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

XIV.ALEXANDER AND GREECE. B. C. 336.Philip had for years harbored desig-ns of an expedition against the Persianmonarchy, but did not live to carry them out.Alexander succeeded him at theage of twenty. He had been educated under Aristotle. No monarch of hisyears was ever so well equipped in heart and head. Like Frederick, he wasmaster from the start.'' Though the name has changed, the king remains, 'quoth he. His arras he found ready to hand, tempered in his father's forge.But it was his own strength and skill which wielded them. The Greeks consideredthemselves absolved from Macedonian jurisdiction by the death ofPhilip. Not so thought Alexander. He marched against them, turning thepasses of Tempe and Callipeuke by hewing a path along the slopes of MountOssa, and made himself master of Thessaly. The Amphyctionic Councildeemed it wise to submit, and elected him autocrator in place ofhis father.It was in the midst of such a circle and such a governmentthat the youth of Alexander was spent. From his infancythe superstitious blood of his mother coined in his mind thestories of Hercules and Achilles and Bacchus, while the practicalsense of his father led him to look upon the earth andwater which his ancestors had been compelled to bring tothePersian king as injuries to be avenged. The glorious storyof Marathon and Salamis taught him that the few with soulstirringcommon purpose are stronger than the many who lackcohesion or leaders ; and the destruction of the holy templesand tombs of Asia Minor by the ruthless servants of theGreat King roused his righteous indignation to the highestpitch. The boy's shoulders bore a man's head, and hisfather's splendid exploits, coupled with what Philip lookedforward to accomplish in the future, made Alexander fearthat there would be nothing left for him to conquer. His