Iamque laevam, qua clipeum ad ictus circumferebat, lassaverat clamantibus amicis, ut ad ipsos desiliret, stabantque excepturi: cum illе rem ausus est incredibilem atque inauditam multoque magis ad famam temeritatis quam gloriae insignem. [2] Namque in urbem hostium plenam praecipiti saltu semet ipse inmisit. cum vix sperare posset dimicantem certe et non inultum esse moriturum: quippe, antequam adsurgeret, opprimi poterat et capi vivus Sed forte ita libraverat corpus, [3] ut se pedibus exciperet: itaque stans init pugnam. Et, ne circumiri posset, fortuna providerat. [4] Vetusta arbor haud procul muro ramos multa fronde vestitos, velut de industria regem protegentes, obiecerat: huius spatioso stipiti corpus, ne circumiri posset, adplicuit clipeo tela, quae ex [p. 326] adverso ingerebantur, excipiens. [5] Nam cum comminus unum procul tot manas peterent, nemo tamen auderet propius accedere, missilia ramis plura quam clipeo incidebant. [6] Pugnabat pro rege primum celebrati nominas fama, [7] deinde desperatio, magnum ad honeste moriendum incitamentum. Sed cum subinde hostis adflueret, iam ingentem vim telorum exceperat clipeo, iam galeam saxa perfregerant, iam continuo labore gravata genua succiderant. [8] Itaque contemptim et incaute, qui proximi steterant, incurrerunt: e quibus duos gladio ita excepit, ut ante ipsum exanimes procumberent. Nec cuiquam deinde propius incessendi eum animus fuit: [9] procul iacula sagittasque mittebant. Ille ad omnes ictus expositus non aegre tamen exceptum poplitibus corpus tuebatur, donec Indus duorum cubitorum sagittam — namque Indis, ut antea diximus, huius magnitudinis sagittae erant — ita excussit, ut per thoracem paulum super latus dextrum infigeret. [10] Quo vulnere adflictus magna vi sanguinis emicante remisit arma moribundo similis adeoque resolutus, [11] ut ne ad vellendum quidem telum sufficeret dextra. Itaque ad spoliandum corpus, qui vulneraverat, alacer gaudio accurrit. Quem ut inicere corpori suo manus sensit, credo, ultimi dedecoris indignitate commotus linquentem revocavit animum et nudum hostis latus subrecto mucrone hausit. [12] Iacebant circa regem tria corpora procul stupentibus ceteris. Ille ut, antequam ultimus spiritus deficeret, dimicans tamen extingueretur, [p. 327] clipeo se adlevare conatus est et, [13] postquam ad conitendum nihil supererat virium, dextera inpendentes ramos conplexus temptabat adsurgere. Sed ne sic quidem potens corporis rursus in genua procumbit manu provocans hostes, si quis congredi auderet. [14] Tandem Peucestes per aliam oppidi partem deturbatis propugnatoribus muri vestigia persequens regis supervenit. [15] Quo conspecto Alexander iam non vitae spem, sed mortis solacium supervenisse ratus clipeo fatigatum corpus excepit. Subinde Timaeus et paulo post Leonnatus, huic Aristonus supervenit. [16] Indi quoque, cum intra moenia regem esse conperissent, omissis ceteris illuc concurrerunt urgebantque protegentes eum. E quibus Timaeus multis adverso corpore vulneribus acceptis egregiaque edita pugna cecidit: [17] Peucestes quoque tribus iaculis confossus non se tamen scuto, sed regem tuebabatur: Leonnatus, dum avide ruentes barbaros submovet, cervice graviter icta semianimis procubuit ante regis pedes. [18] Iam et Peucestes vulneribus fatigatus submiserat clipeum: in Aristono spes ultima haerebat. Hic quoque graviter saucius tantam vim hostium ultra sustinere non poterat. [19] Inter haec ad Macedonas regem cecidisse fama perlata est. Terruisset alios, quod illos incitavit. Namque periculi omnis inmemores dolabris perfregere murum et, qua moliti