CHAPTER XXVI.

ALEXANDER’S SPEECH (_continued_).

“I, for my part, think, that to a brave man there is no end to labours

except the labours themselves, provided they lead to glorious

achievements. But if any one desires to hear what will be the end to

the warfare itself, let him learn that the distance still remaining

before we reach the river Ganges and the Eastern Sea is not great; and

I inform you that the Hyrcanian Sea will be seen to be united with

this, because the Great Sea encircles the whole earth. I will also

demonstrate both to the Macedonians and to the Grecian allies, that the

Indian Gulf is confluent with the Persian, and the Hyrcanian Sea with

the Indian Gulf. From the Persian Gulf our expedition will sail round

into Libya as far as the Pillars of Heracles.[712] From the pillars all

the interior of Libya[713] becomes ours, and so the whole of Asia[714]

will belong to us, and the limits of our empire, in that direction,

will be those which God has made also the limits of the earth. But, if

we now return, many warlike nations are left unconquered beyond the

Hyphasis as far as the Eastern Sea, and many besides between these and

Hyrcania in the direction of the north wind, and not far from these the

Scythian races. Wherefore, if we go back, there is reason to fear that

the races which are now held in subjection, not being firm in their

allegiance, may be excited to revolt by those who are not yet subdued.

Then our many labours will prove to have been in vain; or it will be

necessary for us to incur over again fresh labours and dangers, as

at the beginning. But, O Macedonians and Grecian allies, stand firm!

Glorious are the deeds of those who undergo labour and run the risk

of danger; and it is delightful to live a life of valour and to die

leaving behind immortal glory. Do ye not know that our ancestor[715]

reached so great a height of glory as from being a man to become a god,

or to seem to become one, not by remaining in Tiryns[716] or Argos, or

even in the Peloponnese or at Thebes? The labours of Dionysus were not

few, and he was too exalted a deity to be compared with Heracles. But

we, indeed, have penetrated into regions beyond Nysa[717]; and the rock

of Aornus, which Heracles was unable to capture, is in our possession.

Do ye also add the parts of Asia still left unsubdued to those already

acquired, the few to the many. But what great or glorious deed could

we have performed, if, sitting at ease in Macedonia, we had thought

it sufficient to preserve our own country without any labour, simply

repelling the attacks of the nations on our frontiers, the Thracians,

Illyrians, and Triballians, or even those Greeks who were unfriendly

to our interests? If, indeed, without undergoing labour and being free

from danger I were acting as your commander, while you were undergoing

labour and incurring danger, not without reason would you be growing

faint in spirit and resolution, because you alone would be sharing

the labours, while procuring the rewards of them for others. But now

the labours are common to you and me, we have an equal share of the

dangers, and the rewards are open to the free competition of all. For

the land is yours, and you act as its viceroys. The greater part also

of the money now comes to you; and when we have traversed the whole of

Asia, then, by Zeus, not merely having satisfied your expectations, but

having even exceeded the advantages which each man hopes to receive,

those of you who wish to return home I will send back to their own

land, or I will myself lead them back; while those who remain here, I

will make objects of envy to those who go back.”[718]