alexander-第6部分
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eople occasion to think so of him was； that when he had nothing else to do； he loved to sit long and talk； rather than drink； and over every cup hold a long conversation。 For when his affairs called upon him； he would not be detained； as other generals often were； either by wine； or sleep； nuptial solemnities； spectacles； or any other diversion whatsoever； a convincing argument of which is； that in the short time he lived； he accomplished so many and so great actions。 When he was free from employment； after he was up； and had sacrificed to the gods he used to sit down to breakfast； and then spend the rest of the day in hunting； or writing memoirs； giving decisions on some military questions； or reading。 In marches that required no great haste； he would practise shooting as he went along； or to mount a chariot and alight from it in full speed。 Sometimes； for sport's sake； as his journals tell us； he would hunt foxes and go fowling。 When he came in for the evening； after he had bathed and was anointed； he would call for his bakers and chief cooks； to know if they had his dinner ready。 He never cared to dine till it was pretty late and beginning to be dark； and was wonderfully circumspect at meals that every one who sat with him should be served alike and with proper attention： and his love of talking； as was said before； made him delight to sit long at his wine。 And then； though otherwise no prince's conversation was ever so agreeable； he would fall into a temper of ostentation and soldierly boasting； which gave his flatterers a great advantage to ride him； and made his better friends very uneasy。 For though they thought it too base to strive who should flatter him most； yet they found it hazardous not to do it； so that between the shame and the danger； they were in a great strait how to behave themselves。 After such an entertainment； he was wont to bathe； and then perhaps he would sleep till noon； and sometimes all day long。 He was so very temperate in his eating； that when any rare fish or fruits were sent him； he would distribute them among his friends； and often reserve nothing for himself。 His table； however； was always magnificent； the expense of it still increasing with his good fortune； till it amounted to ten thousand drachmas a day； to which sum he limited it； and beyond this he would suffer none to lay out in any entertainment where he himself was the guest。 After the battle of Issus； he sent to Damascus to seize upon the money and baggage； the wives and children； of the Persians； of which spoil the Thessalian horsemen had the greatest share； for he had taken particular notice of their gallantry in the fight； and sent them thither on purpose to make their reward suitable to their courage。 Not but that the rest of the army had so considerable a part of the booty as was sufficient to enrich them all。 This first gave the Macedonians such a taste of the Persian wealth and women and barbaric splendour of living； that they were ready to pursue and follow upon it with all the eagerness of hounds upon a scent。 But Alexander； before he proceeded any further； thought it necessary to assure himself of the sea…coast。 Those who governed in Cyprus put that island into his possession； and Phoenicia； Tyre only excepted； was surrendered to him。 During the siege of this city； which； with mounds of earth cast up； and battering engines； and two hundred galleys by sea； was carried on for seven months together； he dreamt that he saw Hercules upon the walls； reaching out his hands； and calling to him。 And many of the Tyrians in their sleep fancied that Apollo told them he was displeased with their actions； and was about to leave them and go over to Alexander。 Upon which； as if the god had been a deserting soldier； they seized him； so to say； in the act； tied down the statue with ropes； and nailed it to the pedestal； reproaching him that he was a favourer of Alexander。 Another time Alexander dreamed he saw a satyr mocking him at a distance； and when he endeavoured to catch him； he still escaped from him； till at last with much perseverance； and running about after him； he got him into his power。 The soothsayers； making two words of Satyrus； assured him that Tyre should be his own。 The inhabitants at this time show a spring of water； near which they say Alexander slept when he fancied the satyr appeared to him。 While the body of the army lay before Tyre； he made an excursion against the Arabians who inhabit the Mount Antilibanus； in which he hazarded his life extremely to bring off his master Lysimachus； who would needs go along with him； declaring he was neither older nor inferior in courage to Phoenix； Achilles's guardian。 