obruta1 emensus sum, angustias Ciliciae intravi, Indiae sine lassitudine vim frigoris sum perpessus. Et mei documenta vobis dedi, et vestra2 habeo. Petra, quam videtis, unum aditum habet, quem barbari obsident, cetera negligunt: nullae vigiliae sunt, nisi quae castra nostra spectant. Invenietis viam, si sollerter rimati fueritis aditus ferentes ad cacumen. Nihil tam alte natura constituit, quo virtus non possit eniti. Experiendo quae ceteri desperaverunt, Asiam habemus in potestate. Evadite in cacumen, quod cum ceperitis, candidis velis signum mihi dabitis: ego copiis admotis hostem in nos a vobis convertam. Praemium erit ei, qui primus occupaverit verticem, talenta X, uno minus accipiet, qui proximus ei venerit, eademque ad decem homines servabitur portio. Certum autem habeo, vos non tam liberalitatem intueri meam, quam voluntatem.

42. His animis regem audierunt, ut jam cepisse verticem viderentur. Dimissique ferreos cuneos, quos inter saxa defigerent, validosque funes parabant. Rex circumvectus petram, qua minime asper ac praeruptus aditus videbatur, secunda vigilia, quod bene verteret,5 ingredi jubet. Illi, alimentis in biduum sumptis, gladiis modo atque hastis armati subire coeperunt. Ac primo pedibus ingressi sunt: deinde ut in praerupta perventum est, alii manibus eminentia saxa complexi levare semet; alii adjectis funium laqueis evasere, cum cuneos inter saxa defigerent, gradus subinde, quis insisterent.8 Diem inter metum laboremque consumpserunt. Per aspera nisis duriora restabant, et crescere altitudo petrae videbatur. Illa vero miserabilis erat facies, cum ii, quos instabilis gradus fefellerat, ex praecipiti devolverentur. Mox eadem in se patienda alieni casus ostendebat exemplum. Per has tamen difficultates enituntur in verticem montis,

Namely the heights of the Parapamisus, or so-called Indian Caucasus.

2

Equivalent to vestri: 'of you I have proofs.'

3To climb.'

Rate.' From pro portione, according to rate,' a new word is formed, proportio.

5 The wish quod bene vertat, may our undertaking have a prosperous issue,' was expressed by Alexander when he gave the order. To ascend' the mountain; literally, 'to go from under.'

For levavere. The ambiguity which results from the contraction of the perfect into the same form as the infinitive, is, in other passages as well as this, not avoided. See the case of videre, iv. 37. They from time to time fixed wedges between the rocks, on which they might step.

8

Those whom the unsteady step had deceived:' the step deceives in making the soldier believe his footing to be secure, and then giving way.

omnes fatigatione continuati laboris affecti, quidam multati1 parte membrorum; pariterque eos et nox et somnus oppressit. Stratis passim corporibus in inviis et in asperis saxorum,2 periculi instantis obliti in lucem quieverunt; tandemque velut ex alto sopore excitati, occultas subjectasque ipsis valles rimantes, ignari in qua parte petrae tanta vis hostium condita esset, fumum specus infra se ipsos evolutum notaverunt. Ex quo intellectum, illain hostium latebram esse. Itaque hastis imposuere quod convenerat signum ; totoque e numero duos et XXX in ascensu interisse agnoscunt. 43. Rex non cupidine magis potiundi loci, quam vice3 eorum, quos ad tam manifestum periculum miserat, sollicitus, toto die cacumina montis intuens restitit. Noctu demum, cum obscuritas conspectum oculorum ademisset, ad curandum corpus recessit. Postero die, nondum satis clara luce, primus vela, signum capti verticis, conspexit. Sed ne falleretur acies, dubitare cogebat varietas coeli, nunc internitente lucis fulgore, nunc condito. Verum ut liquidior lux apparuit coelo, dubitatio exempta est; vocatumque Cophen, per quem barbarorum animos temptaverat. mittit ad eos, qui moneret, nunc saltem salubrius consilium inirent: sin autem fiducia loci perseverarent, ostendi a tergo jussit, qui ceperant verticem. Cophes admissus suadere coepit Arimazi petram tradere,6 gratiam regis inituro, si tantas res molientem in unius rupis obsidione haerere non coëgisset. Ille, ferocius superbiusque quam antea locutus, abire Cophen jubet. At is prensum manu barbarum rogat, ut secum extra specum prodeat: quo impetrato, juvenes in cacumine ostendit, ejusque superbiae haud immerito illudens, pinnas habere ait milites Alexandri. Jamque e Macedonum castris signorum concentus et totius exercitus clamor audiebatur. Ea res, sicut pleraque belli vana et inania, barbaros ad deditionem traxit. Quippe occupati metu paucitatem eorum, qui

