Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/247

 MILITARY OPERATIONS IN SOGDIANA. 215 absence, he levied 30,000 young soldiers from those countries to accompany him.^ It was at Baktra that Alexander celebrated his marriage with the captive Roxana. Amidst the repose and festivities connect- ed with that event, the Oriental temper which he was now ac- quiring displayed itself more forcibly than ever. He could no longer be satisfied without obtaining prostration, or worship, from Greeks and Macedonians as well as from Persians ; a pub- lic and unanimous recognition of his divine origin and superhu- man dignity. Some Greeks and Macedonians had already ren- dered to him this liomage. Nevertheless to the greater number, in spite of their extreme deference and admiration for him, it was repugnant and degrading. Even the imperious Alexander shrank from issuing public and formal orders on such a subject ; but a manoeuvre was concerted, with his privity, by the Persians and certain compliant Greek sophists or philosophers, for the purpose of cari'ying the point by surprise. During a banquet at Baktra, the philosopher Anaxarchus, addressing the assembly in a prepared harangue, extolled Alex- ander's exploits as greatly surpassing those of Dyonysus and Herakles. He proclaimed that Alexander had already done more than enough to establish a title to divine honors from the Macedonians ; who, (he said) would assuredly worship Alexan- der after his death, and ought in justice to worship him during his life, forthwith.2 This harangue was applauded, and similar sentiments were enforced, by others favorable to the plan ; who proceeded to set the example of immediate compliance, and were themselves the first to tender worship. Most of the Macedonian officers sat un- moved, disgusted at the speech. But though disgusted they said nothing. To reply to a speech doubtless well-turned and flow- ing, required some powers of oratory ; moreover, it was well kno^vn that whoever dared to reply stood marked out for the ' Curtius, viii. 5, I ; Anian, iv. 22, 2. ' Anian, iv. 10, 7-9. Curtius (viii. 5, 9-13) represents the speech propos- ing divine honors to have been delivered, not by Anaxarchus, but by anotlier lettered Greek, a Sicilian named Kleon. The tenor of the speech is substantially the same, as given by both authors.