Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/306

 274 HISTORY OF GRE'ZCE. corded by Herodotus, forgotten (as it would appear) by Alexan- der and his contemporaries. This enlarged and systematic ex- ploration of the earth, combined with increased means of com- munication among its inhabitant-^, is the main feature in Alexan- der's career which presents itself as promising real consequences beneficial to humanity. We read that Alexander felt so much interest in the extension cf science, that he gave to Aristotle the immense sum of 800 talents in money, placing under his directions several thousand men, for the purpose of prosecuting zoological researches.^ These exaggerations are probably the work of those enemies of the philosopher who decried liim as a pensioner of the Mace- donian court ; but it is probable enough that Philip, and Alex- ander in the early part of his reign, may have helped Aristotle in the difficult process of getting together facts and specimens for observation — from esteem towards him personally, rather than from interest in hi§ discoveries. The intellectual turn cf Alexander was towards literature, poetry, and history. He was fond of the Iliad especially, as well as of the Attic tragedians ; so that Harpalus, being directed to send some books to him in Upper Asia, selected as the most acceptable packet various tragedies of ^schylus, Sophokles, and Euripides, with the di- thyrambic poems of Telestes and the histories of Phlistus.2 Indica; though in his history of Alexander he alludes several times to He- rodotus. Some authors have concluded from Arrian's silence that he dis- believed the fact: if he had disbelieved it, I think that he would have men- tioned the statement of Herodotus nevertheless, with an intimation that ha did not think it worthy of credit. Moreover, Arrian's disbelief (even grant- ing that such was the state of his mind) is not to be held as a conclusive disproof of the story. I confess that I see no sufficient reason for discredit- ing the narrative of Herodotus — though some eminent modern writers ara of an opposite opinion. 'Pliny, H. N. viii. 17: Athenaeus, ix. p. 39S. See Schneider's Preface lo his edition of Aristotle's Historioe De Animalibus, p. xxxix. ^eq.
 * Plutarch, Alexnnd. 8.