Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

370 THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
carrlaees with chains of iron in front of his whole
army; and the soldiers stood up and made them-
selves ready to fight in their ranks on the fourth
day in the twenty-first year of the reign of Alexan-
der.' And it came to pass that, when the Indian
elephants saw the elephants which Alexander had
Defeat of made, they rushed upon them and laid hold on
Irly.
"'''^°
them, but they burnt themselves, and retreated, and
were vanquished. Thus the army of the king of
India and those who were with him were broken
to pieces, and they were overcome and were utterly
defeated.
And it came to pass on the morrow, [p, 217]
the fifth day, that Alexander and the nobles of
his kingdom were gathered together, and he spake
unto them, saying, "I perceive that we have over-
"come our enemies, and that they will cease to do
"battle [with us] for seven days to come until they
"have taken counsel tog-ether, and that the king
"of India and the kings who are with him will
"agree to make peace." Now one of the soldiers
of Alexander was talking with the Indian soldiers
concerning the customs of war, and the soldier of
Alexander said unto a soldier of the king of India,
A Greek sol- "Alexander is young, and he hath no experience
geTts a duel! "in the rules of warfare. And, moreover, he is
"short in stature, and hath but little strength, for
"he is not like unto your king who is great of
' The name of the month seems to have dropped out
of the text.