number of soldiers under his command. Their design was, if Alexander should pursue them, to secure themselves, by giving up Darius alive into his hands; and, in case they escaped, to murder that prince, and afterwards usurp his crown, and begin a new war. The traitors soon won over the troops, by representing to them that they were going to their destruction; that they would soon be crushed under the ruins of an empire, which was ready to fall; at the same time, that Bactriana was open to them and offered them immense riches. These promises soon prevailed upon the perfidious army: the traitors seized and bound their monarch in chains of gold, under the appearance of honour, as he was a king; then enclosing him in a covered chariot, they set out towards Bactriana.

In this manner, they carried him, with the utmost despatch, until being informed that the Grecian army was still hotly pursuing them, they found it impossible either to conciliate the friendship of Alexander, or to secure a throne for themselves: they therefore, once more, gave Darius his liberty, and desired him to make the best of his escape with them from the conqueror; but he replied, that the gods were ready to revenge the evils he had already suffered; and, appealing to Alexander for justice, refused to follow a band of traitors. At these words, they fell into the utmost-fury, thrusting him with their darts and their spears, and left him to linger in this manner, unattended, the remains of his wretched life.

The traitors then made their escape by different ways; while the victorious Macedonians at length coming up, found Darius in a solitude, lying in his chariot, and drawing near his end. However, he had strength enough, before he died, to call for drink, which a Macedonian, Polystratus by name, brought him. He had a Persian prisoner, whom he employed as his interpreter Darius, after drinking what had been given him, turned to the Macedonian, and said, that, in the deplorable state to which he was reduced, he however should have the comfort to speak to one who could understand him, and that his last words would not be lost. He therefore charged him to tell Alexander, that he had died in his debt, that he gave him many thanks for the great humanity he had exercised towards his mother, his wife, and his children, whose lives he had not only spared, but had restored them to their former splendour; that he besought the gods to give victory to his arms, and make him monarch of the universe; that he thought he need not intreat him to revenge the execrable murder committed on his person, as this was the common cause of kings. After this, taking Polystratus by the hand, "Give him," said he, "thy hand, as I give thee mine: and carry him, in my name, the only pledge I am able to give, of my gratitude and affections,"

Saying these words, he breathed his last. Alexander coming up a moment after, and seeing Darius' body, he wept bitterly; and, by the strongest testimonies of affection that could be given, proved how intimately he was affected with the unhappiness of a prince who deserved a better fate.

He immediately pulled off his military cloak, and threw it on Darius' body: then, causing it to be embalmed, and his coffin to be adorned with royal magnificence, he sent it to Sysigambis, to be interred with the honours usually paid to the deceased Persian monarchs, and entombed with his ancestors. Thus, died Darius, in the fiftieth year of his age six of which he reigned with felicity. In him, the Persian empire ended, after having existed, from the time of its founder, Cyrus the Great, a period of two hundred and ninety-nine years.

CHAPTER XV.

From the Death of Darius, to the Death of Alexander.

THE death of Darius served only to inflame the spirit of am bition in Alexander, to pursue furtl.er conquests. After having in vain attempted to follow Bessus, who now assumed the name of king, he desisted, in order to cross Parthia; and, in three days, arrived on the frontiers of Hyrcania, which submitted to his arms. He afterwards subdued the Mardii, the Arii, the Drange, the Arichosii, and several other nations; into whose countries, his army marched with greater speed than people generally travel He frequently pursued an enemy for whole days and nights together; almost without suffering his troops to take any rest. By this prodigious rapidity, he came unawares upon nations who thought him at a great distance; and subdued them, before they had time to put themselves in a posture of defence.

It was upon one of these excursions, that Thalestris, queen of the Amazons, came to pay him a visit. A violent desire of seeing Alexander, had prompted that princess to leave her domin. ions, and travel through a great number of countries, to gratify her curiosity. Having come pretty near his camp, she sent word that a queen was come to visit him; and that she had a prodi gious inclination to cultivate his acquaintance. Alexander having returned a favourable answer, she commanded her train to stop. and came forward herself, with three hundred women; and, the moment she perceived the king, she leapt from her horse, having two lances in her right hand.

She looked upon the king without discovering the least sign of admiration; and, surveying him attentively, did not think his stature correspondent to his fame; for the barbarians are very

much struck with a majestic air; and think those only capable of mighty achievements, on whom nature has bestowed bodily advantages. She did not scruple to tell him, that the chief motive of her journey, was to have posterity by him; adding, that she was worthy of giving heirs to his empire. Alexander, upon this request, was obliged to make some stay in this place; after which, Thalestris returned to her kingdom, and the king into the province inhabited by the Parthians.

Alexander, now enjoying a little repose, abandoned himself to sensuality; and he whom the arms of the Persians could not conquer, fell a victim to their vices. Nothing was now to be seen, but games, parties of pleasure, women, and excessive feasting; in which, he used to revel whole days and nights. Not satisfied with the buffoons, and the performers on instrumental music, whom he had brought with him out of Greece, he obliged the captive women, whom he carried along with him, to sing songs, after the manner of their country.

He happened, among these women to perceive one who appeared in deeper affliction than the rest; and who, by a modest, and, at the same time, a noble confusion, discovered a greater reluctance than the others, to appear in public. She was a perfect beauty, which was very much heightened by her bashfulDess; whilst she threw her eyes to the ground, and did all in her power to conceal her face. The king soon imagined, by her air and mien, that she was not of vulgar birth, and, inquiring himself into it, the lady answered, “That she was grand-daughter to Ochus, who not long before had swayed the Persian sceptre, ana daughter of his son; that she had married Hystaspes, who was related to Darius, and general of a great army."

