several kinds； rising like a black cloud out of the river and the lake； devoured every morsel of the flour that had been used in setting out the lines； at which omen even Alexander himself was troubled； till the augurs restored his confidence again by telling him it was a sign the city he was about to build would not only abound in all things within itself； but also be the nurse and feeder of many nations。 He commanded the workmen to proceed； while he went to visit the temple of Ammon。 This was a long and painful； and； in two respects； a dangerous journey； first； if they should lose their provision of water； as for several days none could be obtained； and； secondly； if a violent south wind should rise upon them； while they were travelling through the wide extent of deep sands； as it is said to have done when Cambyses led his army that way； blowing the sand together in heaps； and raising； as it were； the whole desert like a sea upon them； till fifty thousand were swallowed up and destroyed by it。 All these difficulties were weighed and represented to him； but Alexander was not easily to be diverted from anything he was bent upon。 For fortune having hitherto seconded him in his designs； made him resolute and firm in his opinions； and the boldness of his temper raised a sort of passion in him for surmounting difficulties； as if it were not enough to be always victorious in the field； unless places and seasons and nature herself submitted to him。 In this journey； the relief and assistance the gods afforded him in his distresses were more remarkable； and obtained greater belief than the oracles he received afterwards； which； however； were valued and credited the more on account of those occurrences。 For first； plentiful rains that fell preserved them from any fear of perishing by drought； and； allaying the extreme dryness of the sand； which now became moist and firm to travel on； cleared and purified the air。 Besides this； when they were out of their way； and were wandering up and down； because the marks which were wont to direct the guides were disordered and lost； they were set right again by some ravens； which flew before them when on their march； and waited for them when they lingered and fell behind； and the greatest miracle； as Callisthenes tells us； was that if any of the company went astray in the night； they never ceased croaking and making a noise till by that means they had brought them into the right way again。 Having passed through the wilderness； they came to the place where the high priest； at the first salutation； bade Alexander welcome from his father Ammon。 And being asked by him whether any of his father's murderers had escaped punishment； he charged him to speak with more respect； since his was not a mortal father。 Then Alexander； changing his expression； desired to know of him if any of those who murdered Philip were yet unpunished； and further concerning dominion； whether the empire of the world was reserved for him？ This； the god answered； he should obtain； and that Philip's death was fully revenged； which gave him so much satisfaction that he made splendid offerings to Jupiter； and gave the priests very rich presents。 This is what most authors write concerning the oracles。 But Alexander； in a letter to his mother； tells her there were some secret answers； which at his return he would communicate to her only。 Others say that the priest； desirous as a piece of courtesy to address him in Greek； 〃O Paidion；〃 by a slip in pronunciation ended with the s instead of the n； and said 〃O Paidios；〃 which mistake Alexander was well enough pleased with； and it went for current that the oracle had called him so。 Among the sayings of one Psammon； a philosopher； whom he heard in Egypt； he most approved of this； that all men are governed by God； because in everything； that which is chief and commands is divine。 But what he pronounced himself upon this subject was even more like a philosopher； for he said God was the common father of us all； but more particularly of the best of us。 To the barbarians he carried himself very haughtily； as if he were fully persuaded of his divine birth and parentage； but to the Grecians more moderately； and with less affectation of divinity； except it were once in writing to the Athenians about Samos； when he tells them that he should not himself have bestowed upon them that free and glorious city； 〃You received it；〃 he says； 〃from the bounty of him who at that time was called my lord and father；〃 meaning Philip。 However； afterwards being wounded with an arrow； and feeling much pain； he turned to those about him； and told them； 〃This； my friends； is real flowing blood； not Ichor…
〃Such as immortal gods are wont to shed。〃
