Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/135

 DEMETRIUS. 127 ward honor would seem to be the most uncertain attesta- tion of the real aflfection of a people for any king or potentate. Such shows lose their whole credit as tokens of affection (which has its virtue in the feelings and moral choice), when we reflect that they may equally proceed from fear. The same decrees are voted upon the latter motive as upon the former. And therefore judicious men do not look so much to statues, paintings, or divme honors that are paid them, as to their own actions and conduct, judging hence whether they shall trust these as a genuine, or discredit them as a forced homage. As in fact nothing is less unusual than for a people, even while offering compliments, to be disgusted with those who accept them greedily, or arrogantly, or without respect to the freewill of the givers. Demetrius, shamefully used as he thought himself, was in no condition to revenge the affront. He returned a me&sage of gentle expostulation, saying, however, that he expected to have his galleys sent to him, among which' was that of thirteen banks of oars. And this being accorded him, he sailed to the Isthmus, and, finding his afiau-s in very ill condition, his garrisons expelled, and a general secession going on to the enemy, he left Pyrrhus to attend to Greece, and took his course to the Chei'sonesus, where he ravaged the territories of Lysimachus, and, by the booty which he took, maintained and kept together his troops, which were now once more beginning to recover and to show some coTisiderable front. Nor did any of the other princes care to meddle with him on that side ; for Lysi- machus had quite as little claim to be loved, and was more to be feared for his power. But, not long after, Seleucus sent to treat with Demetrius for a marriage be- twixt himself and Stratonice, daughter of Demetrius by Phila. Seleucus, indeed, had already, by Apama the Per- sian, a son named Antiochus, but he was possessed of ter-