The CDPD Public Domain Collection for CDTV 3/CDPDIII.bin/books/plutarch/eumenes

Text File | 1992-07-31 | 45KB | 683 lines

                                      75 AD
                                    EUMENES
                             Reigned 197-160? B.C.
                                  by Plutarch
                           translated by John Dryden
EUMENES

  DURIS reports that Eumenes, the Cardian, was the son of a poor
wagoner in the Thracian Chersonesus, yet liberally educated, both as a
scholar and a soldier; and that while he was but young, Philip,
passing through Cardia, diverted himself with a sight of the wrestling
matches and other exercises of the youth of that place, among whom
Eumenes performing with success, and showing signs of intelligence and
bravery, Philip was so pleased with him as to take him into his
service. But they seem to speak more probably who tell us that
Philip advanced Eumenes for the friendship he bore to his father,
whose guest he had sometime been. After the death of Philip, he
continued in the service of Alexander, with the title of his principal
secretary, but in as great favour as the most intimate of his
familiars, being esteemed as wise and faithful as any person about
him, so that he went with troops under his immediate command as
general in the expedition against India, and succeeded to the post
of Perdiccas, when Perdiccas was advanced to that of Hephaestion, then
newly deceased. And therefore, after the death of Alexander, when
Neoptolemus, who had been captain of his life-guard, said that he
had followed Alexander with shield and spear, but Eumenes only with
pen and paper, the Macedonians laughed at him, as knowing very well
that, besides other marks of favour, the king had done him the
honour to make him a kind of kinsman to himself by marriage. For
Alexander's first mistress in Asia, by whom he had his son Hercules,
was Barsine the daughter of Artabazus; and in the distribution of
the Persian ladies amongst his captains, Alexander gave Apame, one
of his sisters, to Ptolemy, and another, also called Barsine, to
Eumenes.
  Notwithstanding, he frequently incurred Alexander's displeasure, and
put himself into some danger, through Hephaestion. The quarters that
had been taken up for Eumenes, Hephaestion assigned to Euius, the
flute-player. Upon which, in great anger, Eumenes and Mentor came to
Alexander and loudly complained, saying that the way to be regarded
was to throw away their arms and turn flute-players or tragedians;
so much so that Alexander took their part and chid Hephaestion; but
soon after changed his mind again, and was angry with Eumenes, and
accounted the freedom he had taken to be rather an affront to the king
than a reflection upon Hephaestion. Afterwards, when Nearchus, with
a fleet, was to be sent to the Southern Sea, Alexander borrowed
money of his friends, his own treasury being exhausted, and would have
had three hundred talents of Eumenes, but he sent a hundred only,
pretending that it was not without great difficulty he had raised so
much from his stewards. Alexander neither complained nor took the
money, but gave private orders to set Eumenes's tent on fire,
designing to take him in a manifest lie, when his money was carried
out. But before that could be done the tent was consumed, and
Alexander repented of his orders, all his papers being burnt; the gold
and silver, however, which was melted down in the fire, being
afterwards collected, was found to be more than one thousand
talents; yet Alexander took none of it, and only wrote to the
several governors and generals to send new copies of the papers that
were burnt, and ordered them to be delivered to Eumenes.
  Another difference happened between him and Hephaestion concerning a
gift, and a great deal of ill language passed between them, yet
Eumenes still continued in favour. But Hephaestion dying soon after,
the king, in his grief, presuming all those that differed with
Hephaestion in his lifetime were now rejoicing at his death, showed
much harshness and severity in his behaviour with them, especially
towards Eumenes, whom he often upbraided with his quarrels and ill
language to Hephaestion. But he, being a wise and dexterous
courtier, made advantage of what had done him prejudice, and struck in
with the king's passion for glorifying his friend's memory, suggesting
various plans to do him honour, and contributing largely and readily
towards erecting his monument.
  After Alexander's death, when the quarrel broke out between the
troops of the phalanx and the officers, his companions, Eumenes,
though in his judgment he inclined to the latter, yet in his
professions stood neuter, as if he thought it unbecoming him, who
was a stranger, to interpose in the private quarrels of the
Macedonians. When the rest of Alexander's friends left Babylon, he
stayed behind, and did much to pacify the foot-soldiers, and to
dispose them towards an accommodation. And when the officers had
agreed among themselves, and, recovering from the first disorder
proceeded to share out the several commands and provinces, they made
Eumenes governor of Cappadocia and Paphlagonia, and all the coast upon
the Pontic Sea as far as Trebizond, which at that time was not subject
to the Macedonians, for Ariarathes kept it as king, but Leonnatus
and Antigonus, with a large army, were to put him in possession of it.
