FTER this he
received the Athenians into favor, although they had shown themselves so much
concerned at the calamity of Thebes that out of sorrow they omitted the
celebration of the Mysteries, and entertained those who escaped with all
possible humanity. Whether it were, like the lion, that his passion was now
satisfied, or that after an example of extreme cruelty, he had a mind to
appear merciful, it happened well for the Athenians; for he not only forgave
them all past offenses, but bade them to look to their affairs with vigilance,
remembering that if he should miscarry, they were likely to be the arbiters of
Greece. Certain it is, too, that in after-time he often repented of his
severity to the Thebans, and his remorse had such influence on his temper as
to make him ever after less rigorous to all others. He imputed also the murder
of Clitus, which he committed in his wine, and the unwillingness of the
Macedonians to follow him against the Indians, by which his enterprise and
glory was left imperfect, to the wrath and vengeance of Bacchus, the protector
of Thebes. And it was observed that whatsoever any Theban, who had the good
fortune to survive this victory, asked of him, he was sure to grant without
the least difficulty.
Plutarch: ALEXANDER
FTER this he received the Athenians into favor, although they had shown themselves so much concerned at the calamity of Thebes that out of sorrow they omitted the celebration of the Mysteries, and entertained those who escaped with all possible humanity. Whether it were, like the lion, that his passion was now satisfied, or that after an example of extreme cruelty, he had a mind to appear merciful, it happened well for the Athenians; for he not only forgave them all past offenses, but bade them to look to their affairs with vigilance, remembering that if he should miscarry, they were likely to be the arbiters of Greece. Certain it is, too, that in after-time he often repented of his severity to the Thebans, and his remorse had such influence on his temper as to make him ever after less rigorous to all others. He imputed also the murder of Clitus, which he committed in his wine, and the unwillingness of the Macedonians to follow him against the Indians, by which his enterprise and glory was left imperfect, to the wrath and vengeance of Bacchus, the protector of Thebes. And it was observed that whatsoever any Theban, who had the good fortune to survive this victory, asked of him, he was sure to grant without the least difficulty.
