The history of Quintus Curcius conteyning the actes of the greate Alexander translated out of Latine into Englishe by Iohn Brende.

¶The seconde boke of Quintus Curtius, supplied of the actes of Alexander the greate, Kyng of Macedonie. (Book 2)

WHen Philip was dead,* 1.1 his sonne whiche for the greatnes of his actes was afterwardes called the great Alexander toke vpon him the kyngdome the .4.26. yeare after the buylding of Rome, being of the age of .20. yeares. His state stode at that tyme subiect to muche enuie, hatred, and hasard from all partes. For the nacions and prouinces borde∣ryng vpon hym could not wel beare their present bon∣dage, and euery one of them sought howe to recouer a∣gayne their auncient dominion and enheritaunce. The first thyng he attempted after he was kyng was the greuous execution he dyd vpon as manye as hadde conspiryd his fathers death whyche done, he celebra∣ted his funeralles, with great pompe. Concernyng his estate he sone establysshed it, and that muche better thē any man could haue imagyned, in one beyng of so yōg and tendre yeares, for beyng of some had in contempt, and of some suspected to be cruell, towardes the one he bare hym self so stoutely, that he toke from them all contempt, and to the other so gentylly, that their yma∣gened feare of his cruell disposition was cleane taken away, he graunted vnto the Macedons fredom and priuiledge from all exaccion and bondage, sauing from the seruice of warre, by whiche act he got so great fa∣uour and loue amonges his people that all affirmed by one consent, howe the persone of their Kynge was chaunged and not his vertue, his name was altered,

but not his good gouernement. In the beginning of his raigne rebellion was made against hym on all sy∣des, he by and by with an incredible stowtenes and cō∣stancy of mynde stayed all their tumultes, which thyng pacified and set in ordre, he went to Corinthe in Pelo∣ponese,* 1.2 where callyng a generall Counsell of all the states of Grece,* 1.3 he was elected their generall Capitain against the Percians, whiche before tyme had afflic∣ted Grece with many plagues, and at that present pos∣sessed the greatest Empire in the world, his father had purposed that warre before, but the preuenciō of death was the cause he brought not his purpose to passe. Whiles he was in preparacion of this enterprise, he was enfourmed howe the Atheniens, the Thebanes, and Lacedemonians were reuolted from hym, and confederate with the Percians, and all by meanes of an Oratour called Demosthenes,* 1.4 whiche was corrup∣ted by them with a great somme of money. For the re∣formacion whereof Alexander so sodeynly had prepa∣red an Army, wherewith he came vpon them, that they could scarsely beleue they sawe hym present, of whose commyng they had not herde before. In his way he practysed wyth the Tessalians, and vsed to them suche gentle wordes and apte persuasions, by puttyng them in remembraunce of his fathers benefites, and of the aūcient kynrede betwene thē by the discent frō Hercules, that he brought them to the pointe, that by an vnyuersall decre of the hole Countrey, he was created their Gouernour. So great was the celeritie that this young man vsed, and his diligence so effectuall in all his doynges, that he brought all suche in feare of hym, as before turned from hym, and regarded hym litle. As the Atheniens were the firste that fay∣led, so they firste of all repented, and extolled with

prayses Alexanders chyldhode, whyche before they had despysed, aboue the vertue of the auncient con∣querours. They also sent Embassadours to require of hym peace, whome he sore rebuked when they came to his presence, but yet was content at length to re∣mytte their offence. And although Demosthenes was chosen one of the Embassadours, yet he came not to his Prince, but from Cythron retourned agayne to Athens, whiche his doyng was ether for feare that he had so often ••ayled agaynst Philip, and stoored the Atheniens against hym, or els to take away the suspi∣cion of hym selfe from the Kynge of Percie, of whome it was sayd that he had receyued a great somme of gold to stand agaynste the Macedons. The same thyng was layed agaynste hym by Aesthines in an Oracion, where he saieth:* 1.5 presently the Kynges gold doth beare his charges, but that can not laste hym long, seyng no ryches can suffise his prodigall liuyng. When Alexander had pacified those sturnes that were begonne in Grece, before he would passe his Army into Asia, he made a iourney agaynst the Peones, the Triballes, and Thillicians, because he vnderstode they were conspityng togethers. And for that they bordred vppon hys Countrey: and were woute to in∣uade thesame vpon euery occasion, thought to set stay amonges them before he would remoue hys po∣wer so farre of.* 1.6 From the Cytie of Amphipolis there∣fore he set forewardes agaynste the Tracians, whiche at that tyme were not vnder the rule or lawe of any man. And in ten daies came to the mount Hemus,* 1.7 in y^e toppe wherof he found thē encamped with a great po∣wer to resist his passage. In steade of trēches they had impaled thē selfes w^t their cariages crosse y^e streightes

