SECT. IV.

Of divers stratagems practised by Antigonus and Eumenes, one against the other.

THUS did the war continue doubtful, and was protracted to a greater length, each part having stout soldiers and skilful generals; but the side which had hitherto prevailed being hindered, by the equal authority of many, from pursuing all advantages to the best. Antigonus grew daily weaker in men and reputation, so that to repair himself he could find no way safer than to put all to adventure. He knew that his enemies lay in their wintering-places, quartered far asunder, so that if he could suddenly come among them, he was likely to put them in great distress. Between him and them the way was not long, being only nine days' journey, but very bad, through a rough dry wilderness, hardly passable. Another way, fairer, and leading through a country well peopled, but requiring twenty-five days' journey, he forsook, partly for the length, partly and chiefly because he would come undiscovered. So therefore taking his jour ney in the dead of winter, he forbade unto his men the use of fire by night, because he would not have them descried afar off. This commandment had been well observed four or five days, when continuance of time (as commonly) breeding negligence, and the cold weather pinching them, they were bold to cherish themselves, being near to their way's end. The light of these fires gave notice of their coming, which being reported to Peucestes and other captains, they were so astonished with the sudden danger, that in all haste they betook themselves to flight. But Eumenes, meeting with the news, began to hearten his affrighted companions, promising to make Antigonus march leisurely, and willing them to abide and draw up their men together. They could scarce believe him, yet they were content to be ruled, and did as he appointed, who failed not in making his word good. He took with him some companies of the readiest men, wherewith he occupied certain tops of mountains, looking toward the camp of Antigonus; there he chose a convenient ground to encamp upon, and made great

store of fires in sundry places, as if the whole army had been present. This was a sorrowful spectacle to Antigonus, who thought himself prevented of his purpose, and began to fear, lest he should be compelled to fight, whilst his men were tired with a long and painful journey. Therefore he resolved to turn aside, and take the way to such places as might better serve to refresh his army. This he did with great care and circumspection at the first, as knowing how ready Eumenes would be upon all advantages. But after a while, considering that no enemy stirred about him, he began to pause, and think in himself that somewhat or other was not fallen out according to his opinion. To be the better informed in the matter, he caused some inhabitants of that desert to be taken, and brought before him, of whom he learned, that they had seen no other army than his thereabout, but only a few men that kept fires on the hill-tops. It vexed him exceedingly to find that he had been so deluded. Therefore he went against these troops with great fury, meaning to take sharp vengeance on them for having so deceived him. But by this time sufficient strength was arrived there, which could not be forced without much business and long stay. All the army was come, save only Eudamus, captain of the elephants, who, besides those beasts, had no more than four hundred horsemen in his company. Antigonus hearing of this supply coming to his enemies, sent above two thousand horse, and all his lightarmed footmen, to cut it off by the way. Eudamus being fallen into this danger, was fain to place his elephants round about his carriages, and so to defend himself as well as he could; for his horsemen, overlayed with multitudes, were quickly broken, and driven to run away upon the spur. Neither knew they who sat upon the elephants which way to turn them, for on all sides they received wounds, and were not able to requite them with the like. In this extremity there appeared brave troops of horse and foot, that came unexpected to the rescue, and charging the assailants upon the back, drave them to seek their own safety by speedy flight. These were sent by Eumenes, who, though

he knew not what his adversary meant to do, yet he knew very well what was fittest for him to do; and therefore, playing both games himself, provided the remedy.

SECT. V.

The conspiracy of Peucestes and others against Eumenes's life. BY these means Eumenes won great honour, and was by the whole army acknowledged a most expert general, and well worthy of the chief command. But Peucestes and the other captains, guilty of their own much insufficiency, were so transported with envy, that they could now no longer contain their vile thoughts, but held communication, as upon a necessary point, how they might find means to murder him.

