alexander-第14节
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h the king； who had sacrificed to Castor and Pollux。 And when they had drunk pretty hard； some of the company fell a…singing the verses of one Pranichus； or as others say of Pierion； which were made upon those captains who had been lately worsted by the barbarians； on purpose to disgrace and turn them to ridicule。 This gave offence to the older men who were there； and they upbraided both the author and the singer of the verses； though Alexander and the younger men about him were much amused to hear them； and encouraged them to go on； till at last Clitus； who had drunk too much； and was besides of a forward and willful temper； was so nettled that he could hold no longer； saying it was not well done to expose the Macedonians before the barbarians and their enemies； since though it was their unhappiness to be overcome； yet they were much better men than those who laughed at them。 And when Alexander remarked； that Clitus was pleading his own cause； giving cowardice the name of misfortune； Clitus started up： 〃This cowardice； as you are pleased to term it；〃 said he to him； 〃saved the life of a son of the gods； when in flight from Spithridates's sword； it is by the expense of Macedonian blood； and by these wounds； that you are now raised to such a height as to be able to disown your father Philip； and call yourself the son of Ammon。〃 〃Thou base fellow；〃 said Alexander； who was now thoroughly exasperated； 〃dost thou think to utter these things everywhere of me； and stir up the Macedonians to sedition； and not be punished for it？〃 〃We are sufficiently punished already；〃 answered Clitus； 〃if this be the recompense of our toils； and we must esteem theirs a happy lot who have not lived to see their countrymen scourged with Median rods and forced to sue to the Persians to have access to their king。〃 While he talked thus at random； and those near Alexander got up from their seats and began to revile him in turn； the elder men did what they could to compose the disorder。 Alexander； in the meantime turning about to Xenodochus； the Pardian； and Artemius； the Colophonian； asked him if they were not of opinion that the Greeks； in comparison with the Macedonians； behaved themselves like so many demigods among wild beasts。 But Clitus for all this would not give over； desiring Alexander to speak out if he had anything more to say； or else why did he invite men who were freeborn and accustomed to speak their minds openly without restraint to sup with him。 He had better live and converse with barbarians and slaves who would not scruple to bow the knee to his Persian girdle and his white tunic。 Which words so provoked Alexander that； not able to suppress his anger any longer； he threw one of the apples that lay upon the table at him； and hit him； and then looked about for his sword。 But Aristophanes； one of his life…guard； had hid that out of the way； and others came about him and besought him； but in vain； for； breaking from them； he called out aloud to his guards in the Macedonian language； which was a certain sign of some great disturbance in him； and commanded a trumpeter to sound； giving him a blow with his clenched fist for not instantly obeying him； though afterwards the same man was commended for disobeying an order which would have put the whole army into tumult and confusion。 Clitus still refusing to yield； was with much trouble forced by his friends out of the room。 But he came in again immediately at another door； very irreverently and confidently singing the verses out of Euripides's Andromache；…
〃In Greece； alas！ how ill things ordered are
Upon this； at last； Alexander； snatching a spear from one of the soldiers met Clitus as he was coming forward and was putting by the curtain that hung before the door； and ran him through the body。 He fell at once wit a cry and a groan。 Upon which the king's anger immediately vanishing； he came perfectly to himself； and when he saw his friends about him all in a profound silence； he pulled the spear out of the dead body； and would have thrust it into his own throat； if the guards had not held his hands and by main force carried him away into his chamber； where all that night and the next day he wept bitterly； till being quite spent with lamenting and exclaiming； he lay as it were speechless； only fetching deep sighs。 His friends apprehending some harm from his silence； broke into the room； but he took no notice of what any of them said； till Aristander putting him in mind of the vision he had seen concerning Clitus； and the prodigy that followed； as if all had come to pass by an unavoidable fatality； he then seemed to moderate his grief。 They now brought Callisthenes； the philosopher； who was the near friend of Aristotle； and Anaxarchus of Abdera； to him。 Callisthenes used moral language； and gentle and soothing means； hoping to find access for words of reason； and get a hold upon the passion。 But Anaxarchus； who had always taken a course of his own in philosophy； and had a name for despising and slighting his contemporaries； as soon as he came in； cried aloud； 〃Is this the Alexander whom the whole world looks to； lying here weeping like a slave； for fear of the censure and reproach of men； to whom he himself ought to be a law and measure of equity； if he would use the right his conquests have given him as supreme lord and governor of all； and not be the victim of a vain and idle opinion？ Do not you know；〃 said he； 〃that Jupiter is represented to have Justice and Law on each hand of him； to signify that all the actions of a conqueror are lawful and just？〃 With these and the like speeches； Anaxarchus indeed allayed the king's grief； but withal corrupted his character； rendering him more audacious and lawless than he had been。 Nor did he fail these means to insinuate himself into his favour； and to make Callisthenes's company； which at all times； because of his austerity； was not very acceptable； more uneasy and disagreeable to him。 It happened that these two philosophers met at an entertainment where conversation turned on the subject of climate and the temperature of the air。 Callisthenes joined with their opinion； who held that those countries were colder； and the winter sharper there than in Greece。 Anaxarchus would by no means allow this； but argued against it with some heat。 〃Surely；〃 said Callisthenes； 〃you cannot but admit this country to be colder than Greece； for there you used to have but one threadbare cloak to keep out the coldest winter； and here you have three good warm mantles one over another。〃 This piece of raillery irritated Anaxarchus and the other pretenders to learning； and the crowd of flatterers in general could not endure to see Callisthenes so much admired and followed by the youth； and no less esteemed by the older men for his orderly life and his gravity and for being contented with his condition； and confirming what he had professed about the object he had in his journey to Alexander； that it was only to get his countrymen recalled from banishment； and to rebuild and repeople his native town。 Besides the envy which his great reputation raised； he also； by his own deportment； gave those who wished him ill opportunity to do him mischief。 For when he was invited to public entertainments； he would most times refuse to come； or if he were present at any； he put a constraint upon the company by his austerity and silence； which seemed to intimate his disapproval of what he saw。 So that Alexander himself said in application to him；…
〃That vain pretence to wisdom I detest； Where a man's blind to his own interest。〃
Being with many more invited to sup with the king； he was called upon when the cup came to him； to make an oration extempore in praise of the Macedonians； and he did it with such a flow of eloquence； that all who heard it rose from their seats to clap and applaud him； and threw their garland upon him； only Alexander told him out of Euripides；…
〃I wonder not that you have spoke so well； 'Tis easy on good subjects to excel。〃
〃Therefore；〃 said he； 〃if you will show the force of your eloquence； tell my Macedonians their faults； and dispraise them； that by hearing their errors they may learn to be better for the future。〃 Callisthenes presently obeyed him； retracting all he had said before； and； inveighing against the Macedonians with great freedom； added； that Philip thrived and grew powerful； chiefly by the discord of the Grecians； applying this verse to him；…
〃In civil strife e'en villains rise to fame；〃
which so offended the Macedonians； that he was odious to them ever after。 And Alexander said； that instead of his eloquence； he had only made his ill…will appear in what he had spoken。 Hermippus assures us that one Stroebus； a servant whom Callisthenes kept to read to him； gave this account of these passages afterwards to Aristotle； and that when he perceived the king grow more and more averse to him； two or three times； as he was going away； he repeated the verses；…
〃Death seiz'd at last on great Patroclus too； Though he in virtue far exceeded you。〃
Not without reason； therefore； did Aristotle give this character of Callisthenes； that he was； indeed； a powerful speaker； but had no jud