And another time； when it thundered so much that everybody was afraid； and Anaxarchus； the sophist； asked him if he who was Jupiter's son could do anything like this； 〃Nay；〃 said Alexander； laughing； 〃I have no desire to be formidable to my friends； as you would have me； who despised my table for being furnished with fish； and not with the heads of governors of provinces。〃 For in fact it is related as true； that Anaxarchus； seeing a present of small fishes； which the king sent to Hephaestion； had used this expression； in a sort of irony； and disparagement of those who undergo vast labours and encounter great hazards in pursuit of magnificent objects which after all bring them little more pleasure or enjoyment than what others have。 From what I have said upon this subject； it is apparent that Alexander in himself was not foolishly affected； or had the vanity to think himself really a god； but merely used his claims to divinity as a means of maintaining among other people the sense of his superiority。 At his return out of Egypt into Phoenicia； he sacrificed and made solemn processions； to which were added shows of lyric dances and tragedies； remarkable not merely for the splendour of the equipage and decorations； but for the competition among those who exhibited them。 For the kings of Cyprus were here the exhibitors； just in the same manner as at Athens those who are chosen by lot out of the tribes。 And； indeed； they showed the greatest emulation to outvie each other； especially Nicocreon； King of Salamis； and Pasicrates of Soli； who furnished the chorus； and defrayed the expenses of the two most celebrated actors； Athenodorus and Thessalus； the former performing for Pasicrates； and the latter for Nicocrean。 Thessalus was most favoured by Alexander； though it did not appear till Athenodorus was declared victor by the plurality of votes。 For then at his going away； he said the judges deserved to be commended for what they had done； but that he would willingly have lost part of his kingdom rather than to have seen Thessalus overcome。 However； when he understood Athenodorus was fined by the Athenians for being absent at the festivals of Bacchus； though he refused his request that he would write a letter in his behalf； he gave him a sufficient sum to satisfy the penalty。 Another time； when Lycon of Scarphia happened to act with great applause in the theatre； and in a verse which he introduced into the comic part which he was acting； begged for a present of ten talents； he laughed and gave him the money。 Darius wrote him a letter； and sent friends to intercede with him； requesting him to accept as a ransom of his captives the sum of a thousand talents； and offering him in exchange for his amity and alliance all the countries on this side the river Euphrates； together with one of his daughters in marriage。 These propositions he communicated to his friends； and when Parmenio told him that； for his part； if he were Alexander； he should readily embrace them； 〃So would I；〃 said Alexander； 〃if I were Parmenio。〃 Accordingly； his answer to Darius was； that if he would come and yield himself up into his power he would treat him with all possible kindness； if not； he was resolved immediately to go himself and seek him。 But the death of Darius's wife in childbirth made him soon after regret one part of this answer； and he showed evident marks of grief at thus deprived of a further opportunity of exercising his clemency and good nature； which he manifested； however； as far as he could； by giving her a most sumptuous funeral。 Among the eunuchs who waited in the queen's chamber； and were taken prisoners with the women； there was one Tireus； who； getting out of the camp； fled away on horseback to Darius； to inform him of his wife's death。 He； when he heard it； beating his head； and bursting into tears and lamentations； said； 〃Alas！ how great is the calamity of the Persians！ Was it not enough that their king's consort and sister was a prisoner in her lifetime； but she must； now she is dead； also be but meanly and obscurely buried？〃 〃O king；〃 replied the eunuch； 〃as to her funeral rites； or any respect or honour that should have been shown in them； you have not the least reason to accuse the ill fortune of your country； for to my knowledge neither your queen Statira when alive； nor your mother； nor children； wanted anything of their former happy condition； unless it were the light of your countenance； which I doubt not but the lord Oromasdes will yet restore to its former glory。 And after her decease； I assure you； she had not only all due funeral ornaments； but was honoured also with the tears of your very enemies； for Alexander is as gentle after victory as he is terrible in the field。〃 At the bearing of these words； such was the grief and emotion of Darius's mind； that they carried him into extravagant suspicions； and taking Tireus aside into a more private part of his tent； 〃Unless thou likewise；〃 said he to him； 〃hast deserted me； together with the good fortune of Persia； and art become a Macedonian in thy heart； if thou yet ownest me for thy master Darius； tell me； I charge thee； by the veneration thou payest the light of Mithras； and this right hand of thy king； do I not lament the least of Statira's misfortunes in her captivity and death？ Have I not suffered something more injurious and deplorable in her lifetime？ And had I not been miserable with less dishonour if I had met with a more severe and inhuman enemy？ For how is it possible a young man as he is should treat the wife of his op