Delphi Complete Works of Quintus Curtius Rufus

by Quintus Curtius Rufus

  For a long time Sisigambis resisted the entreaties of the suppliants, declaring that to intervene in their behalf was not consistent with the fortune in which she found herself, and she added that she feared to take too great advantage of the victor’s indulgence, and that she reflected more often that she was a prisoner than that she had been a queen. Overcome at last, in a letter she begged Alexander to excuse her for presuming to beg a favour; she asked that he would pardon them also, if not, that he would pardon her; that she was pleading only for the life of a friend and relative of hers, who was no longer his enemy, but a suppliant. The moderation and clemency of the king, as it was at that time, even this act alone could make clear; he pardoned not only Medates, but to all, both those who had been taken prisoner and those who had surrendered, he granted both freedom and even immunity, left the city intact, and allowed it to cultivate its fields without tribute. If Darius had been victor his mother would not have obtained more from him.

  Then Alexander incorporated the subdued race of the Uxii in the satrapy of the Susiani, and having divided his forces with Parmenion, he ordered him to go on by the road through the plains, while he himself with a light-armed band took the ridge of the mountains whose back runs without interruption into Persia. Having laid waste all this region, on the third day he entered Persia, and on the fifth day the pass which the Persians call the Susidan Gates. Ariobarzanes with 25,000 foot-soldiers had taken possession of that pass, shut in on all sides by steep and craggy rocks, on the summits of which the barbarians stood out of reach of missiles, purposely quiet and pretending fear, until the army of Alexander should enter the narrowest part of the pass. But when they saw that in scorn of them it continued to advance, then indeed they rolled stones of huge size down the slopes of the mountains, and these, often striking against the rocks below, fell with greater force and crushed, not only single soldiers, but entire troops. Stones also hurled from slings, as well as arrows, were poured upon them from all sides.

  And this was not the most wretched fate for brave men to bear, but that they were being slain unavenged, like wild beasts caught in a pit. Therefore their wrath turned to frenzy, and grasping the jutting rocks, they tried to clamber up and reach the enemy, lifting one another; but those very rocks, torn away by the hands of many who seized them at the same time, fell back upon those who had loosened them. Therefore they could neither stand nor make any effort, nor be protected even by a tortoise-formation, since the barbarians were rolling down masses of such great size. The king was tormented, not alone by resentment, but also by shame for having inconsiderately thrown his army into those narrow quarters. Invincible before that day, he had risked nothing without success; he had safely entered the pass of Cilicia, he had opened a new route by sea into Pamphylia “; but now his good fortune was caught and had come to a standstill, and there was no other remedy than to return by the way he had come.

  Therefore, having given the signal for retreat, he ordered his men to leave in close order, joining then-shields over their heads. There were thirty stadia which were retraced.

