pected dangers, and most desperate conjunctures: but I place far above these that character of probity, and those sentiments of honour, which prevailed in him, and which do not always accompany the other shining qualities I have mentioned. A merit so illustrious and universal, and at the same time so modest, which ought to have excited the esteem and admiration of the other commanders, only gave them offence, and inflamed their envy; a defect too frequently visible in persons of high rank These satrapæ, full of themselves, saw with jealousy and indigna tion, that an officer of no birth, but much better qualified, and more brave and experienced than themselves, had ascended by degrees to the most exalted stations, which they imagined due only to those who were dignified with great names, and descended from ancient and illustrious families: as if true nobility did not consist in merit and virtue.* Antigonus and the whole army celebrated the funeral obsequies of Eumenes with great magnificence, and willingly paid him the utmost honours; his death having extinguished all their envy and fear. They deposited his bones and ashes in an urn of silver, and sent it to his wife and children in Cappadocia; a poor compensaion for a desolate widow and her helpless orphans! SECT. VI. Seleucus, Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and Cassander, form a confederacy against Antigonus He deprives Ptolemy of Syria and Phoenicia, and makes himself master of Tyre, after a long siege. Demetrius, the son of Antigonus, begins to distinguish himself in Asia Minor. He loses a first battle, and gains a second. Seleucus takes Babylon. A treaty of peace between the princes is immediately broken. Cassander causes the young king Alexander, and his inother Roxana, to be put to death. Hercules, another son of Alexander the Great, is likewise slain, with his mother Barsida, by Polysperchon. Antigonus causes Cleopatra, the sister of the same Alexander, to be put to death. The revolt of Ophellas in Libya. A. M. 3689, Antigonus, looking upon himself as master of Ant. J. C. 315. the empire of Asia for the future, made a new regulation in the eastern provinces, for his better security. He discarded all the governors he suspected, and advanced to their places those persons in whom he thought he might confide. He even destroyed several who had rendered themselves formidable to him by their too great merit. Pithon, governor of Media, and Antigenes, general of the Argyraspides, were among these latter. Seleucus, governor of Babylon, was likewise minuted down in his list of proscriptions, but he found means to escape the danger, and threw himself under the protection of Ptolemy in Egypt. As for the Argyraspides, who had betrayed Eumenes, he sent them into Arachosia, the remotest province in the empire; and ordered Syburtius, who governed there, to take such measures as might destroy them all, and that not one of them might ever return to Nobilitas sola est atque unica virtus. Juv. † Diod. I. xix. p. 699-692, & 697, 698 Greece. The just horror he conceived at the infamous manner i which they betrayed their general, contributed not a little to this resolution, though he enjoyed the fruit of their treason without the least scruple or remorse; but a motive, still more prevalent, determined him chiefly to this proceeding. These soldiers were mutinous, untractable, licentious, and averse to all obedience; their example, therefore, was capable of corrupting the other troops, and even of destroying him, by a new instance of treachery: he therefore was resolved to exterminate them without hesitation. A. M. 3690. Seleucus knew how to represent the formidable Ant. J. C. 314. power of Antigonus so effectually to Ptolemy,* that he engaged him in a league with Lysimachus and Cassander, whom he had also convinced, by the information which he had sent them, of the danger they had reason to apprehend from the power of that prince. Antigonus was very sensible that Seleucus would not fail to solicit them into measures against his interest, for which reason he sent an embassy to each of the three, to renew the good intelligence between them, by new assurances of his friendship. But what confidence could be reposed in such assurances from perfidious man, who had lately destroyed so many governors, from no inducement but the ambition of reigning alone at the expense of all his colleagues? The answers therefore which he received, made him sufficiently sensible, that it was incumbent on him to prepare for war: upon which he quitted the East, and advanced to Cilicia with very considerable treasures, which he had drawn from Babylon and Susa. He there raised new levies, regulated several affairs in the provinces of Asia Minor, and then marched into Syria and Phoenicia. His design was to dispossess Ptolemy of those two provinces,t and make himself master of their maritime forces, which was absolutely necessary for him in the war he