tunae species conspici potuit, cum ii, qui cum Dareo1 tabernaculum exornaverant, omni luxu et opulentia instructum, eadem illa Alexandro, quasi veteri domino, reservabant. Namque id solum intactum omiserant milites, ita tradito more, ut victorem victi regis tabernaculo exciperent.

29. Sed omnium oculos animosque in semet averterant2 captivae mater conjunxque Darei: illa non majestate solum, sed etiam aetate venerabilis, haec formae pulchritudine, ne illa quidem sorte corruptae. Receperat in sinum filium nondum sextum annum aetatis egressum, in spem tantae fortunae, quantam pater ejus paulo ante amiserat, genitum. At in gremio anus aviae jacebant adultae duae virgines, non suo tantum, sed etiam illius maerore confectae. Ingens circa eam nobilium feminarum turba constiterat, laceratis crinibus, abscisaque veste, pristini decoris immemores, reginas dominasque, veris quondam, tunc alienis nominibus invocantes. Illae, suae calamitatis oblitae, in utro cornu Dareus stetisset, quae fortuna discriminis fuisset, requirebant. Negabant se captas, si viveret rex. Sed illum equos subinde mutantem longius fuga abstulerat. In acie autem caesa sunt Persarum peditum centum milia, decem equitum. At a parte Alexandri quattuor et quingenti saucii fuere, ex peditibus triginta omnino et duo desiderati sunt, equitum centum quinquaginta interfecti. Tantulo impendio ingens victoria

stetit.6

30. Rex quidem, Dareum persequendo fatigatus, postquam et nox appetebat, et consequendi spes non erat, in castra paulo ante a suis capta pervenit. Învitari deinde amicos, quibus maxime assueverat, jussit, quippe summa dumtaxat

'in the service of Darius.'

"With Darius;' that is, 2 From everything else. With torn garments.' Abscisa, from abscindere, whose supine abscisum is the same as that of abscidere. This sign of deep sorrow was a very common one in ancient times.

46
'Unsuitable.'

5 That is, Caesi, interfecti. The smallness of the number of Macedonian infantry who were slain is surprising; and other authors give a larger number; Diodorus, for instance, 300. Even this is disproportionately small. We must, however, take into consideration the superiority afforded to the Macedonians by better arms, a closer order of battle, and greater skill in the art of war. We must not carry our doubts too far; otherwise we might at once doubt the truth of the whole story of Alexander's conquering Asia with such a small number of men. That Curtius himself was surprised, is indicated by the omnino, which, when placed after a numeral, is equivalent to tantum, 'only.'

• On the meaning and construction of stare, see Gram. $294.

cutis in femine1 perstricta non prohibebat interesse convivio: cum repente e proximo tabernaculo lugubris clamor, barbaro ululatu planctuque permixtus, epulantes conterruit. Cohors quoque, quae excubabat ad tabernaculum regis, verita, ne majoris motus principium esset, armare se coeperat. Causa subiti pavoris fuit, quod mater uxorque Darei cum captivis2 nobilibus regem, quem interfectum esse credebant, ingenti gemitu ejulatuque deflebant. Unus namque3 e captivis spadonibus, qui forte ante ipsarum tabernaculum steterat, amiculum, quod Dareus, sicut paulo ante dictum est, ne cultu1 proderetur, abjecerat, in manibus ejus, qui repertum ferebat, agnovit, ratusque interfecto detractum esse, falsum nuntium mortis ejus attulerat. Hoc mulierum errore comperto, Alexander fortunae Darei et pietati earum illacrimasse fertur. Ac primo Mithrenem, qui Sardis tradiderat, peritum linguae Persicae, ire ad consolandas eas jusserat. Veritus deinde, ne proditor captivarum iram doloremque renovaret, Leonnatum ex purpuratis suis misit, jussum indicare, falso lamentari eas vivum. Ille cum paucis armigeris in tabernaculum, in quo captivae erant, pervenit, missumque se a rege nuntiare jubet. At hi, qui in vestibulo erant, ut armatos conspexere, rati actum esse de dominis, in tabernaculum currunt, vociferantes, adesse supremam horam, missosque qui occiderent captas. Itaque, ut quae nec prohibere possent, nec admittere auderent, nullo responso dato tacitae opperiebantur victoris arbitrium. Leonnatus, expectato dius qui se introduceret, postquam nemo procedere audebat, relictis in vestibulo satellitibus, intrat in tabernaculum. Ea ipsa res turbaverat feminas, quod irrupisse, non admissus, videbatur. Itaque mater et conjunx provolutae ad pedes, orare coeperunt, ut, priusquam interficerentur, Darei corpus ipsis patrio more sepelire permitteret: functas supremo in regem officio

Besides femur, oris, the thigh, the form (femen) feminis is used. Its nominative, however, femen, does not occur.

