Book 1, Chapter Three: The Taming of Bucephalus, Pages 57 and 58

Quickly Alexander hops across stacks of hay,
one by one, till he sits astride the horse.

“Ready?” he asks the horse.

Carefully he turns it towards the sun, in the direction
where its fears grow longest.
And instantly it reacts,
with a nervous whinny.

“Woah! There, there,
don’t be scared!
That’s just your shadow.
It won’t hurt you.”

Alexander grips the reins tight.
“I will prove it.”

The horse trembles.

Gentle-voiced and patient
he persuades the horse to walk
and face its enemy head-on.
“Slowly… look!
It’s doing what you do.
Turn around.”

Step by step,
slowly but surely,
they survive unscathed,
emerging victorious against the threat
of the monstrous shadow on the ground,
fears conquered,
eager to play.

Alexander and the horse cheer.
“Euai! You did it!”
And they dance, flying hooves, and Alexander’s cape
loosens and unfurls in the air,
expression of their joy.
“C’mon! Let’s show those geezers up!”

Now my friends, should we be surprised? Philonicus, Philip and his men certainly were!
But you see,