  Antigonus, already filled with hopes of his own, and despising all
men, took no notice of Perdiccas's letter; but Leonnatus with his army
came down into Phrygia to the service of Eumenes. But being visited by
Hecataeus, the tyrant of the Cardians, and requested rather to relieve
Antipater and the Macedonians that were besieged in Lamia, he resolved
upon that expedition, inviting Eumenes to a share in it, and
endeavouring to reconcile him to Hecataeus. For there was an
hereditary feud between them, arising out of political differences,
and Eumenes had more than once been known to denounce Hecataeus as a
tyrant, and to exhort Alexander to restore the Cardians their liberty.
Therefore at this time, also, he declined the expedition proposed,
pretending that he feared lest Antipater, who already hated him,
should for that reason, and to gratify Hecataeus, kill him.
Leonnatus so far believed as to impart to Eumenes his whole design,
which, as he had pretended and given out, was to aid Antipater, but in
truth was to seize the kingdom of Macedon; and he showed him letters
from Cleopatra, in which, it appeared, she invited him to Pella,
with promises to marry him. But Eumenes, whether fearing Antipater, or
looking upon Leonnatus as a rash, headstrong, and unsafe man, stole
away from him by night, taking with him all his men, namely, three
hundred horse, and two hundred of his own servants armed, and all
his gold, to the value of five thousand talents of silver, and fled to
Perdiccas, discovered to him Leonnatus's design, and thus gained great
interest with him, and was made of the council. Soon after, Perdiccas,
with a great army, which he led himself, conducted Eumenes into
Cappadocia, and, having taken Ariarathes prisoner, and subdued the
whole country, declared him governor of it. He accordingly proceeded
to dispose of the chief cities among his own friends, and made
captains of garrisons, judges, receivers, and other officers, of
such as he thought fit himself, Perdiccas not at all interposing.
Eumenes, however, still continued to attend upon Perdiccas, both out
of respect to him, and a desire not to be absent from the royal
family.
  But Perdiccas, believing he was able enough to attain his own
further objects without assistance, and that the country he left
behind him might stand in need of an active and faithful governor,
when he came into Cilicia dismissed Eumenes, under colour of sending
him to his command, but in truth to secure Armenia, which was on its
frontier, and was unsettled through the practices of Neoptolemus. Him,
a proud and vain man, Eumenes exerted himself to gain by personal
attentions; but to balance the Macedonian foot, whom he found insolent
and self-willed, he contrived to raise an army of horse, excusing from
tax and contribution all those of the country that were able to
serve on horseback, and buying up a number of horses, which he
distributed among such of his own men as he most confided in,
stimulating the courage of his new soldiers by gifts and honours,
and inuring their bodies to service by frequent marching and
exercising; so that the Macedonians were some of them astonished,
others overjoyed to see that in so short a time he had got together
a body of no less than six thousand three hundred horsemen.
  But when Craterus and Antipater, having subdued the Greeks, advanced
into Asia, with intentions to quell the power of Perdiccas, and were
reported to design an invasion of Cappadocia, Perdiccas, resolving
himself to march against Ptolemy, made Eumenes commander-in-chief of
all the forces of Armenia and Cappadocia, and to that purpose wrote
letters, requiring Alcetas and Neoptolemus to be obedient to
Eumenes, and giving full commission to Eumenes to dispose and order
all things as he thought fit. Alcetas flatly refused to serve, because
his Macedonians, he said were ashamed to fight against Antipater,
and loved Craterus so well, they were ready to receive him for their
commander. Neoptolemus designed treachery against Eumenes, but was
discovered; and being summoned, refused to obey, and put himself in
a posture of defence. Here Eumenes first found the benefit of his
own foresight and contrivance, for his foot being beaten, he routed
Neoptolemus with his horse, and took all his baggage; and coming up
with his whole force upon the phalanx while broken and disordered in
its flight, obliged the men to lay down their arms and take an oath to
serve under him. Neoptolemus, with some few stragglers whom he
rallied, fled to Craterus and Antipater. From them had come an embassy
to Eumenes, inviting him over to their side, offering to secure him in
his present government and to give him additional command, both of men
and of territory, with the advantage of gaining his enemy Antipater to
become his friend, and keeping Craterus his friend from turning to
be his enemy. To which Eumenes replied that he could not so suddenly
be reconciled to his old enemy Antipater, especially at a time when he
saw him use his friends like enemies, but was ready to reconcile
Craterus to Perdiccas, upon any and equitable terms; but in case of
any aggression, he would resist the injustice to his last breath,
and would rather lose his life than betray his word.
