[46] And truly there was no stronger and more consistent characteristic of his nature than admiration for true merit and glory; yet he estimated fame more frankly in an enemy than in a fellow citizen. For he believed that by his own countrymen his greatness could be impaired, but that it would be the more illustrious the greater those had been whom he had conquered.
BOOK IX.
Alexander tam memorabili victoria laetus, qua sibi Orientis finis apertos esse censebat, Soli victimis caesis milites quoque, quo promptioribus animis reliqua belli obirent, pro contione laudatos docuit, quidquid Indis virium fuisset, illa dimicatione prostratum: [2] cetera opimam praedam fore celebratasque opes in ea regione eminere, quam peterent. Proinde iam vilia et obsoleta esse spolia de Persis: gemmis margaritisque et auro atque ebore Macedoniam Graeciamque, non suas tantum domos repleturos. [3] Avidi milites et pecuniae et gloriae, simul quia numquam eos adfirmatio eius fefellerat, pollicentur operam: dimissisque cum bona spe navigia exaedificari iubet, ut, cum totam Asiam percucurrisset, [4] finem terrarum, mare, inviseret. Multa [p. 309] materia navalis in proximis montibus erat: quam caedere adgressi magnitudinis invisitatae repperere serpentes. [5] Rhinocerotes quoque, rarum alibi animal, in isdem montibus erant. Ceterum hoc nomen beluis inditum a Graecis: sermonis eius ignari Indi aliud lingua sua usurpant. [6] Rex duabus urbibus conditis in utraque fluminis, quod superaverat, ripa copiarum duces coronis et M aureis singulos donat: ceteris quoque pro portione aut gradus, quem in amicitia obtinebant, aut navatae operae honos habitus est. [7] Abisares, qui, priusquam cum Poro dimicaretur, legatos ad Alexandrum miserat, rursus alios misit pollicentes, omnia facturum, quae imperasset, modo ne cogeretur corpus suum dedere: neque enim aut sine regio imperio victurum aut regnaturum esse captivum. [8] Cui Alexander nuntiari iussit, si gravaretur ad se venire, ipsum ad eum esse venturum. Hinc praerapido amne superato ad interiora Indiae processit. [9] Silvae erant prope in inmensum spatium diffusae procerisque et in eximiam altitudinem editis arboribus umbrosae. [10] Plerique rami instar ingentium stipitum flexi in humum rursus, qua se curvaverant, erigebantur, adeo ut species esset non rami resurgentis, sed arboris ex sua radice generatae. [11] Caeli temperies salubris: quippe et vim solis umbrae levant et aquae large manant e fontibus. [12] Ceterum hic quoque serpentium magna vis erat squamis fulgorem auri [p. 310] reddentibus. Virus haud ullum magis noxium est: quippe morsum praesens mors sequebatur, donec ab incolis remedium oblatum est. [13] Hinc per deserta ventum est ad flumen Hyraotim. Iunctum erat flumini nemus opacum arboribus alibi invisitatis agrestiumque pavonum multitudine frequens. [14] Castris inde motis oppidum haud procul positum corona capit obsidibusque acceptis Stipendium inponit. Ad magnam deinde, ut in ea regione, urbem pervenit, [15] non muro solum, sed etiam palude munitam. Ceterum barbari vehiculis inter se iunctis dimicaturi occurrerunt: tela aliis hastae, aliis secures erant, transiliebantque in vehicula strenuo saltu, cum succurrere laborantibus suis vellent. [16] Ac primo insolitum genus pugnae Macedonas terruit, cum eminus vulnerarentur : deinde spreto tam incondito auxilio ab utroque latere vehiculis circumfusi repugnantes fodere coeperunt. [17] Et vincula, quis conserta erant, iussit incidi, quo facilius singula circumvenirentur. Itaque VIII milibus suorum amissis in oppidum refugerunt. [18] Postero die scalis undique admotis muri occupantur. Paucis pernicitas saluti fuit: qui ubi cognito urbis excidio paludem transnavere, in vicina oppida ingentem intulere terrorem invictum exercitum et deorum profecto advenisse memorantes. [19] Alexander ad vastandam eam regionem Perdicca cum expedita manu misso partem copiarum Eumeni tradidit, ut is quoque barbaros ad deditionem conpelleret: ipse ceteros ad urbem validam, in quam aliarum [p. 311] quoque confugerant incolae, duxit. [20] Oppidani missis, qui regem deprecarentur, nihilo minus bellum parabant. Quippe orta seditio in diversa consilia diduxerat vulgum: alii omnia deditione potiora, quidam nullam opem in ipsis esse ducebant. [21] Sed dum nihil in commune consulitur, qui deditioni inminebant, apertis portas hostem recipiunt. [22] Alexander quamquam belli auctoribus iure poterat irasci, tamen omnibus venia data et obsidibus acceptis ad proximam deinde urbem castra movit. [23] Obsides ducebantur ante agmen: quos cum ex muris agnovissent, utpote gentis eiusdem, in colloquium incolae