Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

LETTER OF DARIUS TO ALEXANDER. 85
"the desire for the destruction of the people of the
"west. Do thou, now, thyself consider also how
"[quickly] the kingdom of even those who were
"victorious passed away. And now, behold, thou
"hast conquered us by thy might, according as
"is thy power, then, deal kindly with us; to thee
"we pay honour, and to thee we submit. Know,
"moreover, that I honour my mother, and my wife,
"and my daughter above all the women in the
"world," for they are the objects which I cherish,
"and the light of my eyes, and the desire of my
"heart. If thou wilt release them and send them
"away according to their rank, with their handmaid-
"ens and with their men servants, I will send to
"thee gold and silver, together with their orna-
"ments, and their apparel, and their precious stones,
"for their deliverance; and moreover, I will make
"supplication to my god to exalt thee and to help
"thee, and to give thee victory."^
So Darius sent [this] letter to Alexander.
And when Alexander had read the letter before
all his friends [p. 47]
' Read ^A?" :
they took counsel together
^ In the Greek Darius refers to the greediness of his an-
cestor Xerxes^ who for the sake of the gold and possessions in-
vaded Hellas, and having suffered defeat lost all that he had;
although he was richer than Crcesus he could not escape death.
Darius begs for mercy on his mother and children, and promises
to give Alexander all the wealth which is in the countries
of Bactria, Media, and Susa if he will send them back to
him. See Miiller, p. 74,
col. i.