  Tum castris undique aperto loco positis non con- [p. 121] sultare modo, quid agendum esset, sed vates quoque adhibere coepit a superstitione animi. [2] Sed quid tunc praedicere Aristander, cui tum plurimum credebat ex vatibus, poterat? Itaque damnatis intempestivis sacrificiis peritos locorum convocari, iubet: per Mediam iter ostendebant tutum apertumque. [3] Sed rex deserere milites insepultos erubescebat ita tradito more, ut vix ullum militiae tam sollemne esset munus quam humandi suos. Captivos ergo, quos nuper exceperat, vocari iubet. [4] Inter quos erat quidam Graecae Persicaeque linguae peritus, qui frustra eum in Persidem montium dorso exercitum ducere adfirmat, silvestres esse calles vix singulis pervios, omnia contegi frondibus inplexosque arborum ramos silvas committere. [5] Namque Persis ab altero latere perpetuis montium iugis clauditur. Hoc dorsum, quod in longitudinem MDC, in latitudinem CLXX stadia procurrit, a Caucaso monte ad Rubrum mare pertinet, quaque defecit mons, aliud munimentum, fretum, obiectum est. [6] Planities deinde sub radicibus montium spatiosa procumbit, fertilis terra multisque vicis atque urbibus frequens. [7] Araxes amnis per hos campos multorum aquas torrentium evolvit in Medum: Medus ad mare ad meridiem versus — minor amnis eo, quem accepit — [8] evehitur, gignendaeque herbae non alius est aptior, quidquid adluit, floribus vestiens. Platani quoque et populi contegunt ripas, ita ut procul visentibus continuata videantur montibus nemora riparum. Quippe [p. 122] obumbratus amnis presso in solum alveo delabitur, inminentque colles,. ipsi quoque frondibus laeti, radices eorum humore subeunte. [9] Regio non alia tota Asia salubrior habetur: temperat caelum hinc perpetuum iugum opacum et umbrosum, quod aestus levat, illinc mare adiunctum, quod modico tepore terras fovet. [10] His captivus expositis interrogatus a rege, auditune an oculis conperta haberet, quae diceret, pastorem se fuisse et omnes eas calles percurrisse respondit: [11] bis captum, semel a Persis in Lycia, iterum ab ipso. Subit animum regis memoria oraculo editae sortis: quippe consulenti responsum erat, ducem in Persidem ferentis viae Lycium civem fore. [12] Igitur promissis, quanta et praesens necessitas exigebat et ipsius fortuna capiebat, oneratum armari iubet Macedonum more et, quod bene verteret, monstrare iter quamvis arduum et praeceps : evasurum se esse cum paucis, nisi forte crederet, qua ipse pecoris causa isset, Alexandrum pro gloria et perpetua laude ire non posse. [13] Etiam atque etiam docere captivus, quam difficile iter esset, maxime armatis. [14] Tum rex : ‘Praedem,’ inquit, ‘me accipe neminem eorum, qui secuntur, recusaturum ire, qua duces.’ Cratero igitur ad custodiam castrorum relicto cum peditibus, quis adsueverat, et iis copiis, quas Meleager ducebat, et sagittariis equitibus м praecipit, ut castrorum specie manente plures de industria ignes fieri imperet, quo magis barbari credant ipsum regem in castris esse. [15] Ceterum, si forte Ariobarzanes cognovisset per callium anfractus intrare se et ad occupandum iter suum partem copiarum temptasset opponere, Craterus eum inlato [p. 123] terrore retineret ad propius periculum conversurum agmen: [16] sin autem ipse hostem fefellissetet saltum occupasset, cum trepidantium barbarorum tumultum exaudisset, persequens tum regem id ipsum iter, quo pridie pulsi fuerant, ne dubitaret ingredi: quippe vacuum fore hostibus in semet aversis. [17] Ipse tertia vigilia silenti agmine ac ne tuba quidem dato signo pergit ad demonstratum iter callium : tridui alimenta portare militem iusserat leviter armatum. [18] Sed praeter invias rupes ac praerupta saxa vestigium subinde fallentia nix cumulata vento ingredientis fatigabat: quippe velut in foveas delati hauriebantur et, cum a commilitonibus adlevarentur, trahebant magis adiuvantes quam sequebantur. [19] Nox quoque et ignota regio ac dux — incertum an satis fidus — multiplicabant metum: si custodes fefellisset, quasi feras bestias ipsos posse deprehendi. Ex unius captivi vel fide vel anima pendere et regis salutem et suam. [20] Tandem venere in iugum. A dextra iter ad ipsum Ariobarzanen erat: hic Philotam et Coenon cum Amynta et Polyperconte expeditam habentes manum relinquit, monitos, ut, quia et eques pediti iret mixtus et quam pinguissimum esset solum et pabuli fertile, sensim procederent: duces erant itineris de captivis dati. [21] Ipse cum armigeris et ala, quam agema appellabant, ardua semita, sed longius a stationibus hostium remota multa cum vexatione processit. [22] Medius erat dies et fatigatis necessaria quies — quippe tantundem itineris supererat, quantum emensi erant, sed [p. 124] minus praecipitis atque ardui — : [23] itaque refectis cibo somnoque militibus secunda vigilia surgit. Et cetera quidem haud aegre praeterit, ceterum, qua se montium iugum paulatim ad planiora demittit, ingens vorago concursu cavata torrentium iter ruperat. [24] Ad hoc arborum rami alius alio inplicati et cohaerentes ut perpetuam obiecerant saepem. [25] Desperatio igitur ingens, adeo ut vix lacrimis abstinerent, incesserat. Praecipue obscuritas terrori erat : nam etiam si qua sidera internitebant, continenti fronde tectae arbores conspicere prohibebant. Ne aurium quidem usus supererat silvas quatiente vento, qui concurrentibus ramis maiorem quam pro flatu sonum edebat. [26] Tandem expectata lux omnia, quae terribiliora nox fecerat, minuit: circumiri brevi spatio poterat eluvies, [27] et sibi quisque dux itineris coeperat f
ieri. Evadunt ergo in editum verticeni: ex quo hostium statione conspecta strenue armati a tergo se ostendunt nihil tale metuentibus. [28] Quorum pauci, qui congredi ausi erant, caesi sunt. Itaque hinc morientium gemitus, hinc ad suos recurrentium miserabilis facies integros quoque, antequam discrimen experirentur, [29] in fugam avertit. Fremitu deinde in castra, quis Craterus praesidebat, inlato ad occupandas angustias, in quibus pridie haeserant, miles educitur. [30] Simul et Philotas cum Polyperconte Amyntaque et Coeno diversum iter ingredi iussus alium terrorem intulit barbaris. [31] Undique ergo Macedonum armis fulgentibus ancipiti malo oppressi memorabile tamen proelium edunt. Ut opinor, ignaviam quoque necessitas acuit, et saepe desperatio spei causa est. [32] Nudi [p. 125] conplectebantur armatos et ingenti corporum mole secum ad terram detrahentes ipsorum telis plerosque fodiebant. [33] Ariobarzanes tamen XL ferme equitibus et v milibus peditum stipatus per mediam aciem Macedonum cum multo suorum atque hostium sanguine erupit, Persepolim urbem, caput regionis, occupare festinans. [34] Sed a custodibus urbis exclusus consecutis strenue hostibus cum omnibus fugae comitibus renovato proelio cecidit. Craterus quoque raptim agmine acto supervenit.

