3.8.20-22 However, as usually happens when a critical moment is approaching, his confidence gave way to worry. Fortune itself, whose favour had granted him so much success, he now began to fear. As he considered its past gifts to him, not surprisingly he began to reflect how changeable it was, and how only a single night now separated him from such a critical event. Then again it would occur to him that the rewards outweighed the risks and that, while his victory might be in doubt, one thing was quite certain, that he would die an honourable death which would bring him great praise. So he ordered his soldiers to refresh themselves and to be ready and under arms at the third watch. Alexander himself climbed to the top of a high ridge and by the light of several torches sacrificed to the tutelary gods of the area in traditional manner. 4.6.10-13 Therefore the signal for retreat was sounded, and on the following day Alexander gave orders to surround the walls with a cordon of soldiers. And at sunrise, before leading forward the army, imploring the help of the gods, he performed a sacrifice in accordance with the usage of his country. It chanced that a raven as it flew by suddenly dropped a cloda which it was carrying in its claws; when this had fallen upon the king’s head, it broke in pieces and flowed down upon him, and the bird itself perched upon the nearest tower. The tower had been smeared with bitumen and sulphur, in which the bird’s wings stuck fast, and after vainly trying to fly away it was caught by the bystanders. The event seemed important enough to warrant consulting the soothsayers, and the king’s mind was not unaffected by superstition. As a result, Aristander, in whom he had the greatest confidence, said that the destruction of the city was in fact foretold by that augury, but that there was danger that the king would suffer a wound; and so the seer warned him not to begin an attack on that day. Alexander, although he was troubled that a single city stood in his way of entering Egypt care-free, nevertheless yielded to the soothsayer and gave the signal for retreat. 4.7.25-28 At the time we are describing, as the king drew near, the eldest of the priests called him son, declaring that his father Jupiter gave him that name. Alexander indeed said that he accepted and acknowledged it, forgetful of his human condition. He then asked whether the rule of the whole world was destined for him by the fates. The prophet, equally disposed to flattery, answered that he would be the ruler of all lands. After this the king went on to inquire whether all the murderers of his father had paid the penalty. The priest said that his father could suffer from no man’s crime, but that for the crime against Philip all had suffered punishment; he added that Alexander would be invincible till he departed to join the gods.Then, after sacrifice had been offered, gifts were given both to the priests and to the god, and the king’s friends also were allowed to consult Jupiter. They asked nothing more than whether the god authorized them to pay divine honours to their king. The prophets replied that this also would be acceptable to Jupiter. 4.8.15-16 Then Amphoterus, commander of the fleet, was sent to free Crete—for many parts of that island were beset by the arms both of the Persians and of the Spartans—with orders above all to clear the sea of the pirate fleets; for it was a prey to corsairs, who made war on both kings. After attending to these affairs, he dedicated a mixing-bowl of gold and thirty cups to the Tyrian Hercules, and, intent upon Darius, ordered a march towards the Euphrates to be announced. 4.13.14-17 There was like concern among the Macedonians also, and they passed the night in fear, as if that were the time set for the battle. Alexander, never more alarmed, ordered that Aristander should be summoned for vows and prayers. The seer, in white robe, bearing in his hand the sacred branches, with veiled head led the king in prayers as he propitiated Jupiter and Minerva Victoria. Then at last, after a sacrifice had been duly performed, the king returned to his tent, to rest for the remainder of the night. But he could neither go to sleep nor endure repose; now he thought of sending his army from the crest of the mountain against the right wing of the Persians, now of meeting the enemy front to front, sometimes he hesitated whether he should not rather direct his army against the left wing. At last a deeper sleep than usual overcame his body, worn out as it was by anxiety of mind. 7.7.5-8 Alexander, about to wage an unforeseen war with this race, when the enemy rode up in sight of him, although still ailing from his wound, and especially feeble of voice, which both moderation in food and the pain in his neck had weakened, ordered his friends to be called to a conference. It was not the enemy that alarmed him, but the unfavourable condition of the times; the Bactriani had revolted, the Scythians also were provoking him to battle, he himself could not stand on his feet, could not ride a horse, could not instruct nor encourage his men. Involved as he was in a double danger, accusing even the gods, he complained that he, whose swiftness no one had before been able to escape, was lying idle; even his own men hardly believed that he was not feigning illness. Therefore he, who after vanquishing Darius had ceased to consult soothsayers and seers, lapsing again into superstition, that mocker of men’s minds,ordered Aristander, to whom he had consigned his faith, to examine by sacrifices into the outcome of his affairs. It was the custom of the diviners to examine the entrails without the presence of the king, and to report what these portended. 