How Alexander withdrew to his chamber to consider how to conduct the war he'd declared against King Nicolas of Armenia, and met his teacher Aristotle; and of the advice he received from him.

Aristotle, thin, wan and dishevelled, appeared from the chamber where he'd just completed his books of Logic. It was clear from his face that he'd been deep in study: burning the midnight oil had left his complexion pale; his face was nothing but skin and bone – no one spending long hours in study grows fat! As soon as he saw Alexander, whose flaming cheeks made his anger plain, he asked him what was wrong and what had upset him. The youth was unmanned by the sight of his teacher; he looked at the floor and dropped to his knees and began to weep and lament that his father was now too old to defend his land and that it was doomed to be enslaved by the king of Armenia. When the teacher heard his pupil's words he said:

‘Alexander, dear boy, be a man and learn to bear arms! It's timely that you've just been knighted, for you've enemies now to test your strength! And if you'll listen to me, I'll tell you how to succeed.

‘Be advised only by worthy men and shun two-faced wretches and selfseeking rogues. Never give advancement to men of poor breeding: you've doubtless observed that a rain-swollen stream bursts proud from its banks, while the flow from a natural spring stays steady; likewise the lowborn promoted are more arrogant and cruel, unresponsive to prayers and lacking respect for true goodness.