During the siege of Tyre, Darius had again sent to Alexander, offering to him a large ransom for his family, as well as the hand of his daughter and all the provinces west of Euphrates.
While Alexander and his generals were talking over the offer of Darius, Parmenio exclaimed, ‘If I were you I should accept these terms.’
‘And I,’ answered the king, ‘would accept them if I were Parmenio.’
To Darius, Alexander’s reply was haughtier than ever. ‘If thou comest,’ so ran his words, ‘and yield thyself up into my power, I will treat thee with all possible kindness; if not, I will come myself to seek thee.’
Soon after this the wife of Darius died. Alexander had always treated her well, and now he buried her with great honour.
One of her servants fled to Darius to tell him the sad tidings. He told him, too, of the kindness Alexander had ever shown to his royal captive.
‘O king,’ said the servant, ‘neither your queen when alive, nor your mother, nor children wanted anything of their former happy condition, unless it were the light of your countenance. And after her decease, Statira, the queen, had not only all due funeral ornaments, but was honoured also with the tears of your very enemies; for Alexander is as gentle after victory as he is terrible in the field.’
CHAPTER XCVII
THE BATTLE OF GAUGAMELA
It was now almost two years since the battle of Issus, and Alexander determined once more to meet Darius, who had again assembled a large army.