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

FALLING-OFF IN DISCIPLINE. 665scendants of Demetrius Poliorcetes, son of Antigonus ; Bithynia,Pontus, Gallacia, Bactria, Rhodes, and the Greek cantons.In these countries Greek remained as the lanj^uajre ofthe polite world and of the government.Monuments were inscribed,and records kept in Greek ; coins bore Greek legends,and the educated classes made use of the language and themanners of Hellas. In some of them Grecian art, literatureand learning reached a high development ; but coupled withintellectual good were mixed the elements of moral decay, andfrom their formation to their fall these countries bore theimpress ofthe unreal and transitory.The successors of Alexander soon beg^an to indulfje inextensive wars among themselves.These required enormousforces, and they were unscrupidous as to their means ofgatheringthem. Money was poured out like water to raisearmies ; bribery was resorted to as a means of seducing thetroops of the enemy from their allegiance ; and as a resultthe soldiers discovered that they had a money value, and actedaccordingly.Discipline became a thing of the past, and intoits place stepped every vice which loosening organization isapt to engender. It was this faUing-off in discipline whicheventually made Greece and Macedon a prey to the Komanarms.What had been the chief strength of Alexander's army,the Companions and the select bodies of troops chosen fromthe best men of the nation, gradually became a dangerinstead of a protection to the state. Whoever could gainover these prototj^es of the Praetorian guards — and as arule, money was the open sesame — could control the government.The demand for soldiers made the profession of armsthe only one worth pursuing for a livelihood ; and all Greecebecame a vast recruiting ground.Gold could not only buyarmies of any size, but could seduce men from their alle-