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

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

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WINGED SOLDIERS. 601a state <strong>of</strong> ambitious pertinacity." On being summoned tosurrender, with promise <strong>of</strong> free exit <strong>and</strong> safety, <strong>the</strong> garrisonlaughingly replied that <strong>the</strong>y feared only winged soldiers.This whetted <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong>'s ambition.The fortress was probably built on a rock jutting out <strong>from</strong><strong>the</strong> side <strong>of</strong> a mountain, — for <strong>the</strong>re was a precipice overhanging<strong>the</strong> fortress. But its sides were perpendicular. IfSogdian Rock, or Rock <strong>of</strong> Arimazes.this precipice could be gained, it would dominate <strong>the</strong> enemy'sposition. <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong> sent a herald through <strong>the</strong> camp, <strong>of</strong>feringprizes to such men as woidd essay to scale <strong>the</strong> rocks ;twelve talents (fourteen thous<strong>and</strong> five hundred doUars) to<strong>the</strong> first who succeeded, nine to <strong>the</strong> second, <strong>and</strong> so on, downto three hundred Darics (eleven hundred dollars) ; <strong>and</strong> excited<strong>the</strong> ambition <strong>of</strong> many. Of those who were expertclimbers, having learned in sieges <strong>and</strong> mountain training howto scale walls <strong>and</strong> cliffs, three hundred in number volunteered.

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