alexander-第10节
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retreat to be sounded； as if it were too late to continue the execution any longer； marched back towards the place of danger； and by the way met the news of the enemy's total overthrow and flight。 This battle being thus over； seemed to put a period to the Persian empire； and Alexander； who was now proclaimed King of Asia； returned thanks to the gods in magnificent sacrifices； and rewarded his friends and followers with great sums of money； and places； and governments of provinces。 Eager to gain honour with the Grecians； he wrote to them that he would have all tyrannies abolished； that they might live free according to their own laws； and specially to the Plataeans； that their city should be rebuilt； because their ancestors had permitted their countrymen of old to make their territory the seat of the war when they fought with the barbarians for their common liberty。 He sent also part of the spoils into Italy； to the Crotoniats； to honour the zeal and courage of their citizen Phayllus； the wrestler； who； in the Median war； when the other Grecian colonies in Italy disowned Greece； that he might have a share in the danger； joined the fleet at Salamis； with a vessel set forth at his own charge。 So affectionate was Alexander to all kind of virtue； and so desirous to preserve the memory of laudable actions。 From hence he marched through the province of Babylon； which immediately submitted to him； and in Ecbatana was much surprised at the sight of the place where fire issues in a continuous stream； like a spring of water； out of a cleft in the earth； and the stream of naphtha； which； not far from this spot； flows out so abundantly as to form a sort of lake。 This naphtha； in other respects resembling bitumen； is so subject to take fire； that before it touches the flame it will kindle at the very light that surrounds it； and often inflame the intermediate air also。 The barbarians； to show the power and nature of it； sprinkled the street that led to the king's lodgings with little drops of it； and when it was almost night； stood at the further end with torches； which being applied to the moistened places； the first at once taking fire； instantly； as quick as a man could think of it； it caught from one end to another； in such a manner that the whole street was one continued flame。 Among those who used to wait on the king and find occasion to amuse him when he anointed and washed himself there was one Athenophanes； an Athenian； who desired him to make an experiment of the naphtha upon Stephanus； who stood by in the bathing place； a youth with a ridiculously ugly face； whose talent was singing well； 〃For；〃 said he； 〃if it take hold of him and is not put out； it must undeniably be allowed to be of the most invincible strength。〃 The youth； as it happened； readily consented to undergo the trial； and as soon as he was anointed and rubbed with it； his whole body broke out into such a flame； and was so seized by the fire； that Alexander was in the greatest perplexity and alarm for him； and not without reason； for nothing could have prevented his being consumed by it； if by good chance there had not been people at hand with a great many vessels of water for the service of the bath； with all which they had much ado to extinguish the fire； and his body was so burned all over that he was not cured of it for a good while after。 Thus it is not without some plausibility that they endeavour to reconcile the fable to truth； who say this was the drug in the tragedies with which Medea anointed the crown and veil which she gave to Creon's daughter。 For neither the things themselves； nor the fire； could kindle of its own accord； but being prepared for it by the naphtha； they imperceptibly attracted and caught a flame which happened to be brought near them。 For the rays and emanations of fire at a distance have no other effect upon some bodies than bare light and heat； but in others； where they meet with airy dryness； and also sufficient rich moisture； they collect themselves and soon kindle and create a transformation。 The manner； however； of the production of naphtha admits of a diversity of opinion。。。 of whether this liquid substance that feeds the flame does not rather proceed from a soil that is unctuous and productive of fire； as that of the province of Babylon is； where the ground is so very hot that oftentimes the grains of barley leap up and are thrown out； as if the violent inflammation had made the earth throb； and in the extreme heats the inhabitants are wont to sleep upon skins filled with water。 Harpalus； who was left governor of this country； and was desirous to adorn the palace gardens and walks with Grecian plants； succeeding in raising all but ivy； which the earth would not bear； but constantly killed。 For being a plant that loves a cold soil； the temper of this hot and fiery earth was improper for it。 But such digressions as these the impatient reader will be more willing to pardon if they are kept within a moderate compass。 At the taking of Susa； Alexander found in the palace forty thousand talents in money ready coined； besides an unspeakable quantity of other furniture and treasure； amongst which was five thousand talents' worth of Hermionian purple； that had been laid up there an hundred and ninety years； and yet kept its colour as fresh and lively as at first。 The reason of which； they say； is that in dyeing the purple they made use of honey； and of white oil in the white tincture； both which after the like space of time preserve the clearness and brightness of their lustre。 Dinon also relates that the Persian kings had water fetched from the Nile and the Danube； which they laid up in their treasuries as a sort of testimony of the greatness of their power and universal empire。 The entrance into Persia was through a most difficult country； and was guarded by the noblest of the Persians； Darius himself having escaped further。 Alexander； however； chanced to find a guide in exact correspondence with what the Pythia had foretold when he was a child； that a lycus should conduct him into Persia。 For by such an one； whose father was a Lycian； and his mother a Persian； and who spoke both languages； he was now led into the country； by a way something about； yet without fetching any considerable compass。 Here a great many of the prisoners were put to the sword； of which himself gives this account； that he commanded them to be killed in the belief that it would be for his advantage。 Nor was the money found here less； he says； than at Susa； besides other movables and treasure； as much as ten thousand pair of mules and five thousand camels could well carry away。 Amongst other things he happened to observe a large statue of Xerxes thrown carelessly down to the ground in the confusion made by the multitude of soldiers pressing into the palace。 He stood still； and accosting it as if it had been alive； 〃Shall we；〃 said he； 〃neglectfully pass thee by； now thou art prostrate on the ground because thou once invadedst Greece； or shall we erect thee again in consideration of the greatness of thy mind and thy other virtues？〃 But at last； after he had paused some time； and silently considered with himself； he went on without taking any further notice of it。 In this place he took up his winter quarters； and stayed four months to refresh his soldiers。 It is related that the first time he sat on the royal throne of Persia under the canopy of gold； Demaratus the Corinthian； who was much attached to him and had been one of his father's friends； wept； in an old man's manner； and deplored the misfortune of those Greeks whom death had deprived of the satisfaction of seeing Alexander seated on the throne of Darius。 From hence designing to march against Darius； before he set out he diverted himself with his officers at an entertainment of drinking and other pastimes； and indulged so far as to let every one's mistress sit by and drink with them。 The most celebrated of them was Thais； an Athenian； mistress of Ptolemy； who was afterwards King of Egypt。 She； partly as a sort of well…turned compliment to Alexander； partly out of sport； as the drinking went on； at last was carried so far as to utter a saying； not misbecoming her native country's character； though somewhat too lofty for her own condition。 She said it was indeed some recompense for the toils she had undergone in following the camp all over Asia； that she was that day treated in； and could insult over； the stately palace of the Persian monarches。 But； she added； it would please her much better if； while the king looked on； she might in sport； with her own hands； set fire to the court of that Xerxes who reduced the city of Athens to ashes； that it might be recorded to posterity that the women who followed Alexander had taken a severer revenge on the Persians for the suffering； and affronts of Greece； than all the famed commanders had been able to do by sea or land。 What she said was received with such universal liking and murmurs of applause； and so seconded by the encouragement and eagerness of the company； that the king himself； persuaded to be of the party； started from his seat； and with a chaplet of flowers on his head and a lighted torch in his hand； led them the way； while they went after him in a riotous ma
