 | The Tragedy of Darivs |  |
The Argument.
Darivs, the fourteenth from Cyrus King of Persia, being after the death of Occhus, for his singular valour, from the government of Armenia, advanc'd to the Persian Empire, became so arrogant (a good successe as it were satting him forward to confusion) as he sent to demand tribute of Philip then King of Macedonia who being of a hauty nature (and inferiour to none of that age in courage, or for military discipline) requited this contumelious message, with as disdainefull an answer; threatning that he would come and deliver it in Persepolis. But being prevented by death, he left the execution of his designe to his sonne Alexander, who for the great victories which thereafter he obtained, was surnamed the great. He inheriting the hatred of his Father towards Darius, and farre surmounting him in ambition, past in person to Asia, with an army of thirty thousand men onely.
After his arrivall, Darius wrote to him in a proud and contemptible manner, ascribing to himselfe the title of the King of Kings, and kinsman of the Gods, and naming Alexander his servant; Hee also in vaunting manner, bragged that he would have that mad boy, the sonne of Philip (for so in derision be tearmed him) bound, and beaten with roddes, and after brought to his presence apparelled like a Prince. For performance whereof he directed one of his Minions, with forty thousand men to make impediment to his passage at the River of Granick, where by the wonderfull valour of Alexander, they were overthrowne.
Darius being advertised of this, came himselfe in proper person, accompanied with infinite (but evill ordered) numbers, and encountred Alexander beside Isso, in the strait of Cilicia where having fought a doubtfull and bloudy battell, in end by the invincible valour and never-failing fortune of Alexander his Army was defeated, himselfe put to flight, and his mother, wife, and children made captives. Who were most courteously entertained by Alexander, who notwithstanding their exceeding great beauty, yet would not abuse them, nor suffer them to bee abused by others: nor visited he them more then once (and that to comfort them) all the time of their imprisonment.
Darius, notwithstanding of all his losses (his courage being in the full, whilst his fortune was in the waine) wrote very proudly to Alexander, taking still the title of a King to himselfe, but not giving it to him, offering him as much gold, as Macedon could containe, for ransome of the captives. Which being
Yet for all these misfortunes, being of an invincible courage and despairing of peace, he re-assembled all his forces. which were augmented by the comming of the Bactrians, and was comming forward, with intention at last either to dye, or prevaile. But in the meane time, two traiterous subjects of his owne, Bessus, whom he had preferred to be governour of Bactria, and Nabarzanes, one in speciall credit with him, conspired his death. Which danger, though it was revealed to him by Patron, Captaine of the Greekes, yet he could not, or rather would not eschew. At length, those two Traitours tooke, and bound him with golden chaines, and cast him in an old Chariot, with purpose to present him to Alexander. But they hearing how he would not accept their Present, and how he was comming to invade them, threw their darts at Darius, and left him for dead. In this estate he was found by Polystratus, and after the delivery of some few words dyed. Alexander having exceedingly lamented his miserable and undeserved end, directed his body to his mother Sisigambis to be honourably buried.
| The Tragedy of Darivs | |