purposyng ther to let his iourney. And if they should be inuaded by any other waye then by the strayghtes▪ they dyd determyne to roulle the Cariages downe the hyll vpon the Macedones, to breake the array of their battailes, whiche deuise in dede they put in execution. But the Souldiers had receyued before instruccions by Alexāder, that as occasiō should serue, parte should open their arraye to lette the Cartes and Wheales passe through them, and that other should fall flat vpō the grounde, and by coueryng their bodies with their Targattes auoyde the daunger. They vsed the mat∣ter accordyng to their instruccions, and when the Cartes were passed by, they with a courage and crye mounted vp agaynst their enemies, and in a moment put them to flyght: When Alexander was passed the Mountayne he entred into the Contrey of the Tri∣balles as farre as the ryuer of Ligens.* 1.8 When Syr∣mus Kynge of that lande vnderstode of his comyng he sent his wyfe and hys chyldren with suche of hys people, as were not mere for the warres into an Iland called Pencascytuate within the Riuer of Danubye.* 1.9 Into whiche lande the Thracians that bordered with the Triballes were fledde also. It was not long af∣ter that Syrmus hym selfe fledde thither lykewyse. The rest of the Tryballes that were not with the Kynge withdrewe into an other Ilande, where they kepte them selfes agaynste Alexander. But he by polecye founde the meanes to drawe them out of theree strength, whereby he slewe of them the nom∣bre of thre thousande, and the reste fledde awaye, for of prysoners there were fewe taken. After this bat∣tayles he marched towardes the Ryuer of Danu∣bye, to that Ilande where the Tracians and the o∣ther Tryballes were fledde. They made notable

resistans againste him, which they might the better do, by reason that Alexander wanted boates, & the bankes of the Iland were so highe & stepe, that they could not be mounted vpon, but with great difficulty the streame besides ronnyng meruelously swifte, because that the Ilande made yt narowe▪ when Alexander perceyued the impossibility to assaile them, he withdrewe to ano∣ther place, where gettyng a fewe boates passed the ry∣uer in the night to the nōber of .M.ccccc. horsemen & 4000 fotemen, wyth whiche company he set vpon a people called Getes,* 1.10 that stode redye in bataile on the further side, of purpose to stoppe the Macedones their passage w^t .4000. horsemen & .x.M. fotemē. By which sodeyne comyng ouer, the Getes beīg afraid did not a∣byde the furste onset. it seamed to thē a matter of won∣derful aduenture. for Alexander in one nyght wythout a bridge,* 1.11 to passe his power ouer the brodest and depest ryuer of al Europe. this matter stroke such fear in thē that they fledde into the woddes and deserte places. le∣uing their cytie desolate which was taken by Alexan∣der and ouerthrone. Syrmus Kyng of the Triballes, the Germains, and the other Inhabiters of Danubie, sent Embassadours thether vnto Alexander to enter with him in frendshyppe, and amitie. And he condis∣cending to their requestes, enquired of the Germaines what thing it was in the world that they doubted most, thinkinge in deade that the terrour of his name had bene the most feareful thing vnto thē. But when they vnderstode his meanynge they aunswered: that they doubted greatly the falling of the skye with whose pre∣sumptious aūswer Alexander was nothing moued, nor further replied, sauing only that he said, the Germains were alwaies a proud people, and thereupon dismissed thē.* 1.12 As he was going frō thence against y^e Agrians &

