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196 ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
which he gently let fall his mantle, and leaped lightly
upon the horse's back. Th en, without pulling the
reins too hard, or using either whip or spur, he set him
going. As soon as he perceived that he was qui et,
he put him to a full gallop, and pushed him on both
with voice and spur.
6. Philip and all his court were in great distress at
first , and look ed on in profound silence; but wh en th e
prince had turned his st eed and brought him straight
back, they all received him with loud acclamations,­
except his father, wh o wept for joy, and kissing him
said, "Seek anoth er kingdom, my son, that may be
worthy of thy abilities, for Macedonia is too small
for thee."
7. A genera l assembly of . th e Greeks being held
at Corinth, they resolved to send their troops with
Alexander against the Persian s, and he was unanimously
elected captain-general. Many statesmen and
philosophers came to congratulate him on th e occasion;
and he hoped that Diogenes, who was then living at
Corinth, would be one of the number. Finding, however,
that he preferred th e enjoy ment of his leisure
in the suburbs, he went to see him.
8. Diogenes happened to be lying in th e sun; and
at th e approach of so many people, he rai sed himself
up a little and fixed his eyes upon Alexander. Th e
king addressed him in an obliging manner, and aske d
him if there was any way in which he could serve
him. " Only stand a little out of my sun shine," said
Diogenes. Alexander, we are told, was struck with
such surprise at finding himself so little regarded, and
saw something so 'great in that carelessness, that