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

XXXVI.CLITUS. WINTER, B. C. 329-328.At Maracanda there was an attempt by some of the Greeks and Persians,much to the annoyance of tlie Macedonians, to introduce the custom of prostrationon approacliing Alexander, who liad already beg-un largely to imitate thedress and manners of the Persian monarehs. This was partly a political desideratum,partly a very natural growth of vanity on Alexander's part.At afeast here, when much fulsome flattery had been indulged in, Clitus, excited withwine, let his natural repugnance to such servility get the better of him, andindulged in insulting and treasonable language.Alexander, at first patient andcool, finally allowed his anger to control him, and, seizing a spear, ran Clitusthrough the body. Repentance, however sincere, came too late. This samemood gave rise to a conspiracy of the pages, which was discovered and suppressed;and to the execution of the philosoplier Callisthenes, for indulging intoo much free speech. The discussion of this subject is not properly part ofthis volume.It was at Maracanda, as Curtius informs iis, during thewinter preceding the death ofSpitamenes, that the habit ofintemperance to which Alexander, in his hours of leisure,was becoming too much addicted, began to produce its mostlamentable results. The murder of Clitus at a drunken bout,for words spoken in the heat of wine, can be traced only to alapse in self-control due to excess of vanity, and to rage largelythe effect of overdrinking. The fact that such lapses wererare, and that they did not interfere with work to be done,cannot be warped into an excuse. This incident, unlike theconspiracy of Philotas, has properly nothing to do with themilitary history of Alexander ; but it has been given so greatprominence by most historians that it cannot well be skipped,especially as Clitus was one of the most distinguished of the