Delphi Complete Works of Quintus Curtius Rufus

by Quintus Curtius Rufus

  [43] At about that same time Alexander received a letter from Coenus about what had happened in Europe and Asia while the king subdued India.

  [44] Zopyrion, governor of Thrace, while making an expedition against the Getae, had been overwhelmed with his whole army by tempests and gales which [45] suddenly arose. On learning of this disaster Seuthes had forced his subjects the Odrysae to revolt. While Thrace was almost lost, Greece also did not remain unshaken by disturbances. For Alexander, by punishing the insolence of certain satraps who, while he was detained at the end of the world by war with the Indi, had practised the greatest and most disgraceful crimes against the provincials, had inspired fear in the rest. These, being guilty of like offences and fearing the same punishment for their crimes, took refuge in the protection of the mercenary soldiers, expecting by such troops as these to defend themselves if they should be demanded for punishment, or after exacting as much money as they could, sought safety in fight. After this mas known, letters mere sent to all the governors of Asia, and when these mere read, they found that they mere ordered to disband on the spot all the foreign soldiers who were serving under them.

  Among these was Harpalus. Alexander, because years before Philip, just on account of the friendship between Harpalus and his son, had driven him out and Harpalus had fled the country, regarded him as one of his most faithful friends. And after the death of Mazaeus he had made him satrap of Babylon and had appointed him custodian of the royal treasures. Harpalus, then, having by his flagrant offences lost the confidence which he could have felt in the remarkable favour of the king, abstracted 5000 talents from the royal treasure, hired a band of 6000 mercenaries, and escaped to Europe. For long since, driven headlong by extravagance and his passions, and despairing of pardon from the king, he had looked about for help from others against Alexander’s anger, and had sedulously courted the Athenians, whose power and influence with the rest of the Greeks he knew, as well as their secret hatred of the Macedonians. Therefore he pointed out to his followers that the Athenians, knowing of his arrival and seeing before their eyes the forces and the money which he was bringing, would join forces and plans with them at once. For he thought that from an inexperienced and fickle people by making use of unprincipled and venal persons he could gain everything by bribes.

