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

222 MEMNON IN ASIA MINOR.borrowed eiglit hundred talents more. He started heavilyhandicapped, with but sixty talents of ready money left.needed his " hopes."The monarchy of Persia was ripe for a fall. Its overgrownbody had long been diseased. If it did not die of one, itHemust of another cause.Its one protection against the restlessefforts of Greece had long been money, which, judiciouslydisbursed among the several cities, kept them at odds withone another, and prevented their joining hands in an attackon Persia. But Macedon had risen superior to the effects ofthis pusillanimous policy, and now stood knocking at its gates.Darius had, as we have seen, sent Memnon, the Rhodian, tooppose Parmenio and Attains in Asia Minor. These generalshad conducted a campaign of no particular moment in Mysia.Attains had been executed for treason by Alexander's command,and his troops, after momentary hesitation, had returnedto their fidelity and were again concentrated underParmenio, the ever faithful. The campaign was not prolificof results, but the points essential to protect Alexander'scrossing had been secured and held, as it were, by bridgeheads.Memnon was an excellent soldier, and it looks to usstrange that he did not succeed in brushing away the Macedonianforce here, particularly after Parmenio was recalled tothe capital, just before the Danube and Pelium campaign ; butwe may look for an explanation in the factthat the jealousyof the Persian satraps so constantly broke forth against everyGreek in authority, that he was usually prevented from anythinglike vigorous action by the reduction of the means athis disposal and the consequent tying of his hands. All thisagain was Alexander's luck.stemmed the tide setting against Persia.Memnon unfettered might havePersia had recently reconquered Egypt and Phoenicia, principallythrough the aid of Greek mercenaries under Mentor,