s
unbroken, kept the plain. The cavalry, to the number of 30,000, was
massed upon the other wing, near the sea.

The battle began by certain movements of Alexander against the flank
force which menaced his right. These troops, assailed by the Macedonian
light-armed, retreated at once to higher ground, and by their manifest
cowardice freed Alexander from all anxiety on their account. Leaving 300
horse to keep the 20,000 in check, he moved on his whole line at a slow
pace towards the Pinarus till it came within bow-shot of the enemy, when
he gave the order to proceed at a run. The line advanced as commanded;
but before it could reach the river, the Persian horse on the extreme
right, unable to restrain themselves any longer, dashed across the
shallow stream, and assailed Alexander's left, where they engaged in a
fierce battle with the Thessalian cavalry, in which neither attained any
decided advantage. The infantry, meanwhile, came into conflict along
the rest of the line. Alexander himself, with the right and the
right-centre, charged the Asiatic troops on Darius's left, who, like
their brethren at Cunaxa, instantly broke and fled. Parmenio, with the
left-centre, was less successful. The north bank of the Pinarus was in
this part steep and defended by stakes in places; the Greek mercenaries
were as brave as the Macedonians, and fought valiantly. It was not till
the troops which had routed the Persian right began, to act against
their centre, assailing it upon the flank, while it was at the same time
engaged in front, that the mercenaries were overpowered and gave way.
Seeing their defeat, the horse likewise fled, and thus the rout became
general.

It is not quite clear what part Darius took in the battle, or how far
he was answerable for its untoward result. According to Arrian, he was
struck with a sudden panic on beholding the flight of his left wing, and
gave orders to his charioteer instantly to quit the field. But Curtius
and Diodorus represent him as engaged in a long struggle against
Alexander himself, and as only flying when he was in imminent danger of
falling into the enemy's hands. Justin goes further, and states that
he was actually wounded. The character gained by Darius in his earlier
years makes it improbable that he would under any circumstances have
exhibited personal cowardice. On the whole it would seem to be most
probable that the flight of the Persian monarch occurred, not when the
left wing fled,