Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-01-13
q LEGEND q y Kll.erSsnder Z. the Great.
Translated from the Tradition Of the Easterr
III. ? qtorv.tellor ] ra'I n

so many WOnderlul hQVenJuIeS cTeulteu tC l.
him by the professional story-teler in the |
East as Alexander the Great One of |
these, which / am told Is also to be found |
in the literature of the Hebrews, is not |
only entertaining, but possesses some deep
and graceful morals. The legend runs
thus
During the improbable march of
Alexander in India he came to q lovely
oasis, watered by a clear running stream.
The great King stretched his weary limbs
on its banks, and ordered from the scanty
stock of provisions few dried salted
I fishes for his repast. Clear water, served
in. golden goblet replaced the choice
! Lesbian in which the great King so often
indulged. But how astonished was the
conqueror when an unaccountably delicious
odor and taste peryaded the water from
this running streaml . -
"Surely," said Alexander, "a river so
| full Of rich properties must take its rise in
happy land. Let us explore its sources"
After fatiguing journey on foot in quest
of the head waters of the stream, the King
at last came to what seemed an immense
enclosure, the walls of which were of
great height. He was reassured by finding
pair of colossal gates right before him.
Knocking loudly at the postern he de-
manded entrance A voice from the in
terror answered, "Thou canst not enter
here this is Paradise, and the gates are
the gates of the Lord.
"I am" answered Alexander, proudly,
"the conqueror of the earth; why do you
hesitate to open the gates for me?"
Here" said the voice, mo conqueror is
acknowledged except he who can conquer
his own desires Art thou fit, o Alexan-
der, to enter?'
The great conqueror felt that if admit
tance to Paradise depended upon this law,
he had no chance to effect an entrance.
"Give me" said Alexander to the voice
which spoke to him, some token, at least,
so that | may show the world that have
been to the very gates of Paradise, where,
until now, no mortal wasn
A small port-hole was opened, and from
it Alexander received a portion of a hu-
'man skull. "Tale this" said the voice
within ga single look upon it may teach
thee more wisdom than thou hast received
from all thy masters and philosophers"
Alexander contemptuously took the gift,
and wended his way to his tent. Throw
ing it down in disgust, he said, land this is
the present that is given to the conqueror
of the world truly, paltry present from
such q source rs Paradise"
"Great King" said a sage who was pres
|
meaning. Pray, put it into one scale, and
fill the other up with the finest gold"
The king ordered it to be done, and 10
the piece of human bone outweighed the
filled-up scale of gold.
"This is a wonder" said the King
Larger scales were brought, heaps OF
gold were placed in one, and the human
fragment of the skull in the other, yet the
bone outweighed them all.
The sage then ordered the skull to be
covered with earth, and behold it only
weighed its own specific gravity.
How remarkable is this" said AleXan
der, can you give me a solutionY'
Great King" answered the sage, "this
fragment of IA human skull is that part
which in life encased the eye. The human
eye, although hemmed in, is nevertheless
Unsuitable and unlimited in vision. The
more 1t possesses the more does it desire tC
possess. The treasures of the earth fail C
satisfy its continual longings. But wher
once descended 10 the grave, and covered
with its mother earth, it finds a limit tOl
all its once bOundless wishes. Learn, c
Great King wisdoml Of what avail vii
thy conquests and riches be when thin,
eyes are covered with dust and thou sleep
est the sleep of death?' r...
"What" cried Alexander, "is fame moth
ing, that thousands of years hence people
should speak my name-nay, be as famil
lar with it as my own legions? Thou ar
a grovelling philosopher, and hast not tn
soul of conqueror in thee.
Needless of the warning he had receives
at the gates of Paradise, Alexander march
ed on from kingdom to kingdom, leavin:
destruction, famine, misery, and death be
hind him. At last he came to the countr,
governed by the Amazons, where wOmel
govern and fight, and men do the house
hold work. Alexander summoned thei
+ chief city, which was walled in, to SUI
n render The Amazons sent him deputa
II ton, who thus spoke to the great King
ts "Great conqueror if thou intendest wa
l. with US. thou undertakest a most fTuitles
IL task. If thy arms prevail, thou wilt no
II add a jot to thy fame by having conquere
kingdom of women. But as all wars ar
C. doubtful, and battles are not always to tn
IT strong, thou mayest be beaten and the
ie behold the ignominy with which thy nam
. win be branded forever The conqueror {
81 the world was beaten by womenr'
y Alexander felt the force of this argr
ment, and abandoned his undertaking, OF
Re daining an obelisk to be erected, with tn
~ following inscription:
I, ALeraHder, until EO'o foolish and CdSl
Ia hdre learned lciSd0n from rOl.sH.
Of Somewhat subdued in his desires,
he marched in a nOTtherly direction, an
IS reached the small but happy kingdom {
ut Burinapoor The native King, KNOWN
e. his own weakness against the might
Id hosts of Alexander, received him and hi
m army Hospitality. He sent messengers t
t. invite Alexander to his modest palace, an
of prepared banquet When the conquerC
|" was seated he saw singular spectacle
i'd Instead of the usual fish and flesh, an
TO fowl and bread, all that was placed befol
d him was either of gold, silver, or preciou
10 stones. Thus, instead Of the soup, theI
In was plate of emeralds. The goblet {
Is wine was represented by goblet {
r. pearls. Birds, artistically made of gol,
is were served up TO him, and silver loavt
r. were there to represent the wheaton loaf
at "Do you eat gold and silver and drin
m pearls in your land p asked Alexander, a
"A, tonished.
d "Can l believe" said the native Kin
:" "that you, the great conqueror of I'll
world, who has left your own land to sui
due the remotest kingdoms of the earth
can | think that you can feel satisfied
be fed from the usual productions of Ii
land like other men? Surely of grail
~ meat, and wine you have plenty in yoU
Us own country. Your roaming and cOnque
IN can have no other object but riches an
10 power. Here there is gold, silver, an
y precious stones. Eat and drink them, an
Us show us that you are more than commo
'u mortal"
= Alexander, who could at times appr
"A ciate stern truths, kindly answered, IN,
a friend, have not come to conquer nor /
is rob your kingdom. wish simply to il
m N form myself of your habits, your custom
"a and your laws"
q. Alas, great conqueror," said the nativ
De- Prince, IF inquisitive Princes thirstin
IS for knowledge should all adopt your plaI
y by bringing an armed hostalong with theI
rs to learn the customs and laws of distar
le lands, there would be little Of either le
y after the departure of such body.of phi
er osophic travellers However, / will gratif
g the curiosity of my great guest" ClaI
a ping his hands he demanded of the attenC