  Antipater, receiving this answer, took time to consider upon the
whole matter; when Neoptolemus arrived from his defeat and
acquainted them with the ill success of his arms, and urged them to
give him assistance, to come, both of them if possible, but Craterus
at any rate, for the Macedonians loved him so excessively, that if
they saw but his hat, or heard his voice, they would all pass over
in a body with their arms. And in truth Craterus had a mighty name
among them, and the soldiers after Alexander's death were extremely
fond of him, remembering how he had often for their sakes incurred
Alexander's displeasure, doing his best to withhold him when he
began to follow the Persian fashions, and always maintaining the
customs of his country, when, through pride and luxuriousness, they
began to be disregarded. Craterus, therefore, sent on Antipater into
Cilicia, and himself and Neoptolemus marched with a large division
of the army against Eumenes; expecting to come upon him unawares,
and to find his army disordered with revelling after the late victory.
Now that Eumenes should suspect his coming, and be prepared to receive
him, is an argument of his vigilance, but not perhaps a proof of any
extraordinary sagacity, but that he should contrive both to conceal
from his enemies the disadvantages of his position, and from his own
men whom they were to fight with, so that he led them on against
Craterus himself, without their knowing that he commanded the enemy,
this, indeed, seems to show peculiar address and skill in the general.
He gave out that Neoptolemus and Pigres were approaching with some
Cappadocian and Paphlagonian horse. And at night, having resolved on
marching, he fell asleep, and had an extraordinary dream. For he
thought he saw two Alexanders ready to engage, each commanding his
several phalanx, the one assisted by Minerva, the other by Ceres;
and that after a hot dispute, he on whose side Minerva was, was
beaten, and Ceres, gathering ears of corn, wove them into a crown
for the victor.
  This vision Eumenes interpreted at once as boding success to
himself, who was to fight for a fruitful country, and at that very
time covered with the young ears, the whole being sown with corn,
and the fields so thick with it that they made a beautiful show of a
long peace. And he was further emboldened when he understood that
the enemy's password was Minerva and Alexander. Accordingly he also
gave out as his Ceres and Alexander, and gave his men orders to make
garlands for themselves, and to dress their arms with wreaths of corn.
He found himself under many temptations to discover to his captains
and officers whom they were to engage with, and not to conceal a
secret of such moment in his own breast alone, yet he kept to his
first resolutions, and ventured to run the hazard of his own judgment.
  When he came to give battle, he would not trust any Macedonian to
engage Craterus, but appointed two troops of foreign horse,
commanded by Pharnabazus, son to Artabazus, and Phoenix of Tenedos,
with order to charge as soon as ever they saw the enemy, without
giving them leisure to speak or retire, or receiving any herald or
trumpet from them. For he was exceedingly afraid about his
Macedonians, lest, if they found out Craterus to be there, they should
go over to his side. He himself, with three hundred of his best horse,
led the right wing against Neoptolemus. When having passed a little
hill they came in view, and were seen advancing with more than
ordinary briskness, Craterus was amazed, and bitterly reproached
Neoptolemus for deceiving him with hopes of the Macedonians' revolt,
but he encouraged his men to do bravely, and forthwith charged.
  The first engagement was very fierce, and the spears being soon
broken to pieces, they came to close fighting with their swords; and
here Craterus did by no means dishonour Alexander, but slew many of
his enemies and repulsed many assaults, but at last received a wound
in his side from a Thracian, and fell off his horse. Being down,
many not knowing him went past him, but Gorgias, one of Eumenes's
captains, knew him, and alighting from his horse kept guard over him
as he lay badly wounded and slowly dying. In the meantime
Neoptolemus and Eumenes were engaged; who, being inveterate and mortal
enemies, sought for one another, but missed for the two first courses,
but in the third discovering one another, they drew their swords,
and with loud shouts immediately charged. And their horses striking
against one another like two galleys, they quitted their reins, and
taking mutual hold pulled at one another's helmets, and at the
armour from their shoulders. While they were thus struggling, their
horses went from under them, and they fell together to the ground,
there again still keeping their hold and wrestling. Neoptolemus was
getting up first, but Eumenes wounded him in the ham, and got upon his
feet before him. Neoptolemus supporting himself upon one knee, the
other leg being disabled, and himself undermost, fought
courageously, though his blows were not mortal, but receiving a stroke
in the neck he fell and ceased to resist. Eumenes, transported with
passion and his inveterate hatred to him, fell to reviling and
stripping him, and perceived not that his sword was still in his hand.
And with this he wounded Eumenes under the bottom of his corslet in
the groin, but in truth more frightened than hurt him; his blow
being faint for want of strength. Having stript the dead body, ill
as he was with the wounds he had received in his legs and arms, he
took horse again, and hurried towards the left wing of his army, which
he supposed to be still engaged. Hearing of the death of Craterus,
he rode up to him, and finding there was yet some life in him,
alighted from his horse and wept, and laying his right hand upon
him, inveighed bitterly against Neoptolemus, and lamented both
Craterus's misfortune and his own hard fate, that he should be
necessitated to engage against an old friend and acquaintance, and
either do or suffer so much mischief.
