A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Royal Captives 277
"Nay," answered one of his companions, "in that of
Alexander; for the goods of the vanquished become the
property of the victor." When he entered the bath and
saw that all the vessels for water, the bath itself, and the
boxes of unguents were of pure gold, and smelt the delicious
scent of the rich perfumes with which the whole
pavilion was filled; and when he passed from the bath
mto a magnificent salon where a splendid banquet was
prepared, he looked at his friends and said "This, then, it
is
to be a king indeed."
While he was dining it was told him that the mother and
wife of Darius and his two daughters, who were among
the captives, had seen the chariot and bow of Darius, and
were mourning for him, imagining him to be dead.
Alexander
when he heard this, paused for a long time, being
more affected by the grief of these ladies, than by the
victory he had won. He sent Leonnatus to inform them,
that they need never mourn for Darius nor fear Alexander;
for he was fighting for the empire of Asia, not as a personal
enemy of Darius, and would take care that they were
treated with the same honor and respect as before.
This
generous message to the captive princesses was followed
by acts of still greater kindness; for he permitted them to
bury whomsoever of the slain persons they wished, and
to use all their own apparel and furniture, which had been
seized by the soldiers as plunder. He also allowed them
to retain the regal title and state, and even increased their
revenues.
The family
II.
The Sack of Persepolis
The Macedonians therefore, forcing their way into the
The spoil,
city, put all the men to the sword, and rifled and carried Diodoms
away every man's goods and estate, amongst which was ^^' ^°'