erant aditum, inrupere in urbem Indosque plures fugientes quam congredi ausos ceciderunt. [20] Non senibus, non feminis, non infantibus parcitur: quisquis occurrerat, ab illo [p. 328] vulneratum regem esse credebant. Tandemque internecione hostium iustae irae parentatum est. [21] Ptolomaeum, qui postea regnavit, huic pugnae adfuisse auctor est Clitarchus et Timagenes, sed ipse scilicet gloriae suae non refragatus afuisse se missum in expeditionem memoriae tradidit. Tanta conponentium vetusta rerum monimenta vel securitas vel, par huic vitium, credulitas fuit. [22] Rege in tabernaculum relato medici lignum sagittae corpori infixae ita, ne spiculum moveretur, [23] abscidunt. Corpore deinde nudato animadvertunt hamos inesse telo nec aliter id sine pernicie corporis extrahi posse quam, ut secando vulnus augerent. [24] Ceterum, ne secantes profluvium sanguinis occuparet, verebantur: quippe ingens telum adactum erat et penetrasse in viscera videbatur. [25] Critobulus, inter medicos artis eximiae, sed in tanto periculo territus, manus admovere metuebat, ne in ipsius caput parum prosperae curationis recideret eventus. [26] Lacrimantem eum ae metu et sollicitudine propemodum exanguem rex conspexerat: ‘Quid,’ inquit, ‘quodve tempus expectas et non quam primum hoc dolore me saltem moriturum liberas? [27] An times, ne reus sis, cum insanabile vulnus acceperim?’ At Critobulus tandem vel finito vel dissimulato metu hortari eum coepit, ut se continendum praeberet, dum spiculum evelleret: etiam levem corpo- [p. 329] ris motum noxium fore. [28] Rex cum adfirmasset nihil opus esse iis, qui semet continerent, sicut praeceptum erat, sine motu praebuit corpus. Igitur patefacto latius vulnere et spiculo evolso ingens vis sanguinis manare coepit linquique animo rex et caligine oculis offusa velut moribundus extendi. [29] Cumque profluvium medicamentis frustra inhiberent, clamor simul atque plorátus amicorum oritur regem expirasse credentium. Tandem constitit sanguis, paulatimque animum recepit et circumstantes coepit agnoscere. [30] Toto eo die ac nocte, quae secuta est, armatus exercitus regiam obsedit confessus omnes unius spiritu vivere. Nec prius recesserunt, quam conpertum est somno paulisper adquiescere. Hinc certiorem spem salutis eius in castra rettulerunt.
V. By this time he had tired his left hand, by which he was shifting his shield about to parry the shots, and his friends were shouting to him to leap down to them, and were standing ready to catch him; when he dared an incredible and unheard-of deed, one which added much more to his reputation for rashness [2] than to his glory. For with a headlong leap he threw himself into the city filled with enemies, although he could hardly hope that he would at least die fighting and not unavenged; for before he could rise to his feet, he was likely to be overpowered and taken prisoner. But by good luck he had balanced his body so well that he alighted on his feet; hence he was standing erect when he began to fight. Fortune had also provided that he could not be surrounded; [4] for an aged tree, standing close to the wall, had thrown out its branches, thickly clothed with leaves, as if for the very purpose of protecting the king; against the huge trunk of this he took his place, in such a way as not to be surrounded, receiving on his buckler all the weapons that were hurled at him in [5] front. For although he was single-handed and so many men were attacking him with extreme violence from a distance, yet none dared to come nearer, and more missiles fell in the branches than on his shield.
