Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/145

 ALEXANDER CROSSES MOUNT TAUKL'S. II5 lield responsible for what threatened to be a fatal result.^ One alone among them, an Akarnanian iiamed Philippus, long known and trusted by Alexandei', engaged to cure him by a violent pur- gative draught. Alexander directed him to prepai-e it ; but be- Ibre the time for taking it arrived, he received a confidential let- ter from Parmenio, entreating him to beware of Philippus. who had been bribed by Darius to poison him. After reading the let- ter, he put it under his pillow. Presently came Philippus with the medicine, which Alexander accepted and SAvallowed without remark, at the same time giving Philippus the letter to read, and watching the expression of his countenance. The look, words, and gestures of the physician wei'e such as completely to i-eas- sure him. Philippus, indignantly repudiating the calumny, re- peated his full confidence in the medicine, and pledged himself to abide the result. At first it operated so violently as to make Alexander seemingly worse, and even to bring him to death'si door ; but after a certain interval, its healing effects became manifest. The fever was subdued, and Alexander was pro- nounced out of danger, to the delight of the whole army.'-^ A reasonable time sufliced, to restore him to his former health and vigor. It was his first operation, after recovery, to send forwai-d Par- menio, at the head of the Greeks, Thessalians, and Thracians, in his army, for the purpose of clearing the forward route and of se- curing the pass called the Gates of Kilikia and Syria.^ This narrow road, bounded by the range of Mount Amanus on the east and by the sea on the west, had been once barred by a dev's advance. But this can liardly be the right interpretation of the pro- ceeding. Arrian's account seems more reasonable. ' When Hepaistion died of fever at Ekbatana, nine years afterwards, Al- exander caused the physician who had attended liim to be crucified (Plu- tarch, Alexand. 72 ; Arrian, vii. 14). ■■^ This interesting anecdote is recounted, with more or less of rhetoric and amplification, in all the historians — Arrian, ii. 4; Diodor. xvii. 31 ; Plutarch, Alexand. 19 ; Curtius, iii. 5 ; Justin, xi. 8. It is one mark of the ditference produced in the character of Alexander, by superhuman successes continued for four years — to c 5ntrast the generous confidence which he displayed towards Philippus, with his cruel prcjudg ment and torture of Philotas four years afterwards. 10*
 * Arrian, ii. 5, 1 ; Diodor. xvii. 32 ; Curtius, iii. 7, 6.