I
1.There is no more romantic figure in history than Alexander，the son of Philip，King of Macedonia.He was born in the year 356B.C.，and succeeded hisfather on the throne when barely twenty years of age.Having first secured his position as king over the Grecian states，heled an army across the Hellespont，to continue the war with Persia.Asia Minor，Palestine，and Egypt were in turnsubdued；and then the Persian power was destroyed at the battle of Arbela，which left Alexander master of the empire.An expedition still farther to the east carried the conqueror across the Indus；and he was only prevented from reaching the Ganges by the murmurs of his followers.On his return to Babylon，he died at the early age of thirty-two years.Plutarch，theGreek historian，has preserved for us a large numberof interesting anecdotes，which throw light on thecharacter of this great conqueror.
2.Ambassadors from Persia happened to arrive in the absence of his father Philip，and Alexander，who was a mere boy，received them in his stead.He impressed them greatly by his politeness and solid sense.He asked them no childish or trifling question，but inquired the distances of places，and the roads through the provinces of Asia；he desired to be informed of the character of their king，in what manner he behaved to his enemies，and in what the strength and power of Persia consisted.The ambassadors werestruck with admiration，and looked upon the celebratedshrewdnessof Philip as nothing in comparison withthe lofty and enterprisinggenius of his son.
3.Whenever news was brought that Philip had taken some strong town or won some great battle，the young man，instead of appearing delighted with it，used to say to his companions，“My father will go on conquering till there will be nothing great left for you and me to do.”As neither pleasure nor riches，but valour and glory，were his great objects，he thought that，in proportion as the dominions he was to receive from his father grew greater，there would be less room for him to distinguish himself.
4.The horse named Bucephalus was offered for sale，and King Philip，with the prince and many others，went into a field to see some trial made of him.The horse appeared extremely vicious and unmanageable，and would not allow any one to mount him.Philip was displeased at their bringing him so wild and ungovernable a horse，and bade them take him away.But Alexander，who had observed Bucephalus well，said，“What a horse they are losing，for want of skillprince had turned his steed and brought him straight back，they all received him with loud acclamations，-excepthis father，who wept for joy，and kissing him said，“Seek another kingdom，my son，that may be worthy of thy abilities，for Macedonia is too small for thee.”
5.A general assembly of the Greeks being held at Corinth，they resolved to send their troops with Alexander against the Persians，and he was unani-mouslyelected captain-general.Many statesmenand philosopherscame to congratulate him on theoccasion；and he hoped that Diogenes，who was then
living at Corinth，would be one of the number.Finding，how-ever，that he preferred the enjoyment of his leisure in the suburbs，he went to see him.
6.Diogenes happened to be lying in the sun；and at the approach of so many people，he raised himself up a little and fixed his eyes upon Alexander.The king addressed him in an obliging manner，and asked him if there was any way in which he could serve him.“Only stand a little out of my sunshine，”said Diogenes.Alexander，we are told，was struck with such surpriseat finding himself so little regarded，and saw something so great in that carelessness，that while his courtiers were ridiculing the philosopher，he said，“If I were not Alexander，I should wish to be Diogenes.”
