CONCERNING ANCIENT INDIA. 25

of mankind to be of the same species with them- sselves. To every other people they gave thedegrading appellation of Barbarians, and in conse-quence of their own boasted superiority , theyasserted a right of dominion over them, in the samemanner as the foul has over the body, and menhave over irrational animals. Extravagant as thispretension may now appear, it found admission,to the disgrace of ancient philosophy, into all theschools. Aristotle, full of this opinion, in supportof which he employs arguments more subtle thansolid* 7 , advised Alexander to govern the Greekslike subjects, and the Barbarians as slaves; toconsider the former as companions, the latter ascreatures of an inferior nature 38 . But the sentimentsof the pupil were more enlarged than those of hismaster, and his experience in governing men taughtthe monarch what the speculative science of thephilosopher did not discover Soon after the victoryat Arbela, Alexander himself, and by his persua-sion many of his officers, assumed the Persian dress,and conformed to several of their customs. At thesame time he encouraged the Persian nobles toimitate the manners of the Macedonians, to learnthe Greek language, and to acquire a relish forthe beauties of the elegant writers in that tongue,which were then universally studied and admired.

In order to render the union more complete, he ,resolved to marry one of the daughters of Darius,

37 Aristot. Polit. i. c. ;—7. ” Plut. de Fortuna Alex.

Orat i. p. 302 . vol. vii. edit. Reifke. Strab. lib. i. p. xi6. A.

ECT.

1 .