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situation of Alexander : nor is it easy to conceive of what utility 

 it could prove adequate to the risk and inconvenience of such a 

 toilsome march. His fortunate arrival and safe return, therefore, 

 with such an army, are by all his biographers accounted as mi- 

 raculous ; and the effect of the interposing aid of that sovereign 

 Jupiter, whose protection he sought, and whom he claimed as his 

 august progenitor. Alexander, on his return, found the works, in- 

 tended to make his new city the wonder of the East, already far 

 advanced, and, marching to Memphis, received there ambassadors 

 bearing congratulations from the various states of Greece, with a 

 considerable body of fresh recruits, both cavalry and infantry. 



Having placed a strong garrison in that city, and other fortresses 

 of Egypt, headed by commanders of tried loyalty and valour, and 

 every thing being now fully mature for the accomplishment of the 

 great projects which he had been so long planning, of empire and 

 of glory, Alexander, in the spring of the year before Christ 331, Btfore ciirit, 

 hastened back into Syria ; and thence bent his course to the Upper 

 Asia, with the fixed determination of seeking Darius, wheresoever he 

 was to be found, and deciding, by one general engagement, the fate 

 of the interior of that vast continent, of which the whole maritime 

 region was now entirely in his power. Animated by these hopes, 

 and impatient for the dazzling prize, he passed with rapidity the 

 intervening country between Tyre and the Euphrates, and, arriving 

 at Thapsacus, on that river, repaired the bridge, over which Darius 

 and his routed army had passed after the battle of Issus ; but which 

 now served to transport his conqueror into the heart of Mesopotamia. 

 This was effected without opposition, notwithstanding the charge 

 of guarding that passage had been committed to a Persian officer, 

 named Maza3us, who was stationed there with a corps of three 

 thousand horse and two thousand Greek mercenaries ; for, at the 

 near approach of the Macedonians, that commander immediately 



331. 