  This victory Eumenes obtained about ten days after the former, and
got great reputation alike for his conduct and his valour in achieving
it. But, on the other hand, it created him great envy both among his
own troops and his enemies that he, a stranger and a foreigner, should
employ the forces and arms of Macedon to cut off the bravest and
most approved man among them. Had the news of this defeat come
timely enough to Perdiccas, he had doubtless been the greatest of
all the Macedonians; but now, he being slain in a mutiny in Egypt, two
days before the news arrived, the Macedonians in a rage decreed
Eumenes's death, giving joint commission to Antigonus and Antipater to
prosecute the war against him.
  Passing by Mount Ida, where there was a royal establishment of
horses, Eumenes took as many as he had occasion for, and sent an
account of his doing so to the overseers, at which Antipater is said
to have laughed, calling it truly laudable in Eumenes thus to hold
himself prepared for giving in to them (or would it be taking from
them?) strict account of all matters of administration. Eumenes had
designed to engage in the plains of Lydia, near Sardis, both because
his chief strength lay in horse, and to let Cleopatra see how powerful
he was. But at her particular request, for she was afraid to give
any umbrage to Antipater, he marched into the upper Phrygia, and
wintered in Celaenae; when Alcetas, Polemon, and Docimus disputing
with him who should command in chief, "You know," said he, "the old
saying: That destruction regards no punctilios." Having promised his
soldiers pay within three days, he sold them all the farms and castles
in the country, together with the men and beasts with which they
were filled; every captain or officer that bought received from
Eumenes the use of his engines to storm the place, and divided the
spoils among his company, proportionably to every man's arrears. By
this Eumenes came again to be popular, so that when letters were found
thrown about the camp by the enemy promising one hundred talents,
besides great honours, to any one that should kill Eumenes, the
Macedonians were extremely offended, and made an order that from
that time forward one thousand of their best men should continually
guard his person, and keep strict watch about him by night in their
several turns. This order was cheerfully obeyed, and they gladly
received of Eumenes the same honours which the kings used to confer
upon their favourites. He now had leave to bestow purple hats and
cloaks, which among the Macedonians is one of the greatest honours the
king can give.
  Good fortune will elevate even petty minds, and give them the
appearance of a certain greatness and stateliness, as from their
high place they look down upon the world; but the truly noble and
resolved spirit raises itself, and becomes more conspicuous in times
of disaster and ill fortune, as was now the case with Eumenes. For
having by the treason of one of his own men lost the field to
Antigonus at Orcynii, in Cappadocia, in his flight he gave the traitor
no opportunity to escape to the enemy, but immediately seized and
hanged him. Then in his flight, taking a contrary course to his
pursuers, he stole by them unawares, returned to the place where the
battle had been fought, and encamped. There he gathered up the dead
bodies and burnt them with the doors and windows of the neighbouring
villages, and raised heaps of earth upon their graves; insomuch that
Antigonus, who came thither soon after, expressed his astonishment
at his courage and firm resolution. Falling afterwards upon the
baggage of Antigonus, he might easily have taken many captives, both
bond and freemen, and much wealth collected from the spoils of so many
wars; but he feared lest his men, overladen with so much booty,
might become unfit for rapid retreat, and too fond of their ease to
sustain the continual marches and endure the long waiting on which
he depended for success, expecting to tire Antigonus into some other
course. But then considering it would be extremely difficult to
restrain the Macedonians from plunder, when it seemed to offer itself,
he gave them order to refresh themselves, and bait their horses, and
then attack the enemy. In the meantime he sent privately to
Menander, who had care of all this baggage, professing a concern for
him upon the score of old friendship and acquaintance; and therefore
advising him to quit the plain and secure himself upon the sides of
the neighbouring hills, where the horse might not be able to hem him
in. When Menander, sensible of his danger, had speedily packed up
his goods and decamped, Eumenes openly sent his scouts to discover the
enemy's posture, and commanded his men to arm and bridle their horses,
as designing immediately to give battle; but the scouts returning with
news that Menander had secured so difficult a post it was impossible
to take him, Eumenes, pretending to be grieved with the
disappointment, drew off his men another way. It is said that when
Menander reported this afterwards to Antigonus, and the Macedonians
commended Eumenes, imputing it to his singular good-nature, that
having it in his power to make slaves of their children and outrage
their wives he forbore and spared them all, Antigonus replied,
"Alas, good friends, he had no regard to us, but to himself, being
loath to wear so many shackles when he designed to fly."
