from his seal and quickly went to Hephaestion’s lodging. Yet he did not reach there before death had anticipated him. This is certainly regarded as the most grievous of all the losses which Alexander had suffered in his whole lifetime? and that he was so overcome by the greatness of his sorrow as to burst into tears and lamentations gave strong proof of a loss of his usual spirit. But there are various reports of his conduct; this much is agreed by all, that Alexander, in order to give his friend the most splendid obsequies, did not wish him to be buried at Ecbatana, but to be taken by Perdiccas to Babylon, to which place he himself was on the point of going; and that there he had arranged for a funeral of unheard-of splendour at a cost of 12,000 talents. Certain it is that he gave orders for Hephaestion to be mourned throughout the whole empire, and in order that his memory might not be lost in the army, Alexander appointed no leader of the cavalry which he had commanded, but wished it to be called the troop of Hephaestion, and that the standards that he had established there should not be changed. The Icing planned funereal contests and games such as had never been given before, and brought together 3000 artists; and these not long after are said to have competed at Alexander’s own funeral.

  The king’s friends also, not lacking in zeal to win his favour by such lavish demonstrations of sympathy, vied with one another in devising means of making the memory of the deceased more glorious and more honoured. Accordingly Eumenes, since he felt that he had incurred the king’s indignation because of his quarrel with Hephaestion, induced many men to consecrate themselves and their arms to Hephaestion and he himself contributed generously to join in honouring his funeral. The rest followed this example, and their shameless flattery went so far that the king, insane with grief and longing for his dead friend, was at last persuaded that Hephaestion was a god.

  At that time, indeed, among the leaders of the forces Agathocles the Samian fell into extreme danger because when passing the tomb of Hephaestion he was seen to have wept over him. And had not Perdiccas falsely said that while he was hunting Hephaestion had appeared to him, and had he not sworn by all the gods and by Hepkaestion himself that he had learned from him that Agathocles had not wept as over a dead mortal who had vainly been honoured with the title of divinity, but that it was because of the memory of their former comradeship that he had been unable to restrain his tears, a brave man, who had deserved well of the king, although blameless, would have suffered severe punishment because of his affection for his friend.

  But in order for a time to call away his mind from grief, the king undertook an expedition into the land of the Cossaei. They dwell in the mountains near Media, a rude and warlike race, accustomed to live by plunder. From that people the kings of the Persians were wont to purchase peace by an annual tribute, to prevent them from running down into the land below them and infesting it with brigandage. For when the Persians resorted to force they had easily defeated them, defended as they were by the ruggedness of the places in which they took refuge whenever they were overcome by arms. They were also placated by annual gifts, in order that the king on his return to Babylon from Ecbatana, where he regularly spent the summer, might have a safe passage through those lands. These people, then, Alexander attacked with his force in two divisions, and completely subdued them within forty days. For after being often defeated by the king himself and by Ptolemy, who was leading one part of the army, they surrendered to the victor, in order to recover their men who had been made prisoner.

  Alexander gave orders that strong cities be founded in strategic places, for fear that when the army was withdrawn the savage race might throw off the yoke. Then he moved his camp, and in a leisurely march, in order to give rest to the soldiers, who were wearied by the recent campaign, he went on to Babylon. And already he was only thirty stadia distant from the city, when Nearchus, whom he had sent ahead to Babylon by way of the Ocean and the mouths of the Euphrates, met him, and entreated him not to think of entering the city, which was destined to be fatal to him. He said that he had learned this from the Chaldeans, who had already abundantly proved the credibility of their art by the result of many predictions The king, influenced by the reputation of the Chaldeans and by their persistent assertion, having sent many of his friends to the city, led the army by another road past Babylon and pitched a permanent camp 200 stadia from the city. But, advised by the philosopher Anaxarchus, he scorned the warnings of the Chaldeans, whose teachings he thought false or superfluous, and entered the city. Thither deputations from almost the whole world had flocked together. After giving attentive audience to these for several days, he then turned his thoughts to the obsequies of Hephaestion. These were celebrated with such great and general devotion that there was no king up to that time whose funeral rites they did not surpass in the greatness of their cost and the magnificence of their equipment.

  After this a longing seized the king to sail over the river Pallacopas to the lands of the Arabians; having arrived there and having discovered a suitable site for founding a city, he settled in it those of the Greeks who were disabled by age or by wounds, as well as any who had remained behind of their own volition. When these things had been finished to his satisfaction, now at ease about the future, he laughed at the Chaldeans because he had not only entered Babylon but also had left it unharmed, But in fact, as he was returning through the marshes which the Euphrates makes by pouring into the Pallacopas, a direful omen was offered. For some overhanging branches dragged the diadem from the king’s head and cast it into the river. When after this prodigies were announced one after the other, continual sacrifices were offered to avert them, at the same time by Greek and by barbarian rites.

