pics, with something of its character.

Alexander appears, in the first book, a youth panting for combat with
the Persians, enemies of his country and of his father. There also is
his teacher, Aristotle. Philip dies, and the son repairs to Corinth to
be crowned. Under the counsels of Demosthenes, the Athenians declare
against him. The young King arrives under the walls of Athens.
Demosthenes speaks for war; AEschines for peace. The party of peace
prevails; and the Macedonian turns to Thebes, which he besieges and
captures by assault. The poet Cloades, approaching the conqueror, chants
in lyric verses an appeal for pardon, and reminds him that without
clemency a kingdom is unstable:--

"_Instabile est regnum quod non clementia firmat._"

And the words of this chant are still resounding. But Alexander, angry
and inexorable, refuses to relent. He levels the towers which had first
risen to the music of Amphion, and delivers the city to the flames: thus
adding a new act to that tragic history which made Dante select Thebes
as the synonyme of misfortune.[56] Turning from these smoking ruins, he
gathers men and ships for his expedition against Persia. Traversing the
sea, he lands in Asia; and here the poet describes geographically the
different states of this continent,--Assyria, Media, Persia, Arabia,
with its Sabaean frankincense and its single Phoenix, ending with
Palestine and Jerusalem, where a God was born of a Virgin, at whose
death the world shook with fear. Commencing his march through Cilicia
and Phrygia, the ambitious youth stops at Troy, and visits the tomb of
Achilles, where he makes a long speech.

The second book opens with the impression produced on the mind of
Darius, menaced by his Macedonian enemy. He writes an insolent letter,
which Alexander answers simply by advancing. At Sardes he cuts the
Gordian knot, and then advances rapidly. Darius quits the Euphrates with
his vast army, which is described. Alexander bathes in the cold waters
of the Cydnus, is seized with illness, and shows his generous trust in
the physician that attended him,--drinking the cup handed him, although
it was said to be poisoned. Restored to health, he shows himself to his
troops, who are transported with joy. Meanwhile the Persians advance.
Darius harangues his soldiers. Alexander harangues his. The two armies
prepare for battle.

The third book is of battle and victory at Issus, described with
minuteness and warmth. Here is