y^e Peās.* 1.13 he was aduertised that Clitus Bardeleius had rebelled, and was confederate with Glancias y^e kynge of the Thaulantes. he had also intelligēce, that y^e people of Anteria wold giue him bataile in his passage where∣fore he cōmytted to Lagarus the Kynge of Agryans (wich was welbeloued of King Philip, & no les fauored of Alexander) y^e charge to go againste y^e Anterians,* 1.14 and promysed him vpon his retorne to giue him his suster Cyna in mariage.* 1.15 And Alexāder him self w^t great ce∣leritie wēt against Clytus & Glaucias, whō in sondrey bataylles he ouercame, & put to flight. Whiles Alexan∣der was about thes thinges,* 1.16 he receiued aduertisemēt, y^e diuers Cities in Greace & specially the Thebans had rebelled which thinge moued him muche, & was y^e cause that he retorned w^t spede to oppresse y^e cōmocion. The Thebanes in this meane season besieged y^e Castle of Thebes, wher in was a guarrison of Macedones, and wēt about by al meanes to win it. To whose rescue A∣lexander came by greate iourneys. & encamped w^t his host nere to y^e Citie.* 1.17 Such as bare rule amōges y^e The∣banes, whē thei sawe Alexāder cōe, contrary to y^t they loked for, & doubted whether such ayde shuld cōe to thē frō other Cities, as was promysed, began to consulte how to procede. At lēgth by a general consent they de∣termyned to abide thaduenture of y^e warre. The King in y^e meane seasō stode at a staye, geuyng thē spare to be better aduised, & chaūge purpose for he was of opiniō. that not one Citye wold euer haue made resistance, a¦gainst so great a power as he had, beinge aboue .xxx. thousand, fotmen, and thre thousand horsemen, al olde Souldyers, and experte in the traueiles of warre. The truste of whose manhode and valyantenes had caused hym to vndertake the warres agaynst the Per∣cians. Trulye yf the Thebans had gyuen place too

fortune, & to y^e tyme, and wold haue required peace they mighte easelie haue obtained it his disire was so greate to passe into Asia against y^e Percians. but y^e Thebans y^t were determined to trye their force, and vse no praiers, fought agaynst y^e Macedōes that far exceded their nō∣bre obstynatly & with greate manhode. But whiles the batailes were ioyning the guarrison of the castle issued out vpon the Thebanes backe, wherby being enclosed they were vanquyshed, their Cytie taken, spoiled,* 1.18 and vtterly rased. Which thynge Alexander did of purpose because he thought y^e reste y^e Grecians afraied by their ēsample, wold be y^e more quiet whiles he shoulde be in the warres of Asia. to gratifie the Phocians and Pla∣teans that were confederat with hym, through the ma∣nifold accusations that they brought in agaynste the Thebanes, he slewe of them Six thousande▪ and solde thirte thousand as Slaues the money wherof coming amoūted to the som of foure hūdred and forty talentes yet he spared al the linage of Pindarus y^e Poete,* 1.19 wher∣bye he woulde wytnes vnto the worlde, the fauour he did beate vnto learned men. In this Citie of Thebes was a notable woman called Timoclea▪* 1.20 whome when A capteyne of Thrace did rauishe, & wold haue enfor∣ced her to confes her monye, she brought him to a well where she saide all her precious gere was hydden. And whiles he stouped downe to loke into the wel, she thrust him in, and threwe stones after▪ wherby he was slaine For this facte she being comitted to prysone and after∣wardes brought before Alexander: he asked her what she was, she aūswered w^t out feare, y^t she was Suster to Theogenes whych beind elected general Captayne against kīg Philip his father, māfully died for y^e libertie of Grece. At wose stowtnes & cōstācy y^e King merueled so much y^t he caused her w^e her childrē to be set at liberte