[6] The king was protected in the first place by the widespread fame of his name, and secondly by [7] desperation, a great incentive to die gloriously. But as constantly new enemies came pouring on, by this time he had caught a vast number of weapons on his shield, his helmet was shattered by stones, and already his knees, wearied by protracted toil, had sunk under [8] him. On seeing this, those who stood nearest rushed upon him incautiously and in contempt of the danger; two of these he ran through with his sword and laid them dead at his feet. After that no one had the courage to go nearer him, but they assailed him with [9] javelins and arrows from afar. But although a mark for every shot, yet on his knees he had no difficulty in defending himself, until an Indian discharged an arrow two cubits long — for, as I have said, the Indi had arrows of that length — with so good an aim that it passed through his cuirass and was fixed in his body [10] a little above his right side. On suffering this wound, from which a great jet of blood gushed forth, he let his armour drop as if dying, not even having the strength to draw out the weapon with his right hand. On seeing this, the man who had wounded him ran forward with eager joy to strip his body. No sooner did the king feel him lay hand on his person, than aroused, I suppose, by the disgrace of this supreme indignity, he recalled his failing spirits, and plunged his sword upward into his enemy’s naked side.
[12] Three bodies lay dead around the king, while the rest of his assailants stood in stupefaction afar off. He tried to lift himself with his shield, that he might at any rate die fighting before his last breath failed [13] him, but finding that not enough stren
gth remained for that effort, he laid hold of the overhanging branches with his right hand and tried to rise. But not even then being able to control his body, he again fell upon his knees, waving his hand as a challenge to the enemy to meet him in single combat, if anyone [14] dared. At last Peucestes, having dislodged the defenders of the wall in another part of the town, followed in the king’s footsteps and came [16] to him. Alexander, on seeing him, thinking that not hope of life but consolation in death had arrived, allowed his wearied body to fall on his shield. Then Timaeus appeared, and a little later [16] Leonnatus, and after him Aristonus. The Indi also, having learned that Alexander was within the walls, left the others, ran to the spot, and assailed those who were protecting him. Of these Timaeus, after receiving many wounds in front and fighting a [17] glorious battle, fell. Peucestes also, though pierced by three javelins, nevertheless with his shield was protecting not himself but the king; Leonnatus, while he was vigorously repulsing the eagerly charging barbarians, was severely wounded in the neck and fell [18] half-dead at the king’s feet. Now Peucestes also, exhausted by his wounds, had lowered his shield; the last hope remained in Aristonus. He too was badly wounded and could no longer hold out against so great a number of foemen.
[19] Meanwhile news was brought to the Macedonians that the king had been killed. What would have terrified other men animated them. For regardless of all danger, they broke through the wall with mattocks, and when they had made a breach, rushed into the city and cut down the Indi, more of whom fled [20] than dared to engage them. They spared neither old men, women, nor children; whoever met them they believed to be the person by whom the king had been wounded. And at length by the slaughter of the enemy they appeased their just anger.
[21] Clitarchus and Timagenes are our authorities for the statement that Ptolemy, who was later king, was present at this battle, but he himself, who certainly was not inclined to depreciate his own glory, has written that he was not there, since he had been sent on an expedition. Such was the carelessness of those who composed the old records, or their credulity, which is an equally great fault.
[22] Alexander was carried to his tent and the physicians cut off the shaft of the arrow, which was firmly fixed in his body, taking care not to stir the point.
[23] Then, when his clothing had been removed, they perceived that the arrow was barbed, and that it could not be extracted without injury unless the wound [24] was enlarged by the knife. But they feared that the flow of blood could not be staunched by those who performed the operation; for the arrow was very long and seemed to have penetrated the vital parts.
[25] Critobulus, who was a physician of distinguished skill, but was terrified in the face of such great risk, dreaded to put his hand to the work, lest the result of the treatment, if unsuccessful, might recoil upon [26] his own head. The king observed that he was weeping and near to fainting from fear and anxiety and said: “For what event or moment are you waiting, and why do you not free me as soon as possible from this pain and let me at least die? Do you perhaps fear that you may be blamed because I have received an [27] incurable wound?” But Critobulus, having at last ended his fear, or concealed it, began to urge that he Jet himself be held while he was withdrawing the point; that even a slight movement of his body would be [28] dangerous. When the king had assured him that there was no need of any to hold him, he kept his body motionless, as had been ordered.
