CHAPTER LVII. EUROPE continued.

Macedon conquers Greece.

-Philip of

1. I SHALL now resume the history of Greece, at the point where I left off. The reader will recollect that I had just finished speaking of the Theban war.

2. Not long after the close of that war, the states of Greece became involved in another, which was generally called the Sacred War. The people of Phocis had been sentenced, by the Amphictyonic council, to pay a heavy fine for ploughing a field which belonged to the temple of Apollo, at Delphos. Conceiving the sentence to be unjust, the Phocians resolved not to submit to it, and the people of Athens, Sparta, and Achaia, assisted them. The Thebans, Locrians, and Thessalians, took the part of the Amphictyonic council, and Philip, king of Macedon, was solicited to fight on the same side, and named general by the council.

3. The kingdom of Macedon is numbered by some historians among the states of Greece; but others consider it a separate country. Although it was founded about five hundred years before this period, it had never been very powerful till Philip mounted the throne.

4. Philip was ambitious and warlike, and he had no sooner marched his army into Greece, than he determined to make himself ruler of the whole country. The Greeks were not now so valiant as they had been; and there were no such men as Leonidas, Miltiades, or Epaminondas, to lead them to victory. The person who most strenuously opposed the designs of Philip, was Demosthenes, an Athenian. He was one of the most eloquent orators that ever lived; and his orations against Philip incited the Athenians to resist him to the utmost; it is from these orations against the Macedonian king that severe speeches have since been called philippics. But the Athenians and their allies were defeated at Cheronæa, in the year 338 before

the Christian era; and thenceforward, Philip controlled the affairs of Greece till his death. Perhaps, after all, he was a better ruler than the Greeks could have found among themselves.

5. But he had many vices, and among the rest, that of drinking to excess. One day, just after he had risen from the banquet, he decided a certain lawsuit unjustly; the losing person cried out, "I appeal from Philip drunk, to Philip sober!" The next day, when sober, he decided the other way.

6. A poor woman, who had some business with Philip, tried in vain to obtain an audience. He put her off from one day to another, saying that he had no leisure to attend to her;-"If you have no leisure to do justice, you have no right to be king!" said the woman. The king was struck with the truth of what the woman said, and he became more attentive to the duties of his station.

7. He lived only two years after the battle of Cheronæa. There was a young nobleman named Pausanias, a captain of the guard, who had been injured by one of Philip's relations. As Philip would not punish the offender, Pausanias resolved that he himself should die. On the day of the marriage of Philip's daughter, the king was entering the public theatre, where the nuptial festivities were to be celebrated; at this moment Pausanias rushed forth, with his sword drawn, and stabbed him to the heart; he was himself immediately slain. The Athenians greatly rejoiced at the news of Philip's death, and all the other states of Greece likewise revolted against the power of Macedon.

QUESTIONS. 1. What of the sacred war? Cause of it? Which way was Delphos from Athens? Phocis? Thessaly? What states fought on the side of the Phocians? What on the side of the Amphictyonic council? On which side did Philip, king of Macedon, fight?- -3. What of Macedon? Situation? When was it founded? Which way did Philip's army march from Macedon to Greece ?4. What of Philip? On what did he determine? What of the

Greeks at this time? What of Demosthenes?

What effect had

his oratory on the Athenians? Origin of the word philippic? Where were they beaten? When did the battle take place? Where is Cheronæa? Direction from Thebes? Athens ? Sparta? How long did Philip rule Greece ?- -5, 6. Relate some anecdotes of Philip. -7. What of Pausanias? Describe the death of Philip. What did the Athenians do? Other states?

Ancient Statue of Alexander the Great.

1. BUT the new king of Macedon, though only twenty years old, was well qualified to fill his father's place. He was Alexander, afterwards surnamed the Great. Young as he was, he had already given proofs of the valour which so soon made him conqueror of the world.

2. Alexander subdued the Grecian states in the course

M

of one campaign; he was then declared generalissimo of the Greeks, and undertook a war against Persia. The army which he led against that country consisted of thirtyfive thousand men. He crossed the Hellespont, and marched through Asia Minor, towards Persia, but before reaching its borders, he was met by the Persian king, Darius, who had collected an immense army. Alexander defeated him, and killed many thousands of his soldiers. He then marched into Egypt, and founded the city which still bears the name of Alexandria.

3. Darius soon assembled a mightier army than before; and had now half a million of men. He advanced to battle in the midst of his troops, seated on a lofty chariot, which resembled a moving throne, and around him were his lifeguards, all in splendid armour. But when the Persians saw how boldly the Macedonian horsemen advanced, they took to flight; and poor king Darius was left almost alone on his lofty chariot. He had but just time to get on horseback, and gallop away from the battle, and shortly afterwards was slain by two of his own subjects, as I have told you in the history of Persia.

4. After the victory, Alexander marched to Persepolis, which was then the capital of Persia, and a rich and magnificent city. In the royal palace, there was a gigantic statue of Xerxes, but the Macedonian soldiers overthrew it, and tumbled it upon the ground. While he remained at Persepolis, Alexander gave himself up to drunkenness and licentious pleasures. One night, at a splendid banquet, an Athenian lady persuaded him to set fire to the city, and it was accordingly burnt to the ground.

5. When Persia was completely subdued, Alexander invaded India, the country now called Hindostan. One of the kings of that country, named Porus, is said to have been seven feet and a half in height. This gigantic king led a great army against Alexander.

6. Porus was well provided with elephants, which had

been trained to rush upon the enemy, and trample them down. Alexander had no elephants, but his usual good fortune did not desert him. The army of Porus was routed, and he himself was taken prisoner, and loaded with chains.

7. In this degraded condition, the Indian king was brought into the victor's tent. Alexander gazed with wonder at the enormous stature of Porus, for although so great a conqueror, he was himself only of middle size. "How shall I treat you?" asked Alexander of his prisoner. "Like a king!" said Porus. This answer led Alexander to reflect how he himself should like to be treated, had he been in a similar situation; and he was induced to behave generously to Porus.

QUESTIONS. 1. Who was the new king of Macedon? Of what had he given proofs ?- -2. After what exploit was Alexander declared generalissimo of the Greeks? What of the army which he led against Persia? Direction of Persia from Macedon? Over what sea and country did the army cross to reach Persia? Who opposed Alexander? Where did Alexander march after the battle?

-3. Describe the march of Darius and his new army. What became of Darius ?4. To what place did Alexander go after his victory? Situation of Persepolis? Direction from Athens? What of the statue of Xerxes? What happened at Persepolis ?- -5. What country did Alexander next invade? Direction of India from Greece? Persia? What of Porus ?- -6. What animals had Porus in his army? Who conquered? What became of Porus ?-7. Describe the meeting between Alexander and Porus.

CHAPTER LIX. EUROPE continued.

Alexander's career.

-Sequel of

1. In the early part of his career, Alexander had shown many excellent and noble traits of character. But he met with such great and continual success in all his undertakings, that his heart became corrupted, and he committed many cruel actions. One of his worst deeds was the