8.2.28-33 And Sisimithres for his part was not disinclined to surrender, but his mother, who was also his wife, declaring that she would die rather than come into the power of any other, turned the mind of the barbarian to what was more honourable than safe, and he felt ashamed that freedom was more highly valued among the women than among the men. Accordingly, dismissing the intermediary for peace, he had decided to stand a siege. But when he had repeatedly measured the strength of the enemy against his own, he began to regret having followed the advice of the woman, which seemed to be rash rather than necessary, and quickly recalling Oxartes, he replied that he would surrender to the king, begging only this one thing, that he would not betray the advice and wish of his mother, in order that he might more easily obtain pardon for her also. Therefore, sending Oxartes ahead, he followed with his mother and children and with a band of all his kindred, not even waiting for the pledge of parole which Oxartes had promised. The king, after sending on a horseman to order them to return and await his presence, came up, and having sacrificed victims to Minerva Victoria, restored his rule to Sisimithres, giving him hope of a still greater province if he cultivated his friendship with loyalty. He ordered Sisimithres’ two sons, whom their father had delivered to him, to follow, in order to serve as soldiers with him. 8.11.24-25 The king, although victor rather over the locality than over the enemy, yet made the show of a great triumph by sacrifices and worship of the gods. Altars to Minerva Victoria were set up on the rock. To the guides of the road by which he had ordered the lightarmed troops to go up, although they had accomplished less than they had promised, the reward was faithfully paid, and the government of the rock, and of the district adjoining it, was entrusted to Sisocostus. 9.1.1-2 Alexander, rejoicing in so memorable a victory, by which he believed that the bounds of the Orient were opened to him, sacrificed victims to the Sun; then, in order that his soldiers also might meet the rest of the war with readier minds, he called an assembly, and after praising them informed them that whatever strength the Indi had possessed had been overthrown in the recent battle; that hereafter there would be nothing but rich booty, and that world-renowned riches were conspicuous in that region to which they were on their way. Furthermore, he said that the spoils taken from the Persians were now cheap and shabby, that his hearers would fill, not only their homes, but all Macedonia and Greece with gems and pearls and gold and ivory. 9.3.16-19 When Coenus had ended his address, shouts arose from every side mingled with lamentations, as in a medley of voices they called out “king,” “father” and “lord.” And now also the other generals, and especially the older ones, for whom because of their age it was both more honourable to ask for an excuse and whose authority was greater, gave utterance to the same entreaties. Alexander found himself unable either to rebuke them for their obstinacy or to be appeased in his anger; therefore, being at a loss what to do, he leaped down from the tribunal, ordered the royal quarters to be closed, and all to be refused admission except his regular attendants. Two days were spent in anger; on the third day he came out and ordered twelve altars of squared stone to be erected as a memorial of his expedition. He also gave directions that the fortifications of the camp be extended, and couches of a larger size than were used by men of ordinary stature be left there, in order that by exaggerating the proportion of everything he might prepare a deceptive wonder for posterity. 9.4.10-14 Therefore, since wave after wave met them, and struck now the prows and now the sides of the ships, the sailors began to furl the sails. But their efforts were thwarted, partly by the surging waves, partly by the very rapid flow of the rivers. In the sight of all two of the greater ships were sunk; the lighter ones, although they also could not be managed, were nevertheless driven on the bank uninjured. The king himself met with the swiftest of the eddies, by which his ship was turned sidewise and driven on without obeying its helm. Already he had taken off his clothing, intending to plunge into the river, and his friends were swimming near by ready to pick him up, and it appeared equally dangerous either to take to swimming or to persist in sailing on; therefore they plied the oars with mighty rivalry, and did all that human power could do to break through the waves which dashed upon them. You might have thought that the billows were cloven and that the surges were forced to retreat. When at last the ship was saved from these, it nevertheless could not be brought to the bank, but was dashed upon the nearest shoal. You would have thought that a war had been waged with the river. Accordingly, Alexander set up as many altars as there were streams, and having offered sacrifice, went on for thirty stadia. 9.9.26-27 Then the hand-claps and cheers of the soldiers and boatmen, hailing with unrestrained joy the unexpected safety, made the shores and banks resound. In wonder they asked one another whence so great a sea had suddenly returned, whither it had fled the day before, what was the nature of this same element which was at one moment at variance with the strict laws of time, and at another so subject to them. The king, since from what had happened he conjectured that the regular time was after sunrise, in the middle of the night, in order to anticipate the tide, with a few ships went down the river and, carried out to its mouth, proceeded 400 stadia into the sea, at last accomplishing the object of his prayers. Then, after sacrificing to the gods presiding over the sea and the region, he returned to the fleet. Text used: Rufus, Quintus Curtius, et al. The History of Alexander. Penguin, 1984.