Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/374

 342 HISTORY OF GREECP:. without him, the imperial family would have Jiad no sincere or commanding representative in Asia. Ilis gallant struggles, first in Kilikia and Phenicia, next (when driven from the coast), in Susiana, Persis, Media, and Para^takene — continued for two vears against the greatly preponderant forces of Ptolemy, Anti- gonus, and Seleukus, and against the never-ceasing treachery of liis own officers and troops ^ — do not belong to Grecian history. They are however among the most memorable exploits of an- tiquity. While even in a military point of view, they are hardly inferior to the combinations of Alexander himself — they evince, besides, a flexibility and aptitude such as Alexander neither pos- sessed nor required, for overcoming the thousand difficulties raised by traitors and mutineers around him. To the last, Eu- menes remained unsubdued ; he ~was betrayed to Antigonus by the base and venal treachery of his own soldiers, the Macedonian Argyraspides.^ For the interests of the imperial dynasty (the extinction of which we shall presently follow), it is perhaps to be regretted that they did not abandon Asia at once, at the death of Antipa* tcr, and concentrate their attention on Macedonia alone, sum- moning over Eumenes to aid them. To keep together in unity the vast aggregate of Asia was manifestly impracticable, even with his consummate ability. Indeed, we read that Olympias wished for his presence in Europe, not trusting any one but him as protector of the child Alexander.* In Macedonia, apart from Asia, Eumenes, if the violent temper of Olympias had permitted him, might have upheld the dynasty ; which, having at that time a decided interest in conciliating the Greeks, might probably • Diodor. xviii. 63-72 ; xix. 11, 17, 32, 44. 'Plutarcli (ICumcnes, 16-18), Cornelius Nepos (10-13), and Justin (xiv. 3, 4) describe in considerable detail the touching circumstances attendinj; the tradition and capture of Eumenes. On this point Diodorus is more brief; but he recounts at much length the preceding military operations between Eumenes and Antigonus (xix. 17, 32, 44). The original source of these particulars must probably be, the history of Hieronymus of Kardia, himself present, and copied, more or less accu- rately, by others. ' Plutarch, Eumenes, 13 ; Diodor. xviii. 58.