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

564 PORUS CAPTURED." When Porus, who exhibited great talent in the battle,performing the deeds not only ofa general, but also of a valiantsoldier, observed the slaughter of his cavalry, and someof his elephants lying dead, others, destitute of keepers,straying about in a forlorn condition, while most of his infantryhad perished, he did not depart as Darius the Great Kingdid, setting an example of flight to his men ; but as long asany body of Indians remained compact in the battle, he keptup the struggle. But at last, having received a wound onthe right shoulder, which part of his body alone was unprotectedduring the battle, he wheeled round.His coat of mailwarded off the missiles from the rest of his body, being extraordinaryboth for its strength and the close fitting of itsjoints, as it was afterwards possible for those who saw him toobserve. Then, indeed, he turned his elephant round andbegan to retire.Alexander, having seen that he was a greatman and valiant in the battle, was very desirous ofsaving hislife. He accordingly sent first to him Taxiles, the Indian,who rode up as near to the elephant which was carrying Porusas seemed to him safe, and bade him stop thebeast, assuringhim that it was no longer possible for him to flee, and biddinghim listen to Alexander's message. But when he sawhis old foeTaxiles, he wheeled round and was preparing tostrike him with a javelin ;and he would probably have killedhim, if he had not quickly driven his horse forward out of thereach of Porus before he could strike him. But not even onthis account was Alexander angry with Porus ;but he kepton sending others in succession ; and last of all, Meroes, anIndian, because he ascertained that he was an oldfriend ofPorus. As soon as the latter heard the message brought tohim by Meroes, being at the same time overcome by thirst,he stopped his elephant and dismounted from it. After hehad drunk some water and felt refreshed, he ordered Meroes