alexander and porus at the hydaspes.
alexander therefore spread a report that he would wait for that season of the year, if his passage was obstructed at the present time; but yet all the time be was waiting in ambush to see whether by rapidity of movement he could steal a passage anywhere without being observed. but he perceived that it was impossible for him to cross at the place where porus himself had encamped near the bank of the hydaspes, not only on account of the multitude of his elephants, but also because his large army, arranged in order of battle and splendidly accoutred, was ready to attack his men as they emerged from the water. moreover he thought that his horses would not be willing to mount the opposite bank, because the elephants would at once fall upon them and frighten them both by their aspect and trumpeting; nor even before that would they remain upon the inflated hides during the passage of the river; but when they looked across and saw the elephants they would become frantic and leap into the water. he therefore resolved to steal a crossing by the following man?uvre:—in the night he led most of his cavalry along the bank in various directions, making a clamour and raising the battle-cry in honour of enyalius.674 every kind of noise was raised, as if they were making all the preparations necessary for crossing the river. porus also marched along the river at the head of his elephants opposite the places where the clamour was heard, and alexander thus gradually got him into the habit of leading his men along opposite the noise. but when this occurred frequently, and there was merely a clamour and a raising of the battle-cry, porus no longer continued to move about to meet the 283expected advance of the cavalry; but perceiving that his fear had been groundless,675 he kept his position in the camp. however he posted his scouts at many places along the bank. when alexander had brought it about that the mind of porus no longer entertained any fear of his nocturnal attempts, he devised the following stratagem.
