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

446 PARMENIO'S DEATH.we aim at," — words of doubtful import. Alexander waseither convinced that the father must have been aware of theson's plans, or deemed that Parmenio would be dangerousafter Philotas' death, his influence being great. He was ata large detachment — seven thousand men — andthe head ofin possession of the treasures at Ecbatana. On either hypothesishe must be put aside. The order was executed, as itwere, by assassination, and the worthy old man fell, one musthope unaware that the dagger was directed by the hand ofthe young king, to whom and to whose father his life's workhad been given, and for whom his life had been so oftenrisked. Perhaps it was impossible to successfully act aboveboard,but the details of this Asiatic method of inflictingdeath are too sad to relate. Despite all Alexander's care, itis said that the suppression of this conspiracy in this bloodymanner was not accomplished without grave danger of mutiny,for the army to a man was devoted to Parmenio, and the kinghimself had always shown him the greatest respect and affection.Quintus Curtius ends his long accoimt of the trial ofPhilotas thus ": It is certain that the king here ran a greatrisk both as to his safety and his life ;for Parmenio and Philotaswere so powerful and so well beloved, that unless it ap-^peared plain they were guilty they could never have beencondemned without the indignation of the whole army. Forwhile Philotas denied the fact, he was looked upon to be verycruelly handled ; but after his confession, there was not any,even of his friends, who pitied him." This, like much in Curtius,can be construed both ways, but inclines towards theexculpation of Alexander.Amyntas, son of Andromenes, commander of one of theinfantry brigades, and his three brothers (Polemo, a Companion,and Attains and Simmias, brigade commanders), werelikewise accused of being associated with the matter. They