Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/146

 138 DEMETRIUS. But, understanding that Pyrrhus had made an incur- bIou into Thessaly, and that he was advanced as far us Thermopj'lae, leaving Autigonus to continue the siege, he marched with the rest of his army to oppose this enemy. Pyi-rhus, however, made a quick retreat. So, leaving ten thousand foot and a thousand horse for the protection of Thessaly, he returned to the siege of Thebes, and there brought up his famous City-taker to the attack, which, however, was so laboriously and so slowly moved on ac- count of its bulk and heaviness, that in two months it did not advance two furlongs. In the mean time the citizens made a stout defence, and Demetrius, out of heat and contentiousness very often, more than upon any neces- sity, sent his soldiers into danger ; until at last Antigonus, observing how many men were losing their lives, said to him, " Why, my father, do we go on letting the men be wasted in this way, without any need of it?" But De- metrius, in a great passion, interrupted him : " And you, good sir, why do you afflict youi'self for the matter ? will dead men come to you for rations?" But that the sol- diers might see he valued his own life at no dearer rate than theirs, he exposed himself freely, and was wounded with a javelin through his neck, which put him into great hazard of his life. But, notwithstanding, he continued the siege, and in conclusion took the town again. And after his entrance, when the citizens were in fear and trembling, and expected all the severities which an in- censed conquei'or could inflict, he only put to death thir- teen, and banished some few others, pardoning all the rest. Thus the city of Thebes, which had not yet been ten years restored, in that short space was twice besieged and taken. Shortly after, the festival of the Pythian Apollo was to be celebrated, and the ^Etolians having blocked up all the passages to Delphi, Demetrius held the games and cele-