vocaverunt. Illi clementiam regis simulque vim commemorando ad deditionem eos conpulere: ceterasque urbes simili modo domitas in fidem accepit. [24] Hinc in regnum Sopithis perventum est. Gens, ut barbari credunt, sapientia excellet bonisque moribus regitur. [25] Genitos liberos non parentum arbitrio tollunt aluntque, sed eorum, quibus spectandi infantum habitum cura mandata est. Si quos vitiis insignes aut aliqua parte membrorum inutiles notaverunt, necari iubent. [26] Nuptiis coeunt non genere аc nobilitate coniunctis, sed electa corporum specie, quia eadem aestimatur in liberis. [27] Huius gentis oppidum, cui Alexander admoverat copias, ab ipso Sopithe obtinebatur. Clausae erant portae, sed nulli in muris turribusque se armati ostendebant, dubitabantque Macedones, deseruissent urbem incolae an fraude se occulerent: [28] cum subito patefacta porta rex Indus cum duobus adultis [p. 312] filiis occurrit multum inter omnes barbaros eminens corporis specie. [29] Vestis erat auro purpuraque distincta, quae etiam crura velabat, aureis soleis inseruerat gemmas, lacerti quoque et brachia margaritis ornata erant, [30] pendebant ex auribus insignes candore ac magnitudine lapilli, baculum aureum berylli distiuguebant. Quo tradito precatus, ut sospes acciperet, se liberosque et gentem suam dedidit. [31] Nobiles ad venandum canes in ea regione sunt: latratu abstinere dicuntur, cum viderunt feram, leonibus maxime infesti. [32] Horum vim ut ostenderet Alexandro, in consaeptum leonem eximiae magnitudinis iussit emitti et quattuor omnino admoveri canes. Qui celeriter feram occupaverunt: tum ex iis, qui adsueverant talibus ministeriis, unus canis leoni cum aliis inhaerentis crus avellere et, [33] quia non sequebatur, ferro amputare coepit. Ne sic quidem pertinacia victa rursus aliam partem secare institit et inde non segnius inhaerentem ferro subinde caedere: at ille in vulnere ferae dentes moribundus quoque infixerat. Tantam in illis animalibus ad venandum cupiditatem ingenerasse naturam memoriae proditum est. [34] Equidem plura transcribo quam credo: nam nec adfirmare sustineo, de quibus dubito, nee subducere, quae accepi. [35] Relicto igitur Sopithe in suo regno ad fluvium Hypasin processit Hephaestione, qui diversam regionem subegerat, coniuncto. [36] Phegeus erat gentis proximae rex: qui popularibus suis colere agros, ut adsueverant, iussis Alexandro cum donis occurrit nihil, quod imperaret, detrectans.
I. ALEXANDER, rejoicing in so memorable a victory, by which he believed that the bounds of the Orient were opened to him, sacrificed victims to the Sun; then, in order that his soldiers also might meet the rest of the war with readier minds, he called an assembly, and after praising them informed them that whatever strength the Indi had possessed had [2] been overthrown in the recent battle; that hereafter there would be nothing but rich booty, and that world-renowned riches were conspicuous in that region to which they were on their way. Furthermore, he said that the spoils taken from the Persians were now cheap and shabby, that his hearers would fill, not only their homes, but all Macedonia and Greece with gems and pearls and gold and ivory.
[3] The soldiers, being eager both for wealth and for glory, and at the same time because no assertion of his had ever disappointed them, engaged their service; and when they had been dismissed full of good hope, he ordered ships to be built, in order that, when they had overrun all Asia, they might visit the [4] world’s end, the sea. There was an abundance of timber for ships in the neighbouring mountains, and when they began to attack it they found snakes of unheard-of size. There were in those mountains rhinoceros also, an animal rare elsewhere. This, however, was the name given to the beasts by the Greeks; the Indi, being unacquainted with that tongue, use another word in their own language. The king, having founded two cities, one on each bank of the river which he had crossed, presented each of the leaders of his forces with a crown of gold and a thousand gold-pieces; and to the rest also, in proportion to the rank which they held in his friendship or to their services, honour was [7] paid. Abisares, who had sent envoys to Alexander before he fought with Porus, again sent
others, promising that he would do everything that the king should order, provided only that he might not be compelled to surrender his person; for he would not live without royal power, nor reign as a captive. To him Alexander ordered it to be announced that if Abisares was reluctant to come to him, he himself would come to Abisares.
