His education was superintended by many nurses, pedagogues, and teachers, the chief of whom was Leonidas, a harsh-tempered man, who was nearly related to Olympias.  He did not object to the title of pedagogue,[399] thinking that his duties are most valuable and honourable, but, on account of his high character and relationship to Alexander, was generally given the title of tutor by the others.  The name and office of pedagogue was claimed by one Lysimachus, an Akarnanian by birth, and a dull man, but who gained the favour of Alexander by addressing him as Achilles, calling himself Phoenix, and Philip, Peleus.

VI.  When Philoneikus the Thessalian brought the horse Boukephalus[400] and offered it to Philip for the sum of thirteen talents, the king and his friends proceeded to some level ground to try the horse’s paces.  They found that he was very savage and unmanageable, for he allowed no one to mount him, and paid no attention to any man’s voice, but refused to allow any one to approach him.  On this Philip became angry, and bade them take the vicious intractable brute away.  Alexander, who was present, said, “What a fine horse they are ruining because they are too ignorant and cowardly to manage him.”  Philip at first was silent, but when Alexander repeated this remark several times, and seemed greatly distressed, he said, “Do you blame your elders, as if you knew more than they, or were better able to manage a horse?” “This horse, at any rate,” answered Alexander, “I could manage better than any one else.”  “And if you cannot manage him,” retorted his father, “what penalty will you pay for your forwardness?” “I will pay,” said Alexander, “the price of the horse.”

While the others were laughing and settling the terms of the wager, Alexander ran straight up to the horse, took him by the bridle, and turned him to the sun; as it seems he had noticed that the horse’s shadow dancing before his eyes alarmed him and made him restive.  He then spoke gently to the horse, and patted him on the back with his hand, until he perceived that he no longer snorted so wildly, when, dropping his cloak, he lightly leaped upon his back.  He now steadily reined him in, without violence or blows, and as he saw that the horse was no longer ill-tempered, but only eager to gallop, he let him go, boldly urging him to full speed with his voice and heel.

Philip and his friends were at first silent with terror; but when he wheeled the horse round, and rode up to them exulting in his success, they burst into a loud shout.  It is said that his father wept for joy, and, when he dismounted, kissed him, saying, “My son, seek for a kingdom worthy of yourself:  for Macedonia will not hold you.”

VII.  Philip, seeing that his son was easily led, but could not be made to do anything by force, used always to manage him by persuasion, and never gave him orders.  As he did not altogether care to entrust his education to the teachers whom he had obtained, but thought that it would be too difficult a task for them, since Alexander required, as Sophokles says of a ship: