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

444 PHILOTAS' CHARACTER.relieve themselves by so bold an act ; and that for two days,though constantly near the king, he neglected to speak of it.Unless there was some remarkable and easily stated excusefor this silence, it is very hard to explain. The plot camethrough other channels to Alexander's ears ; the chief plotter,Dimnos, committed suicide at the moment of arrest. Onbeing taxed with knowledge ofthe plot by the king, Philotasstated that be had considered it of so little import that it hadmade no impression upon him.This excuse Alexander apparentlyaccepted, no doubt to be the more secure of arrestingall the conspirators. Philotas was bidden as usual tosupper.At midnight the king called together his most trustedofficers, — Hephaestion, Craterus, Coenus, Erigyius, Perdiccas,Leonatus, — and sent them out with suitable guards to arrestthose to whom suspicion pointed — Philotas, chief ofPhilotas had, in common with many other Macedonians,spoken in public with more or less acerbity of Alexander'sgrowing Orientalism and vanity, and had also very naturallyvaunted the services of his father and brothers and self, ascribingto his family in great measure Alexander's abnormalsuccesses. More especially had he talked in this fashion tohis mistress, whom Alexander, it is said, had suborned toreveal to him what Philotas had said in private. This espionagehad been going on for over a year, and Philotas' doomwas probably sealed long before the incident which was itsimmediate and alleged cause. Philotas was not without faults.He was overbearing as an officer, and is said to have beendisliked by his men. He was no doubt open to criticism, ifnot censure, in many ways.all.But the fidelity to Alexander ofthe entire family had always been unquestioned till oflate.Next day a formal council of the generals was called, theking detailed the facts, and at once turned the matter over tothe Companions for judgment, himself appearing as accuser.