In January 330, Alexander the Great reached the capital of the Persian Empire, where he found 4000 Greeks, who had been made prisoners by the Persians. The hands and feet of some of them, and the noses and ears of others, had been cut off, and their faces branded with hot irons. Alexander assured them that they should again see their families and native country.
"Alas!" answered they,"how will it be possible for us to appear before all Greece in this dreadful condition? The best way to bear misery is to conceal it." They entreated that they might be permitted to end their days among those accustomed to their misfortunes. Alexander therefore gave to each of them 3000 drachmas, two couple of oxen to plough with, and a quantity of corn to sow. He also commanded the governor of the province to protect them.
公元三三○年一月，亞歷山大大帝來到波斯帝國的首都，看見四千個遭波斯俘虜的希臘人，其中一些人被斬去了手腳，其餘的則被割去了耳鼻，面孔也用烙鐵燒了印記。亞歷山大告訴他們說，會讓他們重返故國再見家人。
眾俘虜回答說：「唉，我們這樣悽慘，在所有希臘人面前，怎能現身？忍受苦痛，最好的辦法，是把苦痛隱藏。」他們希望在慣見其慘狀的人之中，度過殘生，請亞歷山大答應這要求。亞歷山大於是給他們每個人三千德拉克馬銀幣，並各給四隻牛和一些穀粒，以供耕種。他還命令行省總督好好保護這四千人。
（古德明）
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