  From this time Eumenes, daily flying and wandering about,
persuaded many of his men to disband, whether out of kindness to them,
or unwillingness to lead about such a body of men as were too few to
engage and too many to fly undiscovered. Taking refuge at Nora, a
place on the confines of Lycaonia and Cappadocia, with five hundred
horse and two hundred heavy-armed foot, he again dismissed as many
of his friends as desired it, through fear of the probable hardships
to be encountered there, and embracing them with all demonstrations of
kindness gave them licence to depart. Antigonus, when he came before
this fort, desired to have an interview with Eumenes before the siege;
but he returned answer that Antigonus had many friends who might
command in his room; but they whom Eumenes defended had nobody to
substitute if he should miscarry; therefore, if Antigonus thought it
worth while to treat with him, he should first send him hostages.
And when Antigonus required that Eumenes should first address
himself to him as his superior, he replied, "While I am able to
wield a sword, I shall think no man greater than myself." At last,
when, according to Eumenes's demand, Antigonus sent his own nephew
Ptolemy to the fort, Eumenes went out to him, and they mutually
embraced with great tenderness and friendship, as having formerly been
very intimate. After long conversation, Eumenes making no mention of
his own pardon and security, but requiring that he should be confirmed
in his several governments, and restitution be made him of the rewards
of his service, all that were present were astonished at his courage
and gallantry. And many of the Macedonians flocked to see what sort of
person Eumenes was, for since the death of Craterus no man had been so
much talked of in the army. But Antigonus, being afraid lest he
might suffer some violence, first commanded the soldiers to keep
off, calling out and throwing stones at those who pressed forwards. At
last, taking Eumenes in his arms, and keeping off the crowd with his
guards, not without great difficulty, he returned him safe into the
fort.
  Then Antigonus, having built a wall round Nora, left a force
sufficient to carry on the siege, and drew off the rest of his army;
and Eumenes was beleaguered and kept garrison, having plenty of corn
and water and salt, but no other thing, either for food or delicacy;
yet with such as he had, he kept a cheerful table for his friends,
inviting them severally in their turns, and seasoning his
entertainment with a gentle and affable behaviour. For he had a
pleasant countenance, and looked not like an old and practised
soldier, but was smooth and florid, and his shape as delicate as if
his limbs had been carved by art in the most accurate proportions.
He was not a great orator, but winning and persuasive, as may be
seen in his letters.
  The greatest distress of the besieged was the narrowness of the
place they were in, their quarters being very confined, and the
whole place but two furlongs in compass; so that both they and their
horses fed without exercise. Accordingly, not only to prevent the
listlessness of such inactive living, but to have them in condition to
fly if occasion required, he assigned a room one-and-twenty feet long,
the largest in all the fort, for the men to walk in, directing them to
begin their walk gently, and so gradually mend their pace. And for the
horses, he tied them to the roof with great halters, fastening which
about their necks, with a pulley he gently raised them, till
standing upon the ground with their hinder feet, they just touched
it with the very ends of their forefeet. In this posture the grooms
plied them with whips and shouts, provoking them to curvet and kick
out with their hind legs, struggling and stamping at the same time
to find support for their forefeet, and thus their whole body was
exercised, till they were all in a foam and sweat; excellent exercise,
whether for strength or speed; and then he gave them their corn
already coarsely ground, that they might sooner despatch and better
digest it.
  The siege continuing long, Antigonus received advice that
Antipater was dead in Macedon, and that affairs were embroiled by
the differences of Cassander and Polysperchon, upon which he conceived
no mean hopes, purposing to make himself master of all, and, in
order to his design, thought to bring over Eumenes, that he might have
his advice and assistance. He, therefore, sent Hieronymus to treat
with him, proposing a certain oath, which Eumenes first corrected, and
then referred himself to the Macedonians themselves that besieged him,
to be judged by them, which of the two forms was the most equitable.
Antigonus in the beginning of his had slightly mentioned the kings
as by way of ceremony, while all the sequel referred to himself alone;
but Eumenes changed the form of it to Olympias and the kings, and
proceeded to swear not to be true to Antigonus, only, but to them, and
have the same friends and enemies, not with Antigonus, but with
Olympias and the kings. This form the Macedonians thinking the more
reasonable, swore Eumenes according to it, and raised the siege,
sending also to Antigonus that he should swear in the same form to
Eumenes. Meantime, all the hostages of the Cappadocians Eumenes had in
Nora he returned, obtaining from their friends war-horses, beasts of
carriage, and tents in exchange. And collecting again all the soldiers
who had dispersed at the time of his flight, and were now wandering
about the country, he got together a body of near a thousand horse,
and with them fled from Antigonus, whom he justly feared. For he had
sent orders not only to have him blocked up and besieged again, but
had given a very sharp answer to the Macedonians for admitting
Eumenes's amendment of the oath.
