CALLISTHENES REFUSES TO PROSTRATE HIMSELF.
By making these and other remarks of a similar kind, Callisthenes
greatly annoyed Alexander, but spoke the exact sentiments of the
Macedonians. When the king perceived this, he sent to prevent the
Macedonians from making any farther mention of the ceremony of
prostration. But after the discussion silence ensued; and then the
most honourable of the Persians arose in due order and prostrated
their bodies before him. But when one of the Persians seemed to have
performed the ceremony in an awkward way, Leonnatus, one of the
Companions, laughed at his posture as mean. Alexander at the time was
angry with him for this, but was afterwards reconciled to him.[561]
The following account has also been given:—Alexander drank from a
golden goblet the health of the circle of guests, and handed it first
to those with whom he had concerted the ceremony of prostration. The
first who drank from the goblet rose up and performed the act of
prostration, and received a kiss from him. This ceremony proceeded
from one to another in due order. But when the pledging of health came
to the turn of Callisthenes, he rose up and drank from the goblet,
and drew near, wishing to kiss the king without performing the act of
prostration. Alexander happened then to be conversing with Hephaestion,
and consequently did not observe whether Callisthenes performed the
ceremony properly or not. But when Callisthenes was approaching to kiss
him, Demetrius, son of Pythonax, one of the Companions, said that he
was doing so without having prostrated himself. So the king would not
permit him to kiss him; whereupon the philosopher said:—“I am going
away only with the loss of a kiss.” I by no means approve any of these
proceedings, which manifested both the insolence of Alexander on the
present occasion and the churlish nature of Callisthenes. But I think
that, so far as regards himself, it would have been quite sufficient
if he had given his opinion discreetly, magnifying as much as possible
the exploits of the king, with whom no one thought it a dishonour to
associate. Therefore I consider that not without reason Callisthenes
became odious to Alexander on account of the unseasonable freedom of
speech in which he indulged,[562] as well as from the egregious fatuity
of his conduct. I surmise that this was the reason why such easy credit
was given to those who accused him of participating in the conspiracy
formed against Alexander by his pages, and to those also who affirmed
that they had been incited to engage in the conspiracy by him alone.
The facts of this conspiracy were as follows:—