One day， King Philip of Macedon bought a fine horse called Bucephalus. He was a noble① animal， and the king paid a very high price for him. But he was wild and savage， and no man could mount② him， or do anything at all with him.
They tried to whip him， but that only made him worse. At last the king bade his servant to take him away.
“It is a pity to ruin so fine a horse as that，”said Alexander， the king’s young son.“Those men do not know how to treat him.”
“Perhaps you can do better than they，”said his father scornfully .
“I know，”said Alexander， “that， if you would only give me leave to try， I could manage this horse better than any one else.”
“And if you fail to do so， what then？”asked Phillip.
“I will pay you the price of the horse，”said the lad.
While everybody was laughing， Alexander ran up to Bucephalus， and turned his head towards the sun， for he had noticed that the horse was afraid of his own shadow.
He then spoke gently to the horse， and patted him with his hand. When he had quieted him a little， he made a quick spring， and leaped③ upon the horse’s back.
Everybody expected to see the boy killed outright. But he kept his place， and let the horse run as fast as he could. By and by when Brucephalus had become tired， Alexander reined him in and rode back to the place where his father was standing.
All the men who were there shouted when they saw that the boy had proved himself to be the master of the horse.
He leaped to the ground， and his father ran and kissed him.
“My son，”said the king， “Macedon is too small a place for you. You must seek a larger kingdom that will be worthy of you.”
After that， Alexander and Bucephalus were the best of friends. They were said to be always together， for when one of them was seen， the other one was sure to be not far away. But the horse would never allow any one to mount him but his master.
Alexander became the most famous king and warrior that was ever known； and for that reason he is always called Alexander the Great. Brucephalus carried him through many countries and in many fierce④ battles， and more than once did he save his master’s life.
① nobleadj. 高贵，高尚的
② mountv. 登，爬上，骑上
③ leapv. 跳过，越过
④ fierceadj. 猛烈的，激烈的
亚历山大和比塞弗勒斯
一天，马其顿国王菲利普买来一匹好马，叫比塞弗勒斯。这是一匹良种马，国王是出了很高价格买来的。但是它既野又凶，谁都驾驭不了它。谁也对它没办法。
他们用鞭子抽它，但那只能使它更野更凶。最后，国王吩咐仆人把它牵走。
“把这么一匹好马毁了，真可惜，”国王的小儿子亚历山大说。“那些人不懂得怎么对待它。”
“也许你比他们都高明，”他父亲以讽刺的口吻说。
“我懂得，”亚历山大说，“只要您同意让我试试，我就可以把这匹马驯得比任何人驯得都好。”
“可是假如你做不到这一点，那又该怎么办？”菲利普问道。
“我就把您买这匹马的钱偿还给您，”小伙子说。
大家正笑着的时候，亚历山大就跑向比塞弗勒斯，把它的头对着太阳。他已经注意到，这匹马害怕自己的影子。接着他温和地对马说起话来，用手抚摸着它。他使它稍微安静下来以后，就飞快地一跃，跳上了马背。
大家都以为这个男孩会当场被摔死。但是他稳坐在马背上，让这匹马尽情地飞跑。不久，比塞弗勒斯跑累了，亚历山大就骑着它，回到他父亲的地方。
在场的人们看到这个男孩确实够资格成为这匹马的主人，都欢呼起来。
他跳下马来，他父亲跑过来吻他。“我的儿子，”国王说，“马其顿这个地方对你来说太小了。必须找一个更大的地方才可以容得下你。”
从那以后，亚历山大和比塞弗勒斯成了最好的朋友。人们都说他俩总在一起。因为只要看到其中的一个，另一个肯定就在不远的地方。可是，这匹马除了他的主人外，从来不许任何人骑它。
亚历山大成了最著名的国王和勇士。因为这个缘故，人们总称他亚历山大大帝。比塞弗勒斯曾驮着他去过很多国家，参加过许多激烈的战争，而且不止一次地救过它主人的性命。