Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

130 ALEXANDER AND PHILIP QUARREL.with an open as well as a strong hand. He had abundantcommon-sense, and found no difficulty in being elected Hegemon,or autocrator of Greece. This was immediately proclaimedat Corinth.The spirit of the victory at Chasronsea grew by what it fedon.Philip now saw his way clear to Oriental conquests, andsent a large force to Asia, which he intended later to followin person.His generals, Parmenio and Attalus, were alreadyon the ground, fomenting among the Grecian coloniesrevoltagainst the Great King. But his preparations were thrownaway.Philip did not long enjoy the distinction of autocratorof Greece. His reign came suddenly and lamentably to anend.Philip had married several wives, having repudiated Olympiason the allegation of infidelity. Olympias retired to theprotection of her brother, the king of Epirus. Alexandersided against Philip. He always clung with respectful loveto his mother, though recognizing her peculiar weakness.Quarrels ensued.At the marriage banquet of Cleopatra, thelast wife, a toast was proposed by Attalus, Cleopatra's uncle,with the hope expressed for a speedy and legitimate issue." Dost thou then call me a bastard ? " quoth Alexander, andhurled a goblet at him. Philip started up in rage, drew hissword and rushed at his son ; but intoxication, wrath and hisChaeronaea wounds rendered him unsteady, and he fell prone." Here is the man who proposes to cross to Asia, and he cannotcross from one couch to another " ! was the sneering commentof his son.Alexander conducted his mother to Epirus and thence wentto the court of Illyrium. Attalus was promoted and loadedwith honors. Alexander's young friends, among them Harpalus,Nearchus, Erigyius and Laomedon, Ptolemy, son ofLagus, Philotas and others, whom we shall see later among