English
Section 5: Darius Rallies Iran
When Darius withdrew from before Alexander, he sent horsemen racing in every direction.
He summoned the chiefs and nobles of Iran, paid out money, and called for those who lived on his bounty.
By the start of the month he had an army in place and filled the heads of his great men with hope and pride.
Once more he crossed to the far side of the river and drew up his forces on that wide plain.
When Alexander heard of it he marched his troops out, met the enemy, and stayed to prepare there.
When the two armies came face to face, both time and earth grew hungry for battle.
For three days the fighting dragged on, until the dead left no room to stand.
Many of the Iranians were killed, and the day turned against the world conqueror Darius.
Full of grief he turned back from the field, for God, the lord of the moon, gave him no aid.
Alexander came after him like dust on the wind, and often gave thanks to the Creator of the world.
A cry went up from the front of his army: 'You subject people who have lost your way,
you have nothing to fear or dread from me; my soldiers have no quarrel with you.
Live safe in your own homes, having entrusted your bodies and souls to God.
You are spared, life and limb, from the Greeks, even though your hands are washed in blood.'
When the Iranians felt themselves safe, they all turned their faces toward the Greeks.
Alexander came onto the battlefield and gathered up all the spoils, every last piece.
He shared out the wealth among his troops, and his army was strengthened and made ready.
He stayed four months in that land, until both king and army had rested.
Meanwhile Darius, ruler of the world, reached Jahrom, where the keys to the treasuries were kept.
All the great men came out to meet him, full of sorrow, burning and melting with grief.
A son wept aloud when he could not find his father, and a father likewise when he could not find his son.
The whole land of Iran was filled with lament, tears falling from every eye like hail.
From Jahrom he went to the city of Estakhr, in which the free-born of Iran took pride.
A messenger set out in every direction, to every renowned man and every warrior.
The army assembled in the royal hall, and they set out a golden dais below the throne.
When Darius sat on that golden seat, the king-loving champions came forward.
He said to the Iranians: 'You great men, you wise ones, you lions and warriors,
consider now what our plan for battle should be.' He spoke in pain and wept a while.
He said: 'Better to die today with honor than to live while the enemy rejoices in his triumph.
As long as our forebears and kings existed, they collected tribute every year.
In every matter Rome was beneath us; now the fortune of the free-born has turned dark.
Alexander has seized the whole kingdom; he rules the world and has taken throne and crown.
Even so it will not stay this way; the day will come when all Persia turns into a sea of blood.
Woman, child, and man will be taken captive; neither young nor old will be left in this land.
If you will help me in this cause, I will turn back this pain and grief and harm.
This crowd were once the prey of our great men, worn down and driven off by the land of Iran.
Now we are the prey and they the leopards, fleeing every battlefield from the fight.
If every one of you stands back to back, you can crush their land and home in your fist.
Whoever grows slack in this war, let him strive at least to save his own skin.
After this, hold out no hope in the world, for Rome has become Zahhak and we the fallen Jamshid.'
He spoke weeping, his heart full of pain, his cheeks yellow and his lips dark blue.
The wise and great men rose and prepared their answer to him.
A bitter cry rose up from Iran: 'We do not want a world without a king.
To a man we will turn our faces to war and make the world narrow for the evil-minded foe.
We will bind our garments together, one to the next, whether we win the land or only the dust and soil.'
He gave out arms and money to his army and to the famous men of his realm.