BUCEPHALUS 1 27 



less he were forthcoming within a certain time, 

 every man, woman, and child in the province 

 should be put to death, and it was not long before 

 he was brought back. 



In the great battle that was fought with King 

 Porus, of India, Alexander recklessly rode too 

 far into the enemy's ranks. The horse and his 

 rider became the target for every spear, and for 

 a time it seemed as if neither could escape. But 

 the gallant Bucephalus, pierced by many weapons, 

 and with streams of blood flowing from his neck 

 and sides, turned about and, overriding the foes 

 which beset them, rushed back to a place of safety. 

 When he saw that his master was out of danger 

 and among friends, the horse sank down upon 

 the grass and died. Historians say that this hap- 

 pened in the year 327 B.C., and that Bucephalus 

 had reached the good old age — for a horse — of 

 thirty years. Alexander mourned for him as for 

 his dearest friend, and the next city which he 

 founded he named Bucephalia, in honor of the 

 steed that had served him so well. 



