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

DARIUS' OVERTURES. 341Alexander, had he so desired to do, could scarcely have prudentlystood in their way. To deny his men their rightsin this particular would have forfeited much of his influence.And Alexander, no doubt, was at times as revengeful asbasest of his phalangians.Alexander now offered the proposed sacrifice to Herculeswith military honors, his army parading at the very gates ofthe temple, and dedicated the particular engine which hadopened the breach, to the god, as a thank-offering. The fleetwas drawn up in battle order, and passed in review ; and theTyrian ship, sacred to Ilercides, which had been captured,was likewise dedicated, and a suitable inscription placedupon it. Games and gymnastic sports were celebrated withinthe precincts of the temple.Thus fell Tyre, after a siege of seven months, and no doubtits extraordinary resistance and awful doom made as deep animpression upon the world as had the battle of Issus. Thepride of centuries had been humbled by the persistent courage,ability and military skill of Alexander.The place was retained as a naval station, but Tyre wasentirely destroyed, though Strabo says that it again becamea flourishing city. The building of the mole altered the flowingtides in such a manner that the ancient harbors havebeen filled up with deposits of mud, and the island has becomea peninsula, nature's monument to the almost superhumanlabors of this greatest of captains.While besieging Tyre, Alexander received from Darius asecond letter, tendering him ten thousand talents for the releaseof his mother, wife and children, and offering him hisdaughter Statira in marriage and all the territory west of theEuphrates. Alexander submitted this letter to the Companions,and Parmenio is said to have advised its acceptance." If I were Alexander, I would accept." " If I were Par-the