2 From the nominative captiva.

Whilst nam is in prose always placed first, we usually find namque after the first accented word.

4

Equivalent to veste, implying, however, that the cloak was adorned in a manner suitable for so great a monarch.

In the accusative of this word the form is remained, even when in other nouns it was superseded by es. In Greek the name is Zápdes. An accusative must be supplied as subject to nuntiare-namely, that of the person to whom was intrusted the duty of introducing strangers to the princesses. In Rome such a confidential servant was called the atriensis.

8

'Because they;' literally, as who.'

Supply eo, a servant to conduct him to the royal ladies.

impigre1 sese morituras. Leonnatus, et vivere Dareum, et ipsas non incolumes modo, sed etiam apparatu pristinae fortunae2 reginas fore. Tum demum Darei mater allevari se passa est. 31. Alexander postero die cum cura sepultis militibus, quorum corpora invenerat, Persarum quoque nobilissimis eundem honorem haberi jubet, matrique Darei permitti, quos vellet, patrio more sepeliret. Illa paucos arta propinquitate conjunctos pro habitu praesentis fortunae humari jussit, apparatum funerum, quo Persae suprema officia celebrarent invidiosum fore existimans, cum victores haud pretiose cremarentur. Jamque justis defunctorum corporibus solutis, praemittit ad captivas, qui nuntiarent, ipsum venire: inhibitaque comitantium turba tabernaculum cum Hephaestione intrat. Is longe omnium amicorum carissimus erat regi, cum ipso pariter eductus, secretorum omnium arbiter: libertates quoque in admonendo eo non alius jus habebat, quod tamen ita usurpabat, ut magis a rege permissum, quam vindicatum ab eo videretur; et sicut aetate par erat regi, ita corporis habitu praestabat. Ergo reginae illum esse regem ratae, suo more veneratae sunt.10 Inde ex captivis spadonibus" quis Alexander esset monstrantibus, Sisygambis advoluta est pedibus ejus, ignorationem nunquam antea visi regis excusans. Quam manu allevans rex, non errasti, inquit, mater, nam et hic Alexander est. 12

1 4

Without delay.'

2'So far as regarded the pomp or dignity of their former rank.' As to the difference between the simple ablat. of concomitance and the ablat. with cum, see Gram. § 293.

• With verbs of permitting, the subjunctive is used either with or without ut.

To be interred.' This was the patrius mos of the Persians; for they considered the burning of dead bodies, which was usual amongst the Greeks, to be an act of the grossest impiety-fire being in their opinion a divine essence.

Justa (a plurale tantum, meaning all the regular funeral rites') solvere, to fulfil; as it were to pay a debt which we owe to the deceased.

'Brought up.' It remains uncertain whether he was associated with Alexander in bodily exercises, or in studies for the information and improvement of the mind. In the latter sense educare is commonly used.

84

Frankness,' 'candour.' 9'Assumed.'

10 Venerari, when it refers to outward conduct, consists in falling upon the ground at a person's feet. The Greeks called this ρoskuvεTv, and considered it an act unworthy of a freeman. It was, and still is, a common custom amongst Asiatics when in presence of their rulers. Of the eunuchs. Supply to the participle in the ablative quibusdam, some.'

12 A beautiful thought beautifully expressed: according to the old

32. Equidem hac continentia animi si ad ultimum vitae1 perseverare potuisset, feliciorem fuisse crederem, quam visus est esse, cum Liberi patris imitaretur triumphum, usque ab Hellesponto ad Oceanum2 omnes gentes victoria emensus. Sic vicisset profecto superbiam atque iram, mala invicta: sic abstinuisset inter epulas caedibus amicorum, egregiosque bello viros, et tot gentium secum domitores, indicta causa veritus esset occidere. Sed nondum fortuna se animo ejus superfuderat : itaque orientem eam moderate et prudenter tulit ad ultimum magnitudinem ejus non cepit. Tunc quidem ita se gessit, ut omnes ante eum reges et continentia et clementia vinceret. Virgines reginas excellentis formae tam sancte habuit, quam si eodem quo ipse parente genitae forent conjugem ejusdem, quam nulla aetatis suae pulchritudine corporis vicit, adeo ipse non violavit, ut summam adhibuerit curam, ne quis captivo corpori illuderet:" omnem cultum reddi feminis jussit, nec quicquam ex pristinae fortunae magnificentia captivis, praeter fiduciam, defuit. Itaque Sisygambis, rex, inquit, mereris, ut ea precemur tibi, quae Dareo nostro quondam precatae sumus: et, ut video, dignus es, qui tantum regem non felicitate solum, sed etiam aequitate superaveris. Tu quidem matrem me et reginam vocas: sed ego me tuam famulam esse confiteor. Et praeteritae fortunae fastigium capio et praesentis jugum pati possum tua interest,10 quantum in nos licuerit, si id potius saying, that friends are one soul in two bodies; a friend is a second self.