  Igitur XXX navibus Sunium transmittunt — promuntorium est Atticae terrae — , unde portum urbis petere decreverant. [2] His cognitis rex Harpalo Atheniensibusque iuxta infestus classem parari iubet Athenas protinus petiturus. [3] Quod consilium clam agitanti litterae redduntur Harpalum intrasse quidem Athenas, pecunia conciliasse sibi principum animos: mox concilio plebis habito iussum urbe excedere ad Graecos milites pervenisse, navibus inde Cretam transvectum amico quodam auctore interemptum per insidias. [4] His laetus in Europam traiciendi consilium omisit, sed exules praeter eos, qui civili sanguine aspersi erant, recipi ab omnibus Graecorum civitatibus, quis pulsi erant, iussit. [5] Et Graeci haud ausi imperium aspernari, quamquam solvendarum legum id principium esse censebant, bona quoque, quae extarent, restituere damnatis. [6] Soli Athenienses, non sui modo, sed etiam Graeciae vindices, colluvionem ordinum hominumque aegre ferebant non regio imperio, [7] sed legibus moribusque patriis regi adsueti: prohibuere igitur exules finibus omnia potius toleraturi quam purgamenta quondam urbis suae, tunc etiam exilii admitterent. [8] Alexander senioribus militum in patriam remissis XIII milia peditum et II milia equitum, quae in Asia retineret, eligi iussit existimans modico exercitu continere posse Asiam, quia pluribus locis praesidia [p. 358] disposuisset unperque conditas urbes colonis replesset res retinere cupientibus. [9] Ceterum priusquam excerneret, quos erat retenturus, edixit, ut omnes milites aes alienum profiterentur. Grave plerisque esse conpererat et, [10] quamquam ipsorum luxu contractum erat, dissolvere tamen ipse decreverat. Illi temptari ipsos rati, quo facilius ab integris sumptuosos discerneret, prolatando aliquantum extraxerant temporis. Et rex satis gnarus, professioni aeris pudorem, non contumaciam obstare, [11] mensas totis castris poni iussit et X milia talentum proferri. Tum demum cum fide facta professio est. Nec amplius ex tanta pecunia quam C et XXX talenta superfuere. Adeo ille exercitus, tot divitissimarum gentium victor, plus tamen victoriae quam praedae deportavit ex Asia. [12] Ceterum ut cognitum est alios remitti domos, alios retineri, perpetuam eum regni sedem in Asia habiturum rati vaecordes et disciplinae militaris inmemores seditiosis vocibus castra conplent regemque ferocius quam alias adorti omnes simul missionem postulare coeperunt deformia ora cicatricibus canitiemque capitum ostentantes. [13] Nec aut praefectorum castigatione aut verecundia regis deterriti tumultuoso clamore et militari violentia volentem loqui inhibebant, palam professi nusquam inde nisi in patriam vestigium esse moturos. [14] Tandem silentio facto magis, quia motum esse credebant, quam quia ipsi moveri poterant, [p. 359] quidnam acturus esset, expectabant: [15] cum ille: ‘Quid haec,’ inquit, ‘repens consternatio et tam procax atque effusa licentia denuntiat? Eloqui metuo, palam certe: rupistis imperium, et precario rex sum, cui non adloquendi, non noscendi monendique aut intuendi vos ius reliquistis. [16] Equidem cum alios dimittere in patriam, alios mecum paulo post deportare statuerim, tam illos adclamantes video, qui abituri sunt, quam hos, cum quibus praemissos subsequi statui. [17] Quid hoc est rei? dispari in causa idem omnium clamor est! Pervelim scire, utrum, qui discedunt, an, qui retinentur, de me querantur.’ [18] Crederes uno ore omnes sustulisse clamorem: ita pariter ex tota contione responsum est omnes queri. [19] Tum ille: ‘Non, hercule,’ inquit, ‘potest fieri, ut adducar querendi simul omnibus hanc causam esse, quam ostenditis, in qua maior pars exercitus non est, utpote cum plures dimiserim, quam retenturus sum. [20] Subest nimirum altius malum, quod omnes avertit a me. Quando enim regem universus deseruit exercitus? Ne servi quidem uno grege profugiunt dominos, sed est quidam in illis pudor a ceteris destitutos relinquendi. [21] Verum ego tam furiosae consternationis oblitus remedia insanabilibus conor adhibere. Omnem, hercule, spem, quam ex vobis conceperam, damno nec ut cum militibus meis — iam enim esse desistis — , [22] sed ut cum ingratissimis operis agere decrevi. Secundis rebus, quae circumfluunt vos, insanire coepistis [p. 360] obliti status eius, quem beneficio exuistis meo, digni, hercule, qui in eodem consenescatis, quoniam facilius est vobis adversam quam secundam regere fortunam. [23] En insolentiam! Illyriorum paulo ante et Persarum tributariis Asia et tot gentium spolia fastidio sunt! modo sub Philippo seminudis amicula ex purpura sordent! aurum et argentum oculi ferre non possunt! Lignea enim vasa desiderant et ex cratibus scuta robiginemque gladiorum. [24] Hoc cultu nitentes vos accepi et D talenta aeris alieni, cum omnis regia supellex esset haud amplius quam LX talenta, meorum mox operum fundamenta. Quibus tamen — absit invidia — [25] Imperium maximae terrarum parti inposui. Asiaene pertaesum est, quae vos gloria rerum gestarum dis pares fecit? In Europam ire properatis rege deserto, cum pluribus vestrum defuturum viaticum fuerit, ni aes alienum luissem, nempe in Asiatica praeda. [26] Nee pudet profundo ventre devictarum gentium spolia circumferentes reverti velle ad liberos coniugesque, quibus pauci praemia victoriae potestis ostendere: nam ceterorum, dum etiam spei vestrae obviam istis, arma quoque pignori sunt. [27] Bonis vero militibus cariturus sum, pelicum suarum concubinis, quibus hoc solum ex tantis opibus superest, in quod inpenditur! Proinde fugientibus me pateant limites! facessite hinc ocius! ego cum Persis abeuntium terga tutabor. Neminem teneo: [28] liberate oculos meos, ingratissimi cives! Laeti vos excipient parentes liberique sine vestro rege [p. 361] redeuntes! obviam ibunt desertoribus transfugisque! [29] Triumphabo, mehercule, de fuga vestra et, ubicumque ero, expetam poenas hos, cum quibus me relinquitis, colendo praeferendoque vobis. Iam autem scietis, et quantum sine rege valeat exercitus, et quid opis in me uno sit.’ [30] Desiluit deinde frendens de tribunali et in medium armatorum agmen se inmisit, notatos quoque, qui ferocissime oblocuti erant, singulos manu corripuit nec ausos repugnare XIII adservandos custodibus corporis tradidit.

