Page:Ali Baba, or, The forty thieves (4).pdf/23

23 ces plated with silver, and their heads gilt, which they meant not to embrue in the Ma- cedonian blood for fear of marring their beauty. He bad for the proper guard of his own person 200 of the blood royal, blood too royal and precious to be spilt by any valorous adventurer, (I am of opinion 200 sturdy fellows like the Switzers, would have done him more service.) and these were backed with 30,000 footmen, after whom again were led 400 spare horses for the king, which if he had meant to have used, he would have marshalled somewhat nearer Now followed the rear guard, the same being led by Sisagambis the king's mother, and by his wife, drawn in a glorious chariot, followed by a great train of ladies on horse- back, with 15 waggons of the king's chil- dren and the wives of the nobility, waited on by 250 concubines, and a world of nur- ses and eunuchs most sumptuously appareled. By which it should seem that Darius thought that the Macedonians had been a company of comedians or tumblers; for this troop was far fitter to behold those sports than to be present at battles. Between these and a company of light armed slaves was the king's treasure, on 600 mules and 300 ca- mels, brought, as it proved, to pay the Ma- cedonians. In this sort came the May-game king into the field, encumbered with a most necessary train of strumpets, attended