Alexander, being touched with compassion, when he heard the unhappy fate of a princess of the blood royal, and the sad condition to which she was reduced, not only gave her liberty, but returned all her possessions; and caused her husband to be sought for, in order that she might be restored to him.

But now the veteran soldiers, who had fought under Philip. not having the least idea of sensuality, inveighed publicly against the prodigious luxury, and the numerous vices, which the army had learnt in Susa and Ecbatana. The king, therefore, thought that the safest remedy would be to employ them, and, for tha, purpose, led them to Bessus. But, as the army was encumbered with booty, and a useless train of baggage, so that it could scarcely move, he first caused all his own baggage to be carried into the great square, and afterwards that of his army (such things ex cepted as were absolutely necessary;) then, ordered the whole to be carried from thence, in carts, to a large plain. Every one was in great pain to knew the meaning of all this; but, after he

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bad sent away the horses, he himself set fire to his own things, and commanded every one to follow his example.

Hitherto, we have seen Alexander triumphing, by a course of virtue. We are now to behold him swollen up by success, spoiled by flattery, and enervated by vices; exhibiting a very doubtful character, and mixing the tyrant with the hero. A conspiracy was formed against him, by one Dymnus; this was communicated, by a Macedonian soldier, to Philotas, one of Alexander's favour ites. Philotas neglected divulging it to his master; and thus became suspected himself, as being concerned in the conspiracy. Parmenio, also, the father of this young favourite, became equally obnoxious; and, as the suspicion of tyrants is equally fatal with a conviction, Alexander doomed both to destruction.

In the beginning of the night, various parties of guards having been posted in the several places necessary, some entered the tent of Philotas, who was then in a deep sleep; when, starting from his slumbers, as they were putting manacles on his hand, he cried, "Alas! my sovereign, the inveteracy of my enemies, has got the better of your goodness." After this, they covered his face, and brought him to the palace, without uttering a single word. His hands were tied behind him, and his head covered with a coarse worn out piece of cloth. Lost to himself, he did not dare to look up, or open his lips; but the tears streaming from his eyes, he fainted away, in the arms of the man who held him. As the standers-by wiped off the tears in which his face was bathed, recovering his speech and his voice by insensible degrees, he seemed desirous of speaking.

The result of this interview was, that Philotas should be put to the rack. The persons who presided on that occasion, were his most inve erate enemies, and they made him suffer every kind of torture. Pilotas at first discovered the utmost resolution and strength of n nd; the torments which he suffered not being able to force from him a single word, nor even so much as a sigh. But, at last, conquered by pain, he confessed himself to be guilty, named several accomplices, and even accused his own father. The next day, the answers of Philotas were read in full assembly, he himself being present. Upon the whole, he was unanimously sentenced to die; immediately after which, he was stoned, according to the custom of Macedonia, with some others of the conspirators.

The condemnation of Philotas brought on that of Parmenio; whether it were that Alexander really believed him guilty, or was afraid of the father, now he had put to death the son. Polydamus, one of the lords of the court, was appointed to see the execution performed. He had been one of Parmenio's most intimate friends, if we may give that name to courtiers, who attend

only to their own fortunes. This was the very reason of his being nominated, because no one could suspect that he was sent with any such orders against Parmenio. He therefore set out for Media, where that general commanded the army, and was entrusted with the king's treasure, which amounted to a hundred and fourscore thousand talents, about twenty-seven millions sterling. Alexander had given him several letters for Cleander, the king's lieutenant in the province; and for the principal officers. Two were for Parmenio; one of them from Alexander, and the other sealed with Philotas' seal, as if he had been alive, to prevent the father from harbouring the least suspicion.

Polydamus was but eleven days on his journey, and alighted in the night at Cleander's. After having taken all the precautions necessary, they went together, with a great nuinber of attendants, to meet Parmenio, who at this time was walking in his own park. The moment Polydamus espied him, though at a great distance, he ran to embrace him, with an air of the utmost joy; and, after compliments, intermixed with the strongest indications of friendship, had passed, on both sides, he gave him Alexander's letter, which opening, and afterwards that under the name of Philotas he seemed pleased with the contents.

At that very instant, Cleander thrust a dagger into his side, then made another thrust into his throat; and the rest gave him several wounds, even after he was dead. He was, at the time of his death, seventy years of age, and had served his master with a fidelity and zeal, which, in the end, was very ill rewarded.

In order to prevent the ill consequences that might arise from the contemplation of these cruelties, Alexander set out upon his march, and continued to pursue Bessus; upon which occasion he exposed himself to great hardships and dangers. Bessus, however, was treated by his followers in the same manner he had treated the king his master. Spitamenes, his chief confidant, hav. ing formed a conspiracy against him, seized his person, put him in chains, forced the royal robes from his back; and, with a chain round his neck, he was delivered up, in the most ignominious manner, to Alexander.

The king caused this man to be treated with his usual cruelty. After reproaching him for his treachery, and causing his nose and ears to be cut off, he sent him to Ecbatana, there to suffer whatever punishment Darius' mother should think proper to inflict upon him. Four trees were bent by main force, one towards the other, and to each of these trees one of the limbs of the trai tor's body was fastened. Afterwards, the trees being allowed to return to their natural position, they flew back, with so much violence, that each tore away the limb that was fixed to it, and Bo quartered him