Plutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans
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 spoil 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 honors, to anyone 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 honors which the
kings used to confer upon their favorites. He now had leave to
bestow purple hats and cloaks, which among the Macedonians is one
of the greatest honors the king can give.
Good fortune will elevate even petty minds, and gives 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 neighboring 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 neighboring
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 his men to arm, and bridle
their horses, as designing immediately to give battle; but the
scouts returning with news that Menander had secured so difficult
a post it was impossible to take him, Eumenes, pretending to be
grieved with the disappointment, drew off his men another way.
It is said that when Menander reported this afterwards to
Antigonus, and the Macedonians commended Eumenes, imputing it to
his singular good-nature, that having it in his power to make
slaves of their children, and outrage their wives, he forbore and
spared them all, Antigonus replied, "Alas, good friends, he had
no regard to us, but to himself, being loath to wear so many
shackles when he designed to fly."
From this time Eumenes, daily flying and wandering about,
persuaded many of his men to disband, whether out of kindness to
them, or unwillingness to lead about such a body of men as were
too few to engage, and too many to fly undiscovered. Taking
refuge at Nora, a place on the confines of Lycaonia and
Cappadocia, with five hundred horse, and two hundred heavy-armed
foot, he again dismissed as many of his friends as desired it,
through fear of the probable hardships to be encountered there,
and embracing them with all demonstrations of kindness, gave them
license to depart. Antigonus, when he came before this fort,
desired to have an interview with Eumenes before the siege; but
he returned answer, that Antigonus had many friends who might
command in his room; but they whom Eumenes defended, had no body
to substitute if he should miscarry; therefore, if Antigonus
thought it worth while to treat with him, he should first send
him hostages. And when Antigonus required that Eumenes should
first address himself to him as his superior, he replied, "While
I am able to wield a sword, I shall think no man greater than
myself." At last, when according to Eumenes's demand, Antigonus
sent his own nephew Ptolemy to the fort, Eumenes went out to him,
and they mutually embraced with great tenderness and friendship,
as having formerly been very intimate. After long conversation,
Eumenes making no mention of his own pardon and security, but
requiring that he should be confirmed in his several governments,
and restitution be made him of the rewards of his service, all
that were present were astonished at his courage and gallantry.
And many of the Macedonians flocked to see what sort of person
Eumenes was, for since the death of Craterus, no man had been so
much talked of in the army. But Antigonus, being afraid lest he
might suffer some violence, first commanded the soldiers to keep
off, calling out and throwing stones at those who pressed
forwards. At last, taking Eumenes in his arms, and keeping off
the crowd with his guards, not without great difficulty, he
returned him safe into the fort.
Then Antigonus, having built a wall round Nora, left a force
sufficient to carry on the siege, and drew off the rest of his
army; and Eumenes was beleaguered and kept garrison, having
plenty of corn and water and salt but no other thing, either for
food, or delicacy; yet with such as he had, he kept a cheerful
table for his friends, inviting them severally in their turns,
and seasoning his entertainment with a gentle and affable
behavior. For he had a pleasant countenance, and looked not like
an old and practiced soldier, but was smooth and florid, and his
shape as delicate as if his limbs had been carved by art in the
most accurate proportions. He was not a great orator, but
winning and persuasive, as may be seen in his letters. The
greatest distress of the besieged was the narrowness of the place
they were in, their quarters being very confined, and the whole
place but two furlongs in compass; so that both they and their
horses fed without exercise. Accordingly, not only to prevent
the listlessness of such inactive living, but to have them in
condition to fly if occasion required, he assigned a room one and
twenty feet long, the largest in all the fort, for the men to
walk in, directing them to begin their walk gently, and so
gradually mend their pace. And for the horses, he tied them to
the roof with great halters, fastening which about their necks,
with a pulley he gently raised them, till standing upon the
ground with their hinder feet, they just touched it with the very
ends of their fore feet. In this posture the grooms plied them
with whips and shouts, provoking them to curvet and kick out with
their hind legs, struggling and stamping at the same time to find
support for their fore feet, and thus their whole body was
exercised, till they were all in a foam and sweat; excellent
exercise, whether for strength or speed; and then he gave them
their corn already coarsely ground, that they might sooner
dispatch, and better digest it.
The siege continuing long, Antigonus received advice that
Antipater was dead in Macedon, and that affairs were embroiled by
the differences of Cassander and Polysperchon, upon which he
conceived no mean hopes, purposing to make himself master of all,
and, in order to his design, thought to bring over Eumenes, that
he might have his advice and assistance. He, therefore, sent
Hieronymus to treat with him, proposing a certain oath, which
Eumenes first corrected, and then referred himself to the
Macedonians themselves that besieged him, to be judged by them,
which of the two forms were the most equitable. Antigonus in the
beginning of his had slightly mentioned the kings as by way of
ceremony, while all the sequel referred to himself alone; but
Eumenes changed the form of it to Olympias and the kings, and
proceeded to swear not to be true to Antigonus only, but to them,
and to have the same friends and enemies, not with Antigonus, but
with Olympias and the kings. This form the Macedonians thinking
the more reasonable, swore Eumenes according to it, and raised
the siege, sending also to Antigonus, that he should swear in the
same form to Eumenes. Meantime, all the hostages of the
Cappadocians whom Eumenes had in Nora he returned, obtaining from
their friends war horses, beasts of carriage, and tents in
exchange. And collecting again all the soldiers who had
dispersed at the time of his flight, and were now wandering about
the country, he got together a body of near a thousand horse, and
with them fled from Antigonus, whom he justly feared. For he had
sent orders not only to have him blocked up and besieged again,
but had given a very sharp answer to the Macedonians, for
admitting Eumenes's amendment of the oath.
While Eumenes was flying, he received letters from those in
Macedonia, who were jealous of Antigonus's greatness, from
Olympias, inviting him thither, to take the charge and protection
of Alexander's infant son, whose person was in danger, and other
letters from Polysperchon, and Philip the king, requiring him to
make war upon Antigonus, as general of the forces in Cappadocia,
and empowering him out of the treasure at Quinda to take five
hundred talents, compensation for his own losses, and to levy as
much as he thought necessary to carry on the war. They wrote also
to the same effect to Antigenes and Teutamus, the chief officers
of the Argyraspids; who, on receiving these letters, treated
Eumenes with a show of respect and kindness; but it was apparent
enough they were full of envy and emulation, disdaining to give
place to him. Their envy Eumenes moderated, by refusing to
accept the money, as if he had not needed it; and their ambition
and emulation, who were neither able to govern, nor willing to
obey, he conquered by help of superstition. For he told them
that Alexander had appeared to him in a dream, and showed him a
regal pavilion richly furnished, with a throne in it; and told
him if they would sit in council there, he himself would be
present and prosper all the consultations and actions upon
which they should enter in his name. Antigenes and Teutamus were
easily prevailed upon to believe this, being as little willing to