The Athenians had so greate pitie and compassion of the estate of the Thebanes, that contrarye to the com∣maundement of Alexander, they receyued into theyr Citie such of them as escaped. Whiche thing Alexander toke in such displeasure, that when thei sente Embas∣sadours the second tyme to demaunde peace, he would not graunte atonement, vpon any other condicion, but that such Oratours & Captaines which had sturred thē to rebelliō, shuld be deliuered vnto his handes. But at length the matter was brought to that poynet that the Oratours were reserued, & the Captaynes banished, which straight fled to Darius Kyng of Percia. At such tyme as Alexāder assembled the Greciās in Isthmos for the determinaciō of his iourney into Percia, many Oratours & Philosophers came to visite him,* 1.21 only Dio¦genes that remayned about Corinthe kept hym selfe away, as one that estemed Alexander nothyng at all. wherat he marueiled much, & wēt to visit him, wher he was beking of him selfe in the sō. He asked Diogenes if he had nede of any thīge y^t he might do. To whō Dio¦genes nether gaue reuerēce nor thāks, but willed hym to stād out of his son shine. With whose behauour and wordes Alexāder was so delited, that turning to those that were with hym said: if he were not Alexander, he would wysh to be Diogenes. Whē he had put in ordre thaffaires of Grece, comitting the rule therof togither with the Realme of Macedō to the gouernemēt of An∣tipater,* 1.22 whō he most trusted. in y^e begīning of y^e spring came to Hellespont w^t his hole Armye,* 1.23 which he trans∣ported into Asia with incredible spede & diligēs. Whē they were come to the furder shore, Alexāder threwe a darte to thennemies land, and as he was armed lepyd out of the ship wyth great chetefulnes, and their sacri∣fied, making peticiō vnto the gods that thei wold vouc∣safe 〈1 page missing〉〈1 page missing〉

towardes his enemies, and forbad his Souldiers to make eny spoyle vpon the contrey, persuadinge thē to spare that was ther owne, and that thei shuld not des∣troyt y^e thinge, which they came to possesse. He not had in his Army aboue the nombre of .xxxii.M.* 1.24 fotemen & v.M. horsemen, and but .Clxxx. ships. wherfore yt is harde to iudge whither yt be more, wonderful, that he conquered the worde, or that he dursd attempte y^e con∣queste therof, wyth so small a powre, he chase not out to suche a dangerus enterpryse the yonge men whych were in y^e firste floure of there age, but thold souldiers of whom the more parte for there longe contiunans in warres, were by the custome at lyberty, whither they wold go to the warres any more or no, sauing at there owne pleasure. And there was none of the captaynes nor of ani other that bare office in the Army that was vnder the age of .lx. yeares. So that the souldiers, for their experiēce semed to be Scolemastres of y^e warres. And the captayns for there grauitie apered to be Se∣nators in some auncient comon welth. That was the couse that in the fighte none of the minded any flieng but everie one conceyued the victorie in his hedde, nor any put trust in his fete, but in his handes. Alexander that euery where made sacrifice, did vse moste solemp∣nitie at Troye vpō Achilles Tombe,* 1.25 of whom he was discended by his mothers side. He iudged hym moste happye of all men that had bene before, because in suche glory he died yonge, and had hys actes set forthe of such one as Homer was.* 1.26 From thence he passed forewardes into the domynions of Diarus Kynge of Perce, which beinge the sonne of Arsanus,* 1.27 and the fourtene Kyng after Cirus, had gotten the possession of the Monarchie of the hole easte parte of the worl∣de. The chiefe cause that moued Alexander too

inuade hī was to be reuēged of y^e damgs & distruccōs, wherwith his predecessours had afflicted y^e contrei of Greace, & also for demāding tribut of Philip his father for y^t wiche he sent a proude & presumptious ambassad called hīself y^e King of kīges & Kiusmā of y^e gods, lastly he had written to Alexander & called him his seruant, & gaue commission to his lieutenants y^t thei shuld beat y^e mad boy y^e sonne of Philip w^t roddes & afterwards bring him to his presēce in kings aparaile And lasteli y^t they shuld drowne both ship & mariners & conuey al y^e Souldirs y^t shuld be lefte on liue, beyond y^e rede seas theytherfore purposīg to execute y^e kings cōmādemēt,* 1.28 assembled theyr powre at y^e riuer of Grāik (which doth deuid y^e cōtrei of Troie from propōtidis) thei had to y^e nombre of .xx.M. fotmen & as many horsemē, w^t whō thei had takē y^e groūd on y^e further sid of y^e ryuer, wher Alexāder must nedes passe ouer, wherof he being ad∣vertisid though he sawe but p̄sēt {per}il in thēterprise to fight in y^e water & y^e ouse frō y^e lower groūd,* 1.29 agaynst his enemyes which had thaduantage of y^e higher bank. yet vpon a singuler truste of hys owne good fortune, and the valiantnes of his soulders, attempted the matter. At the fyrst he was sore resisted, & put in great hasard of repulse, but at length he vanqueshed and otuer∣threwe his enemies. In doing whereof there neither wanted polycie in him self, nor yet singler manhode in his men. Ther was slayne in that battell of the per∣cians .xx.M. fotemen with .cc.l. horsmen. And of y^e Macedones but .xxxiiii. Thys victorie was greatlye effectuall to Alexanders purpose, for therby he wan the Cytie of Sardes,* 1.30 beinge the cheyfe strength the percians had for the maistering of the seas,* 1.31 vnto the whyche Cytye and to all the reste of the contreye of

