Alexander the Great Page #3

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and it is our moral duty

to conquer them, enslave them,

and, if necessary, destroy them.

Wonders are many, but none

is more wonderful than man himself.

The Persian way of life has

the seed of death and fear in it,

the Greek, of life and courage.

The gods of the Greeks

are made in the image of man.

Not men with birds' heads

and bulls with lions' heads,

but men who can be understood and felt.

"Thus beneath great-hearted Achilles

his whole-hooved horses

trampled corpses and shields together,

and with blood

all the axle-tree below was sprinkled,

for blood drops from

the horses' hooves splashed them,

and blood drops from

the tyres of the wheels."

"But the son of Peleus

pressed on to win glory,

flecking with gore his irresistible hands."

To place such responsibility on his

shoulders, to thrust manhood on a boy!

- Aristotle, we waste words.

- You waste a great man. In another year...

Another year?! In a year

I once swept through half Greece.

In another year they may sweep me back.

- This time victory is not on my spears.

- You asked for my opinion.

- I treasure it.

- You won't take it.

- Tell him why.

- There are many whys.

- I know them all.

- I know one. The queen.

- I know that one.

- Listen to him.

Listen to what?

Does he say the boy's not loyal?

- To you?

- To me.

- He'd lay his life down...

- I for him.

But you are asking him to make a choice

between the mind and the heart.

He'd make the right one.

I hold him to be a man.

An Illyrian spear through the knee.

What's an arm or a leg or an eye

for the sake of glory?

You've grown.

A year ago, when I left you here...

- Almost two.

- So it is.

Tall and straight as a spear.

A Macedonian spear.

- Do you come from Pella?

- No.

- Straight from the battlefield, to see you.

- Me?

- How's your mother?

- When I last saw her, well.

- When was that?

- Several months ago. Why?

- Aristotle tells me you excel.

- Except in patience.

He's told me that, too.

And that you thirst for glory.

- When we hear news of your victories...

- Victories? There are none.

For the first time in 20 years,

Macedonians retreat.

- I've heard that, too.

- And what do you think?

That my father's name

is Philip of Macedonia.

Can you rule in Pella while I fight?

- Rule in Pella?

- There is a revolt there.

In my capital, in my palace!

That's why I'm back.

There must be loyalty

here to the House of Philip.

Can you rule? Aristotle stands opposed.

Who else?

Attalus.

And you?

I rode 200 leagues to Mieza.

I can rule.

- At all costs?

- I can rule.

Tomorrow morning, when the sun is high,

I want you and your companions

to ride into Pella.

And there, in full view

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