按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e rocky and precipitous； and the walls rose from the cliffs to the height of 150 feet in solid masonry。 As Alexander possessed no ships； the only method by which he could approach the town was by constructing a causeway； the materials for which were collected from the forests of Libanus and the ruins of Old Tyre。 After overcoming many difficulties the mole was at length pushed to the foot of the walls； and as soon as Alexander had effected a practicable breach； he ordered a general assault both by land and sea。 The breach was stormed under the immediate inspection of Alexander himself； and though the Tyrians made a desperate resistance； they were at length overpowered； when the city became one wide scene of indiscriminate carnage and plunder。 The siege had lasted seven months； and the Macedonians were so exasperated by the difficulties and dangers they had undergone that they granted no quarter。 Eight thousand of the citizens are said to have been massacred； and the remainder； with the exception of the king and some of the principal men； who had taken refuge in the temple of Melcart； were sold into slavery to the number of 30；000。 Tyre was taken in the month of July in 332。
Whilst Alexander was engaged in the siege of Tyre； Darius made him further and more advantageous proposals。 He now offered 10；000 talents as the ransom of his family； together with all the Provinces west of the Euphrates； and his daughter Barsine in marriage； as the conditions of a peace。 When these offers were submitted to the council Parmenio was not unnaturally struck with their magnificence； and observed； that were he Alexander he would accept them。 〃and so would I；〃 replied the king； 〃were I Parmenio。〃 Darius； therefore； prepared himself for a desperate resistance。
After the fall of Tyre； Alexander marched with his army towards Egypt； whilst his fleet proceeded along the coast。 Gaza； a strong fortress on the sea…shore； obstinately held out； and delayed his progress three or four months。 After the capture of this city Alexander met his fleet at Pelusium； and ordered it to sail up the Nile as far as Memphis； whither he himself marched with his army across the desert。 He conciliated the affection of the Egyptians by the respect with which he treated their national superstitions； whilst the Persians by an opposite line of conduct had incurred their deadliest hatred。 He then sailed down the western branch of the Nile； and at its mouth traced the plan of the new city of Alexandria； which for many centuries continued to be not only the grand emporium of Europe； Africa； and India； but also the principal centre of intellectual life。 Being now on the confines of Libya； Alexander resolved to visit the celebrated oracle of Zeus （Jupiter） Ammon； which lay in the bosom of the Libyan wilderness。 The conqueror was received by the priests with all the honours of sacred pomp。 He consulted the oracle in secret； and is said never to have disclosed the answer which he received； though that it was an answer that contented him appeared from the magnificence of the offerings which he made to the god。 Some say that Ammon saluted him as the son of Zeus。
Alexander returned to Phoenicia in the spring of 331。 He then directed his march through Samaria； and arrived at Thapsacus on the Euphrates about the end of August。 after crossing the river he struck to the north…east through a fertile and well…supplied country。 On his march he was told that Darius was posted with an immense force on the left bank of the Tigris； but on arriving at that river he found nobody to dispute his passage。 He then proceeded southwards along its banks； and after four days' march fell in with a few squadrons of the enemy's cavalry。 From some of these who were made prisoners Alexander learned that Darius was encamped with his host on one of the extensive plains between the Tigris and the mountains of Kurdistan； near a village called Gaugamela （the Camel's House）。 The town of Arbela； after which the battle that ensued is commonly named； lay at about twenty miles distance； and there Darius had deposited his baggage and treasure。 That monarch had been easily persuaded that his former defeat was owing solely to the nature of the ground； and； therefore； he now selected a wide plain for an engagement； where there was abundant room for his multitudinous infantry； and for the evolutions of his horsemen and charioteers。 Alexander； after giving his army a few days' rest； set out to meet the enemy soon after midnight； in order that he might come up with them about daybreak。 On ascending some sand…hills the whole array of the Persians suddenly burst upon the view of the Macedonians； at the distance of three or four miles。 Darius； as usual； occupied the centre； surrounded by his body…guard and chosen troops。 In front of the royal position were ranged the war…chariots and elephants； and on either side the Greek mercenaries； to the number； it is said； of 50；000。 Alexander spent the first day in surveying the ground and preparing for the attack； he also addressed his troops； pointing out to them that the prize of victory would not be a mere province； but the dominion of all Asia。 Yet so great was the tranquillity with which he contemplated the result； that at daybreak on the following morning； when the officers came to receive his final instructions； they found him in a deep slumber。 His army； which consisted only of 40；000 foot and 7000 horse； was drawn up in the order which he usually observed； namely； with the phalanx in the centre in six divisions； and the Macedonian cavalry on the right； where Alexander himself took his station。 The Persians； fearful of being surprised； had stood under arms the whole night； so that the morning found them exhausted and dispirited。 Some of them； however； fought with considerable bravery； but when Alexander had succeeded in breaking their line by an impetuous charge； Darius mounted a fleet horse and took to flight； as at Issus； though the fortune of the day was yet far from having been decided。 At length； however； the rout became general。 Whilst daylight lasted Alexander pursued the flying enemy as far as the banks of the Lycus； or Greater Zab； where thousands of the Persians perished in the attempt to pass the river。 After resting his men a few hours Alexander continued the pursuit at midnight in the hope of overtaking Darius at Arbela。 The Persian monarch； however； had continued his flight without stopping； but the whole of the royal baggage and treasure was captured。
Finding any further pursuit of Darius hopeless； Alexander now directed his march towards Babylon。 At a little distance from the city the greater part of the population came out to meet him； headed by their priests and magistrates； tendering their submission and bearing with them magnificent presents。 Alexander then made his triumphant entry into Babylon； riding in a chariot at the head of his army。 The streets were strewed with flowers； incense smoked on either hand on silver altars； and the priests celebrated his entry with hymns。 Nor was this a mere display of a compulsory obedience。 Under the Persian sway the Chaldaean religion had been oppressed and persecuted； the templ