was preparing to undertake against the confederates. For unless he could be master at sea and have at least the ports and vessels of the Phoenicians at his dis· posal, he could never expect any success against them. He, how. ever, arrived too late to surprise the ships; for Ptolemy had already sent to Egypt all that could be found in Phœnicia, and it was even with difficulty that Antigonus made himself master of the ports; for Tyre, Joppa, and Gaza, opposed him with all their forces. The two last, indeed, were soon taken, but a considerable length of time was necessary for the reduction of Tyre. However, as he was already master of all the other ports o Syria and Phoenicia, he immediately gave orders for building vessels and a vast number of trees were cut down, for that purpose, or mount Libanus, which was covered with cedar and cypress trees of extraordinary beauty and height, and they were conveyed to the Diod. I. xix. p. 698-700. † Diod. 1. xix. p. 700-703. - different ports where the ships were to be built, in which work he employed several thousand men. At length, with these ships, and others that joined him from Cyprus, Rhodes, and some other cities with which he had contracted an alliance, he formed a considerable fleet, and rendered himself master of the sea. His ardour for this work was redoubled by an affront he had received from Seleucus, who with 100 ships that Ptolemy had sent him, sailed up to Tyre, in sight of all the forces of Antigonus, with an intention to brave him whilst he was engaged in the siege of that city. And in reality this insult had greatly discouraged his troops, and given his allies such an impression of his weakness as was very injurious to him. In order, therefore, to prevent the effect of those disadvantageous opinions, he sent for the principal allies, and assured them he would have such a fleet at sea that summer, as should be superior to the naval forces of all his enemies, and he was punctual to his promise before the expiration of the year. A. M. 3691. But when he perceived, that while he was thus emAnt. J. C. 313. ployed in Phoenicia, Cassander gained upon him in Asia Minor, he marched thither with part of his troops, and left the rest with his son Demetrius, who was then but twenty-two years of age, to defend Syria and Phoenicia against Ptolemy. This Deinetrius will be much celebrated in the sequel of this history, and I shall soon point out his particular character. Tyre was then reduced to the last extremities;* the fleet of Antigonus cut off all communication of provisions, and the city was soon obliged to capitulate. The garrison which Ptolemy had there, obtained permission to march out with all their effects, and the inhabitants were promised the enjoymem of theirs without molestation. Andronicus, who commanded at the siege, was transported with gaining a place of such importance on any condition whatever; especially after a siege which had harassed his troops so exceedingly for fifteen months. Nineteen years only had elapsed since Alexander had destroyed this city, in such a manner as made it natural to believe it would equire whole ages to re-establish it; and yet in so short a time it ecame capable of sustaining this new siege, which lasted more than as long again as that of Alexander. This circumstance discovers the great resources derived from commerce; for this was the only expedient by which Tyre rose out of its ruins, and recovered most of its former splendour. This city was then the centre of all the traffic of the East and West. Demetrius, who now began to be known, and will in the sequel be surnamed Poliorcetes, which signifies taker of cities, was the son of Antigonus. He was finely made, and of uncommon beauty. * Diod. I. xix. p. 703. † Plut. in Demet. p. 889, 890. The word is derived logxiv, to besiege a city, whose root is móns, a city, and gxos, a fence, a ramy art, a bulwark. from Sweetness, blended with gravity, was visible in his aspect,* and he had an air of serenity, intermixed with something which carried awe along with it. Vivacity of youth in him was tempered with a majestic mien, and an air truly royal and heroic. The same mixture was likewise observable in his manners, which were equally qualified to charm and astonish. When he had no affairs to transact, his intercourse with his friends was enchanting. Nothing could equal the sumptuousness of his feasts, his luxury, and his whole manner of living; and it may be justly said, that he was the most magnificent, the most voluptuous, and the most delicate of all princes. On the other hand, however alluring all these soft pleasures might appear to him, when he had any enterprise to undertake, he was the most active and vigilant of mankind; nothing but his patience and assiduity in fatigue were equal to his vivacity and courage. Such is the character of the young prince who now begins to appear upon the stage of action. Plutarch remarks in him, as a peculiarity