But Darius had seen how his men were being borne down, and had noted how their king was first among the Macedonians, and how that no man stood before his blows, so he called to him one of his bravest champions, and said to him: “Sir Knight, seest thou yon leader of the Greeks, look you now, he wears the colour of my daughter; go thou, arm thee in fresh armour as a man of Macedon, and slay him. And if thou so doest, I will give thee my daughter Roxana to wife, and thou shalt be after me in the land of Persia.” Then that knight answered and said: “Thou art my lord; whatsoever thou biddest that will I do, and I will smite his head from off his shoulders, that no man may hereafter stand against the Emperor.” So he arrayed him in clean bright armour, and over his armour he put on a silk surcoat in colour like to that of the Macedonians, and rode out among them.
Now Alexander was ranging his knights for their grand attack on the Persians, and the trumpets blew, and all together they charged down on the foe. Close behind Alexander rode the Persian knight, and no man could see who he was, for the bars of his helmet were closed. And Alexander, as his wont was, rode into the thick of the fight, and struck great blows here and there, and no man stood before him. Then the knight drew his sword and spurred on his horse, and struck the king such a blow that it cut through his helmet and down into his cheek, and then as the king wheeled round his horse the sword broke in the helmet. And when the knights around saw the blow they rushed on the disguised Persian, but Alexander stayed them from hurting him, and said:
“What, my knight, why hast thou wounded thy lord and thy helper?”
“Nay,” said the knight, “I am no knight of thine; this did I for Sir Darius, who promised me his daughter if I hewed off thy head.”
“Take him away,” said the king, “but harm him not till I give order about him.”
Then Alexander turned to his lords and said:
“What shall be done to him for this deed?”
And one man advised to hang him, and another to cut off his head, and another to burn him alive. But Alexander looked displeased, and said:
“Nay, he has but done his duly to his lord, in that he obeyed his word, and his lord has all the blame of his deed. He that condemns him judges himself, for did I order one of you to slay Darius that must ye do. Let him depart and go to his lord, for he strikes a good stroke.”