Читать книгу The Story of Alexander онлайн

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Great was the joy of Philip that his son’s first wish was to be a leader of men in war, and that he had done this great thing, so he granted it with good will. “I give thee, O son,” said he, “one hundred of my best horses, and sixty thousand gold pieces from my coffers, and the best of my chieftains and proved princes to be thy men, and free of my house shalt thou be, to abide there in peace, or to go from it to seek adventure in war. Thou hast done a man’s deed, and man shalt thou be called.” Then the prince gave him lowly thanks, and sped off to gather together a little band of twelve chieftains, picked and proved leaders of men, whom he had chosen to lead his men, and when this was done each got together tried men to follow them till the number of the band was made up.

Now when Alexander had got together his band, he made ready to go out in search of his first adventure, and in few days he rode out into the world in knightly array into a land unknown, nor did he stay until he came into the land of Peloponnesus. Now the king of this land was called Nicholas, and when tidings were brought him that a band of strange knights had come into his land, he ordered that a host should be gathered together, and he with a few knights rode out far before his following, and came to the men of Alexander and began to question them in his wrath and anger, “Oh, ye knights, who is your leader, and why come you here in my land?” Then the courteous knight Alexander came to the front: “Sir knight,” said he, “Philip the fierce, king of Macedon, is my father, and I am his heir Alexander.” And the king stood up in his stirrups, and sternly looking at him, said, “Whom think you that I am?” “Sir,” said Alexander, “you are as now king of this folk, nor do I grudge your honour, but beware of pride, for wise men tell that the highest thing falls soonest, and that which is least of all is ofttimes brought to the stars.”