  Nevertheless they could not be expiated except by the Icings death. And when he had entertained Nearchus with a banquet and he was already about to go to bed, he yielded to the urgent entreaties of Medius of Larissa that he would come to him for a drinking-bout. After he had drunk deeply there all night, he began to feel ill. Then his illness grew so much worse that within six days it had so exhausted all his strength that he could not even speak. Meanwhile the troops, overcome by anxiety and longing to see him, although their leaders warned them not to burden the king in his illness, extorted permission to be admitted to his presence.

  V. As they gazed at him, their rising tears gave the impression no longer of an army l
ooking upon its [2] king, but of one attending his funeral; yet the grief of those who stood about his couch was still greater. When the king saw them he said: “After I am gone [3] will you find a king worthy of such men?” Incredible to tell and to hear of, he continued to hold his body in the same attitude in which he had composed himself when he was about to admit the soldiers, until he had been saluted by the whole army for that last time. And having dismissed the common throng, as if he had discharged every debt to life, he threw [4] back his exhausted frame, and after bidding his friends to seat themselves — for his voice too had already begun to give out — he drew his ring from his finger and handed it to Perdiccas, adding instructions that they should order his body to be taken to Ammon.

  [5] When they asked to whom he left his kingdom, he replied, to him who was the best man, but that he already foresaw that because of that contest great [6] funeral games were in preparation for him. Again, when Perdiccas asked when he wished divine honours to be paid to him, he said that he wished it at the time when they themselves were happy. These were the king’s last words, and shortly afterwards he died.

  [7] And at first the whole royal quarters rang with wailing, lamentation, and beating of breasts; presently, as if in a desert waste, everything was mute and torpid, since grief was changed to thoughts of [8] what would happen next. The high-born boys who were his regular body-guard could neither contain the greatness of their grief nor keep themselves within the vestibule of the royal quarters. Wandering about and as if crazed, they had filled that city, great as it was, with grief and sorrow, omitting no plaints which sorrow suggests in such a disaster; [9] therefore those who had stood without the royal quarters, Macedonians and foreigners alike, rushed together. And in their common sorrow the vanquished could not be distinguished from the victors; the Persians, calling upon a most just and mild lord, the Macedonians upon the best and bravest of kings, exhibited, as it were, a contest in mourning.

  [10] And not only words of sorrow were heard, but also of indignation, that through the envy of the gods a man so vigorous and in the flower of his youth and his fortune had been torn from mankind. His vigour and his aspect as he led his soldiers to battle, besieged cities, scaled walls, and rewarded brave men before the assembled army, were before their minds eye.

  [11] Then the Macedonians repented of having denied him divine honours, and they confessed that they had been impious and ungrateful in having cheated his ears of the title due him. And after they had continued for a long time, now in veneration, now in longing for the king, their pity was diverted to themselves.

  [12] Having left Macedonia, they saw themselves abandoned beyond the Euphrates and in the midst of foes dissatisfied with the new rule; without a sure heir to their king, without an heir to the throne, each man would be trying to draw the public forces into his own power.

  [13] Then they foresaw the civil wars that followed. Again they would have to pour out their blood, old scars must be broken by new wounds; not to gain the rule of Asia, but to appoint a king to reign [14] over themselves. Aged and infirm, they who had recently asked their discharge from a legitimate king would now die perhaps in defence of the power of [15] some obscure subordinate. As they were turning over such thoughts in their minds, night came on and increased their alarm. The soldiers kept vigil under arms, the Babylonians, some from the walls, others from the roof of their own houses, were each looking out as if to get more certain information.

  [16] And none dared to light their lamps, but because they could not use their eyes, they caught with their ears the noise and outcries, and often terrified by unfounded fear, they ran through the dark streets, and as they met one another were in turn suspected and apprehensive.

  [17] The Persians, having shaved their hair according to custom, in mourning garb with their wives and children grieved for the king, not as their conqueror and recently their enemy, but with genuine longing as their own nation’s most just ruler, and used as they were to live under a king, they confessed that none other had been more worthy to rule them.

  [18] And their grief was not confined within the walls of the city, but the report of so great a disaster had spread through the region nearest to Babylon and then through a great part of Asia on the hither side [19] of the Euphrates. The news was quickly brought also to the mother of Darius; she, rending the garments which she wore, put on mourning garb and, tearing her hair, threw herself on the ground.

  [20] Beside her sat one of her granddaughters, mourning for the recent loss of Hephaestion, whom she had married, and in the general sorrow was renewing her [21] own reasons for grief. But Sisigambis alone felt the misfortune that had befallen all her family; she wept for her own loss and for that of her granddaughters. This recent grief too had revived the sorrows of the past. You might think that she had just lost Darius, and that the unhappy woman had to perform the funeral rites of two sons; she wept at [22] once for the dead and for the living. For who would have a care for her girls? Who would be a second Alexander? Again they were taken prisoner, again they had lost royal rank. After the death of Darius they had found someone to protect them, but after Alexander they assuredly would find none to do so.

