Page 530 Persians) was the first that cast his Javelin at Alexander, and with such Force and Violence, that it pierc'd through his Buckler and Breast-plate into his right Shoulder-blade. The King plucking out the Dart with his own Hand, threw it away, and setting Spurs to his Horse flew upon the Persian Lord-Lieutenant with that Fierceness and Violence, that he fix'd his Spear in the middle of his Breast. Upon which the Battalions of both Armies there near at hand, in admiration of such a piece of singular Valour, set up a great shout. But the Point breaking in the Breast-plate, so that the Spear pierc'd no further, the Persian made at Alexander with his drawn Sword, who having got another Lance threw it directly into his Face, and pierc'd him through the Head; at which instance, Rosaces, Brother to him that was kill'd, came swiftly riding in, and reach'd the King such a Blow, that he cut through his Helmet, and gave him a slight wound upon the Head, and just as he was ready to second his stroke, Clitus, Sirnam'd Niger, posts up and cuts off the Hand of the Barbarian.
The Kinsmen of the two Brothers (now both fallen) came round about them, and at the first ply'd Alexander with their Darts, and then fell to it hand to hand, and ran through all hazards, that they might kill Alexander. And though he was inviron'd with imminent Hazards and Dangers of his Life, yet the throng of his Enemies did not at all daunt him. For though he had receiv'd three strokes through his Breast plate, and one Cut upon his Helmet, and had his Buckler, which he brought from the Temple of Minerva, thrice pierc'd through, yet he stirr'd not a Foot, but stood his ground against all Hazards and Difficulties with undaunted Resolution.
In the mean time, other brave Commanders fell round about him, among whom the most remarkable were Artyaxes, and Pharnaces, the Brother of Darius, and Mithrobarzanes the Commander of the Cappadocians; so that many great Officers being kill'd, and all the Troops of the Persians routed and broken by the Valour of the Macedonians, the first that fell in upon Alexander were forc'd to take to their Heels. And after them all the rest. In this Battel, by the Confession of all, the Valour of Alexander was cry'd up above all others; and he reputed the chief Instrument of the Victory. The Thessalian Horse manag'd their Troops with that Dexterity, and fought with that brave Resolution, that next to the King, they were most highly applauded, and gain'd exceeding Honour and Reputation.
After the Horse was routed and fled, the Foot running one in upon another in confusion fought a while, but amaz'd and dejected with the flight of their Horse, they likewise turn'd their Backs and made away.
There were kill'd in the Persian Army above Ten thousand Foot, and at least Two thousand Horse, and above Twenty thousand taken Prisoners.
After the Battel, the King buried those of his that were slain, with great Solemnity, by these Honours to encourage his Soldiers to fight the more readily. When he had refresh'd his Army, he march'd forward through Lydia, and came to Sardis, which with the Cittadel, and all the Provision and Treasure therein, were voluntarily surrender'd to him by Mithrinnes the Governor.
In the mean time, those Persians that had escap'd out of the Battel, fled, together with their General, Memnon, to Miletus, before which the King afterwards came, and assaulted it continually for several days together, still relieving his Men from time to time with fresh Supplies. The Besieged at first easily defended themselves from the Walls, in regard the City was full of Soldiers, and plentifully furnish'd with Weapons and all other things necessary for the enduring of a Siege. But as soon as the King began fiercely to batter the Walls with his Engines, and violently to push on the Siege both by Sea and Land, and the Macedonians had forc'd their way through a Breach of the Walls, putting their Enemies to flight in that part; the Milesians forthwith prostrated themselves as suppliants at the King's Feet, and gave up themselves and the City to his Mercy. Some of the Barbarians were kill'd by the Macedonians, others fled out of the City, and the rest were all taken. He dealt kindly and mercifully with the Milesians, but for others, he sold them all for Slaves.
And now having no further use for his Navy, and being likewise chargeable to maintain, he dismiss'd his Fleet, except a few Ships which he detain'd for the Conveying of his Engines of Battery, and other Instruments useful for the Besieging of Towns. Among which were Twenty Vessels from Athens.
There are some who say, that this Discharging of the Fleet was a prudent part of a General in Alexander. For Darius being on his march, and therefore very likely that a great Battel was to be fought, he conceiv'd that the Macedonians would fight with more Resolution, when they saw there was no possibility of flight. And the very same Project he