tained as absolute lord of Asia. There began he to shew how well he understood his own mightiness. For he placed and displaced at his pleasure governors in all provinces, leaving none in office that were not his own creatures, excepting such as lay too far off to be dislodged easily.

Peucestes, who ruled in Persia, thought with good cheer to redeem old offences, but was deceived, having to do with one that could not be taken with such baits; he was carried away, and feasted with goodly words of promise, that never took effect. Thus he, that envied the virtue of his friend, was driven to flatter (in vain) the fortune of his enemy; after which he lived a contemptible life, till he died obscurely, a man forgotten.

SECT. IX.

How Seleucus was chased out of Babylon by Antigonus. The great riches of Antigonus.

SELEUCUS was the next in this visitation; one that had from time to time continued in the same tenor of good will to Antigonus, and now gave proof of his hearty affection toward him by making the captain of the castle of Susa to meet him on the way, rendering unto him that strong piece, and all the treasures therein bestowed. This offer was so great, that Antigonus (though having in his hands the keeper of the place) could hardly believe it, but used him with excessive kindness, for fear so good a mood should change. In that castle he found all the treasures of Alexander, with the jewels of the Persian kings, which, added to his former store of money, made up twenty-five thousand talents. Having all this, he might well account himself a happy man, if riches were sufficient to happiness. But large dominion was the mark at which he aimed, therefore he proceeded with intent to leave no country behind his back that should not acknowledge him for sovereign lord. Coming to Babylon, he was entertained by Seleucus with all possible demonstration of love, and honoured with presents beseeming the majesty of a king. All this he accepted with great gravity, as being due to him, and began to require an account of the revenues of that province. This demand

Seleucus held unreasonable, saying, that it was not needful for him to render unto any man an account of that province, which was given unto him, in respect of his many good services to the state. But whether he spake reason or no, it sufficed, that Antigonus was powerful, who urged him daily to come to a reckoning. Manifest it was, that neither want of money, nor any other necessity, moved Antigonus to press him thus, but only the desire to pick matter of quarrel against him, whereof it was likely that he should find such issue as Python and Peucestes had done. Therefore taking with him only fifty horse, he conveyed himself away, and fled into Ptolomy's dominions, desiring him to protect him from the violence of such a man, as went about to oppress all that in former times had been his betters, or at least his equals. Antigonus was glad of his flight; for now all those countries were yielded unto him without battle, whereas to fight with Seleucus for them he wanted all pretence; and to kill him it was not his desire, having received many benefits of him, and those not intermixed, as commonly it happens, with any injuries. Yet it is reported, that the Chaldeans brought a strange prophecy to Antigonus, bidding him look well to himself, and know, that if Seleucus did escape his hands, he should recover Babylon, yea, win all Asia, and kill Antigonus in battle. Easy believers may give credit to this tale. Had it been true, methinks Antigonus rather should have hanged those Chaldeans, for giving him no warning till it was too late, than sent pursuers (as they say that he did) after him, whom the destinies preserved for so great purposes. When he had settled things at Babylon he took his journey into Cilicia, where he wintered. There he took up ten thousand talents more of the king's treasures, and, casting his accounts, found his yearly income to amount unto eleven thousand talents.

CHAP. V.

Of the great civil war between Alexander's captains; and how they assumed the name and state of kings.

SECT. I.

The combination of Ptolomy, Cassander, and others against Antigonus. Their demands, and his answer.