  [23] Amid these thoughts it entered her mind that her eighty brothers had been killed on one and the same day by Ochus, most savage of kings, and that their father had been added to the slaughter of so many sons, and that of the seven children that she herself had borne only one was left. Even Darius had flourished for a time, only that he might meet a more 21 cruel death. At last she gave way to grief and veiling her head and turning away from her granddaughter and her grandson, who fell at her knees, she at the same time abstained from food and shunned the light of day. The fifth day after she [25] had resolved to die, she passed away. Surely her death is a strong testimony to Alexander’s indulgence towards her and to his just treatment of all the captives; for she who had had the fortitude to live after Darius was ashamed to survive Alexander.

  [26] And, by Heaven! to those who judge the king fairly it is clear that his good qualities were natural, [27] his faults due to his fortune or to his youth. He possessed incredible strength of mind, an endurance of toil which was almost excessive, a courage excelling not only among kings but among those whose sole [28] merit it is, a generosity that often bestowed greater gifts than are asked of gods in prayer, clemency towards the vanquished, shown either by returning so many kingdoms to those from whom he had taken [29] them in war or by giving them as gifts, a constant contempt of death, the fear of which appals the rest of mankind, a desire for glory and renown which, although it was greater than was proper, yet was to be overlooked in a young man who had done such [30] glorious deeds; also his devotion to his parents, of whom he had decided to consecrate Olympias among [31] the immortals and had avenged Philip, his kindness to almost all his friends, his goodwill to his soldiers, [32] his wisdom equal to the greatness of his spirit, and a keenness of judgement of which one of his years could hardly have been capable, a restraint of immoderate desires, the indulgence of passion only within natural requirements, and to have enjoyed no pleasures except such as were lawful, were certainly gifts of his own nature.

  [33] The following qualities were attributable to his fortune: to equal himself with the gods and to aspire to divine honours, to trust to oracles which advised such conduct, and to be more angry than was fitting with those who refused to venerate him, to change his attire to that of foreign nations, to imitate those customs of the conquered races which he had scorned [34] before his victory. As for his hot temper and his love of wine, just as these were intensified by youth, [35] greater age might have moderated them. Yet it must be confessed that although he owed much to his own merit, yet he owed still more to Fortune, over whom he alone of all mortals had control. often did she save him from death! How often, when rashness brought him into danger, did she protect [36] him by perpetual good luck! She likewise fixed the same end for his life and for his glory; the Fates waited for him until, having thoroughly
subdued the Orient, and having reached the Ocean, he fulfilled every task of which mortality was capable.

  [37] This was the king and leader for whom a successor was sought, but the burden was too great for the shoulders of one man; hence even his name and the fame of his exploits spread kings and kingdoms throughout almost the whole world, and those were considered most glorious who had retained even the least part of so great a fortune. —

  VI. But in Babylon — for it was from there that made a digression — his body-guards called to the royal quarters the chief of the king’s friends and the leaders of his forces. A throng of soldiers followed, eager to know to whom the fortune of Alexander [2] would pass. Many generals, shut out by the great number of soldiers, had been unable to enter the royal quarters, since a herald forbade access except to those who had been summoned by name. But this order, [3] being of uncertain origin, was disregarded. And first of all the great wailing and lamentation was renewed, then expectation of what was coming checked their [4] tears and caused silence. Then Perdiccas, having put in view of the public the royal throne, on which were the diadem and the robe of Alexander together with his arms, placed on the same throne the ring which had been handed to him the day before by the king.

  At the sight of these the whole assembly again burst into tears and renewed the mourning, and [5] Perdiccas said: “For my part, I return to you the ring handed to me by the late king himself, with which he was wont to seal the documents pertaining to his [6] kingdom and his power. Furthermore, although no calamity equal to this which has befallen us can be devised by the angry gods, yet those who consider the greatness of what he accomplished may well believe that so great a man was merely loaned to mankind by the gods, in order that, when his allotted service to humanity was completed, they might quickly take [7] him back into their own family. Therefore, since nothing else is left of him except what is always separated from immortality, let us pay as soon as possible the rites due to his body at least, not forgetting in what city and among whom we are, and of what a chief and what a king we have been [8] despoiled. We must therefore, fellow-soldiers, give attention and consider how we may secure the victory which he has won among those from whom it was won. We have need of a head; to name one is in your power. One thing you must know, that a throng of soldiers without a leader is a body without [9] a soul. It is five months from the time when Roxanê became with child; we pray that she may bear a son, who shall rule over us with the gods’ approval, when he comes of age. Determine by what men you wish to be ruled in the meantime.” Thus spoke Perdiccas.