Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/194

 2g2 HISTOKY OF <JREECE. the Granikus, the latter were discomposed by this mode of fight- ino- accustomed as they were to rely on the use of missiles. with rapid wheeling of the horse for renewed attack.* They were unable to prevent Alexander and his cavalry from gaining j^round and approaching nearer to Daiius ; while at the same time, the Macedonian phalanx in front, with its compact order und long protended pikes, pressed upon the Persian line opposed to it. For a short interval, the combat here was close and ob- stinate ; and it might have been much prolonged — since the best troops of Darius's army — Greeks, Karians, Persian guards, regal kinsmen, etc., were here posted, — had the king's courage been equal to that of his soldiers. But here, even woi-se than at Issus, the flight of the army began with Darius himself. It had been the recommendation of Cyrus the younger, in attacking the army of his brother Artaxcrxes at Kunaxa, to aim the main blow at the spot where his brother was in person — since he well knew that victory there was victory everywhere. Having already once followed this scheme successfully at Issus, Alexan- der repeated it with still more signal success at Arbela. Darius, who had long been in fear, from the time when he first beheld his formidable enemy on the neighboring hills, became still more alarmed when he saw the scythed chariots prove a failure, and when the IMacedonians, suddenly breaking out from absolute silence into an universal war-cry, came to close quarters with his troops, pressing towards and menacing the conspicuous chariot on which he stood.- The sight and hearing of this ter- rific melee, combined with the prestige already attaching to Alexander's name, completely overthrew the courage and self- possession of Darius. He caused his chariot to be turned round, nnd himself set the example of flight.^ 1 Arrian, iii. 15, 4. ovre uKovTiauC) en, ovre i^e'Xiyfzin^ rCiv cTrmjv, ^Trep in-ouax'tag d'lMj, kxp^vTo — about the Persian cavalry when driven to despair. '' Arrian, iii. 14, 2. iiye dpoficp "s koI ulaXayiiiJ wf i-i avrbv Aapeluv ■^~ DioJor. xvii. 60. Alexander psru rr/g (3a(n7ii.K?ig IXtjq Kal tCjv alXi^v ruv enKpavEOTuTuv imriuv in' avrbv 7)Xavve rbv Aapdov. ' Arrian, ii. 14, 3. Kal xpovov /iiv rtva bliyov kv x^P^^i-v ij /laxv syeviro, KeivTo, u-&i(j[iolg re xp^f^^voi, Kal ro/f fvcrrotf tu irpoffuna T'1)v TlepaiJv icoir-
 * Uf de ol re inTvelc oi ap.(^' 'A?.£^ai'dpov Kal avTog 'A?Jiav6poc evpiJaruc eve-