The Youth of Alexander and the Wild Steed
Plutarch relates that when Philonicus the Thessalian brought the horse Bucephalus to King Philip of Macedon, offering to sell him for the great sum of thirteen talents, they went into the plain to try him. But the horse was found so savage and unmanageable that no man durst mount him; nor would he suffer the voice of any of Philip's grooms, but reared against all that approached him. Whereupon Philip was vexed, and commanded that the beast be led away as altogether wild and untrained.
[Term 1 • Week 4]Alexander, who was then a youth of about sixteen years, standing by, saw this with grief, and cried out: “What a noble horse they lose for want of skill and spirit to manage him!” Philip at first took no notice of his speech; but when the prince repeated it many times, and seemed exceedingly sorrowful, the King said to him: “Dost thou find fault with those who have more experience than thyself, as if thou couldst manage a horse better than they?” “Yes,” answered Alexander boldly, “I could manage this horse better than any of them.” “And if thou shouldst fail,” asked Philip, “what forfeit wilt thou pay for thy rashness?” “I will pay the whole price of the horse,” replied the prince.
At this answer all the company laughed; but when the wager was agreed on between father and son, Alexander ran straight to the horse. He took him by the bridle, and turned him directly towards the sun; for he had prudently observed that the steed was terrified by the motion of his own shadow dancing upon the ground before him.
The Triumph and Philip's Prophecy
[Term 1 • Week 5]Then stroking him gently and speaking kindly to him, when he saw him quieted, Alexander softly dropped his mantle and leaped nimble onto his back. Gently pulling in the rein, he checked him without striking or tearing his mouth; but when he found that the horse was freed from his former fright and longed to run, he gave him his head, and spurred him forward with a loud voice.
Philip and his courtiers stood trembling in great anguish at first, fearing the lad would be dashed in pieces; but when Alexander turned the horse round at the end of the course and brought him back galloping, proud and exulting in his conquest, they all set up a loud shout. Philip wept for joy, and kissing the youth as he dismounted, cried aloud:
“O my son, seek out a kingdom worthy of thyself; for Macedonia is too small for thee!”
From that hour Bucephalus was the companion of Alexander in all his great wars. He would suffer no other rider to mount him, and knelt down of his own accord when his master came to mount. In this noble history, our classical scholars witness the ancient virtues of arete (virtue and courage) and paideia (classical discipline), laying the foundation for historical discernment and wisdom.