which distinguished him from the other princes of his time, his profound respect for his parents, which neither flowed from affectation nor ceremony, but was sincere and real, and the growth of the heart itself. Antigonus, on his part, had a tenderness and affection for his son that was truly paternal, and extended even to familiarity, though without any diminution of the authority of the sovereign and the father; and this created a union and confidence between them entirely free from all fear and suspicion. Plutarch relates an instance of it. One day, when Antigonus was engaged in giving audience to some ambassadors, Demetrius, returning from the chase, advanced into the great hall, where he saluted his father with a kiss, and then seated himself at his side, with his darts in his hand. Antigonus had just given the ambassadors their answer, and was dismissing them, but he called them back, and said aloud, "You may likewise inform your masters of the manner in which my son and I live together;" intimating thereby, that he was not afraid to let his son approach him with arms, and that this good understanding that subsisted between him and his son, constituted the greatest strength of his do minions, at the same time that it affected him with the most sensible pleasure. But to return to our subject. Antigonus having passed into Asia Minor,‡ soon stopped the pro.. gress of Cassander's arms, and pressed him so vigorously, that he obliged him to come to an accommodation, on very disgraceful terms; in consequence of which the treaty was hardly concluded before he repented of his accession to it, and broke it by demanding succours of Ptolemy and Seleucus, and renewing the war. The * Τὸ γὰρ αὐτὸ χάριν καὶ βάρος, καὶ φόβον καὶ ὥραν εἶχε, καὶ συνεκέκρατο τῷ τας, καὶ ἐταμο δυσμίμητος ἡρωική τις ἐπιφάνεια καὶ βασιλικὴ σεμνότης. Neither the Geeeks nor Romans ever wore arms but in war, or when they hunted. Diod. 1. xix. p. 10 violation of treaties was considered as nothing, by the generality of those princes whose history I am now writing. These unworthy expedients, which are justly thought dishonourable in private persons, appeared to them as so many circumstances essential to their glory. They applauded themselves for their perfidious measures, as if they had been instances of their abilities in government; and they were never sensible that such proceedings would teach their troops to be wanting in their fidelity to them, and leave themselves destitute of any pretext of complaint against their own subjects, who, by revolting from their authority, only trod in the same paths which they themselves had already marked out. By such contagious examples, a whole age is soon corrupted, and learns to renounce, without a blush, all sentiments of honour and probity, because that which is once become common, no longer appears shameful. The renewal of this war detained Antigonus in those parts longer than he intended, and afforded Ptolemy an opportunity of obtaining a considerable advantage over him in another quarter. He first sailed with his fleet to the isle of Cyprus,* and reduced the greatest part of it to his obedience. Nicocles, king of Paphos, one of the cities of that island, submitted to him like the rest, but made a secret alliance with Antigonus a year or two after. Ptolemy received intelligence of this proceeding; and, in order to prevent the other princes from imitating his example, he ordered some of his officers in Cyprus to destroy him; but they being unwilling to execute that commission themselves, earnestly entreated Nicocles to prevent it by a voluntary death. The unhappy prince consented to the proposal, and, seeing himself utterly destitute of defence became his own executioner. But though Ptolemy had commanded those officers to treat the queen Axithea, and the other princesses whom they found in the palace of Nicocles, with the respect due to their rank, yet they could not prevent them from following the example of the unfortunate king. The queen, after she had slain her daughters with her own hands, and exhorted the other princesses not to survive the calamity by which their unhappy brother fell, plunged her dagger into her own bosom. The death of these princesses was succeeded by that of their husbands, who, before they slew themselves, set fire to the four corners of the palace Such was the dreadful and bloody scene which was acted at Cyprus. Ptolemy, after having made himself master of that island, made a descent into Syria, and from thence proceeded to Cilicia, where he acquired great spoils, and took a large number of prisoners, whom he carried with him into Egypt. Seleucus imparted to him, at his return, a project for regaining Syria and Phoenicia, and the execution of it was agreed to be undertaken. Ptolemy accordingly marched thither in person with a fine army, after he had happily suppressed a revolt which had A. M. 3692. Ant. J. C. 312. * Diod. l. xx. p. 761. |