land, giving trouble botli to thyself and others.[1] And yet tbou also wilt soon die, and possess only as mucli of the earth as is sufficient for thy body to be buried in."
CHAPTER II.
Alexander's Dealings with the Indian Sages.
On this occasion Alexander, commended both the words and the men who spoke them; but nevertheless he did just the opposite to that which he commended. When also in the Isthmus he met Diogenes of Sinope, lying in the sun, standing near him with his shield-bearing guards and foot Companions, he asked if he wanted anything. But Diogenes said that he wanted nothing else, except that he and his attendants would stand out of the sunlight. Alexander is said to have expressed his admiration of Diogenes's conduct.[2] Thus it is evident that Alexander was not entirely destitute of better feelings j but he was the slave of his insatiable ambition. Again, when he arrived at Taxila afld saw the naked sect of Indian philosophers, bjO was exceedingly desirous that one of these men should live with him; because he admired their power of endurance.[3] But the oldest of the philosophers, Dandamis by name, of whom the others were disciples, refused to come himself to Alexander, and would not allow the others to do so.[4] He, is said to have replied that he was himself a son of Zeus, if Alexander was[5]; and that he wanted nothing from him, because he
- ↑ Cf. Alciphron (Epistolae, i. 30, 1), with Bergler and Wagner's notes.
- ↑ This must have occurred B.C. 336. See Plutarch (Alex. 14); Cicero (Tusculanae Disputationes, v. 32). Alexander said: " If I were not Alexander, I should like to be Diogenes." Cf. Arrian, i. 1; Plutarch (de Fortit. Alex., p. 331).
- ↑ Cf. Strabo, xv. 1.
- ↑ Strabo calls this sage Mandanis.
- ↑ Strabo says, Alexander's messengers summoned Mandanis to the son of Zeus.