So when the wound had been laid open and the barb extracted, a copious amount of blood proceeded to flow, the king to swoon, darkness veiled his eyes, [29] and he lay stretched out as if he were dead. And while they were vainly trying to staunch the flow of blood by applications, his friends began to cry out and to weep, believing that he had breathed his last. At last the blood ceased to flow, and the king gradually recovered his senses and began to recognize those 30 who stood around him. All that day and the following night the army stood under arms before the royal pavilion, confessing that they all lived by his breath alone, and they did not leave until they learned that he was quietly sleeping for a time. Then they returned to the camp with more assured hope of his recovery.
Rex VII diebus curato vulnere necdum obducta cicatrice, cum audisset convaluisse apud barbaros famam mortis suae, duobus navigiis iunctis statui in medium undique conspicuum tabernaculum iussit, ex quo se ostenderet perisse credentibus, conspectusque ab incolis spem hostium falso nuntio conceptam inhibuit. [2] Secundo deinde amne defluxit aliquantum intervalli a cetera classe praecipiens, ne quies perinvalido adhuc necessaria pulsu remorum inpediretur. [3] Quarto, postquam navigare coeperat, die pervenit in regionem desertam quidem ab incolis, sed frumento et pecoribus abundantem. Placuit is locus et ad suam et ad militum requiem. [4] Mos erat principibus amicorum et custodibus corporis excubare ante praetorium, [p. 330] quotiens adversa regi valitudo incidisset: hoc tum quoque more servato universi cubiculum eius intrant. [5] Ille sollicitas, ne quid novi adferrent, quia simul venerant, percontatur, num hostium recens nuntiaretur adventus. [6] At Craterus, cui mandatum erat, ut amicorum preces perferret ad eum: ‘Credisne,’ inquit, ‘adventu magis hostium, ut iam in vallo consisterent, sollicitos esse quam cura salutis tuae, [7] ut nunc est, tibi vilis? Quantalibet vis omnium gentium conspiret in nos, inpleat armis virisque totum orbem, classibus maria consternat, invisitatas beluas inducat: [8] tu nos praestabis invictos. Sed quis deorum hoc Macedoniae columen ac sidus diuturnum fore polliceri potest, cum tam avide manifestis periculis offeras corpus oblitus tot civium animas trahere te in casum? Quis enim tibi superstes aut optat esse aut potest? [9] Eo pervenimus auspicium atque imperium secuti tuum, unde nisi te reduce nulli ad penates suos iter est. [10] Quodsi adhuc de Persidis regno cum Dareo dimicares, etsi nemo vellet, tamen ne admirari quidem posset tam promptae esse te ad omne discrimen audaciae: nam ubi paria sunt periculum ac praemium, et secundis rebus amplior fructus est et adversis solacium maius. [11] Tuo vero capite ignobilem vicum emi, quis ferat non tuorum modo militum, [12] sed ullius gentis barbarae civis, qui tuam magnitudinem novit? Horret animus cogitationem rei, quam paulo ante vidimus. Eloqui timeo invicti corporis spolia inertissimas manus fuisse infecturas, nisi te interceptum misericors in nos fortuna servasset. [13] [p. 331] Totidem proditores, totidem desertores sumus, quot te non potuimus persequi. Universos licet milites ignominia notes, nemo recusabit luere id, quod ne admitteret, praestare non potuit. Patere nos, quaeso, alio modo esse viles tibi. [14] Quocumque iusseris, ibimus. Obscura pericula et ignobiles pugnas nobis deposcimus: temet ipsum ad ea serva, quae magnitudinem tuam capiunt. Cito gloria obsolescit in sordidis hostibus, nec quicquam indignius est quam consumi eam, ubi non possit ostendi.’ [15] Eadem fere Ptolomaeus et similia his ceteri. Iamque confusis vocibus flentes eum orabant, ut tandem ex satietate laudi modum faceret ac saluti suae id est publicae parceret. [16] Grata erat regi pietas amicorum: itaque singulos familiarius amplexus considere iubet altiusque sermone repetito: [17] ‘Vobis quidem,’ inquit, ‘o fidissimi piissimique civium atque amicorum, grates ago habeoque non solum eo nomine, quod hodie salutem meam vestrae praeponitis, sed quod a primordiis belli nullum erga me benivolentiae pignus atque indicium omisistis, adeo ut confitendum sit numquam mihi vi tam meam fuisse tam caram, quam esse coepit, ut vobis diu frui possim. [18] Ceterum non eadem est cogitatio eorum, qui pro me mori optant, et mea, qui pridem hanc benivolentiam vestram virtute meruisse me iudico. Vos enim diuturnum fructum ex me, forsitan etiam perpetuum percipere [p. 332] cupiatis: [19] ego me metior non aetatis spatio, sed gloriae. Licuit paternis opibus contento intra Macedoniae terminos per otium corporis expectare obscuram et ignobilem senectutem. Quamquam ne pigri quidem sibi fata disponunt, sed unicum bonum diuturnam vitam existimantes saepe acerba mors occupat. Verum ego, qui non annos meos, sed victorias numero, si munera fortunae bene conputo, diu vixi. [20] Orsus a Macedonia imperium Graeciae teneo, Thraciam et Illyrios subegi, Triballis Maedisque imperito, Asiam, qua Hellesponto, qua Rubro mari subluitur, possideo. Iamque haud procul absum fine mundi, quem egressus aliam naturam, [21] alium orbem aperire mihi stat
ui. Ex Asia in Europae terminos momento unius horae transivi. Victor utriusque regionis post nonum regni mei, post vicesimum atque octavum annum vitae videorne vobis in excolenda gloria, cui me uni devovi, posse cessare? Ego vero non deero et, ubicumque pugnabo, in theatro terrarum orbis esse me credam. [22] Dabo nobilitatem ignobilibus locis, aperiam cunctis gentibus terras, quas natura longe submoverat. In his operibus extingui mihi, si fors ita feret, pulchrum est: ea stirpe sum genitus, ut multam prius quam longam vitam debeam optare. [23] Obsecro vos, cogitate nos pervenisse in terras, quibus feminae ob virtutem celeberrimum nomen est. Quas urbes Samiramis condidit! quas gentis redegit in potestatem! quanta opera molita est! Nondum feminam aequavimus gloria, et iam nos laudis satietas cepit? [24] Di faveant, maiora adhuc restant. Sed ita nostra [p. 333] erunt, quae nondum adiimus, si nihil parvum duxerimus, in quo magnae gloriae locus est. Vos modo me ab intestina fraude et domesticorum insidiis praestate securum: belli Martisque discrimen inpavidus subibo. [25] Philippus in acie tutior quam in theatro fuit: hostium manus saepe evitavit, suorum effugere non valuit. Aliorum quoque regum exitus si reputaveritis, plures a suis quam ab hoste interemptos numerabitis. [26] Ceterum, quoniam olim rei agitatae in animo meo nunc promendae occasio oblata est, mihi maximus laborum atque operum meorum erit fructus, si Olympias mater inmortalitati consecretur, quandoque excesserit vita. Hoc, si licuerit, ipse praestabo: hoc, si me praeceperit fatum, vos mandasse me mementote.’ Ac tum quidem amicos dimisit. Ceterum per conplures dies ibi stativa habuit.
VI. The king, after his wound had been treated for seven days but had not yet cicatrized, hearing that the report of his death had gained strength among the barbarians, ordered two ships to be lashed together, and his tent to be set up in the centre, where it would be conspicuous to everyone, in order that from it he might show himself to those who believed that he was dead, and, being seen by the inhabitants, he put an end to the enemies hope which they had conceived from the false report.
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