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The Last wishes of Alexander the Great
The Last wishes of Alexander the Great.
English Pupil book Grade 11
The name of Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) still lives in the legends of
the East, and traces of his swift conquest are still stamped upon the fabric
of Western Asia.
His name is famous as a conqueror and as the King of
Macedonia. Alexander the Great was born in the Pella region of Macedonia on
July 20, 356 B.C., to King Philip II of Macedon and Queen Olympia. This
young, dark-eyed and curly-haired prince was tutored by the great philosopher,
Aristotle.
Alexander the Great conquered half the known world in thirteen
years. This ruler swept aside the mighty armies of the Persian Empire and
established his rule as far as Punjab.
Alexander the Great was far more than a general
and a leader of armies. His colossal victories
were followed by sympathetic, understanding
administration and had won the loyalty of the
defeated.
Alexander, after conquering many
kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell
ill. Knowing that his death was nearing, he longed
to see his mother’s face. However, he realized
that his sinking health would not permit him to
reach his mother as he was far from his homeland.
Alexander the great realized that all his wealth
and his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword
would not help him to save his life.
He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail."
With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their
king's last wishes.
1) "My first desire is that", said Alexander, "my physicians alone must carry my
coffin."
2) After a pause, he continued, "Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being
carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold,
silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury".
3) The king felt exhausted after
saying this. He took a minute's
rest and continued. "My third and
last wish is that both my hands be
kept dangling out of my coffin".
All who were around were in
tears. But, there was none who
was brave enough to inquire the
reasons for the wishes except for
the favorite's general. As a reply this great ruler said, “I would like the world
to know of the three lessons I have just learnt.
I want my physicians to carry
my coffin because people should realize that no doctor on this earth can really
cure anybody. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches
of death. So let not people take life for granted.
The second wish of strewing
gold, silver and other riches on the path to the graveyard is to tell people that not
even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life in greed for power,
earning riches but I cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a
sheer waste of time to chase wealth.
About my third wish of having my hands
dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into
this world and empty handed I go out of this world".
Leaving these three important lessons, this great conqueror let death conquer
him.