For when； quitting their horses； they began to march up the hills on foot； the rest of the soldiers outwent them a great deal； so that night drawing on； and the enemy near； Alexander was fain to stay behind so long； to encourage and help up the lagging and tired old man； that before he was aware he was left behind； a great way from his soldiers； with a slender attendance； and forced to pass an extremely cold night in the dark； and in a very inconvenient place； till seeing a great many scattered fires of the enemy at some distance； and trusting to his agility of body； and as he was always wont by undergoing toils and labours himself to cheer and support the Macedonians in any distress； he ran straight to one of the nearest fires； and with his dagger despatching two of the barbarians that sat by it； snatched up a lighted brand； and returned with it to his own men。 They immediately made a great fire； which so alarmed the enemy that most of them fled； and those that assaulted them were soon routed and thus they rested securely the remainder of the night。 Thus Chares writes。 But to return to the siege； it had this issue。 Alexander； that he might refresh his army； harassed with many former encounters； had led only a small party towards the walls； rather to keep the enemy busy than with any prospect of much advantage。 It happened at this time that Aristander； the soothsayer； after he had sacrificed； upon view of the entrails； affirmed confidently to those who stood by that the city should be certainly taken that very month； upon which there was a laugh and some mockery among the soldiers； as this was the last day of it。 The king； seeing him in perplexity； and always anxious to support the credit of the predictions； gave order that they should not count it as the thirtieth； but as the twenty…third of the month； and ordering the trumpets to sound； attacked the walls more seriously than he at first intended。 The sharpness of the assault so inflamed the rest of his forces who were left in the camp； that they could not hold from advancing to second it； which they performed with so much vigour that the Tyrians retired； and the town was carried that very day。 The next place he sat down before was Gaza； one of the largest cities of Syria； when this accident befell him。 A large bird flying over him let a clod of earth fall upon his shoulder； and then settling upon one of the battering engines； was suddenly entangled and caught in the nets； composed of sinews； which protected the ropes with which the machine was managed。 This fell out exactly according to Aristander's prediction； which was； that Alexander should be wounded and the city reduced。 From hence he sent great part of the spoils to Olympias； Cleopatra； and the rest of his friends； not omitting his preceptor Leonidas； on whom he bestowed five hundred talents' weight of frankincense and an hundred of myrrh； in remembrance of the hopes he had once expressed of him when he was but a child。 For Leonidas； it seems； standing by him one day while he was sacrificing； and seeing him take both his hands full of incense to throw into the fire； told him it became him to be more sparing in his offerings； and not to be so profuse till he was master of the countries which those sweet gums and saying； come from。 So Alexander now wrote to him； saying； 〃We have sent you abundance of myrrh and frankincense； that for the future you may not be stingy to the gods。〃 Among the treasures and other booty that was taken from Darius； there was a very precious casket； which being brought to Alexander for a great rarity； he asked those about him what they thought fittest to be laid up in it； and when they had delivered their various opinions； he told them he should keep Homer's Iliad in it。 This is attested by many credible authors； and if what those of Alexandria tell us； relying upon the authority of Heraclides； be true； Homer was neither an idle nor an unprofitable companion to him in his expedition。 For when he was master of Egypt； designing to settle a colony of Grecians there； he resolved to build a large and populous city； and give it his own name。 In order to which； after he had measured and staked out the ground with the advice of the best architects； he chanced one night in his sleep to see a wonderful vision； a grey…headed old man； of a venerable aspect； appeared to stand by him； and pronounce these verses：…
〃An island lies； where loud the billows roar； Pharos they call it； on the Egyptian shore。〃
Alexander upon this immediately rose up and went to Pharos； which； at that time； was an island lying a little above the Canobic mouth of the river Nile； though it has now been joined to the mainland by a mole。 As soon as he saw the commodious situation of the place； it being a long neck of land； stretching like an isthmus between large lagoons and shallow waters on one side and the sea on the other； the latter at the end of it making a spacious harbour； he said； Homer； besides his other excellences； was a very good architect； and ordered the plan of a city to be drawn out answerable to the place。 To do which； for want of chalk； the soil being black； they laid out their lines with flour； taking in a pretty large compass of ground in a semi…circular figure； and drawing into the inside of the circumference equal straight lines from each end； thus giving it something of the form of a cloak or cape； while he was pleasing himself with his design； on a sudden an infinite number of great birds of several kinds； rising like a black cloud out of the river and the lake； devoured every morsel of the