  While Eumenes was flying, he received letters from those in
Macedonia, who were jealous of Antigonus's greatness, from Olympias,
inviting him thither to take the charge and protection of
Alexander's infant son, whose person was in danger, and other
letters from Polysperchon and Philip the king, requiring him to make
war upon Antigonus, as general of the forces in Cappadocia, and
empowering him out of the treasure at Quinda to take five hundred
talents' compensation for his own losses, and to levy as much as he
thought necessary to carry on the war. They wrote also to the same
effect to Antigenes and Teutamus, the chief officers of the
Argyraspids; who, on receiving these letters, treated Eumenes with a
show of respect and kindness; but it was apparent enough that they
were full of envy and emulation, disdaining to give place to him.
Their envy Eumenes moderated by refusing to accept the money, as if he
had not needed it; and their ambition and emulation, who were
neither able to govern nor willing to obey, he conquered by help of
superstition. For he told them that Alexander had appeared to him in a
dream, and showed him a regal pavilion richly furnished, with a throne
in it; and told him if they would sit in council there, he himself
would be present, and prosper all the consultations and actions upon
which they should enter in his name. Antigenes and Teutamus were
easily prevailed upon to believe this, being as little willing to come
and consult Eumenes as he himself was to be seen waiting at other
men's doors. Accordingly, they erected a tent royal, and a throne,
called Alexander's, and there they met to consult upon all affairs
of moment.
  Afterwards they advanced into the interior of Asia, and in their
march met with Peucestes, who was friendly to them and with the
other satraps, who joined forces with them, and greatly encouraged the
Macedonians with the number and appearance of their men. But they
themselves, having since Alexander's decease become imperious and
ungoverned in their tempers, and luxurious in their daily habits,
imagining themselves great princes, and pampered in their conceit by
the flattery of the barbarians, when all these conflicting pretensions
now came together, were soon found to be exacting and quarrelsome
one with another, while all alike unmeasurably flattered the
Macedonians, giving them money for revels and sacrifices, till in a
short time they brought the camp to be a dissolute place of
entertainment, and the army a mere multitude of voters, canvassed as
in a democracy for the election of this or that commander. Eumenes,
perceiving they despised one another, and all of them feared him,
and sought an opportunity to kill him, pretended to be in want of
money, and borrowed many talents, of those especially who most hated
him, to make them at once confide in him and forbear all violence to
him for fear of losing their own money. Thus his enemies' estates were
the guard of his person, and by receiving money he purchased safety,
for which it is more common to give it.
  The Macedonians, also, while there was no show of danger, allowed
themselves to be corrupted, and made all their court to those who gave
them presents, who had their body-guards, and affected to appear
generals-in-chief. But when Antigonus came upon them with a great
army, and their affairs themselves seemed to call out for a true
general, then not only the common soldiers cast their eyes upon
Eumenes, but these men, who had appeared so great in a peaceful time
of ease, submitted all of them to him, and quietly posted themselves
severally as he appointed them. And when Antigonus attempted to pass
the river Pasitigris, all the rest that were appointed to guard the
passes were not so much as aware of his march; only Eumenes met and
encountered him, slew many of his men, and filled the river with the
dead, and took four thousand prisoners. But it was most particularly
when Eumenes was sick that the Macedonians let it be seen how in their
judgment, while others could feast them handsomely and make
entertainments, he alone knew how to fight and lead an army. For
Peucestes, having made a splendid entertainment in Persia, and given
each of the soldiers a sheep to sacrifice with, made himself sure of
being commander-in-chief. Some few days after the army was to march,
and Eumenes having been dangerously ill was carried in a litter
apart from the body of the army, that any rest he got might not be
disturbed. But when they were a little advanced, unexpectedly they had
a view of the enemy, who had passed the hills that lay between them,
and was marching down into the plain. At the sight of the golden
armour glittering in the sun as they marched down in their order,
the elephants with their castles on their backs, and the men in
their purple, as their manner was when they were going to give battle,
the front stopped their march, and called out for Eumenes, for they
would not advance a step but under his conduct; and fixing their
arms in the ground gave the word among themselves to stand,
requiring their officers also not to stir or engage or hazard
themselves without Eumenes. News of this being brought to Eumenes,
he hastened those that carried his litter, and drawing back the
curtains on both sides, joyfully put forth his right hand. As soon
as the soldiers saw him they saluted him in their Macedonian
dialect, and took up their shields, and striking them with their
pikes, gave a great shout; inviting the enemy to come on, for now they
had a leader.
