tunes, thought every one that best could inveigh against things past a most likely man to find some remedy for the evil threatening them. In this hurlyburly was Alexander devising how he might come to some good point of composition with Nicanor, and held much privy conference with him; which he could not so secretly carry but that his negotiation was discovered, whereby the uproar in the town was so far increased, that Phocion with many of his friends were accused, and driven to seek safeguard of their lives by flight. So they came to Alexander, who entertained them gently, and gave them his letters of commendation to his father, desiring him to take them into his protection.

Polysperchon was in the country of Phocis, ready to enter with an army into Attica. Thither came Phocion with his companions, hoping well that the letters which they brought, and their own deserts, (having always been friends to the Macedonians as far as the good of their country gave leave,) should be enough to get patronage to their innocency. Besides all this, Dinarchus, a Corinthian, Polysperchon's familiar friend, went along with them, (in an evil hour,) who promised to himself and them great favour by means of his acquaintance. But Polysperchon was an unstable man, very earnest in what he took in hand, yet, either for want of judgment in following them, or of honesty in holding the best of them, easily changing his intended courses, and doing things by the halves, which made him commonly fail of good success. For fear of Cassander, he had offered wonderful kindness to the Athenians; this had caused them to love him: out of their love he gathered hope of deceiving them, which made him to change his mind, and seek how to get into his own hands those keys with which Cassander held them fast locked up: finding himself disappointed of this purpose, and suspected as a false dishonourable man, he stood wavering between the contrary allurements of profit and reputation. To keep the Athenians perforce at his devotion would indeed have done well; but the effecting of this began to grow desperate; and many towns of importance in Greece began to cast their

eyes upon his proceeding in that action. Wherefore he thought it the wisest way to redeem their good opinion, by giving all contentment unto the popular faction, which then was grown to be master of that city. And in good time for this purpose were the Athenian ambassadors come, treading (as one may say) upon Phocion's heels, whom they were sent to accuse. These had solemn audience given to them in the king's presence, who was attended by many great lords, and for ostentation's sake was glorified with all exterior shows of majesty, yet all too little to change Aridæus into Alexander; for he did nothing there but either laugh or chafe, as he saw others do. For beginning of the business, Polysperchon commanded that Dinarchus should be tortured and slain: this was enough to testify his hearty affection to the commonalty of Athens, in that he spared not his old acquaintance for their sake, whose ambassadors he then bade to speak. When their errand was done, and answer to it made by the accused, who had no indifferent hearing, Phocion and the rest were pronounced guilty of treason; but to give sentence, and do the execution upon them, was (for honour's sake) referred unto the city of Athens, because they were burgesses. Then were they sent away to Athens, where the rascal multitude, not suffering them to speak for themselves, condemned them to die: so they perished being innocent. But the death of Phocion, a man very conspicuous, made the fortune of the rest to be of the less regard. Five and forty times had he been chosen governor of the city, never suing for the place, but sent for when he was absent; so well was his integrity known, and so highly valued, even of such as were no pretenders to the same virtue. He was a good commander in war, wherein though his actions were not very great, yet were they of good importance, and never unfortunate. Never did the city repent of having followed his counsel, nor any private man of having trusted his word. Philip of Macedon highly esteemed him; so, and much more, did Alexander, who (besides other signs of his love) sent him two hundred talents of silver, and offered to bestow upon him of four cities

in Asia any one which he would choose. But Phocion refused these and other gifts, howsoever importunately thrust upon him, resting well contented with his honest poverty; wherein he lived above fourscore years, and then was compelled by the unjust judgment of wicked men to drink that poison, which, by just judgment of the righteous God, so infected the city of Athens, as from that day forwards it never brought forth any worthy man resembling the virtue of their ancients.

SECT. XVI.

Of Polysperchon, his vain expedition against Cassander.

NOT long after these things were done, Cassander, with such forces as Antigonus lent him, entered into Piræus; which news drew Polysperchon headlong into Attica with a great army, but so ill victualled that he was fain to depart without any thing done. Only he had given some impediment to the enemy; who, not contented with defending what he held, began to look out, and make new purchases abroad. Finding therefore himself unable to drive Cassander out of Athens, he left his son Alexander, with such number of men as exceeded not the proportion of victuals, to withstand his further encroaching. The greatest part of his army he carried into Peloponnesus, to make the country sure to himself, wherein Cassander had many friends.

