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

BUCEPHALUS. 563drance Instead of a help. The ground had probably beentoo deep for their evolutions. Two of Porus' sons, Spitakes,and nearly all of his prominent chieftains were killed, and allthe elephants destroyed or captured. The Macedonians losttwo hundred and thirty cavalry and seven hundred infantry inkilled. This (over six and a half per cent.) is the heaviestloss in killed on recoi'd for an army of its size, and effectuallydisposes of the idea sometimes advanced that Alexander didnot have to fight for his victories. It shows clearly that hewas ready to fight until he won or was destroyed. To takethe usual number of wounded would give us the extraordinaryloss of seventy-three per cent, in killed and wounded. Still,this is credible. The wounded were numerous. " There returnedto the camp scarcely a single person who was notwounded," says Curtius of another action, and it may havebeen the same in this case.Porus himseK was captured. Him Alexander had seenand admired during the entire battle. Conspicuously seatedon his huge elej)hant, he led on his men with consummatebravery.After all was over, Porus, though wounded (Curtiussays he had nine wounds), endeavored to make his escape.Alexander in person galloped after on Bucephalus.But thenoble old animal fell in his tracks and died from overexertion,at the age, generally stated, of thirty years. As thelegend goes, Bucephalus was wont to kneel down for Alexanderto mount and dismount.This habit was not uncommon,for w ithoutstirrups, and with heavy armor and weapons, itwould be a welcome aid.And now, rather than throw hisrider In his fall, the gallant steed stopped, gently knelt forAlexander to dismount, and then rolled over dead. It isgenerally related that Bucephalus could be ridden, whennaked, only by the king and his groom. But so soon as histrappings were on him, not even his groom could approachto mount, but only Alexander.