  Antigonus understanding by some prisoners he had taken that
Eumenes was out of health, to that degree that he was carried in a
litter, presumed it would be no hard matter to crush the rest of them,
since he was ill. He therefore made the greater haste to come up
with them and engage. But being come so near as to discover how the
enemy was drawn up and appointed, he was astonished, and paused for
some time; at last he saw the litter carrying from one wing of the
army to the other, and, as his manner was, laughing aloud, he said
to his friends, "That litter there, it seems, is the thing that offers
us battle;" and immediately wheeled about, retired with all his
army, and pitched his camp. The men on the other side, finding a
little respite, returned to their former habits, and allowing
themselves to be flattered, and making the most of the indulgence of
their generals, took up for their winter quarters near the whole
country of the Gabeni, so that the front was quartered nearly a
thousand furlongs from the rear; which Antigonus understanding,
marched suddenly towards them, taking the most difficult road
through a country that wanted water; but the way was short though
uneven; hoping, if he should surprise them thus scattered in their
winter quarters, the soldiers would not easily be able to come up in
time enough and join with their officers. But having to pass through a
country uninhabited, where he met with violent winds and severe
frosts, he was much checked in his march, and his men suffered
exceedingly. The only possible relief was making numerous fires, by
which his enemies got notice of his coming. For the barbarians who
dwelt on the mountains overlooking the desert, amazed at the multitude
of fires they saw, sent messengers upon dromedaries to acquaint
Peucestes. He being astonished and almost out of his senses with the
news, and finding the rest in no less disorder, resolved to fly, and
collect what men he could by the way. But Eumenes relieved him from
his fear and trouble, undertaking so to stop the enemy's advance
that he should arrive three days later than he was expected. Having
persuaded them, he immediately despatched expresses to all the
officers to draw the men out of their winter quarters and muster
them with all speed. He himself, with some of the chief officers, rode
out, and chose an elevated tract within view, at a distance, of such
as travelled the desert; this he occupied and quartered out, and
commanded many fires to be made in it, as the custom is in a camp.
This done, and the enemies seeing the fire upon the mountains,
Antigonus was filled with vexation and despondency, supposing that his
enemies had been long since advertised of his march, and were prepared
to receive him. Therefore, lest his army, now tired and wearied out
with their march, should be immediately forced to encounter with fresh
men, who had wintered well and were ready for him, quitting the near
way, he marched slowly through the towns and villages to refresh his
men. But meeting with no such skirmishes as are usual when two
armies lie near one another, and being assured by the people of the
country that no army had been seen, but only continual fires at that
place, he concluded he had been outwitted by a stratagem of Eumenes,
and, much troubled, advanced to give open battle.
  By this time, the greater part of the forces were come together to
Eumenes, and admiring his sagacity, declared him alone
commander-in-chief of the whole army; upon which Antigenes and
Teutamus, the commanders of the Argyraspids, being very much offended,
and envying Eumenes, formed a conspiracy against him; and assembling
the greater part of the satraps and officers, consulted when and how
to cut him off. When they had unanimously agreed, first to use his
service in the next battle, and then to take an occasion to destroy
him, Eudamus, the master of the elephants, and Phaedimus gave
Eumenes private advice of this design, not out of kindness or
good-will to him, but lest they should lose the money they had lent
him. Eumenes, having commended them, retired to his tent, and
telling his friends he lived among a herd of wild beasts, made his
will, and tore up all his letters, lest his correspondents after his
death should be questioned or punished on account of anything in his
secret papers.
  Having thus disposed of his affairs, he thought of letting the enemy
win the field, or of flying through Media and Armenia and seizing
Cappadocia, but came to no resolution while his friends stayed with
him. After turning to many expedients in his mind, which his
changeable fortune had made versatile, he at last put his men in
array, and encouraged the Greeks and barbarians; as for the phalanx
and the Argyraspids, they encouraged him, and bade him be of good
heart, for the enemy would never be able to stand them. For indeed
they were the oldest of Philip's and Alexander's soldiers, tried
men, that had long made war their exercise, that had never been beaten
or foiled; most of them seventy, none less than sixty years old. And
so when they charged Antigonus's men, they cried out, "You fight
against your fathers, you rascals," and furiously falling on, routed
the whole phalanx at once, nobody being able to stand them, and the
greatest part dying by their hands. So that Antigonus's foot was
routed, but his horse got the better, and he became master of the
baggage through the cowardice of Peucestes, who behaved himself
negligently and basely; while Antigonus used his judgment calmly in
the danger, being aided moreover by the ground. For the place where
they fought was a large plain, neither deep nor hard under foot,
but, like the seashore, covered with a fine soft sand which the
treading of so many men and horses in the time of battle reduced to
a small white dust, that like a cloud of lime darkened the air, so
that one could not see clearly at any distance, and so made it easy
for Antigonus to take the baggage unperceived.
