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

DARIUS' SURROUNDINGS. 415sand feet above the sea level, in a lovely plain, where foreiffht months the climate was deliirhtful. It had seven walls,each inner one higher than the next outside it, and eacli of adifferent color, the last two being covered with silver andgold plates. The citadel was a treasury, and the palace amarvel of beauty.In Media Darius proposed to watch events, perhaps tofight again in case Alexander followed him up ;perhaps toretire into Parthia and Hyrcania, or even as far as Bactria,laying waste the land, to prevent pursuit. He seemed intentonly on personal safety. He had sent his baggage train, thewomen, and what treasures he had still preserved, to the CaspianGates, a defile through the Elburz or Caspian Mountains,while he for months remained at Ecbatana, awaitingwhat Alexander might do. He had taken no military stepsto meet his antagonist, but he had not been idle in otherdirections. By the present of three hundred talents he hadinduced the Lacedaemonians and Athenians to join in an attackon Macedonia.Alexander now had all the treasure he needed to carry onthe war to the confines of the known world, as well as toprotect himself at home. He proposed to follow up Darius,wherever he might turn.The Great King still had a kernel of strength about him,and possessed the ability to do much to defend the easternquarter of his kingdom. Nabarzanes, general of the royalhorse-guards, Atropates the Mede, Autophradates of Tarpuria,Phrataphernes, who controlled the satrapies of Hyrcaniaand Parthia, Satibarzanes of Aria, Barsaentes, the rider ofArachosia and Drangiana, Bessus, viceroy of Bactria andDarius' cousin, his brother Oxathres, and, most worthy of all,Artabazus, "the first nobleman of Persia," commander ofthe Greek mercenaries, with his sons, still surrounded him.