After the king had once given ear to such speeches and suspicions, the enemies of Philotas brought up countless accusations against him. Consequently he was arrested and put to the question, the companions of the king standing by at the torture, while Alexander himself listened behind a stretch of tapestry. Here, as we are told, on hearing Philotas beset Hephaestion with abject and pitiful cries and supplications, he said: ‘So faint-hearted as thou art, Philotas, and so unmanly, couldst thou have set hand to so great an undertaking?’
Edition :
Plutarch. Plutarch's Lives. with an English Translation by. Bernadotte Perrin. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. London. William Heinemann Ltd. 1919. 7.
Remark :
topology: According to the New Pauly this episode took place in the Drangiana.
http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-new-pauly/philotas-e922470 motive: Alexander's motive for giving the orders were emotional as well as political. This is mentioned in 49.5. long-term consequence: Philotas' execution is mentioned in 49.7.
