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an equal number of native cavalry； with which they prepared to dispute the passage of the river。 A Rhodian； named Memnon； had the chief command。 The veteran general Parmenio advised Alexander to delay the attack till the following morning； to which he replied； that it would be a bad omen at the beginning of his expedition； if； after passing the Hellespont； he should be stopped by a paltry stream。 Thereupon he directed his cavalry to cross the river； and followed himself at the head of the phalanx。 The passage； however； was by no means easy。 The stream was in many parts so deep as to be hardly fordable； and the opposite bank was steep and rugged。 The cavalry had great difficulty in maintaining their ground till Alexander came up to their relief。 He immediately charged into the thickest of the fray； and exposed himself so much that his life was often in imminent danger； and on one occasion was saved only by the interposition of his friend Clitus。 Having routed the Persians； he next attacked the Greek mercenaries； 2000 of whom were made prisoners； and the rest nearly all cut to pieces； In this engagement he killed two Persian officers with his own hand。
Alexander now marched southwards towards Sardis； which surrendered before he came within sight of its walls。 Having left a garrison in that city； he arrived after a four days' march before Ephesus； which likewise capitulated on his approach。 Magnesia； Tralles； and Miletus next fell into his hands； the last after a short siege。 Halicarnassus made more resistance。 It was obliged to be regularly approached； but at length Memnon； finding it no longer tenable； set fire to it in the night； and crossed over to Cos。 Alexander caused it to be razed to the ground； and pursued his march along the southern coast of Asia Minor； with the view of seizing those towns which might afford shelter to a Persian fleet。 The winter was now approaching； and Alexander sent a considerable part of his army under Parmenio into winter… quarters at Sardis。 He also sent back to Macedonia such officers and soldiers as had been recently married； on condition that they should return in the spring with what reinforcements they could raise； and with the same view he despatched an officer to recruit in the Peloponnesus。 Meanwhile he himself with a chosen body proceeded along the coasts of Lycia and Pamphylia； having instructed Parmenio to rejoin him in Phrygia in the spring； with the main body。 After he had crossed the Xanthus most of the Lycian towns tendered their submission。 On the borders of Lycia and Pamphylia； Mount Climax； a branch of the Taurus range； runs abruptly into the sea； leaving only a narrow passage at its foot； which is frequently overflowed。 This was the case at the time of Alexander's approach。 He therefore sent his main body by a long and difficult road across the mountains to Perge； but he himself who loved danger for its own sake； proceeded with a chosen band along the shore； wading through water that was breast…high for nearly a whole day。 Then forcing his way northwards through the barbarous tribes which inhabited the mountains of Pisidia； he encamped in the neighbourhood of Gordium in Phrygia。 Here he was rejoined by Parmenio and by the new levies from Greece。 Gordium had been the capital of the early Phrygian kings； and in it was preserved with superstitious veneration the chariot or waggon in which the celebrated Midas； the son of Gordius； together with his parents； had entered the town； and in conformity with an oracle had been elevated to the monarchy。 An ancient prophecy promised the sovereignty of Asia to him who should untie the knot of bark which fastened the yoke of the waggon to the pole。 Alexander repaired to the Acropolis； where the waggon was preserved； to attempt this adventure。 Whether he undid the knot by drawing out a peg； or cut it through with his sword； is a matter of doubt； but that he had fulfilled the prediction was placed beyond dispute that very night by a great storm of thunder and lightning。
In the spring of 333 Alexander pursued his march eastwards； and on arriving at Ancyra received the submission of the Paphlagonians。 He then advanced through Cappadocia without resistance； and forcing his way through the passes of Mount Taurus （the PYLAE CILICIAE）； he descended into the plains of Cilicia。 Hence he pushed on rapidly to Tarsus； which he found abandoned by the enemy。 Whilst still heated with the march Alexander plunged into the clear but cold stream of the Cydnus； which runs by the town。 The result was a fever； which soon became so violent as to threaten his life。 An Acarnanian physician； named Philip； who accompanied him； prescribed a remedy； but at the same time Alexander received a letter informing him that Philip had been bribed by Darius； the Persian king； to poison him。 He had however； too much confidence in the trusty Philip to believe the accusation and handed him the letter whilst he drank the draught。 Either the medicine； or Alexander's youthful constitution； at length triumphed over the disorder。 After remaining some time at Tarsus； he continued his march along the coast to Mallus； where he first received certain tidings of the great Persian army； commanded by Darius in person。 It is said to have consisted of 600；000 fighting men； besides all that train of attendants which usually accompanied the march of a Persian monarch。 Alexander found Darius encamped near Issus on the right bank of the little river Pinarus。 The Persian king could hardly have been caught in a more unfavourable position； since the narrow and rugged plain between Mount Amanus and the sea afforded no scope for the evolutions of large bodies； and thus entirely deprived him of the advantage of his numerical superiority。 Alexander occupied the pass between Syria and Cilicia at midnight； and at daybreak began to descend into the plain of the Pinarus； ordering his troops to deploy into line as the ground expanded and thus to arrive in battle…array before the Persians。 Darius had thrown 30；000 cavalry and 20；000 infantry across the river； to check the advance of the Macedonians； whilst on the right bank were drawn up his choicest Persian troops to the number of 60；000； together with 30；000 Greek mercenaries； who formed the centre； and on whom he chiefly relied。 These； it appears； were all that the breadth of the plain allowed to be drawn up in line。 The remainder of the vast host were posted in separate bodies in the farther parts of the plain； and were unable to take any share in the combat。 Darius placed himself in the centre of the line in a magnificent state chariot。 The banks of the Pinarus were in many parts steep； and where they were level Darius had caused them to be intrenched。 As Alexander advanced； the Persian cavalry which had been thrown across the river were recalled； but the 20；000 infantry had been driven into the mountains； where Alexander held them in check with a small body of horse。 The left wing of the Macedonians； under the command of Parmenio； was ordered to keep near the sea； to prevent being outflanked。 The right wing was led by Alexander in person； who rushed impetuously into the water； and was soon engaged in close combat with the Persians。 The latter were immediately routed； but what chiefly decided the fortune of the day was the timidity of Darius himself； who； on beholding the defeat of his left wing； immediately took to flight。 His example was followed by his whole army。 One hundred thousand Persians are said to have been left upon the field。 On reaching the hills Darius threw aside his royal robes his bow and shield； and； mounting a fleet courser； was soon out of reach of pursuit。 The Persian camp became the spoil of the Macedonians； but the tent of Darius； together with his chariot； robes； and arms； was reserved for Alexander himself。 It was now that the Macedonian king first had ocular proof of the nature of Eastern royalty。 One compartment of the tent of Darius had been fitted up as a bath； which steamed with the richest odours； whilst another presented a magnificent pavilion； containing a table richly spread for the banquet of Darius。 But from an adjoining tent issued the wail of female voices； where Sisygambis