Then, after crossing a very rapid river, he advanced [9] into the interior of India. There were forests extending over an almost immeasurable space and given shade by trees towering to an enormous height.
[10] Most of their branches, which were as huge as great trunks, being bent down to the earth, rose again from where they had curved, so that the appearance was, not of a branch rising again, but of a tree sprung [11] from its own roots. The temperature of the air is wholesome; for the shade tempers the force of the sun, and there is an abundant flow of water from springs. But here also there was a great quantity [12] of serpents, whose scales shone with the brilliance f told. No poison is more dangerous; for instant death followed their bite unless an antidote was finished by the natives. From there over deserts they came to the river Hyraotis. Close to the river was a shady grove, abounding in trees not seen elsewhere and in a quantity of wild peafowl. Having moved his camp from there, Alexander took a nearby town by encirclement, and after receiving hostages imposed tribute upon it.
Next he came to a great city, for that region, protected not only by a wall but also by a marsh [15] But the barbarians sallied forth to battle with chariots joined together; some were armed with lances, others with axes, and they leaped rapidly from chariot to chariot, when they wished to aid their men who [16] were under difficulties. And at first the unusual kind of battle terrified the Macedonians, when they were wounded from a distance; then, scorning such a disorderly device, they surrounded the chariots on [17] both sides and began to kill those who resisted. And Alexander gave orders that the bonds by which the chariots were held together should be cut, in order that one by one they might be more easily surrounded. And so the enemy, after losing 8000 of [18] their number, fled back to the town. On the following day ladders were planted on all sides and the walls were carried by assault. A few were saved by their swiftness, and when these, knowing of the destruction of the city, swam across the marsh, they truck great terror into the neighbouring towns by declaring that an invincible army, surely made up of gods, had come.
Alexander sent Perdiccas with a light-armed band, [19] to devastate that region, and delivered a part of the forces to Eumenes, in order that he also might force the barbarians to surrender; Alexander himself led the rest to a strong city, in which the natives also of [20] other cities had taken refuge. The besieged sent envoys to beg the king for mercy, but nevertheless prepared for war. For a disagreement had arisen, which had divided the common people into divers opinions; some thought anything preferable to surrender, others that they had no power in themselves.
[21] But while they could not come to an agreement, those who were eager for surrender opened the gates and [22] let in the enemy. Alexander, although he might justly have been angry with those who advocated war, having nevertheless pardoned them all and received hostages, moved his camp from there to the [23] next city. The hostages were led at the head of the army; when the inhabitants recognized them from the walls, since they were of the same nation they summoned them to a conference. The hostages by telling them of the king’s clemency and at the same time of his power drove them to surrender; and he subdued the rest of the cities in a similar manner and received them under his protection.
[24] From there he came into the realm of Sopithes. That nation, as the barbarians believe, excels in wisdom and is governed in accordance with good [25] customs. The children that are born they acknowledge and rear, not according to the discretion of their parents, but of those to whom the charge of the physical examination of children has been committed. If these have noted any who are conspicuous for defects or are crippled in some part of their limbs, they give orders to put them to death.
[26] They marry, not because of consideration of family or rank, but of exceptional personal beauty, because [27] that is what is valued in the children. A town of this nation, against which Alexander had moved his forces, was held by Sopithes himself. The gates were shut, but no armed men showed themselves on the walls and in the towers, and the Macedonians were in doubt whether the inhabitants had deserted the city or had hidden themselves treacherously; [28] when suddenly a gate was opened and the Indian king with two grown-up sons presented himself, a man far surpassing all other barbarians in physical [29] attractiveness. His robe, which covered his legs as well as the rest of his body, was embroidered with gold and purple, he wore golden sandals studded with gems, his shoulders and arms were adorned [30] with pearls and from his ears hung pearls conspicuous for whiteness and size, his golden sceptre was ornamented with beryl. This he handed to Alexander with a prayer that he might receive it with good fortune and surrendered himself and his children along with his nation.
[31] There are in that region dogs famous for hunting; they are said to abstain from barking when they have seen a wild beast, and they are especially enemies to [32] lions. In order to display their strength to Alexander, Sopithes ordered a lion of extraordinary size to be let into an enclosed space and only four dogs to be brought in. They quickly attacked the wild beast; then one of those who were accustomed to such services began to pull away the leg of a dog that with the others was clinging to the lion, and then, because the animal did not let go, to cut the leg off with a [33] knife. When even then the dog’s persistency was not overcome, he began to cut another part, and when the dog held fast with equal strength, to make cuts at the dog’s body as well; but the dog even in dying kept his teeth fixed in the lion’s wound. Such is the eagerness for the chase which Nature is [34] reported to have implanted in those animals. As for myself, I report more things than I believe; for I cannot bring myself to vouch for that about which I am in doubt, nor to suppress what I have heard.
[36] Alexander then, leaving Sopithes in his kingdom, advanced to the river Hypasis, joined by Hephaestion, who had subdued a different region. Phegeus was king of the next nation; he gave orders to his subjects to work in the fields as they had been accustomed and went on to meet Alexander, refusing nothing which he should order.
Biduum apud eum substitit rex. Tertio die amnem supe- [p. 313] rare decreverat transitu difficilem non spatio solum aquarum, sed etiam saxis inpeditum: [2] percontatus igitur Phegea, quae noscenda erant, XII dierum ultra flumen per vastas solitudines iter esse cognoscit, [3] excipere deinde Gangen, maximum totius Indiae fluminum, ulteriorem ripam colere gentes Gangaridas et Prasios eorumque regem esse Aggrammen XX milibus equitum ducentisque peditum obsidentem vias. [4] Ad hoc quadrigarum II milia trahere et, praecipuum terrorem, elephantos, quos III milium numerum explere dicebat. [5] Incredibilia regi omnia videbantur: igitur Porum — nam cum eo erat — percontatur, an vera essent, quae dicerentur. [6] Ille vires quidem gentis et regni haud falso iactari adfirmat, ceterum, qui regnaret, non modo ignobilem esse, sed etiam ultimae sortis: quippe patrem eius, tonsorem vix diurno quaestu propulsantem famem, propter habitum haud indecorum cordi fuisse reginae. [7] Ab ea in propiorem eius, qui tum regnasset, amicitiae locum admotum interfecto eo per insidias sub specie tutelae liberum eius invasisse regnum necatisque pueris hunc, qui nunc regnat, generasse, invisum vilemque popularibus, magis paternae fortunae quam suae memorem. [8] Adfirmatio Pori multiplicem animo regis iniecerat curam. Hostem beluasque spernebat, situm locorum et vim fluminum extimescebat: [9] relegatos in ultimum paene rerum humanarum persequi terminum et eruere arduum videbatur, rursus avaritia gloriae et insatiabilis cupido famae nihil invium, nihil remotum videri sinebat. [10] Et interdum dubitabat, an Macedones tot emensi spatia terrarum, in acie et in castris senes [p. 314] facti per obiecta flumina, per tot naturae obstantes difficultates secuturi essent: abundantes onustosque praeda magis parta frui velle quam adquirenda fatigari. [11] Non idem sibi et militibus animi: sese totius orbis imperium mente
conplexum adhuc in operum suorum primordio stare, militem labore defetigatum proximum quemque fructum finito tandem periculo expetere. [12] Vicit ergo cupido rationem, et ad contionem vocatis militibus ad hune maxime modum disseruit: ‘Non ignoro, [13] milites, multa, quae terrere vos possent, ab incolis Indiae per hos dies de industria esse iactata: sed non est inprovisa vobis mentientium vanitas. Sic Ciliciae fauces, sic Mesopotamiae campos, Tigrim et Euphraten, quorum alterum vado transiimus, alterum ponte, terribiles fecerant Persae. [14] Nil umquam ad liquidum fama perducitur: omnia illa tradente maiora sunt vero. Nostra quoque gloria, cum sit ex solido, plus tamen habet nominis quam operis. [15] Modo quis beluas offerentes moenium speciem, quis Hydaspem amnem, quis cetera auditu maiora quam vero sustineri posse credebat? Olim, hercules, fugissemus ex Asia, si nos fabulae debellare potuissent. [16] Creditisne elephantorum greges maiores esse, quam usquam