CHAPTER XXVI.

ALEXANDER IN PAMPHYLIA.—CAPTURE OF ASPENDUS AND SIDE.

Alexander then, moving from Phaselis, sent part of his army to Perga

through the mountains, where the Thracians had levelled a road for him

by a route which was otherwise difficult and long. But he himself led

his own brigade by the beach along the sea, where there is no route,

except when the north wind blows. But if the south wind prevails it is

impossible to journey along the beach. At that time, after a strong

south wind, the north winds blew, and rendered his passage easy and

quick, not without the divine intervention, as both he and his men

interpreted.[184] As he was advancing from Perga, he was met on the

road by envoys from the Aspendians[185] with full powers, who offered

to surrender their city, but begged him not lead a garrison into it.

Having gained their request in regard to the garrison, they went back;

but he ordered them to give him fifty talents[186] as pay for his army,

as well as the horses which they were rearing as tribute to Darius.

Having agreed with him about the money, and having likewise promised to

hand over the horses, they departed.

Alexander then marched to Sidē,[187] the inhabitants of which were

Cymaeans from Cyme, in Aeolis. These people give the following account

of themselves, saying that their ancestors starting from Cyme,

arrived in that country, and disembarked to found a settlement. They

immediately forgot the Grecian language, and forthwith began to utter a

foreign speech, not, indeed, that of the neighbouring barbarians, but

a speech peculiar to themselves, which had never before existed. From

that time the Sidetans used to speak a foreign language unlike that of

the neighbouring nations. Having left a garrison in Sidē, Alexander

advanced to Syllium,[188] a strong place, containing a garrison of

Grecian mercenaries as well as of native barbarians themselves. But

he was unable to take Syllium offhand by a sudden assault, for he

was informed on his march that the Aspendians refused to perform any

of their agreements, and would neither deliver the horses to those

who were sent to receive them, nor pay the money; but that they had

collected their property out of the fields into the city, shut their

gates against his men, and were repairing their walls where they had

become dilapidated. Hearing this, he marched off to Aspendus.