_Apelles and Campaspe._
LIX. It is told, that when Apelles was painting the picture of Campaspe,
the beautiful concubine of Alexander, naked, which he was ordered to do
by that prince; he, while he was employed in executing the task, fell
violently in love with the object of his pencil; of which Alexander being
informed, manifested a piece of generosity and liberality, which had
scarce ever been heard of before, in ceding Campaspe to be possessed by
Apelles. Thus Pliny and Ælian relate the thing; but this seems improbable
and incompatible with what Plutarch says, who tells us, that the first
woman with whom Alexander began to be incontinent, was Barsene, the
beautiful widow of Memnon; and, upon a critical examination of things,
we shall find the account of Apelles with Campaspe prior to the amour of
Alexander with Barsene.