Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/35

 GREKKS— UNWILLING SUBJECTS 10 r.IACKDOXlA. 3 A kinsman of Olympias, named Leonidas, and an Akarnjinian named Lysimachus, are mentioned as the chief tutors to whom Alexander's childhood was entrusted.^ Of course the Iliad of Homer was among the first things which he learnt as a boy. Throughout most of his life, he retained a passionate interest in this poem, a copy of which, said to have been corrected by Aris- totle, he carried with him in his military campaigns. We are not told, nor is it probable, that he felt any similar attachment for the less warlike Odyssey. Even as a child, he learnt to identify himself in sympathy with Achilles, — his ancestor by the mother's side, according to the -3i^akid pedigree. The tutor Lysimachus won his heart by calling himself Phoenix — Alex- ander, Achilles — and Philip, by the name of Peleus. Of Alex- ander's boyish poetical recitations, one anecdote remains, both curious and of unquestionable authenticity. He was ten years old, when the Athenian legation, including both ^schines and Demosthenes, came to Pella to treat about peace. While Philip entertained them at table, in his usual agreeable and convivial manner, the boy Alexander I'ecited for their amusement certain passages of poetry which he had learnt — and delivered, in re- sponse with another boy, a dialogue out of one of the Grecian dramas." At the age of thirteen, Alexander Avas placed under the in- struction of Aristotle, whom Philip expi-essly invited for the purpose, and whose father Nikomachus had been both friend and physician of Philip's father Amyntas. What course of study Alexander was made to go through, we unfortunately cannot state. He enjoyed the teaching of Aristotle for at least three years, and we are told that he devoted himself to it with ardor, contracting a strong attachment to his preceptor. His powers of addressing an audience, though not so well attested as those of his father, were always found sufficient for his purpose : more- over, he retained, even in the midst of his fatiguing Asiatic cam* paigns, an interest in Greek literature and poetry. At what precise moment, during the lifetime of his father, Alexander first took part in active service, we do not know. Il Plutarch, Alexand. c 5, 6 ' JEschines cont. Timaich. p 167.