  IV. Then, having encamped in a place open on all sides, he not only began to take counsel on what was to be done, but also, from a feeling of superstition, to summon soothsayers. But what prediction could Aristander, in whom among the seers he then had the greatest confidence, make at such a crisis? Therefore, rejecting sacrifices as untimely, he gave orders that the men acquainted with the country should be summoned; these pointed out a safe and open route through Media. But the king was ashamed to desert the soldiers who were unburied, because it was an inherited usage that hardly any military duty was so sacred as that of burying their dead. Accordingly, he gave orders that the prisoners whom he had lately taken should be called. Among these was a man well versed in the Greek and the Persian tongues, who declared that it was hopeless for the king to try to lead the army into Persia over the ridge of the mountains, but that there were paths through the woods barely to be traversed in single file, that everything was covered with foliage, and that the interlaced branches of the trees made the forests continuous. For Persis on one side is shut in by continuous chains of mountains. This height, which extends in length for 1600 stadia, and in width for 170, reaches from the Caucasus mountains to the Red Sea, and where the mountains end, another barrier, the sea, is interposed. Then at the roots of the mountains a spacious plain slopes down, a fertile land, and abounding in many villages and cities. Through these fields the river Araxes rolls the waters of many torrents into the Medus; the Medus — a lesser river than the one which flows into it — in a southerly direction goes on to the sea, and no other river is more favourable to the growth of vegetation, and it clothes with flowers whatever it flows near. Plane trees also and poplars cover its banks, so that to those who view them from afar the groves along the banks seem to be a continuation of those on the mountains. For the shaded stream flows in a channel sunk deep in the soil, and over it hang hills which are themselves also rich in foliage because of the moisture which makes its way to their roots. No other region in all Asia is regarded as more health-giving; the climate is tempered on one side by dark and shaded mountains in a continuous line, which alleviate the heat, on the other by the nearness of the sea, which warms the lands with moderate heat.

  When the prisoner had made his reply, on being asked by the king whether he had learned this by hearsay or by observation, he replied that he had been a shepherd and had roamed over all those paths; that he had been twice captured, once by the Persians in Lycia, again by Alexander. The king was reminded of the prediction given by an oracle; for when he consulted it, the reply was made that a citizen of Lycia would be his guide on the road leading into Persia. Therefore, after loading the man with promises as great as the present necessity demanded and as suited his condition, he ordered him to arm himself in the Macedonian fashion, and, uttering a prayer that it might result favourably, to show him the way, however steep and difficult it might be; that he would pass through it with a few men, unless by any chance the shepherd supposed that, where he had gone to feed his flock, Alexander could not go for the sake of glory and immortal fame. Again and again the prisoner explained to him how difficult the route was, especially for armed men. Then said the king: “Take my word for it that none of those who follow will refuse to go where you will lead the way.”

