“When Hephæstion died at Ecbatana (in 324) Alexander placed his weapons upon the funeral pyre, with gold and silver for the dead man, and a robe—which last, among the Persians is a symbol of great honour. He shore off his own hair, as in Homeric grief, and behaved like the Achilles of Homer. Indeed he acted more violently and passionately than the latter, for he caused the towers and strongholds of Ecbatana to be demolished all round. As long as he only dedicated his own hair, he was behaving, I think, like a Greek; but when he laid hands on the very walls, Alexander was already showing his grief in foreign fashion. Even in his clothing he departed from ordinary custom, and gave himself up to his mood, his love, and his tears.” _Aelian’s Varia Historia_, vii, 8. _Persian Poetry_ [Sidenote: _From Sadi’s Rose-Garden_] Von Kupffer, in his Anthology, _Lieblingminne und Freundes liebe in der Weltliteratur_, gives the following three poems from Sadi and Hafiz:— “A youth there was of golden heart and nature, Who loved a friend, his like in every feature; Once, as upon the ocean sailed the pair, They chanced into a whirlpool unaware. A fisherman made haste the first to save, Ere his young life should meet a watery grave; But crying from the raging surf, he said: ‘Leave me, and seize my comrade’s hand instead.’ E’en as he spoke the mortal swoon o’ertook him, With that last utterance life and sense forsook him. Learn not love’s temper from that shallow pate Who in the hour of fear forsakes his mate; True friends will ever act like him above (Trust one who is experienced in love); For Sadi knows full well the lover’s part, And Bagdad understands the Arab heart. More than all else thy loved one shalt thou prize, Else is the whole world hidden from thine eyes.” [Sidenote: _From Sadi’s Pleasure Garden_] “Lov’st thou a being formed of dust like thee— Peace and contentment from thy heart shall flee; Waking, fair limbs and features shall torment thee; Sleeping, thy love in dreams shall hold and haunt thee. Under his feet thy head is bowed to earth; Compared with him the world’s a paltry crust; If to thy loved one gold is nothing worth, Why, then to thee is gold no more than dust. Hardly a word for others canst thou find, For no room’s left for others in thy mind.” [Sidenote: _Hafiz to his Friend_] “Dear Friend, since thou hast passed the whole Of one sweet night, till dawn, with me, I were scarce mortal, could I spend Another hour apart from thee. The fear of death, for all of time Hath left me since my soul partook The water of true Life, that wells In sweet abundance from thy brook.” _Renaissance_ [Sidenote: _Beaumont and Fletcher_]