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

28o Alexander's Empire
renown of Persia might be said to have come to naught in
a moment by the hands of women. This spread abroad,
and came to the ears of the men who were young and made
little use of reason when drink was in their heads. Pres-
The burning ently one cries out, "Come on, bring us firebrands," and
ep
ace.
^^ incited the rest to fire the citadel, to revenge the impiety
the Persians had committed in destroying the
temples of the Grecians.
Thereupon others with joy set
up a shout, and said, " So brave an exploit belongs only to
Alexander to perform!"
Stirred by these words, the king embraced the motion;
whereupon as many as were present left their cups and
leaped upon the table, and said, "We will now celebrate
a victorious festival to Bacchus." Then multitudes of
firebrands were presently got together, and all
the women
that played on musical instruments at the feast were
called for, and then the king with songs, pipes and flutes
bravely led the procession of revelry conducted by Thais,
who next after the king threw the firebrand into the
palace.
This precedent was presently followed by the rest,
so that in a very short time, the whole fabric, by the violence
of the fire, was consumed to ashes.
III.
Character of Alexander
His good Alexander died in the hundred and fourteenth Olymquauties.
^j^^^ ^^ ^^^ archonship of Hegesias of Athens.
According
^° ^^^ statement of Aristobulus he lived thirty-two years
tbSis'of^'
Ahxander, and had reached the eighth month of his thirty-third year.
He had reigned twelve years and these eight months. He
B.C. ^^^ was very handsome in person, and unusually fond of exertion,
very active in mind, heroic in courage, tenacious of
honor, exceedingly fond of incurring danger, and strictly