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

DARIUS OFFERS TERMS. 325ing friendship and alliance. Alexander's victory he ascribedin the message to the favor of some one of the gods. Herecalled the ancient amity of Persia and Macedon, and, himself,a king, begged of a king the return of his family. Tothis letter Alexander replied. He sent his missive by anequal embassy. His letter recited the injuries of Persia toGreece ; the beginning of hostilities by Darius ; the instigationof his father's murder by the Persian court ; it assertedhis right as conqueror to the whole of Asia ; it demandedthat Darius should address him as his lord, and not as anequal ; and threatened to follow him up wherever he shouldgo till he had accomplished his mission by destroying thePersian sovereignty. As a touch in Alexander's portrait,his very words are of interest :" I am lord of Asia. Cometo me, and thou shalt receive all that thou canst ask. Butif thou deniest my right as thy lord, stand and fight for thykingdom. I will seek thee wherever thou art." The letterwas addressed, perhaps, as much to the Greek world as tothe Persian king.Here, too, at Marathus, Alexander caused to be sent to himfrom Damascus certain Greeks who were at Darius' court asambassadors from Sparta, Thebes and Athens. These menhe treated with exceptional generosity, in view of their position.He released the Thebans, and but temporarily confinedthe Spartan. The son of Iphicrates of Athens, the generaland originator of the light troops kno^vn as peltasts, who wasone of them, he appointed to a position of honor near hisown person.Alexander next advanced on, and occupied Byblus by termsof capitulation. King Enylus was with his squadron in thePersian fleet. This, says Arrian, was called the oldest city inthe world, and possessed a considerable territory. Sidonopened her gates, from hatred of the Persians engendered of