The historical library of Diodorus the Sicilian in fifteen books : the first five contain the antiquities of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece, the islands, and Europe : the last ten an historical account of the affairs of the Persians, Grecians, Macedonians and other parts of the world : to which are added the fragments of Diodorus that are found in the Bibliotheca of Photius : together with those publish'd by H. Valesius, L. Rhodomannus, and F. Ursinus / made English by G. Booth ..., Esq.

3. How the King led his Army against the Sogdians and Scythians. Arrianus, lib. 4.

IN the mean time the Barbarians that border'd next to the River, surpriz'd the Mace∣donians that were plac'd in Garisons in Scythia, and put them all to the Sword, and fortified the Cities for their greater Security. Many of the Sogdians join'd with him in the Defection, being sollicited thereunto by them that had seiz'd upon Bessus, who like∣wise drew away after them some of the Bactrians, either because they were afraid of Ale∣xander, or for that (as they gave the reason for their Rebellion) Alexander had summon'd a Senate of the Governours of the Province to meet at Zariaspa, the greatest City there, from which Convention they saw no ground to hope for any good to themselves. When Intelligence was brought to Alexander of these things, he forthwith commanded his Foot in every Regiment to prepare Scaling Ladders; and he himself march'd away with his Army to a City call'd Gaza, which was next to the Camp, and lay first in his way; for it was said the Barbarians had fled into seven Towns of that Country. Craterus he sent to Cyropolis, the greatest of all the Cities, and in which a very great number of the Barbarians had shelter'd themselves. The King commanded him to encamp near the City, and to fortifie his Camp with a Trench and Wall drawn round, and place such Engines upon

his Bulwarks as he saw occasion to use, that the Townsmen being busie in assaulting, Craterus might have no leisure to come in to the assistance of other Cities. The King himself, as soon as he came to Gaza, forthwith at the first approach commanded his Men to set Scaling-Ladders round the Walls, which were but of Earth, and not very high. Upon which, the Slingers, Darters, and Archers, together with the Foot, made an As∣sault, ply'd and gall'd them that defended the Walls with their Darts, and shot out of the Engines, so that by Showres of Darts and Arrows the Wall was presently clear'd of its Defendants, and the Scaling-Ladders in a trice were set to the Walls, and the Mace∣donians enter'd, and put all the Men to the Sword (for so Alexander had commanded) but the Women and Children, with the rest of the Prey, they carry'd away. Thence the King forthwith march'd to another City (fortified much like unto Gaza) which he took much after the same manner the very same day, and dealt with the Prisoners after the same manner as with them at Gaza. After this, he made to a third City, which he took the next day upon the first Assualt.

In the mean time, while he was reducing these Cities with his Foot, he sent away his Horse to two other neighbouring Cities, with Orders to watch 'em, lest the Inhabitants hearing of the taking of the Cities bordering upon 'em, and o•• the King's near approach, should fly and leave the Cities, so as he should not be able to pursue with any hopes to overtake 'em. And indeed it fell out as he thought, which evidenc'd the sending forth of the Horse to be necessary: For the Barbarians, who still were possess'd of two other Cities, seeing the Smoak of the City which was burnt, and was over-against 'em (besides some who escap'd out of the Overthrow, brought them news of the City being taken) with all speed in whole droves fled out of the Cities, and fell in among the Horse that were sent forth, and multitudes of 'em were knock'd on the Head.

The King having taken and raz'd these five Towns in the space of two days, march'd away to Cyropolis, the greatest of their Cities: The Walls of this City were higher than any of the rest, the Town being built by Cyrus. And forasmuch as there were many stout Men and good Soldiers, the Inhabitants of the Country were got together into this place; the Macedonians could not easily (like to the other places) take it at the first Assault, and therefore Alexander order'd, that with the Battering-Rams and other En∣gines they shou'd batter the Walls, and where-ever any Breach was made, there forth∣with to make an Assault. But the King observing the Channel of the River (which ran through the City like a little Brook) to be then dry, and not contiguous or near the Walls, but affording a direct Passage for his Soldiers into the City, he took with him his Guard Targateers, Archers, and the Agrians (the Barbarians then busie in observing the Engines and those that manag'd 'em) and secretly with few at first enter'd through the Channel into the City, and broke down the Gates that were in that part, and readily let in the rest of the Soldiers: Upon which, the Barbarians perceiving the City to be en∣ter'd, however set upon Alexander's Soldiers, and fought and resolutely, in which Conflict Alexander receiv'd a Blow on his Head and Neck with a Stone. Craterus and many others were wounded with Darts and Arrows; but at length the Barbarians were driven out of the Market-place. In the mean time, those that assaulted the Walls enter'd, all being clear of those that should have defended them. In the first Conflict at the en∣tring of the City, there were slain of the Enemy about eight thousand, the rest (for they were eighteen thousand that had there put in themselves) fled into the Castle, who after one day's siege for want of Water surrender'd themselves. The seventh City the King took at the first Assault: Ptolemy indeed says that it was surrender'd; but Aristo∣bulus relates that it was taken by storm, and that all in it were put to the Sword. Ptolemy writes, that all the Prisoners were distributed in the Army, and order'd to be kept bound till the King left the Country, lest any one of 'em that revolted should be left be∣hind.