Surely it is great injustice to impute the mischief contrived against worthy men to their own proud carriage, or some other ill deserving; for though it often happen that small vices do serve to counterpoise great virtues, (the sense of evil being more quick and lasting than of good,) yet he shall bewray a very foolish malice, that, wanting other testimony, will think it a part of wisdom to find good reason of the evils done to virtuous men, which oftentimes have no other cause than their virtue itself. Eumenes, among many excellent qualities, was noted to be of singular courtesy, of a very sweet conversation among his friends, and careful by all gentle means to win their love that seemed to bear him any secret ill affection. It was his mere virtue that overthrew him, which even they that sought his life acknowledged. For they concluded that he should not be slain before the battle were fought with Antigonus, wherein they confessed that it stood best with their safety to be governed by his directions. Of this treason he was quickly advertised by Eudamus, to whom he had done many pleasures, and by some others, of whom he used to borrow money when he needed not, to the end that they should be careful of his good, for fear of losing their own. Considering therefore, and discoursing with himself of the villainy intended against him, he made his last will, and

burnt all his writings that contained any matter of secret: which done, he revolved many things in his mind, being doubtful what course were best to follow. All the nobles of the empire stood ill affected to the royal blood, excepting those which were with him, that were more in number than in worth. How things at that time stood in Macedon and Greece, either he knew not, or, knowing the truth, knew nothing that might encourage him to seek their help that needed his. To make his own peace with Antigonus had been against his faith to Olympias and the princes, that had committed this great power into his hands. For which cause also it may be thought, that he forbare either to lose the battle willingly, or to fly into Cappadocia, and make shift for himself among his old friends. At length he resolved to do his best against the common enemy, and afterwards to look to himself as well as he might.

SECT. VI.

The last battle between Antigonus and Eumenes.

THE soldiers, especially those old bands of the silvershields, finding Eumenes perplexed, and not knowing the cause, entreated him not to doubt of the victory, but only to bring them into the field, and set them in array; for the rest, they alone would take sufficient order. The like alacrity was generally found in the common soldiers' faces ; but the chief commanders were so mischievously bent against him, that they could not endure to think upon being beholden to him for the victory. Yet he ordered the battle so well, that, without their own great fault, they could hardly fail of getting the upper hand.

Before the armies came to joining, a horseman, from the side of Eumenes, proclaimed with a loud voice to the followers of Antigonus, that their wickedness in fighting against their own fathers would now be punished, as it well deserved. This was not spoken in vain: for the silver-shields were men of threescore or seventy years old, strengthened more by continual exercise than decayed by age, and excelling in courage, as having passed through greater dangers

than any like to be presented in that fight. Therefore Antigonus's men (who had often been beaten by them, and were now to try their last hope with these resolute warriors, the most ancient and best regarded of all Alexander's soldiers) grew very pensive, and advanced heavily, suspecting their own cause, and fearing that the threatenings uttered would prove true.

Antigonus was now again far the stronger in horse, which gave him cause of great hope, the ground on which they were to fight being a plain levelled field. Placing therefore himself and his son Demetrius in the right wing, and committing the left wing to Python, he did set forward courageously against the enemies, that were ready to give him a sharp entertainment.

Eumenes took unto him Peucestes, with the rest of the lords, and stood in the left wing of his battle, in the face of Antigonus, meaning both to prevent the traitors his companions of all means to make head against him on the sudden, and withal to give proof of his own valour, which perhaps he should no more do, in the face of all his enemies. In the right wing, opposite unto Python, he bestowed the weakest of his horse and elephants, under one Philip, an honest man, and (which was enough at such a time) obedient; commanding him to protract the fight, and make a leisurable retreat, expecting the event of the other side.

So they joined very fiercely; Antigonus labouring to make himself master of all; Eumenes, to die an honourable death, or to win such a victory upon his open enemies as might give him leisure and opportunity to deal with his false friends.

The footmen of Antigonus, being even in their own opinions far inferior to those whom they must encounter, were at the first brunt presently defeated by the silver-shields, who slew above five thousand of them, losing of their own not one man. But in horse Eumenes was so overmatched, that he could not repel Antigonus, who pressed him very hard, but was fain to stand wholly upon defence. Yet his courage wrought so well by example among his followers,