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

IN FRONT OF THEBES. 213Alexander desired to be just as well as to save his meu.He moved slowly on the city, so as to afford the Thebaus timeto send an embassy andcrave pardon (August, 335B. c). He camped north ofand over againstand waited.Curtius placethe city,Diodorus andhis force atthirty thousand foot andthree thousand horse.Butfar from acting on a peacefulpolicy, the Thebansboastingiy sent out theircavalry and light troopsand made a determinedattack on Alexander's outposts.This attack wasrepulsed by a body ofarchers and heavy foot atthe moment ithad all butreached the Macedoniancamp, Alexander nowThebes.moved around the city and encamped opposite the gate whichled to Attica, thus cutting the Thebans off from Athens, aswell as placing himself in view of the Cadmaea, and close toit, for here the Cadmaea touched the city wall. The Thebansinside had blockaded the Macedonian garrison inthe citadel,and had fortified their position with an outer stockade besides,in order to forestall assistance. They now began to push thesiege. Alexander was still patient. He sent to demand thetwo ringleaders, Phoenix and Proth}i;es, but promised theiitatus quo ante to all others who might surrender. The })ulkof the citizens were for giving in, but the exiles, with whom