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of their chiefs who had ventured within reach of his sword。 But an arrow which pierced his corslet brought him to the ground； fainting with loss of blood。 Two of his followers； who had jumped down after him； now stood over and defended him； till at length； more soldiers having scaled the walls and opened one of the gates； sufficient numbers poured in not only to rescue their monarch； but to capture the citadel； when every living being within the place was put to the sword。 Upon arriving at the mouth of the Indus； Nearchus with the fleet was directed to explore the Indian Ocean； the Persian Gulf； and the mouths of the Tigris and Euphrates； with the view of establishing a maritime communication between India and Persia。 Alexander himself proceeded with his army； in the autumn of 326； through the burning deserts of Gedrosia towards Persepolis； marching himself on foot； and sharing the privations and fatigues of the meanest soldier。 In these regions the very atmosphere seems to be composed of a fine dust which； on the slightest wind； penetrates into the mouth and nose； whilst the soil affords no firm footing to the traveller。 The march through this inhospitable region lasted 60 days； during which numbers of the soldiers perished from fatigue or disease。 At length they emerged into the fertile province of Carmania。 Whilst in this country Alexander was rejoined by Nearchus； who had arrived with his fleet at Harmozia （ORMUZ）； but who subsequently prosecuted his voyage to the head of the Persian Gulf。
Upon reaching Susa （B。C。 325） Alexander allowed his soldiers to repose from their fatigues； and amused them with a series of brilliant festivities。 It was here that he adopted various measures with the view of consolidating his empire。 One of the most important was to form the Greeks and Persians into one people by means of intermarriages。 He himself celebrated his nuptials with Statira the eldest daughter of Darius； and bestowed the hand of her sister； Drypetis； on Hephaestion。 Other marriages were made between Alexander's officers and Asiatic women； to the number； it is said； of about a hundred； whilst no fewer than 10；000 of the common soldiers followed their example and took native wives。 As another means of amalgamating the Europeans and Asiatics； he caused numbers of the latter to be admitted into the army； and to be armed and trained in the Macedonian fashion。 But these innovations were regarded with a jealous eye by most of the Macedonian veterans； and this feeling was increased by the conduct of Alexander himself； who assumed every day more and more of the state and manners of an eastern despot。 Their long…stifled dissatisfaction broke out into open mutiny and rebellion at a review which took place at Opis on the Tigris。 But the mutiny was quelled by the decisive conduct of Alexander。 He immediately ordered thirteen of the ringleaders to be seized and executed； and then； addressing the remainder； pointed out to them how； by his own and his father's exertions； they had been raised from the condition of scattered herdsmen to be the masters of Greece and the lords of Asia； and that； whilst he had abandoned to them the richest and most valuable fruits of his conquest； he had reserved nothing but the diadem for himself； as the mark of his superior labours and more imminent perils。 He then secluded himself for two whole days； during which his Macedonian guard was exchanged for a Persian one； whilst nobles of the same nation were appointed to the most confidential posts about his person。 Overcome by these marks of alienation on the part of their sovereign； the Macedonians now supplicated with tears to be restored to favour。 A solemn reconciliation was effected； and 10；000 veterans were dismissed to their homes under the conduct of Craterus。 That general was also appointed to the government of Macedonia in place of Antipater； who was ordered to repair to Asia with fresh reinforcements。
Soon after these occurrences Alexander proceeded to Ecbatana； where during the autumn he solemnised the festival of Dionysus with extraordinary splendour。 But his enjoyment was suddenly converted into bitterness by the death of his friend Hephaestion； who was carried off by a fever。 This event threw Alexander into a deep melancholy； from which he never entirely recovered。 The memory of Hephaestion was honoured by extravagant marks of public mourning； and his body was conveyed to Babylon； to be there interred with the utmost magnificence。
Alexander entered Babylon in the spring of 324； notwithstanding the warnings of the priests of Belus； who predicted some serious evil to him if he entered the city at that time。 Babylon was now to witness the consummation of his triumphs and of his life。 Ambassadors from all parts of Greece； from Libya； Italy； and probably from still more distant regions； were waiting to salute him； and to do homage to him as the conqueror of Asia； the fleet under Nearchus had arrived after its long and enterprising voyage； whilst for the reception of this navy； which seemed to turn the inland capital of his empire into a port； a magnificent harbour was in process of construction。 The mind of Alexander was still occupied with plans of conquest and ambition； his next design was the subjugation of Arabia； which； however； was to be only the stepping…stone to the conquest of the whole known world。 He despatched three expeditions to survey the coast of Arabia； ordered a fleet to be built to explore the Caspian sea； and engaged himself in surveying the course of the Euphrates； and in devising improvements of its navigation。 The period for commencing the Arabian campaign had already arrived； solemn sacrifices were offered up for its success； and grand banquets were given previous to departure。 At these carousals Alexander drank deep； and at the termination of the one given by his favourite； Medius； he was seized with unequivocal symptoms of fever。 For some days； however； he neglected the disorder； and continued to occupy himself with the necessary preparations for the march。 But in eleven days the malady had gained a fatal strength； and terminated his life on the 28th of June； B。C。 323； at the early age of 32。 Whilst he lay speechless on his deathbed his favourite troops were admitted to see him； but he could offer them no other token of recognition than by stretching out his hand。
Few of the great characters of history have been so differently judged as Alexander。 Of the magnitude of his exploits； indeed； and of the justice with which； according to the usual sentiments of mankind； they confer upon him the title of 〃Great；〃 there can be but one opinion。 His military renown； however； consists more in the seemingly extravagant boldness of his enterprises than in the real power of the foes whom he overcame。 The resistance he met with was not greater than that which a European army experiences in the present day from one composed of Asiatics； and the empire of the East was decided by the two battles of Issus and Arbela。 His chief difficulties were the geographical difficulties of distance； climate； and the nature of the ground traversed。 But this is no proof that he was incompetent to meet a foe more worthy of his military skill； and his proceedings in Greece before his departure show the reverse。 His motive； it must be allowed； seem rather to have sprung from the love of personal glory and the excitement of conquest； than from any wish to benefit his subjects。 Yet on the whole his achievements； though they undoubtedly occasioned great partial misery； must be regarded as beneficial to the human race。 By his conquests the two continents were put into closer communication with one another； and both； but particularly Asia； were the gainers。 The language； the arts； and the literature of Greece were introduced into the East； and after the death of Alexander； Greek kingdoms were formed in the western parts of Asia； which continued to exist for many generations。
CHAPTER XXI。
FROM THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT TO THE CONQUEST OF GREECE BY THE ROMANS； B。C。 323…146。
The vast empire of Alexander the Great was divided； at his death； among his generals； but； before relating their history； it is necessary