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

320 TWO KINGS CONTRASTED.misconduct of the Great King is another instance of thegood fortune of Alexander. The Persians, as a rule (especiallythe grandees and generals), were brave and faithfulbut the mass was easily to be demoralized. Nor did Dariusby nature lack heart ; but when he saw that the Greeks,whose meagre numbers he had been led to despise and underrate,really dared oppose him, he lost his head. In contrastto this, Alexander's splendid conduct stands out in highestrelief. The keen eye which grasped the sitiiation, and discoveredthe weak point in his adversary's position, and thecourage which faced vast odds with such calm skill, are alikeadmirable. And as no doubt it was just these qualities putinto action which produced the effect from which Dariusweakened, in so far was Alexander the arbiter of his own fortuneon this field.Perhaps Issus was the most far-reaching of all Alexander'svictories. In consequence of the event the name of Alexanderbecame the synonym of god. The usual games, feastsand sacrifices were held, and the town of Alexandria at theSyrian Passes was built as memorial of the victory. Threehuge altars at the Pinarus were erected as a monument to theslain.Alexander appointed Balacrus, son of Nicanor, one of theroyal body-guards, viceroy of Cilicia. This was the mostimportant military territory which he had as yet taken, andmust be in the best of hands. He put Menes in Balacrus'place among the body-guards. Polysperschon succeeded tothe command of Ptolemy, son of Seleucus. Menon, son ofCerdimmas, was made satrapover northern Syria, as far asParmenio had taken it, and left with a force of Greek alliedcavalry to hold the land.