Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/242

 234 ALEXANDER. is weak.' - And in a little time he so terrified Sisimithres, that he took it without any difficulty. At an attack which he made upon such another precipitous place with some of his Macedonian soldiers, he called to one whose name was Alexander, and told him, he at any rate must fight bravely, if it were but for his name's sake. The youth fought gallantly and was killed in the action, at which he was sensibly afflicted. Another time, seeing his men march slowly and unwillingly to the siege of the place called Nysa, because of a deep river between them and the town, he advanced before them, and standing upon the bank, " What a miserable man," said he, " am I, that I have not learned to swim ! " and then was hardly dis- suaded from endeavoring to pass it upon his shield. Here, after the assault was over, the ambassadors who from several towns which he had blocked up, came to sub- mit to him and make their peace, were surprised to find him still in his armor, without any one in waiting or attendance upon him, and when at last some one brought him a cushion, he made the eldest of them, named Acu- phis, take it and sit down upon it. The old man, mar- velling at his magnanimity and courtesy, asked him what his countrymen should do to merit his friendship. " I would have them," said Alexander, " choose you to govern them, and send one hundred of the most worthy men among them to remain with me as hostages." Acuphis laughed and answered, " I shall govern them with more ease, Sir, if I send you so many of the worst, rather than the best of my subjects." The extent of king Taxiles's dominions in India was thought to be as large as Egypt, abounding in good pas- tures, and producing beautiful fruits. The king himself had the reputation of a wise man, and at his first inter- view with Alexander, he spoke to him in these terms : " To what purpose," said he, " should we make war upon