Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/195

 DARIUS BEGINS TIIK FUGHT 1(3 From this moment, the battle, though it had lasted so short a time, was irreparably lost. The king's flight, followed of course im- mediately by that of the numerous attendants around him, spread dismay among all his troops, leaving them neither centre of com- mand, nor chief to fight for. The best soldiers in his army, being those immediately around him, were under these circum- stances the first to give way. The fierce onset of Alexander with die Companion-cavalry, and the unremitting pressure of the phalanx in front was obstructed by little else than a mass of dis- ordered fugitives. During the same time, Aretes with his Pajonians had defeated the Baktrians on the right flank,^ so that Alexander was free to pursue the routed main body, — which he did most energetically. The cloud of dust raised by the dense multitude is said to have been so thick, that nothing could be clearly seen, nor could the pursuers distinguish the track taken by Darius himself. Amidst this darkness, the cries and noises from all sides were only the more impressive ; especially the Bound from the whips of the charioteers, pushing their horses to full speed.^ It was the dust alone which saved Darius himself from being overtake; n by the pursuing cavalry. Tovrec, Tj TE (pakay^ i] MaKedoviK^, irvKvrj Koi ralg (xnpiaaatQ 7re(j>piKvia, efi/Si- ^ojiepii} bvTi Aapeiu e oaiv e to, npuroc; avrog r m ar p eip a t f (p evy ev : At Issus, Arrian states that " Darius fled along with the first" (ii. 11,6); at Arbela iiere, he states that " Darius was the first to turn and flee :" an expression yet stronger and more distinct. Curtius and Diodorus, who seem here as elsewhere to follow generally the same authorities, give details, respecting the conduct of Darius, which are not to be reconciled with Arrian, and which are decidedly less credible than Arrian's narrative. The fact that the two kings were here (as at Issus) near, and probably visi- ble, to each other, has served as a basis for much embroidery. The state- ment that Darius, standing on his cliariot, hurled his spear against the advancing Macedonians — and that Alexander also hurled his spear at ])arius, but missing him, killed the charioteer — is picturesque and Homeric, but has no air of reality. Curtius and Diodorus tell us that this fall of the charioteer was mistaken for the fall of the king, and struck the Persian army with consternation, causing them forthwith to take flight, and thus ultimately forcing Darius to flee a[so (Diodor. xvii. 6(» ; Curt. iv. 15, 2G-32). But this is nowaj' probable ; since the real fight then going on was close, and with hand-weapons. i Arrian, iii. 14, 4. ^ Diodor. xvii. GO; Curtius, iv. 15, 32, 33. The cloud of dust, and the noise of the whips, are specified both by Diodoius and Curtius.
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