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

ALEXANDER'S DIRECTNESS. 277Aspendus was built mainly upon a very high rock, at thefoot of which ran the Eurymedon ; but a part of the inhabitantslived in a village which nestled at its foot, and was protectedby a wall.This the citizens deserted on the approachof the Macedonian army, and the empty houses affordedAlexander an opportunity to quarter his army to good advantage.The place was of extraordinary strength, and mightwell have held out an indefinite time, for all Alexander'ssiege material was with the column under Parmenio ;but thegarrison, doubtless influenced by the current rumors of Alexander'sdivine powers, — which superstition Alexander wasby no means loath to foster, for its political value as well as,be it franldy confessed, the gratification ityielded to his personalvanity, — agreed to surrender on terms harder than theformer ones, namely, double tribute and hostages ; and theking, having no desire to devote his time to minor exploitswith the world open to his arms, settled the matter in thisform, and made haste to march on Phrygia by way of Perge.Alexander had no intention ofhalting long on his way tosubdue the mountain tribes of the Taurus. He had altogethertoo much work cut out ahead. It sufficed if, in passingthrough, he personally taught them a salutary lesson.He could then leave the eventual settlement of the countryto whatever lieutenant he might commission to represent him.Alexander invariably kept the main object in view, and didnot allow unessential matters to call his attention from themore important ones.swords with the Great King.His hope now was speedily to measureThe only road to Phrygia lay west of Perge, skirting thefoot of the mountain and then running through the defiles ofTermessus, where the mountains had been torn asunder intoa gap with sides so precipitous that a handful of doughtymen could readily obstruct the passage of a host. The road