XXIII.  He was less given to wine than he was commonly supposed to be.  He was thought to be a great drinker because of the length of time which he would pass over each cup, in talking more than in drinking it, for he always held a long conversation while drinking, provided he was at leisure to do so.  If anything had to be done, no wine, or desire of rest, no amusement, marriage, or spectacle could restrain him, as they did other generals.  This is clearly shown by the shortness of his life, and the wonderful number of great deeds which he performed during the little time that he lived.  When he was at leisure, he used to sacrifice to the gods immediately after rising in the morning, and then sit down to his breakfast.  After breakfast, he would pass the day in hunting, deciding disputes between his subjects, devising military manoeuvres, or reading.  When on a journey, if he was not in any great hurry, he used, while on the road, to practice archery, or to dismount from a chariot which was being driven at full speed, and then again mount it.  Frequently also he hunted foxes and shot birds for amusement, as we learn from his diaries.  On arriving at the place where he intended to pass the night, he always bathed and anointed himself, and then asked his cooks what was being prepared for his dinner.

He always dined late, just as it began to grow dark, and was very careful to have his table well provided, and to give each of his guests an equal share.  He sat long over his wine, as we have said, because of his love of conversation.  And although at all other times his society was most charming, and his manners gracious and pleasant beyond any other prince of his age, yet when he was drinking, his talk ran entirely upon military topics, and became offensively boastful, partly from his own natural disposition, and partly from the encouragement which he received from his flatterers.  This often greatly embarrassed honest men, as they neither wished to vie with the flatterers in praising him to his face, nor yet to appear to grudge him his due share of admiration.  To bestow such excessive praise seemed shameful, while to withhold it was dangerous.  After a drinking bout, he would take a bath, and often slept until late in the following day; and sometimes he passed the whole day asleep.  He cared but little for delicate food, and often when the rarest fruits and fish were sent to him from the sea-coast, he would distribute them so lavishly amongst his friends as to leave none for himself; yet his table was always magnificently served, and as his revenues became increased by his conquests, its expense rose to ten thousand drachmas a day.  To this it was finally limited, and those who entertained Alexander were told that they must not expend more than that sum.