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

418 HEAVY CAVALRY DISCHARGED.of King" Ochus, who had left Darius to seek shelter with Alexander,and learned that the Great King was once moreretiring to the east, with but three thousand cavalry and sixthousand infantry. The Cadusians and Scythians had notjoined him, afraid of the paling of his star, and desertionsfrom his ranks were multijjlying.At Ecbatana Alexander discharged the Thessalian andGreek allied cavalry, whose term of enlistment was up, payingthem in full, and presenting them with two thousand talentsbesides. In the distribution of bounty the best horsemenreceived a sum in gold equal in weight to eleven hundreddollars of our money ; the least footman about four hundreddollars ; and the others their due share. He made proper arrangements(Menes being charged with the details) for theirtransportation back by sea. The Thessalians appear to haveowned their horses, and to have sold them before leavingthe army. But many voluntarily reenlisted and remained.The bounty to these men, probably including the pay for thenew term, was some thirty-three hundred dollars each. Outof these statements we are unable to construct any definitebasis of compensation.Alexander was now to operate In a different country, andagainst different enemies. He could no longer expect to combatin large masses, but needed lighter and more active troops.The Thessalian heavy cavalry was therefore more readilyto be spared as a body than when he anticipated battles inthe open field. Moreover, of the heavy armed only his Companioncavalry would be willing to stand the hardships ofmountain and desert he now expected to encounter. Clitus,who had been left behind at Susa, sick, was to follow, and onthe way pick up invalids who had become reestablished, andrejoin Alexander in Parthia, bringing with him some sixthousand men from Ecbatana. Alexander also, says Curtius,