Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/158

 150 DEMETRIUS. enemies had occupied them, he gave up all thought of that road, and retreated to his old station in the wood, but not with all his men ; for some had deserted, nor were those that remained as willing as they had been. One of them, in fine, ventured to speak out, and say that Demetrius had better give himself up to Seleucus ; which Demetrius overhearing, drew out his sword, and would have passed it through his body, but that some of his friends interposed and prevented the attempt, persuading him to do as had been said. So at last he gave way, and sent to Seleucus, to surrender himself at discretion. Seleucus, when he was told of it, said it was not Deme- trius's good fortune that had found out this means for his safety, but his own, which had added to his other honors the opportunity of showing his clemency and generosity. And forthwith he gave order to his domestic officers to prepare a royal pavilion, and all things suitable to give him a splendid reception and entertainment. There was in the attendance- of Seleucus one Apollonides, who for- merly had been intimate with Demetrius. He was, there- fore, as the fittest person, despatched from the king to meet Demetrius, that he might feel himself more at his ease, and might come "with the confidence of being re- ceived as a friend and relative. No sooner was this mes- sage known, but the courtiers and officers, some few at first, and afterwards almost the whole of them, thinking Demetrius would presently become of great power with the king, hurried oft^ vying who should bo foremost to pay him their respects. The effect of which was that compassion was converted into jealousy, and ill-natured, malicious people could the more easily insinuate to Seleu- cus that he was giving way to an unwise humanity, the very first sight of Demetrius having been the occasion of a dangerous excitement in the army. So, whilst Apollo- nides, in great delight, and after him many others, were