e determined, before he plunged into the depth
of the Asiatic continent, to isolate Persia from Greece, to destroy her
naval power, and to cripple her pecuniary resources. The event showed
that his decision was a wise one. By detaching from Persia and bringing
under his own sway the important countries of Syria, Phoenicia,
Palestine, Idumsea, and Egypt, he wholly deprived Persia of her navy,
and transferred to himself the complete supremacy of the sea, he greatly
increased his own resources while he diminished those of the enemy, and
he shut out Persia altogether from communication with Greece, excepting
through his territories. He could therefore commence his march into the
interior with a feeling of entire security as to his communications and
his rear. No foe was left on the coast capable of causing him a moment's
uneasiness. Athens and Sparta might chafe and even intrigue; but without
the Persian "archers," it was impossible that any force should be raised
which could in the slightest degree imperil his European dominions.

From Babylon, whither Darius proceeded straight from Issus, he appears
to have made two ineffectual attempts at negotiating with his enemy. The
first embassy was despatched soon after his arrival, and, according
to Arrian, was instructed merely to make proposals for peace, and to
request the restitution of the Queen, the Queen-mother, Sisygambis, the
infant prince, and the two princesses, captured by Alexander. To this
Alexander replied, in haughty and contemptuous terms, that if Darius
would acknowledge him as Lord of Asia, and deliver himself into his
power, he should receive back his relatives: if he intended still to
dispute the sovereignty, he ought to come and fight out the contest, and
not run away.

The second embassy was sent six or eight months later, while Alexander
was engaged in the siege of Tyre. Darius now offered, as a ransom for
the members of his family held in captivity by Alexander, the large sum
of ten thousand talents (L240,000.), and was willing to purchase peace
by the cession of all the provinces lying west of the Euphrates, several
of which were not yet in Alexander's possession. At the same time he
proposed that Alexander should marry his daughter, Statira, in order
that the cession of territory might be represented as the bestowal of a
dowry. The reply of Alexander was, if possible, ruder and haughtier than
before. "What did Darius mean by offering money and territory?