The life and death of Alexander the Great, King of Macedon in ten books / by Curtius Rufus ... done into English by the same hand that translated the last volume of The holy court.

To the Reader in general, and espe∣cially to the Souldier.

IN these Martial Times, if any thing can excite you yet higher to Honoura∣ble Atchievements, it will be the perusal of this History, then which (if you respect either the Excellence of Alexander, or the Abilities of Curtius) you will finde no∣thing more Magnificent or Delightful: You will finde how Kingdoms are disposed of by the Eternal Decrees of Providence; and that when God is pleased to put a pe∣riod to them, he selects men, and inspires them with Courage and Ʋnderstanding answerable to that great Work unto which he hath appointed them. None but A∣lexander could perform what Alexander hath done; and though his course of life was so short, that he did rather destroy then erect an Empire, yet we may wonder as much at his Resolution what he un∣dertook, as at his success in what he per∣formed. With an inconsiderable Power, with Wicker Targets, and Swords cover∣ed with Rust, and a Stock of not above

threescore Talents, which he himself con∣fesseth was the strength of his Exchequer, he advanced into Asia, and in the com∣pass of a few years, he became Master of all the East, and, at that time, of the most Flourishing and Potent Nations of the World. He never encountred any E∣nemy whom he overcame not, nor besieged City which he took not, nor invaded Land which he subdued not. Although the first grounds of the War were in the days of Xerxes, and his Predecessors, yet the ca∣lamity of it, and the utter ruine of the Empire, was in the days of Darius, the last and best of the Emperours. The ad∣mirable Revolution of States, and from what small beginnings great Powers do arise, is no where more apparently to be seen; and by the understanding of the events so long ago abroad, you may draw your Application to things more present, and at home. To add more, is to antici∣pate your understanding; I shall only insert, that the Author of this History, Quintus Curtius, (by his Complexion sir∣named Rufus) was supposed to live in the days of Caligula: His History is full of Variety, and attended with us much Gravity as Delight, as in the perusal of

it you will acknowledge with him, who for your sakes only hath taken these pains to review it; it being as much my Busi∣ness as Ambition, to relieve and ad∣vance your Ʋnderstanding.

Codrington.