ng, and was overjoyed at this event, which he at once determined
to keep unknown to Darab, publishing abroad that a son had been born in
his house, and causing it to be understood that the child was his own.
When the boy grew up, he was called Sikander; and, like Rustem, became
highly accomplished in all the arts of diplomacy and war. Failakus
placed him under Aristatalis, a sage of great renown, and he soon
equalled his master in learning and science.

Darab married another wife, by whom he had another son, named Dara; and
when the youth was twenty years of age, the father died. The period of
Darab's reign was thirty-four years.

Dara continued the government of the empire in the same spirit as his
father; claiming custom and tribute from the inferior rulers, with
similar strictness and decision. After the death of Failakus, Sikander
became the king of Rum; and refusing to pay the demanded tribute to
Persia, went to war with Dara, whom he killed in battle; the particulars
of these events will be presently shown. Failakus reigned twenty-four
years.

SIKANDER

Failakus, before his death, placed the crown of sovereignty upon the
head of Sikander, and appointed Aristu, who was one of the disciples of
the great Aflatun, his vizir. He cautioned him to pursue the path of
virtue and rectitude, and to cast from his heart every feeling of vanity
and pride; above all he implored him to be just and merciful, and
said:--

"Think not that thou art wise, but ignorant,
And ever listen to advice and counsel;
We are but dust, and from the dust created;
And what our lives but helplessness and sorrow!"

Sikander for a time attended faithfully to the instructions of his
father, and to the counsel of Aristu, both in public and private
affairs.

Upon Sikander's elevation to the throne, Dara sent an envoy to him to
claim the customary tribute, but he received for answer: "The time is
past when Rum acknowledged the superiority of Persia. It is now thy turn
to pay tribute to Rum. If my demand be refused, I will immediately
invade thy dominions; and think not that I shall be satisfied with the
conquest of Persia alone, the whole world shall be mine; therefore
prepare for war." Dara had no alternative, not even submission, and
accordingly assembled his army, for Sikander was already in full march
against him. Upon the confines of Persia the armies came in sight of
each other, when Sikander, in the assumed character of an env