THIS great riches, and the rest of his power, made Antigonus dreaded, envied, and suspected, whereby he quickly was embarked in a new war. Ptolomy, Cassander, and Lysimachus had privily combined themselves together, intending to hinder his further growth, and bring him to more reason than of his own accord he seemed like to yield unto. Of their practices he had some notice; the good entertainment given unto Seleucus giving him sufficient cause of mistrust. Therefore he sent ambassadors to them severally, entreating them to continue firm in their love toward him, that would be ready to requite them with the like. The cold answers which they made occasioned his hasty preparation against the most forward of them, which was Ptolomy; it being likely that a good army should prevail more than a fair message. Therefore, as soon as the season of the year would permit, he took the way toward Syria, and was encountered by embassage from them all. These told him, that their lords did much rejoice at his victory obtained against Eumenes their common enemy, and the honour that he had thereby gotten. In which war, forasmuch as they being his confederates must have endured great loss, with hazard of their whole estates, if the contrary faction had prevailed; they held it very just, that all should be partakers in the fruits of that voyage, wherein they had been all adventurers. Wherefore they desired him, that making between them all an equal division of the treasures that were in his hands, (a thing easy to be done,) he would also take some convenient order for enlarging their dominions, according to the rate of his new purchases. This might best be to every one's liking, if he would make

over Cappadocia with Lycia to Cassander, and Phrygia, bordering upon the Hellespont, to Lysimachus; for whereas his own dominions were so much extended eastward by his late victory, he might well spare some of those western provinces to those that were seated in the west. As for Ptolomy, he would not crave any new addition, but rest contented within his own territories. Provided always, that Seleucus, their common friend and partner in the late war, might be restored to his own, out of which he had been driven so injuriously, that all of them were forced to take it deeply to heart, requiring amends, with his friendly consent unto their demands, which otherwise they must labour to obtain with armed hands.

Antigonus knew, that after many losses received, he should yet be able to redeem peace whensoever he listed, with these, or perhaps with easier conditions. Neither was he so weak, to give away quietly any part of his strength into the hands of such bad friends, for fear only lest it should be taken from him perforce. Rather he hoped that he should be able to find them work more than enough to defend their own. Therefore, he roundly answered the ambassadors, that it was no part of his meaning to communicate with other men the profit of that victory, which he alone without other men's help had obtained. Though indeed they had already sufficiently gained by him, if they could see it, having by his means kept their governments, whereof they were like to be dispossessed by Polysperchon, and the council of estate in Macedon. But what marvel was it, if they considered not how he had saved them, seeing one of them had forgotten the time, when coming to him as a fugitive, and begging succour, he was by his mere bounty relieved, and enabled to get all that he now held? Cassander did not, said he, in those days command me to surrender provinces, and give him his equal share of my treasures; but (for his father's sake) desired me to pity him, and help him against his enemies; which I did, by lending him an army and fleet, on confidence whereof he now presumes to threaten me. As for Seleucus, how can

he complain of wrong, that durst not stay to plead his right? I did use him well, but his conscience told him that he had deserved ill, else he would not have fled. Let them that so curiously search into my doings consider well their own, which some of them can hardly justify. I am now in the way to Syria, meaning to examine Ptolomy's proceedings; and after him to deal with others, if they continue to provoke me.

SECT. II.

The preparations and beginnings of the wars.

WHEN the ambassadors were dismissed with this answer, nothing was thought upon but war. Antigonus, perceiving that he should be invaded from Europe as soon as he were entered into Syria, left his nephew Ptolomy to guard the sea coasts, and hinder Cassander from landing in Asia, giving him also in charge to drive out of Cappadocia some that were already sent over to molest him. Likewise he despatched messengers into Greece and Cyprus, not unfurnished of money, to draw friends to his side, and raise up troubles to his enemies. Especially he laboured to make himself the strongest by sea; to which purpose he rather hastened than foreslowed his journey into Syria, that he might get possession of mount Libanus, which afforded many excellent commodities for building of a navy. Therefore, having erected beacons, and laid post-horses throughout all Asia, to give swift advertisement of all occurrences, he invaded Syria, that was not held against him by any power sufficient to maintain the field.

Ptolomy lay in Egypt, the strength and heart of his dominion, where he was beloved and honoured of the people as their natural lord: his other provinces he kept with a few garrisons, better serving to contain the people within obedience, than to confront a foreign enemy. So Antigonus took many cities and places of that country, and began to set great numbers of artificers on work in making ships, which was one of his most earnest cares. In these businesses he consumed a year and three months, not idly; for