  Accordingly, having left Craterus to guard the camp with the infantry which he had been accustomed to command, and with the forces led by Meleager, and with a thousand mounted bowmen, he directed him, in order that the appearance of a camp might be kept up, purposely to order more fires than usual to be made, so that the barbarians might be more inclined to believe that the king himself was in the camp. Further, if haply Ariobarzanes should have learned that he was entering through the winding paths, and should try to oppose a part of his forces to block his advance, Craterus was to hold him back by alarming him, and force him to turn the attention of his army to the nearer [16] danger; but if he himself should elude the enemy and get possession of the pass, then Craterus, following the king, when he heard the noise made by the confusion of the enemy, must not hesitate to take that same route from which they had been driven the day before; for it would be empty when the attention of the enemy had been turned to himself.

  Alexander himself in the third watch in silent march and not even having given the signal with the trumpet, went on to the route, which had been pointed out, through the paths; he had ordered the soldiers, who were lightly armed, to carry provisions for three days. But besides the pathless rocks and steep crags which from time to time made their footing insecure, snow drifted by the wind made their progress wearisome; for they were swallowed up as if they had fallen into pits, and when their comrades tried to lift them out, they dragged down instead of coming up with those who were aiding them. Night also and the unknown country, as well as the guide — since it was uncertain whether he was wholly to be trusted — increased their fear; for if he had deceived his guards, they themselves could be caught like so much wild game. The safety of their king and of themselves depended either on the trustworthiness or the life of a single prisoner.

  [20] At last they reached the summit. On the right was a road to Ariobarzanes himself; here the king left Philotas and Coenus with Amyntas and Polypercon in command of a light-armed band, advising them to advance slowly, since cavalry mixed with infantry were marching, and the soil was very rich and abounded in fodder; guides for their route were given them from among the prisoners.

  Alexander himself with his guards and a company of what they called the agema, advanced with great trouble by a path which was steep, but more remote from the pickets of the enemy. It was midday, and rest was essential for the wearied soldiers — for as much of the route was left as they had traversed, but it was less steep and difficult — therefore, when the troops had been refreshed by food and sleep, he continued his march at the second watch. And the rest he passed over without trouble; but where the summit of the mountains gradually descends to the more level ground, a great abyss, hollowed out by the rushing together of torrents, had broken into the road. Besides this, the branches of the trees, entangled one with another and clinging together, had interposed an apparently continuous hedge. In consequence, such extreme despair had fallen upon them, that they could hardly refrain — from tears. The darkness especially was a cause of terror; for even if any stars shone through the clouds, the trees, which were completely covered with leaves, prevented them from getting sight of them. Not even the use of their ears was left them, since the woods were shaken by the wind, which made a greater noise when the branches knocked against each other than was proportionate to its blast.

  At last the long awaited daylight lessened all the terrors which night had made more formidable; the flooded spot could be passed round by a slight detour, and each man had begun to be his own guide for the route. And so they made their way out to a lofty height; and when they ha
d observed from there the enemies’ position, the armed force showed itself in vigorous fashion behind men who were in fear of nothing of the kind. A few of them, who had ventured to join battle, were slain. And so, on the one side the groans of the dying, on the other the pitiful appearance of those who were hastening back to their main body, turned to flight even those who were untouched before they made any attempt at a struggle. Then their shouting penetrated to the camp of which Craterus was in charge, and his soldiers were led out to take possession of the pass in which they had been brought to a standstill the day before. At the same time Philotas, with Amyntas, Polvpercon and Coenus, who had been ordered to take a different route, struck the barbarians with another fear.

  But even though the arms of the Macedonians thus gleamed on every side, and they were threatened with a double danger, they nevertheless fought a memorable fight. In my opinion, necessity spurs on even cowardice, and desperation is often a cause for hope. Unarmed as they were, they seized the armed men in their embrace, and dragging them down to the ground with them by the huge bulk of their bodies, stabbed most of them with their own weapons.

  However, Ariobarzanes, closely attended by about forty horsemen and five thousand foot, burst through the centre of the Macedonians’ line with much bloodshed on their own side and on their enemies’, in haste to take possession of the city of Persepolis, the capital of the region. But shut out by the garrison of the city, and vigorously pursued by the enemy, he renewed the battle and was killed with all the participants in his flight. Craterus also arrived, having driven on his force with all speed.