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

318 DARIUS' FAMILY.Plutarch, Arrlan, and others tell us of his real magnanimity.We cannot equitably debit his account with all the ill whichcan be discovered in his character, unless we credit it withwhat was noble. It is related that when Alexander returnedfrom the chase of Darius, and was supping with his Companionsin the Great King's pavilion in the Persian camp, heheard in the adjoining tent the sobs of women. Inquiringthe cause, he was informed that the queen-mother, Sisygambis,and the queen, Statira, were lamenting the death of theirson and husband. He at once sent Leonnatus to assure themthat Darius still lived, and that they themselves had nothingto fear. He was as good as his word, for not only did he takeno advantage of the acknowledged right of the conqueror ofthose days, but forbade the beauty and accomplishments ofStatira to be mentioned in his presence. For Statira passedfor the most lovely woman of her times. The royal ladieswere surrounded by their accustomed Eastern state, and weretreated as queens, and in no respect as captives. PerhapsAlexander was the only Greek of his time who would havedone this ; and his forbearance does as great honor to hisheart as the keeping of his royal captives on this scale redoundsto his knowledge of state craft. For all his contemporariespraised him ; it became the more easy to handleDarius, and the Persians acquired as high a regard for hischaracter as they already had for his skill. When, the nextday, the king and Hephsestion paid a visit to the queens,Sisygambis fell at the feet of the latter, thinking him themonarch, for Alexander was in no wise more richly habited,and Hephffistion was the taller of the two. And when shediscovered her error, and in fear for the result fell at the feetof the conqueror, Alexander at once raised her from theground, and assured her that it was no mistake, for Hephgestionwas also an Alexander. Then, taking up the little sonof Darius, he fondled him.