Alexander mixes Twenty thousand Persian Darters with his Army. Marches from Susa. Bagistames breeds abundance of Horses. Hephestion dies at Ecbatane. The Lamian War. He invades the Cosseans. Marches towards Babylon. The Caldean Astrologers dissuade him from coming thither. He enters Babylon.
AFterwards when Anticles was chief Magistrate of Athens, and Lucius Cornelius and Quintius Publius were Consuls at Rome, Alexander supply'd the Room of those he had discharg'd with Persians, and chose a Thousand of them to be Squires of the Body, conceiving he might altogether as safely trust them as the Macedonians.
About this time Peucestes came with Twenty thousand Persian Darters and Slingers, these Alexander intermix'd amongst his other Soldiers, by which means the whole Army was brought into that due Constitution, as that they were readily obedient to his Command. There were some of the Macedonians that had Sons by the Captives, whom upon diligent Enquiry he found to be Ten thousand, and appointed them Masters to instruct them in all sorts of Learning, and allow'd sufficient Stipends for their Liberal Education.
Then he Rendevouz'd his Army, and march'd away from Susa, and passing the River Tigris, came to the Villages call'd Carrae, and there encamp'd. Thence in Four Days March he pass'd through Sitta, and came to Sambea. Here he rested Seven Days, and refresh'd his Army. Thence in Three Days he march'd to the Towns call'd Celonae: In which Place the Posterity of the Boeotians settl'd themselves in the time of Xerxes his Expedition, and there remain unto this Day, having not altogether forgot the Laws of their Country: For they use a double Language, one learnt from the Natural Inhabitants, and in the other they preserve much of the Greek Tongue; and observe some of their Laws and Customs. Thence, when it grew towards Evening, he decamp'd, and turn'd aside and march'd to Bagistames to view the Country. This Country abounds in all manner of Fruit-Trees, and whatever else conduces either to the Profit or Pleasure of Mankind; so as that it seems to be a Place of Delight both for Gods and Men. Afterwards he came into a Country that breeds and pastures an innumerable Company of Horses; for they say, That there had been here an Hundred and sixty thousand Horses that ran at Pasture up and down in the Country; but at the coming of Alexander there were only Sixty thousand. He encamp'd herefor the space of Thirty Days: Thence in seven Encampments he came to Echatana in Media. This City is Two hundred and fifty Furlongs in compass, and is the Metropolis of all Media, where abundance of Treasure was laid up. Here he staid some time, and refresh'd his Army, and spent his time in Feasting, Drinking, and Stage-Plays; at which time Hephestion (one that he lov'd above all others) fell sick of a Surfeit, and died: Whose death the King bore very grievously, and committed his Body to Perdiccas to be carry'd to Babylon, because he intended to bury him with great Pomp and State.
While these things were acting in Asia, Greece was full of Tumults and Seditions, whence broke out the War call'd the Lamian War, upon this occasion: After the King's Order to the Lords Lieutenants of the Provinces to disband all Mercenary Soldiers, and the execution of those Commands, many Foreiguers that were cashier'd, went stragling over all Asia, and for want of Subsistence, robb'd and spoil'd the Country till they all came into one Body, at Tenarus in Laconia: So likewise all the Governors and Commanders of the Persians that were left, got together what Men and Money they could, and came all to Tenarus, and there join'd their Forces together: There they created Leostenes an Athenian (a brave Spirited Man) General of the Army; who then call'd a Council of War; and after Consultation had concerning the Management of the War, dispos'd of Fifty Talents to pay the Mercenaries, and provided Arms sufficient for the present occasion. He sent likewise Ambassadors to the Aetolians (who were disaffected to the King) to join with them in Arms. And thus Leostenes was altogether taken up in necessary Preparations for a War, of the greatness of which, he had then a clear and evident Prospect.
Alexander now march'd against the Cosseans, who refus'd to submit to his Government. This People are a very Warlike Nation, and inhabit the hilly and mountainous Parts of Media; and therefore confiding in their own Valour, and the Fastnesses of their Coun-Country, never would be brought of admit to any foreign Prince to reign over them;