Historiae Alexandri Magni 9.6.6

9.6.6

At Craterus, cui mandatum erat, ut amicorum preces perferret ad eum: Credisne, inquit, adventu magis hostium, ut iam in vallo consisterent, sollicitos esse quam cura salutis tuae, ut nunc est, tibi vilis?

Alexander fearing they might be the bearers of some bad news, since they had all come together, enquired whether they had come to inform him that the enemy had that moment arrived. Then Craterus, who had been chosen by the others as their medium to let the king know the entreaties of his friends, addressed him in these terms : " Can you imagine," he began, " that we could be more alarmed by the enemy's approach, even if they were already within our lines, than we are concerned for your personal safety, by which, it seems, you set but little store ? Were the united powers of the whole world to conspire against us, were they to cover the land all over with arms and men, to cover the seas with fleets, and lead ferocious wild beasts against us, we shall prove invincible to every foe when we have you to lead us. But which of the gods can ensure that this the stay and star of Macedonia will be long preserved to us when you are so forward to expose your person to manifest dangers, forgetting that you draw into peril the lives of so many of your countrymen ? For which of us wishes to survive you, or even has it within his power ? Under your conduct and command we have advanced so far that there is no one but yourself who can lead us back to our hearths and homes.