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

496 PROSTRATION.fresh taunt, Alexander, after vain attempts to restrain himby his companions, seized a pike and ran Clitus through thebody. His subsequent grief was as violent as his fatal act,but repentance, though creditable to his feelings, was noexcuse for his murderous transport of rage.In this place it may be as well to say a word about thealleged desire of Alexander that prostration should be practicedbefore him as was usual before Persian monarchs. TheOrientals at the court naturally continued to Alexander thatobeisance which they were habituated to practice to their ownsovereigns. It was not less naturally irksome to them to seethat the Greeks and Macedonians approached this humblerof the Great King as if he were indeed but a companion.Whatever the really strongest underlying motive may havebeen, this difference led to difficulties which the wisest policymight have been puzzled to remove. It is certain that manyof his nearest Macedonian friends had agreed that the Easternhabit of prostration should be introduced among all. Thebulk of the Macedonians held this practice in abhorrence,though some few Greeks and Macedonians had alreadyadopted it. At a banquet in Zariaspa, no doubt with Alexander'sprivity, there was an attempt made by a party of whichsome noted Greek philosophersand literary men were members,to introduce the custom by a surprise, inthe hope thatonce adopted by the majority, under whatever circumstances,the active opposition to it would cease. In the speeches atthis banquet, Alexander was compared by the philosopherAnaxarchus to Bacchus and Hercules, and those who favoredthe plan, joined in this fulsome adulation, as well as actuallyprostrated themselv^es. Most of the Macedonians were disgustedat both speech and act, but remembering the fate ofClitus, deemed it prudent to abstain from criticism.Especially two philosophers were prominent in Alexander's