COURAGE AND DANGER OF ALEXANDER. 85 of Darius,) "who was bringing up a column of cavalry to attack him, but was himself considerably in advance of it. Alexander thrust his pike into the face of Mithridates, and laid him pros- trate on the ground : he then turned to another of the Porsian leaders, Rhoesakes, who struck him a blow on the head with his scymetar, knocked off a portion of his helmet, but did not pene- trate beyond. Alexander avenged this blow by thrusting Rhoe- sakes through the body with his pike.^ Meanwhile a third Per- sian leader, Spithridates, was actually close behind Alexander, with hand and scymetar uplifted to cut him down. At this criti- cal moment, Kleitus son of Dropides — one of the ancient offi- cers of Philip, high in the Macedonian service — struck with full force at the uplifted arm of Spithridates and severed it from the body, thus preserving Alexander's life. Other leading Persians, kinsmen of Spithridates, rushed desperately on Alexander, who received many blows on his armor, and was in much danger. But the efforts of his companions near were redoubled^ both to defend his person and to second his adventurous daring. It was on that point that the Persian cavalry was first broken. On the left of the Macedonian line, the Thessalian cavalry also fought with vigor and success ; ^ and the light-armed foot, intermingled with Alexander's cavalry generally, did great damage to the enemy. The rout of the Persian cavalry, once begun, speedily became general. They fled in all directions, pursued by the Macedonians. But Alexander and his officers soon checked this ardor of pur- suit, calling back their cavalry to complete his victory. The ■ Persian infantry, Asiatics as well as Greeks, had remained with- out movement or orders, looking on the cavalry battle which had just disastrously terminated. To them Alexander immediately turned his attention.^ He brought up his phalanx and hypas- pistoe to attack them in front, while his cavalry assailed on all ' Arrian, i. 15, 6-12 ; Diodor. xvi. 20 ; riiitarch, Alex. 16. These authors differ in the details. I follow Arrian.
- Diodor. xvii. 21.
^ Arrian, i. 16, 1 Plutarch says that the infantry, on seeing the cavalry routed, demanded to capitulate on terms with Alexander ; but tliis secmt hardly probable. voT.. xii. 8
