194 HISTORY OF GREECE. (as it seems) not uniformlj practised. Alexander not only kept the resolution secret, but is even said to Lave invited Pliilotas to supper with the other officers, conversing with him just as usual. ^ In the middle of the night, Philotas was an-ested while asleep in his bed, — put in chains, — and clothed in an ignoble garb. A military assembly was convened at daybreak, before which Alexander appeared with the chief officers in his confi- dence. Addressing the soldiers in a vehement tone of mingled sorroAV and anger, he proclaimed to them that his life had just been providentially rescued from a dangerous conspiracy or- ganized by two men hitherto trusted as his best friends — Philo- tas and Parmenio — through the intended agency of a soldier named Dimnus, wiio had slain himself when arrested. The dead body of Dimnus was then exhibited to the meeting, while Niko- machus and Kebalinus were brought forward to tell their story. A letter from Parmenio to his sons Philotas and Nikanor, found among the papers seized on the arrest, was read to the meeting. Its terms were altogether vague and unmeaning ; but Alexander chose to construe them as it suited his purpose.- We may easily conceive the impression produced upon these assembled soldiers by such denunciations from Alexander him- self — revelations of his own personal danger, and reproaches against treacherous friends. Amyntas, and even Kcenus, the brother-in-law of Philotas, were yet more unmeasured in their invectives against the accused.^ They, as well as the other offi- cers with whom the ari-est had been concerted, set the example of violent manifestation against him, and ardent sympathy with the king's danger. Philotas was heard in his defence, which though strenuously denying the charge, is said to have been feeble. It was indeed sure to be so, coming from one seized tlms suddenly, and overwhelmed with disadvantages ; while a degree of courage, absolutely heroic, would have been required ' Cuitius, vi. 8, IC. '• Invitatus est ctiam P.iilotas ad ultimas sibi epu/as et rex non ccEnare modo, scd ctiam familiariter colloqui, cum co quanj damnaverat, sustinuit."
- Arrian, iii. 26, 2. Aiyei 61 H-o/.efialog eiaax'^/ivai tf MuKedovac ^u.Ctov,
KOI KaTTjyopficai avTov taxvpug 'AAffnirfpov, etc. Curlius, vi. 9, 13; Diodo- rus, xvii 80. ' Curtius, vi. 9, 30.