  II. Therefore with thirty ships they cross to Sunium — it is a promontory of the land of Attica — from which they had decided to
go to the port of [2] the city. Alexander, having learned this, and being equally incensed at Harpalus and the Athenians, ordered a fleet to be made ready, intending to go [3] at once to Athens. As he was secretly considering this plan, a letter was delivered to him, saying that Harpalus had in fact entered Athens, and by his money had won the support of the leading men but that presently, after an assembly of the people had been held, he was ordered to leave the city and had taken refuge with his Greek soldiers; then he had crossed to Crete in his ships and at the instigation of a friend had been treacherously slain.

  [4] Alexander, rejoicing at this, gave up his design of crossing into Europe, and issued orders that the exiles, except such as were stained by the blood of citizens, should be received by all the Greek cities [5] from which they had been banished. And the Greeks, not daring to disregard his order, although they thought that it marked the beginning of the breakdown of their laws, even restored to those who had been condemned such of their property as was [6] left. The Athenians alone, defenders not only of themselves but also of Greece, could not tolerate such a cesspool of classes and men, being accustomed to be governed, not by the command of a king, but [7] by the laws and ancestral customs; therefore they shut out the exiles from their territories, preferring to endure anything rather than admit what was once the off-scourings of their city, and then even of their places of exile.

  [8] Alexander, having sent the older of his soldiers to their native land, ordered 13,000 infantry and 2000 horsemen to be selected for him to retain in Asia, thinking that Asia could be held by an army of moderate size, because he had distributed garrisons in many places and had filled the newly founded cities with colonists desirous of maintaining [9] the status quo. But before selecting those whom he intended to retain, he ordered all the soldiers to make a declaration of their debts. He had learned that many had heavy indebtedness, and although it had been contracted by their own extravagance, he had nevertheless decided to liquidate it himself.

  [10] The soldiers, thinking that they were being tested, in order that he might more easily separate the wastrels from the frugal, had delayed for some time in making their reports. And the king, knowing well that it was shame and not stubbornness which kept them from confessing their indebtedness, ordered tables to be set up throughout the whole [11] camp, and 10,000 talents to be brought out. Then at last, when they were satisfied that he was in earnest, they declared their debts. And out of so great a sum of money not more than 130 talents remained. To such an extent had that army, though victor over so many of the richest nations, yet carried off from Asia more victory than booty.

  [12] But when it was known that some were being sent home and others retained, the soldiers, thinking that he would establish the permanent seat of his kingdom in Asia, frenzied and forgetful of military discipline, filled the camp with mutinous talk, and assailing the king more boldly than ever before, began all together to demand their discharge, displaying their faces [13] disfigured with scars and their hoary heads. Prevented by neither the rebukes of their officers nor by respect for the king, with rebellious shouts and military violence they interrupted Alexander when he wished to speak, and openly declared that they would move a step from there in no direction except towards 14 their native land. At last, when silence had been made rather because they thought that he had been influenced than because they could be, they were waiting to see what he would do, when he said: [15] “What does this sudden disturbance and such insolent and furious lawlessness threaten? I fear to speak, at least plainly; you have broken my authority and I am king on sufferance, to whom you have not left the privilege of addressing you, of knowing and advising you, or even of looking you in the face.

  [16] In fact, when I have decided to send some to their native land and a little later to take others with me, I witness the same uproar from those who are to go as from those with whom I decided to follow those [17] who had been sent in advance. What does this mean? The shouting of all is the same for different reasons! I should very much like to know whether it is those who are to go, or those who are to be retained who complain of me.”

  [18] You would have believed that all with one voice raised a shout; so unanimously came the reply from [19] the whole assembly that they all complained. Then the king continued: “By Heaven! it is impossible for me to be led to believe that you all have the reason for complaint which you allege, in which the greater part of the army does not join, inasmuch as I dismissed more than I am intending to retain.

  [20] Undoubtedly there is some deeper evil which turns you all from me. For when has a whole army abandoned its king? Not even slaves run away from their masters in a single body, but even they feel some shame in leaving those who have been [21] deserted by the rest. But I, forgetting such mad mutiny, am trying to apply remedies to those that are incurable. By Heaven! I reject all the hope which I had conceived from you, and I have decided to treat with you, not as with my soldiers — for that you have already ceased to be — but as the most [22] ungrateful of hired hands. You have begun to be crazed by the prosperity which surrounds you, forgetting the condition from which you were saved by my kindness, in which, by Heaven! you deserve to grow old, since it is easier for you to master bad fortune than good.

  [23] “There’s insolence! You, who a short time ago were paying tribute to the Illyrians and the Persians, are disdainful of Asia and the spoils of so many nations. Those who but now were half-naked under Philip find purple robes mean! Their eyes cannot endure gold and silver! For they desire wooden bowls, wicker shields, and rusty swords!

