CHAPTER II.

ALEXANDER’S DEALINGS WITH THE INDIAN SAGES.

On this occasion Alexander commended both the words and the men who

spoke them; but nevertheless he did just the opposite to that which he

commended. When also in the Isthmus he met Diogenes of Sinope, lying

in the sun, standing near him with his shield-bearing guards and foot

Companions, he asked if he wanted anything. But Diogenes said that he

wanted nothing else, except that he and his attendants would stand out

of the sunlight. Alexander is said to have expressed his admiration

of Diogenes’s conduct.[832] Thus it is evident that Alexander was

not entirely destitute of better feelings; but he was the slave of

his insatiable ambition. Again, when he arrived at Taxila and saw

the naked sect of Indian philosophers, he was exceedingly desirous

that one of these men should live with him; because he admired their

power of endurance.[833] But the oldest of the philosophers, Dandamis

by name, of whom the others were disciples, refused to come himself

to Alexander, and would not allow the others to do so.[834] He is

said to have replied that he was himself a son of Zeus, if Alexander

was[835]; and that he wanted nothing from him, because he was quite

contented with what he had. And besides he said that he saw his

attendants wandering over so much of the land and sea to no advantage,

and that there was no end to their many wanderings. Therefore he had

no desire that Alexander should give him anything which was in his

own possession, nor on the other hand was he afraid that he should

be excluded from anything which Alexander ruled over. For while he

lived the country of India, which produces the fruits in their season,

was sufficient for him; and when he died he should be released from

the body, an unsuitable associate. Alexander then did not attempt

to force him to come with him, considering that the man was free to

do as he pleased. But Megasthenes has recorded that Calanus, one of

the philosophers of this region, who had very little power over his

desires, was induced to do so; and that the philosophers themselves

reproached him, for having deserted the happiness existing among them,

and serving another lord instead of the God.[836]