Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

50 THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
the king of India, and he asked him [for help] in
his letter [p. 48], saying this:
"From Darius, who was the king of kings, to
"Porus the king of India [, Greeting]. Formerly P
"dwelt in my kingdom in glory and in power, but
"now I entreat thee to receive me and to be pleased
"graciously to help me, because of this mighty
"man of war who hath come upon me; he knoweth
"not fear, his courage is mighty,' and his body is
"thick, and I never saw his like either among
"kings or among all other men. Behold, too,
"he hath gained possession of my women, who
"are the source of my depravity, and behold I
"came upon the [Greeks] in several places, but I
"was not able to beat them. And he hath over-
"come me and put me to shame because there
"was none [among us] able to do battle against
Darius "hiui.^ He hath taken my kingdom, and hath carspeaks
^^ a ' J * j • • 1
his defeat, ried into captivity my mother, and my wife, and
"my daughter, and there is nothing left to me but
"death; and it is better for me to die than to be-
"come his servant. And now, help me, and do
"thou take heed to the love which hath always
"existed between us, and do thou make ready for
"me an army of the soldiers of thy country, for
"[Alexander and his hosts] are mighty men of war
"and are strong. Hasten thou to me with this
' Read h'iii
- X'V- / : A-fl • = 9iip6? diYpiou ipux'iv Ix^v (Miiller,
p. 75, col. 2).
3 ^^."J.^;}. . altered into 't'^H-A'"p s