I knew lamenting was in vain, Had been a stitch of proper care, Closed would have been the luckless rent, Nor thus the day have been mispent," ALEXANDER AND THE FAMILY OF DARIUS. FTER the battle of Issus, Alexander, after visiting the wounded, caused the last honours to be paid to the dead, in the presence of the whole army drawn up in the most splendid order of battle. He treated the Persians of distinction in the same manner, and permitted Darius's mother to bury whatever persons she pleased, according to the customs and ceremonies practised in her country. After this, he sent a message to the queens informing them that he was coming to pay them a visit: and accordingly, commanding all his train to withdraw, he entered the tent, accompanied only by Hephæstion, who made so cautious and discreet a use of the liberty granted him, that he seemed to take it not so much out of inclination, as from a desire to obey the king, who would have it so. They were both of the The same age, but Hephaestion was taller, so that the queens took him at first for the king, and paid him their respects as such. But some captive eunuchs pointing out Alexander, Sysigambis fell prostrate before him, and entreated pardon for her mistake; but the king raising her from the ground assured her that his friend also was an Alexander; and, after comforting her and her attendants, and assuring her that no part of the state she had formerly enjoyed should be withheld, he took the son of Darius, that was yet but a child, in his arms. infant, without discovering the least terror, stretched out his arms to the conqueror, who being affected with its confidence, said to Hephæstion "Oh! that Darius had some share, some, portion of this infant's generosity." That he might prevent every suspicion of design on the chastity of the consort of Darius, and, at the same time, remove every cause of fear or anxiety from her mind, he resolved never to visit her tent more, although she was one of the most engaging women of her time. This moderation, so very becoming in a royal conqueror, gave occasion to that noted observation of Plutarch, "That the princesses of Persia lived in an enemy's camp, as if they had been in some sacred temple, unseen, unapproached, and unmolested." Sysigambis was distinguished FAMILY OF DARIUS. 77 by extraordinary marks of Alexander's favour: Darius himself could not have treated her with more respect than did that generous prince. He allowed her to regulate the funerals of all the Persians of the royal family, who had fallen in battle; and, through her intercession, he pardoned several of Darius's nobles, who had justly incurred his displeasure. This magnanimous conduct has done more honour to Alexander's character, than all his splendid conquests. The gentleness of his manners to the suppliant captives, his chastity and continence, when he had the power to enforce obedience, were setting an example to heroes, which it has been the pride of many since to imitate. THE TYRANT AND THE PHILOSOPHER. CERTAIN Indian tyrant became hateful to his subjects from his cruelty and lawless oppressions, and all advice when offered was fatal to the adviser; when Sessa, a sage philosopher, undertook the perilous task of curing the tyrant of his hateful temper. this purpose he invented the game of chess, wherein he shows the impotence of the king in that game, when unassisted by his subjects. For The fame of this invention soon reached the tyrant's ears, as was intended, and he sent for Sessa to teach it to him, who instantly obeyed. In the course of the lesson, the despot's eyes were opened, and he congratulated himself on being, as he imagined, his own discoverer of what was real wisdom. The game became his favourite pastime; he was attached |
