CHAPTER XIII.

CONSPIRACY OF THE PAGES.

It was a custom introduced by Philip, that the sons of those

Macedonians who had enjoyed high office, should, as soon as they

reached the age of puberty, be selected to attend the king’s court.

These youths were entrusted with the general attendance on the king’s

person and the protection of his body while he was asleep. Whenever the

king rode out, some of them received the horses from the grooms, and

brought them to him, and others assisted him to mount in the Persian

fashion. They were also companions of the king in the emulation of

the chase.[563] Among these youths was Hermolaüs, son of Sopolis, who

seemed to be applying his mind to the study of philosophy, and to

be cultivating the society of Callisthenes for this purpose. There

is current a tale about this youth to the effect that in the chase,

a boar rushed at Alexander, and that Hermolaüs anticipated him by

casting a javelin at the beast, by which it was smitten and killed.

But Alexander, having lost the opportunity of distinguishing himself

by being too late in the assault, was indignant with Hermolaüs, and

in his wrath ordered him to receive a scourging in sight of the other

pages; and also deprived him of his horse. This Hermolaüs, being

chagrined at the disgrace he had incurred, told Sostratus, son of

Amyntas, who was his equal in age and intimate confidential friend,

that life would be insupportable to him unless he could take vengeance

upon Alexander for the affront. He easily persuaded Sostratus to join

in the enterprise, since he was fondly attached to him. They gained

over to their plans Antipater, son of Asclepiodorus, viceroy of Syria,

Epimenes son of Arseas, Anticles son of Theocritus, and Philotas son

of Carsis the Thracian. They therefore agreed to kill the king by

attacking him in his sleep, on the night when the nocturnal watch

came round to Antipater’s turn. Some say that Alexander accidentally

happened to be drinking until daybreak; but Aristobulus has given the

following account: A Syrian woman, who was under the inspiration of

the deity, used to follow Alexander about. At first she was a subject

of mirth to Alexander and his courtiers; but when all that she said

in her inspiration was seen to be true, he no longer treated her

with neglect, but she was allowed to have free access to him both by

night and day, and she often took her stand near him even when he was

asleep. And indeed on that occasion, when he was withdrawing from the

drinking-party she met him, being under the inspiration of the deity at

the time, and besought him to return and drink all night. Alexander,

thinking that there was something divine in the warning, returned

and went on drinking; and thus the enterprise of the pages fell

through.[564] The next day, Epimenes son of Arseas, one of those who

took part in the conspiracy, spoke of the undertaking to Charicles son

of Menander, who had become his confidential friend; and Charicles told

it to Eurylochus, brother of Epimenes. Eurylochus went to Alexander’s

tent and related the whole affair to Ptolemy son of Lagus, one of the

confidential body-guards. He told Alexander, who ordered those whose

names had been mentioned by Eurylochus to be arrested. These, being put

on the rack, confessed their own conspiracy, and mentioned the names of

certain others.