1

Injured,' in relation to the body: multare frequently means 'to punish,' particularly by inflicting a fine (multa).

2 As to this construction, see Gram. § 275, c, note 3.

3 The accusative vicem is more frequently used. See Zumpt, § 453. Whether his eyes (eyesight) were not deceived.' Num is the regular particle, and this is a solitary instance of dubitare ne; the construction is taken from that of vide ne, take care that....

5

6

not.

Though sin has itself the meaning of 'if however' or 'but if,' yet autem or vero is not unfrequently added. See Zumpt, § 342. The regular construction after suadere is ut traderet; but see Gram. $375, note 3.

Prendere, prensus, common contracted forms for prehendere, pre

hensus.

Vain and deceptive appearances, or occurrences, of war.'

a tergo erant, aestimare non poterant. Itaque Cophen (nam trepidantes reliquerat) strenue1 revocant, et cum eo XXX principes mittunt, qui petram tradant, et ut incolumibus abire liceat, paciscantur. Ille quamquam verebatur, ne conspecta juvenum paucitate deturbarent eos barbari, tamen et fortunae suae confisus, et Arimazi superbiae infensus, nullam se condicionem deditionis accipere respondit. Arimazes, desperatis magis quam perditis rebus,3 cum propinquis nobilissimisque gentis suae descendit in castra: quos omnes verberibus affectos sub ipsis radicibus petrae crucibus jussit affigi. Multitudo dediticiorum incolis novarum urbium cum pecunia capta dono data est: Artabazus in petrae regionisque, quae apposita esset ei, tutela relictus.

1

Equivalent to protinus, continuo, without delay.'

2 See Gram. $376, 3, with note; and Zumpt,

601.

3 That is, the affair was rather thrown up by himself in despair, than actually lost. In Latin we can say despero rem transitively, as well as despero de re intransitively. See Zumpt, § 417.

MM

Tiara.

LIBER VIII.

