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THE founder of the dynasty of the Ptolemies-the ruler into whose hands the kingdom of Egyptfell, as has already been stated, at the death of Alexander the Great-was a Macedonian general inAlexander's army. The circumstances of his birth, and the events which led to his entering into theservice of Alexander, were somewhat peculiar. His mother, whose name was Arsino , was a personalfavorite and companion of Philip, king of Macedon, the father of Alexander. Philip at length gaveArsino in marriage to a certain man of his court named Lagus. A very short time after the marriage, Ptolemy was born. Philip treated the child with the same consideration and favor that he hadevinced toward the mother. The boy was called the son of Lagus, but his position in the royal courtof Macedon was as high and honorable, and the attentions which he received were as great, as hecould have expected to enjoy if he had been in reality a son of the king. As he grew up, he attainedto official stations of considerable responsibility and power.In the course of time, a certain transaction occurred, by means of which Ptolemy involved himself inserious difficulty with Philip, though by the same means he made Alexander very strongly his friend.There was a province of the Persian empire called Caria, situated in the southwestern part of AsiaMinor. The governor of this province had offered his daughter to Philip as the wife of one of hissons named Arid us, the half brother of Alexander. Alexander's mother, who was not the mother ofArid us, was jealous of this proposed marriage. She thought that it was part of a scheme forbringing Arid us forward into public notice, and finally making him the heir to Philip's throne;whereas she was very earnest that this splendid inheritance should be reserved for her own son.Accordingly, she proposed to Alexander that they should send a secret embassage to the Persiangovernor, and represent to him that it would be much better, both for him and for his daughter, thatshe should have Alexander instead of Arid us for a husband, and induce him, if possible, to demandof Philip that he should make the change.