Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/260

 228 HISTORY OF GREECE. a series of admirable military combinations, Alexander eluded the vigilance of Porus, stole the passage of the river at a point a few miles above, and completely defeated the Indian anny. In spite of their elephants, which were skilfully managed, the Indians could not long withstand the shock of close combat^ against such cavalry and infantry as the Macedonian. Porus, a prince of gigantic stature, mounted on an elephant, fought with the utmost gallantry, rallying his broken troops and keeping them together until the last. Having seen two of his sons slain, himself wounded and perishing with thirst, he was only pre- served by the special directions of Alexander. When Porus was brought before liim, Alexander was struck with admiration at his stature, beauty, and undaunted bearing.* Addressing him first, he asked, what Porus wished to be done for him. " That you should treat me as a king," was the reply of Porus. Alex- ander, delighted with these words, behaved towards Porus with the utmost courtesy and generosity ; not only ensuring to him his actual kingdom, but enlarging it by new additions. He found in Pofus a faithful and efficient ally. This was the greatest day of Alexander's life ; if we take together the splendor and diffi- culty of the military achievement, and the generous treatment of his conquered opponent.2 ' Arrian, v. 19, 1. ^AM^avdpoc i^e tif Trpocdyovra cTrv^ETO, TTfjoairrnevcyai npb ri/c rujfwf aiiv 6?.LyoL( riJv iraipuv unavra t<I) Tlupu, Kal InictTTjcac Tdv tmrov, to te /xEyedog i'&avfxa^EV vnip ttevte nf/xeig iialiara ^vfi(3aivov, Kal TO Ku?^?i.oc Tov Uupov, Kai on ov dEdovXufitvoc t?/ yvufir/ i^ai VETO, etc. We see here how Alexander was struck with the stature and personal beauty of Porus, and how much these visual impressions contributed to de- termine, or at least to strengthen, his favorable sympathies towards the captive prince. This illustrates what I have observed in the last chapter, in recounting his treatment of the eunuch Batis after the capture of Gaza; that the repulsive appearance of Batis greatly heightened Alexander's in- dignation. With a man of such violent impulses as Alexander, theseexternal impressions were of no inconsiderable moment. ^ These operations are described in Arrian, v. 9. v. 19 (we may remark that Ptolemy and Aristobulus, though both present, differed on many points, V. 14) ; Curtius, viii. 13, 14; Diodor. xvii. 87, 88. According to Plutarch ^Alex. 60), Alexander dwelt much upon the battle in his own letters. There are two principal points — Jelumand Julalpoor — where high roadi