§ 6. ibi maiorem etc] Diodorus and Arrian agree in substance with this account of the march and laying waste of the country of the Oritae.

87. urbem] so says Diodorus and tells us that its name was Alexandria. Arrian VI 21 § 5 says only that he praised a certain spot as suited for the development of a great city.

Arachosii] this statement rests on Curtius' authority alone.

§ 8. maritimos Indos] these are clearly the same as those whom Diodorus XVII 105 calls ἔθνος ἄξενον καὶ παντελῶς θηριώδες, and to whom other writers give the name Ichthyophagi. But it is remarkable that Arrian VI 28 § 5, Indica 24-29 passim speaks of their being visited by Nearchus, not by Alexander, and this is perhaps the more probable version of the story, unless we refer this passage of Curtius to the exploring party under Thoas, sent by Alexander to survey the coast district. See Arrian VI 23 §§ 2, 3. Pliny NH VI § 95.

commercii iure] intercourse', perhaps in the way of exchange. The word ius means 'right' or 'rightful relation', and the expression ius commercii is important in early Roman history. See note on VIII 9 § 19.

§ 9. ipsa] of itself', opposed to natura quoque 'even by nature'. efferavit] 'has made savage'. Compare VIII 2 § 16 tum ferocia ingenia non bellum modo sed etiam veniae desperatio efferaverat.

ingenia] characters'. The following account of this loathsome tribe is in strict agreement with the other authorities.

§ 10. tuguria] these are the huts called by Arrian Ind 24 § 2 'stifling cabins' (èv kaλúßŋoι πyпрño). The following account of them corresponds with the more detailed descriptions in Strabo XV 2 § 2, Diodorus XVII 105, Arrian Ind 29 § 19, 30 §§ 8, 9, anab VI 23 § 3. conchis] Arrian VI 23 § 3 §vvoÉVTAS TÀS KÓYXAs.

purgamentis] off-scourings, refuse. The other writers inform us that these were the bones of whales or other huge animals (kýrŋ) cast up by the sea.

pellibus] so Diodorus, dopàs Onplwv. Arrian Ind 24 § 9 says that some wore thick fish hides.

sole duratis] Strabo and Arrian Ind 29 §§ 9-13 say that they catch fish in nets made of palm-bark, and then dry the larger ones in the sun and grind them when dried into meal and even bake the meal into loaves. From Pliny NH VII § 30 we learn that Klitarchus is his authority for this statement, and Curtius probably took it also from the same source. See Pomponius Mela III 8.

eiecit] so Diodorus σιτοῦνται δὲ τὰ ἐκβαλλόμενα κήτη σαρκοφαγοῦνTes, and the rest agree.

§ II. igitur] the country supplying no food.

ad ultimum] 'at last', 'in the end'. So ad extremum.

radices palmarum] Strabo XV 2 § 5, Arrian VI 23 § 6, Indica 26 § 6, 29 § I mention only the fruit (Báλavo ?dates) and pith (èyképaλos)

of the palms. Diodorus says nothing of the matter, which makes it probable that Curtius has not mistaken his authorities but followed different ones. Zumpt well refers to Cic. II in Verrem v §§ 87, 99 where we read of sailors compelled by hunger to eat radices palmarum agrestium, a non-fructiferous sort of palm.

gignitur] that is ibi, in ea regione.

§ 12. iumenta etc] so Arrian VI 25 § 1, places the scene of these terrible sufferings in proper, which is the more probable account.

who however (cc 24—26) the land of the Tadpwool See on § 18 quiete.

cremabant incendio] 'set fire to and burnt', as we say.

§ 13. pestilentia] Arrian VI 25 §§ 2, 3 speaks of their suffering from a vóσos, but does not attach such importance to it as Curtius seems to have done, probably following different authorities.

ad hoc] on the top of this, 'besides'.

§ 14. strati etc] Arrian substantially agrees with all this, and likens those who lay down in the sandy desert to men lost at sea.

agmen etc] Arrian says σπουδῇ γὰρ πολλῇ ἐγίγνετο ὁ στόλος, καὶ ἐν τῷ ὑπὲρ τοῦ παντὸς προθύμῳ τὸ καθ ̓ ἑκάστους ξὺν ἀνάγκῃ ἠμελεῖτο.

proficere ad] make advance towards. Compare Cic Brutus § 92 nulla enim res tantum ad dicendum proficit quantum scriptio.

praeciperent] so IV I § 3 of the retreat of Darius in haste, id demum credens fore ipsius, quod celeritate praecipere potuisset.

§ 15. orabant] with all this compare the pathetic passage of Thucydides VII 75 §§ 3, 4.

nec...et] there were not...and. So oUTE...Te often in Greek. Madvig § 458 c.

iumenta] ἀπορίᾳ τῶν ὑποζυγίων, says Arrian.

excipi] be picked up. See excepturi 5 § 1 above.

portabat] portare poterat.

et ipsis] 'themselves also'.

ante oculos erat] = obversabatur.

saepius] too often, that is, so often that they ceased to take heed. sustinebant] bear, endure.

misericordia] for others, formidinem for themselves.

§ 16. sacra communia] the rites of their common religion. ipsis] themselves, that is the persons addressed, those hurrying on. § 17. quia...esset] because (as he felt) he was, 'feeling himself to be'. This subjunctive of the assumed reason is common enough. See Madvig § 357 a. Arrian VI 24 §§ 2, 3 tells us that Alexander well knew what he had to expect when he undertook this march; but the legends of the journeys of Semiramis and Cyrus through the same district, how the former lost all her army but 20 men, and the latter all but 7, roused him to attempt to succeed where they had failed. So too Strabo xv 2 § 5.