(1) Alexander, after taking the rock of Arimazes, divides his army into several parts. Craterus takes vengcance for the defeat of Attinas, and, by a victory over the Dahae, completes the subjugation of this part of Sogdiana. Ambassadors come with proposals of peace to Alexander's head-quarters at Maracanda. (2) In the extensive, and for many years strictly-preserved hunting-forest of Bazaira, a hunt is appointed, in which the whole army engage, and during which Alexander, refusing the assistance of Lysimachus, kills a lion. (3) Clitus is appointed governor of Bactra, and a farewell feast is given in his honour. Alexander, when excited with wine, boasts of his deeds, and speaks slightingly of his father Philip. (4) Clitus expresses himself little satisfied with the conduct of the king, and depreciates the deeds of Alexander and the juniors (5,) and in his bitterness of spirit, goes so far as even to cast imputations upon Alexander's personal honour. The king can no longer restrain his wrath: his friends for some time prevent him by force from committing any act of violence; but when let free, he waits for Clitus at the entrance, and stabs him. (6) He is soon visited by the bitterest pangs of remorse, and after giving way to his despair for three days, is only quieted by the united efforts of the Macedonians. (7) The Bactrian exiles are conquered and entirely subdued in the district of Xenippa. (8) The pass into Nautaca is defended by Sysimithres. Alexander takes the fortification. (9) Sysimithres at last, induced by the arguments of Oxartes, surrenders, and is received to mercy and favour. (10) While the other portions of the army remain quiet in Nautaca (winter of 328–327 B.c.), he himself, with the cavalry, makes a rapid pursuit of the other rebels, and entirely suppresses the revolt. During this expedition, Philip, a royal page, and brother of Lysimachus, dies of over-exertion. Erigyius dies in the camp. (11) The king is freed from the necessity of making a campaign against the Dahae, as Spitamenes is murdered by his own wife. (12) She herself brings his head to Alexander's camp. (13) The Dahae, upon the murder of Spitamenes, scize Dataphernes, and give him up bound to Alexander. The king deposes some of his governors of provinces for mal-administration, and appoints others in their room. (14, 15) After resting for three months in Nautaca, Alexander breaks up, and marches through the district of Gabaza. During this expedition a severe storm comes on suddenly, in which many of the soldiers perish. (16) The satrap Oxyartes submits, and makes the king a feast, in which Alexander

sees Roxane, the fair daughter of his host, and, attracted by her beauty, marries her in due form. (17) Alexander now directs his thoughts to the conquest of India. The army is supplemented by 30,000 chosen Asiatics: the splendour of the arms of the Macedonians is increased. Alexander wishes to receive from the Macedonians the honours due to the son of a god. In this attempt he is assisted by certain Greeks. (18) At a great festival, Cleo, a Sicilian, proposes that thenceforward the king shall be honoured as a god. (19) Callisthenes, a native of Olynthus, censures the deification of a living man, and ridicules the proposal of Cleo. (20) The Macedonians approve of Callisthenes' opinion, and Alexander is forced to give up his wish. He gives orders, however, for the Asiatics to worship him, and is seriously angry with Polypercon for laughing at this. (21) A conspiracy is formed among the royal pages against the king's life. Hermolaus and his beloved Sostratus, its authors, take into their confidence seven others; but a considerable time elapses before it can be so arranged that they shall have the watch together at the king's quarters. (22) The time for executing the deed arrives: but at first, the king remains unusually long at supper, and even when he is retiring to his couch, he is induced by a woman, supposed to be a prophetess, to return to the banqueting-room, and continue there with his guests till morning. The watch is relieved, but the conspirators remain till morning. They find, however, no opportunity of executing their design, but Alexander rewards them handsomely for what he considers their kind attention in waiting the whole night. (23) One of the conspirators reveals the matter to his brother, who hurries with him to the king's quarters. Alexander is roused from sleep, and gives orders for the apprehension of the conspirators. (24) When brought up for trial, all confess. Hermolaus speaks, and alleges the cause of their hatred of the king to have been his cruelty. (25) He expresses himself in bitter terms regarding the king's pride and contempt of the manners of his fatherland. (26, 27, 28) Alexander defends himself against the charges of cruelty and avarice, explains the reasons for his mild treatment of the Asiatics, and why he wished divine honours from them. He frees the relatives of the conspirators from all responsibility for the crime. (29) The criminals who have confessed are put to death by their comrades. Callisthenes too, being accused of having instigated the youths, shares their fate. (30) Alexander commences his expedition to India, in the end of spring 327 B. C. The rivers and climate of the country are described. (31) Its peculiar natural productions; the customs of the inhabitants. (32) The luxury of the kings. (33) The life of the wise men of the land is depicted. (34) The nearest Indian princes give themselves up. Alexander intrusts the command of the main body of the army to Hephaestion and Perdiccas, ordering them to advance direct to the Indus. He himself, with Craterus, marches through the mountainous district on the north.

K