Till the end of his life.' Ultimum, a neuter with the genitive -'the extreme,'' the last part.' See Gram. § 313.

A more usual expression would have been usque ad Oceanum. Usque always indicates the uninterruptedness of any series of actions either in regard to space or time. Here, for example, from the Hellespont, as it were, in one continued march of conquest, to the

ocean.'

3

4

Vereri, with the infinitive. See Gram. § 352, note 2.

6

Beautifully expressed. His good fortune had not yet poured itself over his heart; that is, had not yet, as it were, flooded his heart, and swept away all his finer feelings.

The unmarried princess.' In Latin, even the daughters of kings are called reginae.

Exactly equivalent here to essent.

Should insult ;' namely, by proposals to them to become traitors to Darius.

You are worthy (of our praying for you), since you,' &c. See Gram. 360, 2.

9 'I take that is, understand-and can show myself worthy of my former high rank.'

10 It interests you;' that is, 'your own noble nature compels you -to wish it known that you exercised your power over us with

clementia, quam saevitia, vis esse testatum. Rex bonum animum habere eas jussit, Darei filium collo suo admovit: atque nihil ille conspectu tum primum a se visi conterritus, cervicem ejus manibus amplectitur. Motus ergo rex constantial pueri, Hephaestionem intuens, quam vellem,2 inquit, Dareus aliquid ex hac indole hausisset!

33. Tum tabernaculo egressus, tribus aris in ripa Pinari amnis Jovi atque Herculi Minervaeque sacratis, Syriam petit, Damascum, ubi regis gaza erat, Parmenione praemisso. Atque cum praecessisse Darei satrapam comperisset,3 veritus ne paucitas suorum sperneretur, accersere majorem manum statuit. Sed forte in exploratores ab eo praemissos incidit natione Mardus, qui ad Parmeniona perductus, litteras ad Alexandrum a praefecto Damasci missas tradit ei, nec dubitare eum quin omnem regiam supellectilem cum pecunia traderet, adjecit. Parmenio, asservari eo jusso, litteras aperit: in quis erat scriptum, ut mature Alexander aliquem ex ducibus suis mitteret cum manu exigua. Itaque Mardum datis comitibus ad proditorem remittit. Ille e manibus custodientium lapsus, Damascum ante lucem intrat. Turbaverat ea res Parmenionis animum insidias timentis, et ignotum iter sine duce non audebat ingredi: felicitati_tamen regis sui confisus, agrestes, qui duces itineris essent, excipi jussit. Quibus celeriter repertis, quarto die ad urbem pervenit, jam metuente praefecto, ne sibi fides habita non esset. Igitur quasi parum munimentis oppidi fidens, ante solis ortum pecuniam regiam (gazam Persae vocant), cum pretiosissimis rerum efferri jubet, fugam simulans, re vera, ut praedam hosti offerret.

34. Multa milia virorum feminarumque excedentem oppido sequebantur, omnibus miserabilis turba, praeter eum, cujus fidei commissa erat. Quippe quo major proditionis merces foret, objicere hosti parabat gratiorem omni pecunia praedam, nobiles viros, praetorum Darei conjuges liberosque, praeter hos Graecarum urbium legatos, quos Dareus velut

clemency rather than severity.' Testatum esse volo, 'I wish to see a thing known or borne witness to.' As to testatus in a passive sense, see Gram. § 139, note 2.

16

Confiding boldness.'

2. How much I should have wished!'

3 Parmenio is the subject of this verb.

4

Dubito, in the meaning doubt,' is followed by the infinitive;

but non dubito is construed also with quin. See Gram. § 352,,note 4. For quibus; a very common form in Curtius.

See above, chap. 20, at the beginning.

Equivalent to nam.

It should properly perhaps be civitatum, as the inhabitants are