Page:Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners.djvu/102

94 KEY TO EASY LATLN STORIES. [PAR? 270.Cambyses, king of the Persians, used to drink unmixed wine beyond measure. Praexaspes, one of his friends, once advised him to cease drinking, asserting that it was disgraceful for a king to be drunk. Cambyses replied, ‘I will certainly at once show you that my hand can do its duty after drinking.’ Then, after drinking much wine, he ordered the son of  Praexaspes to be placed before him. Then he pierced the breast of the youth with a dart from a distance, and asked the father if his hand could do its duty. 271.Alexander, king of the Macedonians, who was called the Great, after thoroughly conquering Darius, king of the Persians, near Issus, sent ambassadors to inform the mother and wife of Darius that he intended to visit them in a short time. Soon he came to their abode with his friend Hephaestion, who excelled the king in beauty. Therefore the ladies, thinking Hephaestion was the king, threw themselves at his feet after the manner of the Persians. Afterwards, being informed of her mistake, the mother of Darius asked for pardon. And the king, addressing her kindly, remarked, ‘Do not ask pardon, for he also is Alexander.’ 272.Alexander, king of the Macedonians, made an expedition against the Scythians. The ambassadors of the Scythians, when they had come before the king, are said to have addressed him thus: ‘If the gods had given you greatness of body equal to (that of) your mind, the whole world would not contain you; for with one hand you would grasp at the rising sun, with the other (the same) when setting; and, not content with this, you would desire to know where the sun hid its light. From Europe you make for Asia, from Asia you hasten to Europe. Already, after conquering the whole race of mankind, you wish to wage war with woods, rivers, snows, (and) beasts. What! Are you ignorant that great trees sometimes perish within the space of one hour? He is foolish who desires to get possession of their fruit, before he has measured their height. Beware, lest, while trying to climb to the top of the tree, you fall from the branches.