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

ALEXANDER'S UNSELFISHNESS. 425ander reached the carriage in which Darius had been conveyed,he found but a corjise, and upon this he threw hispurple mantle as a token of respect. This was probably inJuly.Alexander must have been grievously disappointed, afterhis herculean efforts, at not taking Darius alive. By so doing,he would have made a much more easy conquest ofeastern provinces, and it would have satisfied his inordinateand naturally fast-growing vanity to have near his person insome capacity— as Cyrus kept Croesus—this last of theGreat Kings. Probably his remorseless pursuit of Bessusfrom now on proceeded largely from his feeling of disappointment,though it was to punish him for the crime of regicidethat he ostensibly dealt. Alexander had no doubt succeededbeyond expectation and beyond what he had a right to expect.Yet he had deserved what he had got. His indefatigable pursuitwas due to his own unrestrained, relentless will. It wasalmost superhuman in its energy. Had he not himself bornethe hea-saest load, it might well be laid up against him asdespotic and reckless cruelty to his men. As it was, he himself,as always, bore heat and thirst, hunger and toil, dangerand exhaustion best of all, and most cheerfully.It was on this terrible march across the desert that some ofhis men brought to the king some water in a helmet.about to drink, Alexander looked around, and saw thetheWhentired,famished look of his companions. " Why should I drink,"said he, " when you have nothing ? " and returned the wateruntasted. " Lead us where thou wilt," responded they, withshouts of hearty affection "; we are no longer mortal, so longas thou art king."Perhaps it was better for Alexander that Darius was dead.Alive, he might have been a constant rallying-point for malcontents.Now, Alexander had none of the blame, and might