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

416 TOWARDS ECBATANA.There were brave souls and wise heads enough were they butcontrolled. Here, too, he was joined by Ariobarzanes, fromthe Persian Gates, who gave him what news there was, as towhat Alexander had been doing. Nor was there any lack oftroops or weapons. Curtius gives him thirty-seven thousandmen. Nearly as well-appointed an army could still be collectedat Ecbatana as Darius had yet commanded. And theCaspian Gates furnished a position which could be defendedagainst almost any force. Here, perchance, he might finallymake peace with the Macedonians, and at least recover hisfamily and retain quiet enjoyment of his eastern possessions,by yielding up the legal title to what he had already irretrievablylost. Greece might still give such a turn to affairs asto compel Alexander to make some such trade. Or the Macedonianmight tire of conquest. Perhaps the unfortunate careerof the Great King would yet flow into a more prosperouschannel.Alexander left Persepolis, by a northerly route, about theclose of winter, 330 b. c. The month in which he set outis not certain. Heleft the train to follow,and marched,in hope and anticipationof battle,along the foothillsof the great mountainbarrier. Alexanderwas traversinga country inthose days populousand peaceful.Persepolis to Ecbatana. •mi i i ilo-day the land issavage compared to its then condition. But the geological