lidia he gaue libertye to liue vnder their owne lawes He got also into his possessyon the Cytye of Epheses by reason that the fourth daye after the battell yt was abandoned of y^e guarison which Darius set ther.* 1.32 In the meane season ther cam Anbassedours frō Ma∣gnesia & frō y^e Tralliās proffering y^e delyuery of thier Cities. Parmenio was sent to thē with .iii.* 1.33 thousand fotemen & .cc. horsemen,* 1.34 wyth whych powre he wan Miletum y^t s••od at defēce, & marching frō thēs toward helycarnassus got al the townes therabouts at y^e first approche & afterwardes besieged helicarnassus yt self which with great trauaile he wan at length,* 1.35 & rased to the ground. As Alexander entered into Caria,* 1.36 Ada the Quēe of that Countrey,* 1.37 which had bene spoiled of al hir Domynion by Orontobates Darius lieutenant (sauinge of one strong Citye called Alinda) mette w^t Alexander, and adopted hym for hir sonne and heire, He wold not refuse y^e name & the proffer of hir libera∣litie, but dyd betake to hyr againe, the custody of hyr owne Citie.* 1.38 And besides for y^e memory of hyr beneuo∣lens, put the hole Contrey of Caria vnder hyr rule and subiection. From thence he wente into Lycia and Pamphilia to thentent that by gettyng the posse∣ssion of the sea costes of those contries,* 1.39 shulde causse the sea powre of Darius to stand to none effecte. whē he had ones subdued the people of Pisydia,* 1.40 he entred into Phrigia by the which contrey he was enforsed to passe, and marched towards Darius,* 1.41 with whom he had great desire to encounter, hearynge saye that he was comming against him with many thousand of men of warre.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Alexander toke vpon hym as king the .20. yere of his age.
• * 1.2

  Corinthe.
• * 1.3

  Alexander elected Ca∣pitain gene¦rall against the Perciās
• * 1.4

  Demosthe∣nes.
• * 1.5

  Aesthynes
• * 1.6

  Amphipo∣lis
• * 1.7

  Mount He∣mus.
• * 1.8

  Syrmus kyng of the Trybals.
• * 1.9

  Penca.
• * 1.10

  Getes.
• * 1.11

  Danuby.
• * 1.12

  Agrians.
• * 1.13

  Agryans. clit{us} Barde¦leius Glan∣cias Kynge of Thalāts Lagarus.
• * 1.14

  Anterians.
• * 1.15

  Cina.
• * 1.16

  The Greks rebellyd.
• * 1.17

  The siege of Thebes
• * 1.18

  The distrac¦cion of The¦bes
• * 1.19

  Pindarus the Poet.
• * 1.20

  Tymoclea.
• * 1.21

  Diogenes.
• * 1.22

  Antipater.
• * 1.23

  Hellespont
• * 1.24

  The num∣ber of Alexander Armye.
• * 1.25

  Achylles.
• * 1.26

  Homer.
• * 1.27

  Darius king of Perce.
• * 1.28

  Troye Proponty¦des.
• * 1.29

  The battal vppn the Ryuer of Grauyk.
• * 1.30

  Sardes.
• * 1.31

  Lydia, Ephelos.
• * 1.32

  Magnesia.
• * 1.33

  Meliton.
• * 1.34

  Helicarnassus.
• * 1.35

  Ada the Quene of Carya.
• * 1.36

  Orontoc••tes
• * 1.37

  Alynda.
• * 1.38

  Licia.
• * 1.39

  Pamphilia
• * 1.40

  Pisydia.
• * 1.41

  Phrigia.