  After the battle, Teutamus sent a message to Antigonus to demand the
baggage. He made answer, he would not only restore it to the
Argyraspids, but serve them further in the other things if they
would but deliver up Eumenes. Upon which the Argyraspids took a
villainous resolution to deliver him up alive into the hands of his
enemies. So they came to wait upon him, being unsuspected by him,
but watching their opportunity, some lamenting the loss of the
baggage, some encouraging him as if he had been victor, some
accusing the other commanders, till at last they all fell upon him,
and seizing his sword, bound his hands behind him with his own girdle.
  When Antigonus had sent Nicanor to receive him he begged he might be
led through the body of the Macedonians, and have liberty to speak
to them, neither to request nor deprecate anything, but only to advise
them what would be for their interest. A silence being made, as he
stood upon a rising ground, he stretched out his hands bound, and
said, "What trophy, O ye basest of all the Macedonians, could
Antigonus have wished for so great as you yourselves have erected
for him in delivering up your general captive into his hands? You
are not ashamed, when you are conquerors, to own yourselves conquered,
for the sake only of your baggage, as if it were wealth, not arms,
wherein victory consisted; nay, you deliver up your general to
redeem your stuff. As for me I am unvanquished, though a captive,
conqueror of my enemies, and betrayed by my fellow-soldiers. For
you, I adjure you by Jupiter, the protector of arms, and by all the
gods that are the avengers of perjury, to kill me here with your own
hands; for it is all one; and if I am murdered yonder it will be
esteemed your act, nor will Antigonus complain, for he desires not
Eumenes alive, but dead. Or if you withhold your own hands, release
but one of mine, it shall suffice to do the work; and if you dare
not trust me with a sword, throw me bound as I am under the feet of
the wild beasts. This if you do I shall freely acquit you from the
guilt of my death, as the most just and kind of men to their general."
  While Eumenes was thus speaking, the rest of the soldiers wept for
grief, but the Argyraspids shouted out to lead him on, and give no
attention to his trifling. For it was no such great matter if this
Chersonesian pest should meet his death, who in thousands of battles
had annoyed and wasted the Macedonians; it would be a much more
grievous thing for the choicest of Philip's and Alexander's soldiers
to be defrauded of the fruits of so long service, and in their old age
to come to beg their bread, and to leave their wives three nights in
the power of their enemies. So they hurried him on with violence.
But Antigonus, fearing the multitude, for nobody was left in the camp,
sent ten of his strongest elephants with divers of his Mede and
Parthian lances to keep off the press. Then he could not endure to
have Eumenes brought into his presence, by reason of their former
intimacy and friendship; but when they that had taken him inquired how
he would have him kept, "As I would," said he, "an elephant, or a
lion." A little after, being moved with compassion, he commanded the
heaviest of his irons to be knocked off, one of his servants to be
admitted to anoint him, and that any of his friends that were
willing should have liberty to visit him, and bring him what he
wanted. Long time he deliberated what to do with him, sometimes
inclining to the advice and promises of Nearchus of Crete and
Demetrius his son, who were very earnest to preserve Eumenes, whilst
all the rest were unanimously instant and importunate to have him
taken off. It is related that Eumenes inquired of Onomarchus, his
keeper, why Antigonus, now he had his enemy in his hands, would not
forthwith despatch or generously release him? And that Onomarchus
contumeliously answered him, that the field had been a more proper
place than this to show his contempt of death. To whom Eumenes
replied, "And, by heavens, I showed it there; ask the men else that
engaged me, but I could never meet a man that was my superior."
"Therefore," rejoined Onomarchus, "now you have found such a man,
why don't you submit quietly to his pleasure?"
  When Antigonus resolved to kill Eumenes, he commanded to keep his
food from him, and so with two or three days' fasting he began to draw
near his end; but the camp being on a sudden to remove, an executioner
was sent to despatch him. Antigonus granted his body to his friends,
permitted them to burn it, and having gathered his ashes into a silver
urn, to send them to his wife and children.
  Eumenes was thus taken off and Divine Providence assigned to no
other man the chastisement of the commanders and soldiers that had
betrayed him; but Antigonus himself, abominating the Argyraspids as
wicked and inhuman villains, delivered them up to Sibyrtius, the
governor of Arachosia, commanding him by all ways and means to destroy
and exterminate them, so that not a man of them might ever come to
Macedon, or so much as within sight of the Greek Sea.


                             THE END