II
1.Upon taking Gordium，in Asia Minor，he found a famous chariot，fastened with cords made of the bark of the cornel tree，and was informed of a tradition，firmly believed among the barbarians，that the fateshad decreedthe empire of the world to the man whoshould untie the knot.Alexander，finding he could not untie it，cut it asunder with his sword.
2.While on his march through Asia Minor，Alexander was struck down by a serious illness.The physicians were afraid to try any remedy，in case of its failure leading to their own destruction at the hands of the king’s friends.One Philip，a faithful Greek physician，determined to risk his own life in trying to save that of the king，and prepared for him such medicines as were in use at the time.In the meantime，Alexander received a letter from a friend telling him to beware of Philip，whom Darius，the Persian king，had bribed to poison him.Alexander read the letter and put it under his pillow，without showing it to any one.
3.Soon Philip，with the king‘s friends，entered the chamber，having in his hand the cup which contained the medicine.The king received it without he least mark of suspicion，and at the same time put the letter in his hands.It was a striking situation They looked upon each other，but with a very different air.The king，withan open and unembarrassedcountenance，expressedhis regard for Philip，and the confidence he had in his honour；Philip’s looks showed his indignation at thecalumny.He threw himself down by the bedside，entreating his master to be of good courage and trust to his care.The medicine，indeed，was so strong that at first the king was speechless，and showed scarcely any sign of life；but afterwards he soon recovered.
4.Many instances are given of his generosity.One day as a Macedonian of mean circumstances was driving a mule laden with the king‘s money，the mule grew tired；the man then took the burden upon his own shoulders and carried it till he tottered under the weight and was ready to fall.Alexander happening to see him，said，“Hold on，friend，the rest of the way，and carry it to your own tent，for it is yours.”Indeed，he was generally more offended at those who refused hispresents，than at those who asked favours of him.He had given nothing to Serapion，one of the youths who played with him at ball，because，as Alexander said，he asked nothing.One day when they were at play，Serapion took care always to throw the ball to others of the party；upon which Alexander said，“Why do you not give it me？Because you did not ask for it，”said the youth.
The repartee pleased the king much；he laughed，and immediately made him very valuable presents.
5.When Alexander was upon the point of setting out for India，he saw that his troops were so laden withspoils that they were unfit to march；therefore early in the morning when he was to take his departure，after the carriages were assembled，he first set fire to his own baggage and that of his friends，and then gave orders that the rest should be served in the same manner.Few were displeased at the order，and numbers received it with acclamations of joy.
His tastes were simple，and his habits free from luxury.When some of the best cooks and bakers were sent to wait on him，he said that he had no need of them，for his tutor had supplied him with much better-a march before daybreak to give a relish to his dinner，and a light dinner to prepare for his supper.
6.It is said that the dominions of Taxiles，in India，were as large as Egypt.They were very fertile，and afforded excellent pasturage.As he was a man of greatprudence，he waited on Alexander，and after the firstcompliments，thus addressed him：“What occasion is there for war between you and me，if you are not come to take from us our water and other necessaries of life-the only things that reasonable men will take up arms for？As to gold and silver and other possessions，if I am richer than you，I am willing to oblige you withpart；if I am poorer，I have no objection to sharing in your bounty.”Charmed with his frankness，Alexander took his hand，and answered，“Think you，then，with all this civility，to escape without a conflict？You are much deceived if you do.I will dispute it with you to the last；but it shall be in favours and benefits，for I will not have you exceed me in generosity.”
7.When Porus was taken prisoner，Alexander asked him how he desired to be treated.He answered，“Like a king.”“And have you nothing else to request？”replied Alexander.“No，”said he；“everything is comprehendedin the word ’king.‘“Alexander not only restored him his own dominions immediately，which he was to govern as the king’s，lieutenant，but added very extensive territories to them；for having subdued a free country，which contained fifteen nations，five thousand considerable cities，and villages in proportion，he bestowed it on Porus.