While these things were on foot, the Army of the Asian Scythians came to the Banks of the River * 1.1 Ganais, because they heard that some of the Barbarians inhabiting beyond the River had revolted from Alexander; and their aim therefore was, that if there were any considerable Defection, they likewise might act their part in falling upon the Mace∣donians. At the same time Intelligence was brought, that Spitamenes had besieg'd those that were left in Garison in the Castle of Patachades. Alexander therefore sent Androma∣chus, Medemenus, and Caranus against Spitamenes, with sixty Horse of the Social Band, and eight hundred of the Mercenaries, who were under the Command of Caranus: But of Foot there were Fifteen hundred Mercenaries; with them the King join'd in Commis∣sion one Pharnuches for an Interpreter, a Lycian by Nation, who was well skill'd in the

Language of the Barbarians, and therefore was judged a fit Person to transact matters with them.

The King having in the space of 20 days Wall'd the * 1.2 City he had before design'd to build, gave it the Greek Mercenaries to be Inhabited by them, and to such neighbouring Barbarians as had a mind to remove their Habitations and dwell there, and to some of the Macedonians that were Disabled, and unfit to bear Arms.

Afterwards having Sacrificed to the Gods after the manner of his Country, and exhi∣bited the Gymnick Sports, and Horse-Courses, finding that the Scythians did not March back and leave the River, but threw their Darts over, (for it was there very narrow) and after their Barbarous manner, gave out most opprobious and railing Language against Alexander, as that he durst not fight with the Scythians, and if he did, he should find by experience, how great a difference there was between the Scythians and the Barbarous Asiaticks: The King being provok'd with these things, resolv'd to pass the River and fall upon 'em, and commanded Leather Boats to be made ready for that purpose. Ha∣ving therefore Sacrific'd for his good Success, the Intrails of the Beasts promised nothing that was Prosperous, which made him very uneasie, but he bore it very patiently, and staid there. The Scythians still continuing their slight and contemptuous Language, he again Sacrificed, and when Aristander the Soothsayer declar'd that danger was

portend∣ed, Alexander answer'd, it was better to undergo the extreamest hazard, than for him who had Conquered all Asia to be a Scorn, a Mocki••g-Stock to the Scythians, as Da∣rius the Father of Xerxes was heretofore. Aristander, on the other side repli'd, that he wou'd not declare any thing to the King, but what was portended by the Gods, tho' Alexander had rather hear other things.

However Alexander's Boats being now ready, and his Army standing all in Arms at the Rivers Brink, he order'd that upon a Sign gi∣ven, they should Discharge the Engines against the Scythians that Rid over against them, on the other side; which done, some of them were wounded with the Darts, and one of them especially was pierc'd with a Dart througli his Buckler and Breast-plate, and fell down dead from his Horse. But the Barbarians being terrified with Darts that wounded them at so great a distance, and with the fall of that Valiant Man, by degrees drew off further from the Bank of the River. Alexander discerning 'em to be in disorder by the stroaks of the Darts, with sound of Trumpet passed over the River at the head of his Army; and the Archers and Slingers being first sent over, he Commanded them to ply the Scythians with their Slings and Arrows least they should fall in upon the Phalanx as they were passing over, before all his Body of Horse had recover'd the other-side. When all had now gain'd the further Bank of the River, he first fell upon the Scythians with one of the Squadrons of the Social Regiment, and Four Regiments of those that were arm'd with Saralles, whose Shock the Scythians bravely bore up against, and surrounded 'em with their Horse, so that many overpowring them, that were but few, they easily kept them∣selves whole and entire. Alexander thereupon mixing his Archers and Agrians, and o∣ther select Troops (over whom Balacrus had the Command) fell in upon the Scythians, and being now on both sides mixt together, the King order'd three Squadrons of Horse of the Social Band, and all his Horse that were Darters, to Charge in upon the Scythians; and he himself at the Head of the rest of the Horse made straight upon 'em, so that now they were not able any longer to keep their Horse in a Ring as before; for the Horse prest sore upon 'em, at the same time, and the light armed Men being mixt with the Horse, they suffer'd not the Enemy with any safety to Wheel about with their Horse to surround 'em. Upon which the Scythians were put to a Total Flight, and about a Thou∣sand kill'd, and an Hundred and fifty taken Prisoners, amongst whom was Satrices one of their two Generals.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Not Genais, near the Lake Meotis, but a∣nother call'd Iaxartes. See Pl. N. Hist. l. 6. c. 16.
• * 1.2

  Call'd Alex∣andria, upon the Banks of Iaxartes call'd Tanais.