HEN he subdued
the Pisidians who made head against him, and conquered the Phrygians, at whose
chief city Gordium, which is said to be the seat of the ancient Midas, he saw
the famous chariot fastened with cords made of the rind of the corner-tree,
which whosoever should untie, the inhabitants had a tradition, that for him
was reserved the empire of the world. Most authors tell the story that
Alexander, finding himself unable to untie the knot, the ends of which were
secretly twisted round and folded up within it, cut it asunder with his sword.
But Aristobulus tells us it was easy for him to undo it, by only pulling the
pin out of the pole, to which the yoke was tied, and afterwards drawing off
the yoke itself from below. From hence he advanced into Paphlagonia and
Cappadocia, both which countries he soon reduced to obedience, and then
hearing of the death of Memnon, the best commander Darius had upon the
sea-coasts, who, if he had lived, might, it was supposed, have put many
impediments and difficulties in the way of the progress of his arms, he was
the rather encouraged to carry the war into the upper provinces of Asia.
Plutarch: ALEXANDER
HEN he subdued the Pisidians who made head against him, and conquered the Phrygians, at whose chief city Gordium, which is said to be the seat of the ancient Midas, he saw the famous chariot fastened with cords made of the rind of the corner-tree, which whosoever should untie, the inhabitants had a tradition, that for him was reserved the empire of the world. Most authors tell the story that Alexander, finding himself unable to untie the knot, the ends of which were secretly twisted round and folded up within it, cut it asunder with his sword. But Aristobulus tells us it was easy for him to undo it, by only pulling the pin out of the pole, to which the yoke was tied, and afterwards drawing off the yoke itself from below. From hence he advanced into Paphlagonia and Cappadocia, both which countries he soon reduced to obedience, and then hearing of the death of Memnon, the best commander Darius had upon the sea-coasts, who, if he had lived, might, it was supposed, have put many impediments and difficulties in the way of the progress of his arms, he was the rather encouraged to carry the war into the upper provinces of Asia.
