ner, and a light dinner as the sauce for my supper."

This was, as you may see, a very good recipe; and if Alexander had
always remembered to be temperate, as Aristotle had advised, he would
not have died of over eating and drinking at the age of thirty-three.

XCVI. THE GORDIAN KNOT.

Alexander did not stop long in Caria. Marching onward, he soon came to
the city of Gor'di-um, in Phryg'i-a, where Mi'das had once reigned. In
one of the temples the people proudly showed Alexander the cart in which
this king rode as he entered their city.

The yoke was fastened to the pole by a rope tied in a peculiar and very
intricate knot. Now, it seems that an ancient prophecy had declared that
whoever untied the Gordian knot would surely be master of all Asia.

Of course, as Alexander had set his heart upon conquering the whole
world, he looked at this knot with great interest; but a few moments'
careful examination made him feel sure that he would not be able to
untie it.

Rather than give it up, however, Alexander drew his sword, and cut it
with a single quick stroke. Ever since then, when a person has settled a
difficulty by bold or violent means instead of patiently solving it,
the custom has been to say that he has "cut the Gordian knot," in memory
of this feat of Alexander's.

[Illustration: Alexander cutting the Gordian Knot.]

From Gordium, Alexander next passed on to Tar'sus, which also became
subject to him; and shortly after that the young conqueror nearly lost
his life.

He had been exposed to the hot sun, and had thus become terribly
overheated, when he came to the river Cyd'nus. This stream was a torrent
whose waters were very cold, but, in spite of all that his attendants
could say, Alexander insisted upon taking a bath in it.

The sudden chill brought on a cramp, and he would have been drowned had
not some of his people plunged into the water, and pulled him out. As it
was, his imprudence brought on a serious illness, and for a short time
Alexander's life was in great danger.

His physician, however, was Philip, a Greek doctor, who had attended him
ever since he was born, and who now took great care of him. When the
fever was at its worst, he said he hoped to save the king by means of a
strong medicine which he was going to prepare.

Just after Philip went out to brew this potion, Alexander received a
letter which warned him to beware of his physician, as the man had been
bribed by the Persian ki