Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

41 THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
with two of the horses, and having clothed him-
self in [p. 245] the garments of a pedlar," he
mounted the third horse and rode off by himself
[on the ice] over the river, until he arrived at the
city. And when the men who guarded the gates
of the city saw him, they said unto him, "Who
"art thou?" And he replied, "I am a messenger
"of Alexander to Darius the king, and I come with
"a message;" so the guards told Darius, and he
Alexander ordcred them to bring him in. Now when he had
anus.
^Qj^g jj^^Q j.j_^g presence of Darius and saw the
magnificent state in which he lived and the majesty
of his royalty, fear laid hold upon him. And Darius
said unto him, "From whence art thou?" And he
said, "Alexander hath sent me unto thee bearing
"a message summoning- thee to come and do battle
"with him, and he saith unto thee as follows:
"If thou delayest to meet me in battle and dost
"not come forth to war, behold thy cowardice and
"timidity in fighting thine enemy will be apparent."
[The writer of this book] saith:—And Darius was
enraged at these words, and he said, "Thou, surely,
"art thyself Alexander, and therefore hast dared
"to speak such words as these unto me." And
Alexander replied, "I am not Alexander, but only
"his messenger;" and Darius marvelled at his words,
and made him to sit down at his table, and he ate
with him. Now when they brought forth the wine.
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