  [24] Such was the splendid equipment in which I received you, besides a debt of 500 talents, when the whole royal equipment was not more than 60 talents, the foundation of the deeds which I afterwards accomplished. With which nevertheless — may envy withhold her hand! — I imposed my rule upon the [25] greatest part of the earth. Are you wearied of Asia, which by the glory of your deeds has made you equal to the gods? You are in a hurry to desert your king and go into Europe, when to very many of you your travelling expenses would have been lacking if I had not liquidated your debts, and that too in booty from [26] Asia. And you are not ashamed, carrying about in your bottomless bellies the spoils of conquered nations, to wish to return to your wives and children, to whom few of you can show the fruits of victory; for of the rest your very arms have been pawned, even while you are on the way to the realization of your hopes.

  [27] “Fine soldiers truly I am going to lose, bed-mates of mistresses; men to whom this alone remains out of such great riches, and on this, wealth is being spent. Therefore let the ways be opened for those who desert me! Get out from here! And quickly too! I with the Persians will protect your backs as you flee. I detain no one; free my eyes, most [28] ungrateful of citizens! Joyfully will your parents and children receive you, returning without your king! They will come out to meet deserters and [29] runaways! I shall triumph, by Heaven! in your flight, and wherever I shall be, I shall punish you by honouring and preferring to you those with whom you leave me. Moreover, you will soon knowhow much an army is worth without a head, and what help there is in my single person.” Then in a rage he leaped down from the tribunal and plunged into the midst of the array of armed soldiers, and having noted those who had spoken most mutinously, he seized them one by one, none daring to resist, and handed over thirteen of them to his bodyguard to be kept in custody.

  Quis crederet saevam paulo ante contionem obtorpuisse subito metu, [2] etiam cum ad supplicium videret trahi nihilo ausos graviora quam ceteros? [3] Sive nominis, quod gentes, quae sub regibus vivunt, reges inter deos colunt, sive propria ipsius veneratio sive fiducia tanta vi exercentis imperium conterruit eos: [4] singulare certe ediderunt patientiae exemplum adeoque non sunt accensi supplicio commilitonum, cum sub noctem interfectos esse cognossent, ut nihil omiserint, quod singuli magis oboedienter et pie facerent. [5] Nam cum postero die prohibiti aditu fuissent Asiaticis modo militibus admissis, lugubrem totis castris edidere clamorem denuntiantes protinus s
ese morituros, si rex perseveraret irasci. [6] At ille pervicacis ad omnia, quae agitasset, animi peregrinorum militum contionem advocari iubet Macedonibus intra castra cohibitis et, cum frequentes coissent, adhibito interprete talem orationem habuit: [7] ‘Cum ex Europa traicerem in Asiam, multas nobiles gentes, magnam vim hominum imperio meo me additurum esse sperabam. Nec deceptus sum, [p. 362] [8] quod de his credidi famae. Sed ad illa hoc quoque accessit, quod video fortes viros erga reges suos pietatis invictae. [9] Luxu omni fluere credideram et nimia felicitate mergi in voluptates: at, hercules, munia militiae hoc animorum corporumque robore aeque inpigre toleratis et, cum fortes viri sitis, non fortitudinem magis quam fidem colitis. [10] Hoc ego vero nunc primum profiteor, sed olim scio. Itaque et dilectum e vobis iuniorum habui et vos meorum militum corpori inmiscui. Idem habitus, eadem arma sunt vobis: obsequium vero et patientia imperii longe praestantior est quam ceteris. [11] Ergo ipse Oxyartis Persae filiam mecum in matrimonio iunxi non dedignatus ex captiva liberos tollere. [12] Mоx deinde cum stirpem generis mei latius propagare cuperem, uxorem Darei filiam duxi proximisque amicorum auctor fui ex captivis generandi liberos, ut hoc sacro foedere omne discrimen victi et victoris excluderem. [13] Proinde genitos esse vos mihi, non ascitos milites credite! Asiae et Europae unum atque idem regnum est, Macedonum vobis arma do, inveteravi peregrinam novitatem: et cives mei estis et milites. [14] Omnia eundem ducunt colorem: nec Persis Macedonum morem adumbrare nec Macedonibus Persas imitari indecorum. Eiusdem iuris esse debent, qui sub eodem rege victuri sunt.’ Hаc oratione habita Persis corporis sui custodiam credidit, Tersas satellites, Persas apparitores fecit. Per [p. 363] quos cum Macedones, qui huius seditionis principes erant, vincti ad supplicia traherentur, unum ex iis auctoritate