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

184 DANGER FROM ALL SIDES.he speedily showed that though his father had forged the toolshe found ready to his hand, he himself could wieM them witha suddenness, boldness and decision of wliich Philip was probablynever capable.No man was ever in so full a sense theleader of an army. He fought with it, commanded it, andhandled it in an almost supei'human way.Always an absoluteexample to men and officers, he asked nothing from highor low that he was not able to do far better himself, and willingto undertake.He made no mistake in his political beginnings. He continuedhis father's ministers in power, and committed noneof the blunders associated with youth. But his position wascritical. On the death of Philip the Greeks claimed to beabsolved from Macedonian jurisdiction.Athens at once preparedfor war and built lierseK a fleet. Thebes attemptedto eject the Macedonian garrison from the Cadmaea. Thesmaller cities were in a ferment. Sparta, as we know, hadnever submitted. Philip, anticipating nothing of the kind,had divided his army, and Parmenio was in Asia with a largepart of it. The northern tribes were becoming unruly. Infact, the Illyrians rose in active revolt. Thus from north,east, west, south, danger stared Alexander in the face.Moreover,as we have seen, Attalus, uncle of Cleopatra, under pretenseof getting the kingdom for her son by Philip, was reallyconspiring to seat himself upon it, and being, with Parmenio,in joint command of the army of Asia, he relied on his influencewith the troops to accomplish his design. Everythinglooked desperate. Alexander's friends advised him to compromisewith Greece and seek for peace with Attalus. ButAlexander was made of no such stuff. He had already wadedthrough much blood ;security could be had by no other path,nor had he been taught to recognize a better. He at oncesent to Asia and caused Attalus to be executed for treason.