armentorum sunt, cum et rarum sit animal nec facile capiatur multo que difficilius mitigetur? [17] Atqui eadem vanitas copias peditum [p. 315] equitumque numeravit. Nam flumen, quo latius fusum est, hoc placidius stagnat: quippe angustis ripis coercita et in angustiorem alveum elisa torrentes aquas invehunt, contra spatio alvei segnior cursus est. [18] Praeterea in ripa оmnе periculum est, ubi adplicantes navigia hostis expectat. Ita, quantumcumque flumen intervenit, idem futurum discrimen est evadentium in terram. [19] Sed omnia ista vera esse fingamus: utrumne nos magnitudo beluarum an multitudo hostium terret? Quod pertinet ad elephantos, praesens habemus exemplum: in suos vehementius quam in nos incucurrerunt: tam vasta corpora securibus falcibusque mutilata sunt. [20] Quid autem interest, totidem sint, quot Porus habuit, an in milia, cum uno aut altero vulnerato videritis ceteros in fugam declinari? Dein paucos aegre et incommode regunt: [21] congregata vero tot milia ipsa se elidunt, ubi nec stare nec fugere potuerint inhabiles vastorum corporum moles. Equidem sic animalia ista contempsi, ut, cum haberem ipse, non opposuerim, satis gnarus, plus suis quam hostibus periculi inferre. [22] At enim equitum peditumque multitudo vos commovet! Cum paucis enim pugnare soliti estis et nunc primum inconditam sustinebitis turbam. [23] Testis adversus multitudinem invicti Macedonum roboris Granicus amnis et Cilicia inundata cruore Persarum et Arbela, cuius campi devictorum a nobis ossibus strati sunt. [24] Sero hostium legiones numerare coepistis, postquam solitudinem in Asia vincendo fecistis. Cum per Hellespontum navigaremus, de paucitate nostra cogitandum fuit: [p. 316] nunc nos Scythae sequuntur, Bactriana auxilia praesto sunt, Dahae Sogdianique inter nos militant. [25] Nec tamen illi turbae confido: vestras manus intueor, vestram virtutem rerum, quas gesturus sum, vadem praedemque habeo. Quamdiu vobiscum in acie stabo, nec mei nee hostium exercitus numero: vos modo animos mihi plenos alacritatis ac fiduciae adhibete. [26] Non in limine operum laborumque nostrorum, sed in exitu stamus: pervenimus ad solis ortum et Oceanum. Nisi obstat ignavia, inde victores perdomito fine terrarum revertemur in patriam. Nolite, quod pigri agricolae faciunt, maturos fructus per inertiam amittere e manibus. [27] Maiora sunt periculis praemia: dives eadem et inbellis est regio. Itaque non tam ad gloriam vos duco quam ad praedam. Digni estis, qui opes, quas illud mare litoribus invehit, referatis in patriam, digni, qui nihil inexpertum, nihil metu omissum relinquatis. [28] Per vos gloriamque vestram, qua humanum fastigium exceditis, perque et mea in vos et in me vestra merita, quibus invicem contendimus, oro quaesoque, ne humanarum rerum terminos adeuntem alumnum commilitonemque vestrum, ne dicam regem, deseratis. [29] Cetera vobis imperavi: hoc unum debiturus sum. Et is vos rogo, qui nihil umquam vobis praecepi, quin primus me periculis obtulerim, qui saepe aciem clipeo meo texi. Ne infregeritis in manibus meis palmam, qua Herculem Liberumque Patrem, si invidia afuerit, aequabo. [30] Date [p. 317] hoc precibus meis et tandem obstinatum silentium rumpite. Ubi est ille clamor, alacritatis vestrae index? ubi ille meorum Macedonum vultus? Non agnosco vos, milites, nec agnosci videor a vobis. Surdas iamdudum aures pulso, aversos animos et infractos excitare conor.’ Cumque illi in terram demissis capitibus tacere perseverarent: [31] ‘Nescio quid,’ inquit, ‘in vos inprudens deliqui, quod me ne intueri quidem vultis. In solitudine mihi videor esse. Nemo respondet, nemo saltem negat. [32] Quos adloquor? quid autem postulo? Vestram gloriam et magnitudinem vindicamus. Ubi sunt illi, quorum certamen paulo ante vidi contendentium, qui potissimum vulnerati regis corpus exciperent? Desertus, destitutus sum, hostibus deditus. [33] Sed solus quoque ire perseverabo. Obicite me fluminibus et beluis et illis gentibus, quarum nomina horretis: inveniam, qui desertum a vobis sequantur. Scythae Bactrianique erunt mecum, hostes paulo ante, nunc milites nostri. [34] Mori praestat quam precario imperatorem esse. Ite reduces domos! ite deserto rege ovantes! Ego hic aut vobis desperatae victoriae aut honestae morti locum inveniam.’
Delphi Complete Works of Quintus Curtius Rufus Page 124
