按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 hi