ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND DARIUS. 297

accomplish. Numbers followed him, Phrygians and
Macedonians, curious to see if the subtle knot would
yield to his conquering hand, the Macedonians with
hope, the Phrygians with doubt.

While the multitude stood in silent and curious
expectation, Alexander closely examined the knot,
looking in vain for some beginning or end to its
complexity. The thing perplexed him. Was he
who had never yet failed in any undertaking to be
bafiled by this piece of rope, this twisted obstacle in
the way of success? At length, with that angry im-
patience which was a leading element in his charac-
ter, he drew his sword, and with one vigorous stroke
severed the cord in two.

At once a shout went up. The problem was
solved; the knot was severed; the genius of Alex-
ander had led him to the only means. He had made
good his title to the empire of Asia, and was hailed
as predestined conqueror by his admiring followers.
That night came a storm of thunder and lightning
which confirmed the belief, the superstitious Mace-
donians taking it as the testimony of the gods that
the oracle was fulfilled.

Had there been no Gordian knot and no oracle,
Alexander would probably have become lord of the
empire of Asia all the same, and this not only be-
cause he was the best general of his time and one of
the best generals of all time, but for two other excel-
lent reasons. One was that his father, Philip, had
bequeathed to him the best army of the age. The
Greeks had proved, nearly two centuries before, that
their military organization and skill were far superior