His doings in Peloponnesus were such as they had been in other parts of Greece. First, he began to fight with edicts, restoring the democraty, or popular form of government. He commanded that the principal citizens, that had by Antipater been made rulers, should be either slain or driven into exile. This decree took immediate effect in most places; the vulgar sort being very ready to seal the charter of their freedom and authority with the blood of those who had kept them in subjection. Yet many cities there were which delighted in the rule of the chief citizens, and many which wished well to Cassander; especially they of Megalopolis, on whom Polysperchon meant to inflict an exemplary punishment of disobedience to him, which he termed

rebellion. Megalopolis had in it fifteen thousand serviceable men, well furnished of necessaries, and resolved to endure the worst. And need, there was of such resolution; for Polysperchon, coming thither with all his power, did so much, that he overthrew, by a mine, three of their bulwarks, and all the space of wall between them. But the defendants manfully repelled the Macedonians which came up to the breach; and at the same time with great labour they' raised up an inner wall, to bear out the next assault. The assailants, having failed to carry the town at the first attempt, took much pain to clear the ground, and make fair way for their elephants, whose violence was likely to overthrow all that came in their way. But the townsmen perceiving their drift prepared boards driven through with long nails, which they used as gall-throps, bestowing them slightly, covered with the points upwards, in the way by which the beasts were to pass. Neither did they set any to encounter them in front, but appointed certain light-armed men to beat upon their sides with arrows and darts, as they were instructed by some that had learned the manner of that fight in the Asian wars. Of these provisions they made happy use in the next assault; for by them were the elephants (wherein the enemy chiefly trusted) either sorely hurt, or driven back upon the Macedonians, whom they trampled under feet. Polysperchon came as ill furnished for long abode to Megalopolis, as before to Athens. Therefore, being neither able to despatch the business quickly, nor to take such leisure as was requisite, he forsook the siege, with some loss and much dishonour; leaving some part of his army to lie before the town for his credit.

After this, he sent Clitus, his admiral, to sea, to join with Aridæus that was come out of Phrygia, and to cut off all succour which might come to the enemy out of Asia. Cassander also sent his whole fleet under Nicanor, who, taking along with him some ships of Antigonus, came to the Propontis, where he fought with Clitus, and was beaten. But Antigonus, hearing of the overthrow, gathered together the ships that were escaped, and manning them very well, sent

out Nicanor again, assuring him of the victory, as well he might. For he sent out sufficient numbers of light-armed men, whom he caused to be wafted over the straits in small vessels by night; these before daylight setting upon Clitus, drave his men, that lay securely on the land, headlong into their ships; in which tumult Nicanor arriving, did assail them so lustily, that few or none escaped him.

This loss at sea, together with his bad success by land, brought Polysperchon into great contempt. He had a good facility in penning bloody decrees; but when the execution was referred to his own sword, he could find the matter more difficult. Wherefore the Athenians, perceiving that he had left them to shift for themselves, and was not able to give them protection against the enemy which lay in their bosoms, came to agreement with Cassander; accepting a governor of his appointment, and restoring all things to the same state wherein Antipater had left them. The like inclination to the party of Cassander was found in very many cities of Greece, which daily and willingly revolted unto him, as to an industrious man, and likely to prevail in the end. Thus was the whole country set in a combustion uneasy to be quenched; which presented unto Antigonus an opportunity, that he neglected not, of making himself lord of Asia.

SECT. XVII.

Antigonus seeks to make himself an absolute lord; and thereupon treats with Eumenes, who disappointeth him. Phrygia and Lydia won by Antigonus.

ANTIGONUS had, in Antipater's lifetime, a firm resolution to make unto himself the utmost benefit that he might of the army committed to his charge. And in fair season for advancement of his purposes came the news of Antipater's death; even then, when all the business in Pisidia was despatched, and no more employment for the army remaining, save only the continuance of the siege of Nora; a small thing of itself, but as hard as a greater matter; and requiring few men, but much time; when time of all things was most precious. Eumenes lay in that fort of Nora, able