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

386 PARMENIO.Parmenio may, by comparison with his chief, be foundwanting ; and some historians have laid much at his door,even going so far as to charge him with skiggishness fromenvy of the king's success. This seems overdrawn. Parmeniowas none the less a good soldier, in view of his agea remarkable one. Mazseus' attack was made in grand styleand was not easy to beat off, and it was Alexander's verysuccess which opened the gap for the Indian, Persian andParthian column to ride down through the centre of theMacedonian host. No wonder Parmenio felt that liis casewas desperate, ignorant as he was of the king's advantage.The wonder lies in Alexander's rescuing victory from so desperatea strait.Only the Persian cavalry was engaged au fond. But thisforce behaved with valor, and in seizing the opportunity ofthe gap in Alexander's left to ride through the Macedonianarmy, showed clearly that it was led by able men. The nearbyPersian infantry was routed by Alexander's wedge so soonas it struck the line, and Darius' flight completed the disasterfor the remainder. The value of discipline cannot be bettershown than by the fact that the gap in the Persian line produceddemoralization which proved irretrievably fatal ; thegap in the Macedonian line but a temporary disturbance byno means affecting the temper of the troops. The Macedonianswere quickly rallied, and were at once again ready forwork ; the Persian army went to pieces.