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

388 THE PRIZE OF ARBELA.follow.He seemed to forget that it was possible for him stillto make a successful defense of his kingdom at the entranceto Persis, which was covered by one of the most difficultmountain barriers in the world, and inhabited by a hardypopulation ready to do sterling service for the defense oftheir master. He fled as if his life were the only thing worthsaving. His desertion left no head to the state. Ariobarzaneshad probably no idea that Darius would abandon Persis.He saw that Babylon, in the open plain, was scarcelyto be saved. Susa was equally accessible. But Persepoliswas behind the mountains, and afforded abundant chancesfor defense.Alexander was obliged quickly to leave Arbela, lest thestench of corpses should breed a pestilence. The army advancedon Babylon by the main road, and crossed theTigrisat Opis. With his usual care to leave no danger in his rear,and to make sure of his booty, Alexander neither followedDarius in his flight to the mountains, nor Ariobarzanes in hisretreat to the Persian Gates. He preferred to take immediatepossession of Babylon, before any one coidd organizefor its defense. He naturally expected opposition here. Heknew its history and had heard of its mighty walls. Perhapsthe sieges of Halicarnassus, Tyre and Gaza were to berepeated. He could not tarry an instant.The extent of the power of Persia can, to a small degree,be measured by its capital. It must be remembered thatalthough Greece was the actual seat of the intellect and libertiesof the world, Persia represented its material prosperity.Many of the now desert regions of the vast empire were, inAlexander's day, covered with smiling fieldsand a contentedpeople ; and the vast structures and illimitable luxuries of thePersian kings do not point alone to a selfish centralizedpower, and a yet more selfish and cruel system of serfdom,