English
Alexander Takes the Throne and Marches on Darius
During those days Philip died, and in Rome there had been a certain ruler for a while.
Alexander sat on his forefathers' throne. He sought out good and shut the door on evil.
There was a man of renown in Rome then, one who gladdened the whole land and its people.
A sage whose name was Aristotle, wise, alert, and generous in his desires.
That pure-minded man came before Alexander, began to speak, and took his place.
He said to him: Great and happy lord, in this work you are losing your good name.
For the throne of kings has seen many like you; it will not settle down with anyone for long.
The moment you say, 'I have arrived, and need no guide in this world,'
know then that you are the most ignorant of all, if you will not hear the counsel of the wise.
We are of dust and born from dust; in our helplessness we have given our hearts to it.
If you are good, your name will endure; on the kingly throne you will taste contentment.
But if you do evil, you will reap nothing but evil, and you will not sleep one glad night in this world.
A king has the power to do good; no one has ever prospered in life through wickedness.
Alexander heard this and it pleased him; the speaker seemed full of majesty to him.
By his counsel he did whatever he did, in feasting and in fighting, in honor and in war.
Each time anew he would show him favor, and when he came he would seat him on the throne.
It happened one day that a messenger, eloquent, bright-hearted, and noble,
came from Darius to Rome, to demand tribute from that flourishing land.
He spoke his message before Alexander, and Alexander grew grieved at the old tribute.
He said to him: Go and tell Darius that our tribute has now changed its color and scent.
The hen that used to lay golden eggs has died, and the source of the tribute is now barren.
The envoy carried back the answer he had heard; he took fright and vanished from Rome.
Alexander summoned his whole army and told them all that had passed.
He said: From the turning of the sky no well-meaning man can escape.
I must traverse the face of the earth and reckon up both good and evil for a while.
Now you must make ready and empty your hearts of home and ease.
He opened his forefathers' treasuries and ordered his army equipped.
At dawn a great clamor rose from Rome, from the city and the court of the new commander.
That famous king set out with such a renowned army on the road.
Behind the Roman commander flew a banner, its field marked in red and turquoise.
Above it a phoenix, its staff of reed, and on it was inscribed the emblem of the cross.
Such a host came from Rome to Egypt that they blocked the path even to ant and gnat.
The two armies faced each other and battled fiercely for a whole week.
On the eighth day defeat fell upon Egypt; Alexander had cut off their line of retreat.
So many were taken captive on a single road that the captor's hands grew idle.
There were maces and horses and armor, coats of mail and Indian daggers,
golden belts and golden trappings, and Indian swords in golden sheaths.
He found so much brocade and gold coin that the pack animals could not bear the plunder.
Many riders came seeking quarter, great warriors and men of renown.
From there he set his aim on Iran, taking the heart of a lion and the claws of the brave.
When Darius heard that the army from Rome had stirred and reached his own land,
so many troops set out from Estakhr that with their spears they blocked the very wind's path.
From Persia he aimed for Rome, meaning to cross out of Iran into that flourishing land.
When he brought his army to the Euphrates, its numbers were more than the plants of the field.
He drew his army up along the water's edge; for the armor no one could see the sea's water.