Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/93

 HISTORY OF ARMENIA. Page 48

he was engaged, he sent an order to Eumenes, whom he had appointed governor of Cappadocia, to take immediate steps for the reduction of the insurgents.

Eumenes marched with a great force into Armenia; and after some operations found that nothing was to be effected by coercion; he therefore determined to try mild measures, and with that view sent a conciliatory message to Ardward.

"Let not Armenia," said he, "consider it disgraceful to be under the powerful controul of Macedonia; and do thou, who hast gotten possession of the country, receive again Neoptolemus as governor of it under thy countenance and support; consent, therefore, to pay the Macedonians the yearly tribute through him!" Ardward, the successful chief, accepted these terms, yet doubted the good faith of Eumenes. His reply to the latter was couched in this language. "May the sway of heroes be unmolested! There is no reason why Neoptolemus, the agent of the Macedonian power, should not be the ruler of our land. We also know well how to appreciate the merits of our fellow men; yet let him beware of acting as heretofore."

Neoptolemus hereupon returned to Armenia, and was honourably received by Ardward, who became his prime minister. But as we have already observed, the former was an arrogant