T

misit etc] Diodorus XVII 105 gives substantially the same account of his messages to the satraps and their prompt attention to his orders.

finitimarum] Diodorus τὴν Παρθυαίαν καὶ Δραγγηνὴν καὶ ̓Αρείαν.

§ 18. fame] it would be more natural to have a fame after vindicatus, but the present construction seems a possible one.

dumtaxat] here 'at least'.

in Cedrosiae etc] see on $$ 5, 12.

omnium rerum] 'all sorts of things'.

sola] that is, alone of all the districts round. So Mützell and Zumpt take it; and emendations are not wanted.

quiete] Arrian VI 27 § I makes him rest and refresh his army at the capital of the Gadrosi, which in 24 § 1 he calls Пoupa. Plutarch Alex 66, 67 says that he found himself in plenty on entering Gedrosia, and that he gave his men a second rest at the capital of that district. But, as he makes them march seven days through Karmania in the mean time, we cannot attach much weight to his statement. It is however clear that there were two accounts of Gedrosia; but, as Arrian and Strabo agree, we cannot have much hesitation in believing that the country (at least as far as Pura) was scorched and barren to the last degree.

§19. Leonnati] his victory is mentioned also by Arrian VII 5 § 5, Ind 23 §§ 5, 6. Diodorus gives a version less favourable to the Macedonians.

Cratero] see on § 4. This is the first hint we have had from Curtius as to the whereabouts of Kraterus.

Ozinen] Arrian VI 27 § 3 speaks of Kraterus bringing one Ordanes a captured revolter to Alexander.

molientes] compare Virgil georg 1 271 insidias avibus moliri.

I

§ 20. Sibyrtio] Arrian VI 27 § I says that he succeeded one Thoas (successor of Apollophanes) as satrap of Gadrosia, and that he was also satrap of Karmania.

morbo] so Thoas in Arrian.

§ 21. Aspastes] mentioned only by Curtius.

suspectus voluisse] so Tacitus hist 1 46 suspectus consilia eius fovisse. dum] used here with its favourite present indicative, though in the dependent clause after voluisse. See Madvig § 369 obs 3.

§ 22. dum] until such time as. See Madvig § 360 obs 2.

quae delata erant] the informations laid against them. Arrian VI 27 S$ 4,5 speaks of three satraps Kleander Sitalkes and Herakon whom the king punished after enquiry into their conduct. See also Diodorus XVII 106.

cum inde] the order of the sense is inde cum. cum igitur or the reverse. For inde after that, § 33.

So we might have 'next', compare 1

equorum etc] Arrian VI 27 § 6 gives much the same account.

sub imperio] 'under their rule'.

quibus] = iis quibus as often.

inpedimenta] = iumenta 'horses and carts'. Mützell compares Livy XXVIII 41 for this military expression.

§ 23. cultum] see 3 §§ 10, 11.

§ 24. igitur] having now reached a land of plenty.

supra] see VIII 10 §§ 17, 18. Diodorus XVII 106 and Plutarch Alex 67 give just the same account of this seven days' revel. Arrian VI 28 §§ 1, 2, following Ptolemy and Aristobulus, denies the truth of the story, and he is probably right.

gloriam] his 'glory' or 'renown' won by his great exploits as a conqueror in the east: famam, his 'repute' as the founder of the Bacchic revels. For the opposition of the words see 5 § 1. Cicero Tusc III

§§ 3, 4 est enim gloria solida quaedam res et expressa, non adumbrata; ea est consentiens laus bonorum, incorrupta vox bene iudicantium de excellente virtute; ea virtuti resonat tanquam imago. quae quia recte factorum plerumque comes est, non est bonis viris repudianda. illa autem quae se eius imitatricem esse vult, temeraria atque inconsiderata et plerumque peccatorum vitiorumque laudatrix, fama popularis, simulatione honestatis formam eius pulchritudinemque corrumpit. But fama, we must remember, is in itself a neutral word.

sive...lusus] is a parenthetic remark by way of comment on statuit imitari.

illud] 'that' what he did. So Virgil Aen III 173 nec sopor illud erat, where illud what I saw and heard. See quod § 28 below.

triumphus] Arrian says καὶ Θρίαμβόν τε αὐτὸν ἐπικληθῆναι τὸν Διόνυσον καὶ τὰς ἐπὶ ταῖς νίκαις ταῖς ἐκ πολέμου πομπὰς ἐπὶ τῷ αὐτῷ τούτῳ θριάμβους. Greek writers always render the Roman triumphus by θρίαμβος.

$25. aedium] temples: or can it be that he means houses?

crateras] from nominative cratera.

constrata] with carpets or rugs, according to Plutarch.

velis] hangings, curtains, awnings.

§ 26. cohors regia] see on VIII II § II.

redimita] a common word in the poets. vehiculis] that is, ibant, 'rode'.

comissabundus] so Livy IX 17 says loosely of Alexander, Indiae, per quam temulento agmine comissabundus incessit.

poculis] 'cups', as distinct from craterae ' mixing-bowls'.

§ 27. saltem] goes closely with adversus comissantes.

viri modo] = dummodo viri fuissent.

§ 28. fortuna etc] compare Sallust Cat 8 § 1 sed profecto fortuna in omni re dominatur; ea res cunctas ex lubidine magis quam ex vero celebrat obscuratque.

praesens] that is, the contemporaries of Alexander. Curtius uses these very words in precisely the same sense VIII 5 § 11, where he has just put the same notion in the words secum viventium.

deinde] after them'. So Greek Teɩтα.

§ 30. Curtius appropriately closes the book with one of the moral sentences dear to all rhetoricians.