Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

ALEXANDERS PRAYER BEFORE FIGHTING. 79
"hath brouo-ht us toofether here accordins: to his
"will. And, now, we beseech Thee, O God, merci-
"fully to look upon us, and to strengthen our feet,
"and to help us this day, by reason of th's evil-
"doer, for he [claimeth] to illumine the seven climes
"even as doth the sun, and he boasteth himself in
"the multitudes of his soldiers. It is meet for no
"man to place his trust in the world, for it heajoeth
"disgrace and shame upon him that is noble, and
"it payeth honour unto the man of no account.
"I beseech you all that ye give not yourselves unto
"the love of this world, but let your hearts and
"minds be set upon the slaughter of your enemies ;
"and^ set [not] death before your eyes if ye desire
"to overcome your foes, and remember not that
"which is behind you."^ And thus saying, Alexander Preparacommanded
the horns to be sounded and the drums battle.
to be beaten, and he encouraged them to fight.
And it came to pass when the horses of each
army charged, and the men of Darius joined battle The armies
with those of Alexander, that death was scattered
broadcast among them, and the soldiers ofAlexander's
army did not hear the voice which cried, "There
"is no strength for us save in God Almighty", by
reason of the clash of armour; and they remained
' I. e., the whole world: see above, p. 2.
^ Read mixJV&.t\f^P :
3 This speech calls to mind Alexander's address to his
soldiers after he had ordered the bridge by which they had
crossed the Euphrates to be broken; see Pseudo-Callisthenes,
Bk. ii. chap. 9.