eumenes-第5节
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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
