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o the river。 This excited very bitter resentment among the Macedonians； who felt themselves to be not governed； but insulted。 They called to mind what some of them had seen； and others had heard related of King Philip's unambitious and open； accessible manners。 One day when an old woman had assailed him several times in the road； and importuned him to hear her after he had told her he had no time； 〃If so；〃 cried she； 〃you have no time to be a king。〃 And this reprimand so stung the king that； after thinking of it a while； he went back into the house； and setting all other matters apart； for several days together he did nothing else but receive； beginning with the old woman； the complaints of all that would come。 And to do justice； truly enough； might well be called a king's first business。 〃Mars；〃 as says Timotheus； 〃is the tyrant； but Law； in Pindar's words； the king of all。 Homer does not say that kings received at the hands of Jove besieging engines or ships of war； but sentences of justice； to keep and observe； nor is it the most warlike； unjust； and murderous； but the most righteous of kings； that has from him the name of Jupiter's 〃familiar friend〃 and scholar。 Demetrius's delight was the title most unlike the choice of the king of gods。 The divine names were those of the Defender and Keeper； his was that of the Besieger of Cities。 The place of virtue was given by him to that which； had he not been as ignorant as he was powerful； he would have known to be vice； and honour by his act was associated with crime。 While he lay dangerously ill at Pella； Pyrrhus pretty nearly overran all Macedon； and advanced as far as the city of Edessa。 On recovering his health； he quickly drove him out； and came to terms with him； being desirous not to employ his time in a string of petty local conflicts with a neighbour； when all his thoughts were fixed upon another design。 This was no less than to endeavour the recovery of the whole empire which his father had possessed； and his preparations were suitable to his hopes and the greatness of the enterprise。 He had arranged for the levying of ninety…eight thousand foot and nearly twelve thousand horse； and he had a fleet of five hundred galleys on the stocks； some building at Athens； others at Corinth and Chalcis； and in the neighbourhood of Pella。 And he himself was passing evermore from one to another of these places； to give his directions and his assistance to the plans； while all that saw were amazed； not so much at the number； as at the magnitude of the works。 Hitherto； there had never been seen a galley with fifteen or sixteen ranges of oars。 At a later time； Ptolemy Philopator built one of forty rows； which was two hundred and eighty cubits in length and the height of her to the top of her stern； forty…eight cubits； she had four hundred sailors and four thousand rowers； and afforded room besides for very near three thousand soldiers to fight on her decks。 But this； after all； was for show； and not for service； scarcely differing from a fixed edifice ashore； and was not to be moved without extreme toil and peril； whereas these galleys of Demetrius were meant quite as much for fighting as for looking at； were not the less serviceable for their magnificence； and were as wonderful for their speed and general performance as for their size。 These mighty preparations against Asia； the like of which had not been made since Alexander first invaded it； united Seleucus； Ptolemy； and Lysimachus in a confederacy for their defence。 They also despatched ambassadors to Pyrrhus； to persuade him to make a diversion by attacking Macedonia； he need not think there was any validity in a treaty which Demetrius had concluded； not as an engagement to be at peace with him； but as a means of enabling himself to make war first upon the enemy of his choice。 So when Pyrrhus accepted their proposals； Demetrius； still in the midst of his preparations； was encompassed with war on all sides。 Ptolemy； with a mighty navy； invaded Greece； Lysimachus entered Macedonia upon the side of Thrace； and Pyrrhus； from the Epirot border； both of them spoiling and wasting the country。 Demetrius； leaving his son to look after Greece； marched to the relief of Macedon； and first of all to oppose Lysimachus。 On his way； he received the news that Pyrrhus had taken the city Beroea； and the report quickly getting out among the soldiers； all discipline at once was lost； and the camp was filled with lamentations and tears； anger and execrations on Demetrius； they would stay no longer； they would march off； as they said； to take care of their country； friends； and families； but in reality the intention was to revolt to Lysimachus。 Demetrius； therefore； thought it his business to keep them as far away as he could from Lysimachus； who was their own countryman； and for Alexander's sake kindly looked upon by many； they would be ready to fight with Pyrrhus； a new comer and a foreigner； whom they could hardly prefer to himself。 But he found himself under a great mistake in these conjectures。 For when he advanced and pitched his camp near； the old admiration for Pyrrhus's gallantry in arms revived again； and as they had been used from time immemorial to suppose that the best king was he that was the bravest soldier； so now they were also told of his generous usage of his prisoners； and； in short； they were eager to have any one in the place of Demetrius； and well pleased that the man should be Pyrrhus。 At first； some straggling parties only deserted； but in a little time the whole army broke out into a universal mutiny； insomuch that at last some of them went up and told him openly that if he consulted his own safety he were best to make haste to be gone； for that the Macedonians were resolved no longer to hazard their lives for the satisfaction of his luxury and pleasure。 And this was thought fair and moderate language； compared with the fierceness of the rest。 So； withdrawing into his tent； and； like an actor rather than a real king； laying aside his stage…robes of royalty； he put on some common clothes and stole away。 He was no sooner gone but the mutinous army were fighting and quarrelling for the plunder of his tent； but Pyrrhus； coming immediately； took possession of the camp without a blow； after which he； with Lysimachus； parted the realm of Macedon betwixt them； after Demetrius had securely held it just seven years。 As for Demetrius； being thus suddenly despoiled of everything； he retired to Cassandrea。 His wife Phila； in the passion of her grief； could not endure to see her hapless husband reduced to the condition of a private and banished man。 She refused to entertain any further hope； and resolving to quit a fortune which was never permanent except for calamity； took poison and died。 Demetrius； determining still to hold on by the wreck； went off to Greece； and collected his friends and officers there。 Menelaus； in the play of Sophocles； to give an image of his vicissitudes of estate； says…
〃For me； my destiny； alas； is found Whirling upon the gods' swift wheel around； And changing still； and as the moon's fair frame Cannot continue for two nights the same； But out of shadow first a crescent shows； Thence into beauty and perfection grows； And when the form of plenitude it wears； Dwindles again； and wholly disappears。〃
The simile is yet truer of Demetrius and the phases of his fortunes； now on the increase； presently on the wane； now filling up and now falling away。 And so； at this time of apparent entire obscuration and extinction； his light again shone out； and accessions of strength； little by little； came in to fulfil once more the measure of his hope。 At first he showed himself in the garb of a private man； and went about the cities without any of the badges of a king。 One who saw him at Thebes applied to him； not inaptly； the lines of Euripides…
〃Humbled to man； laid by the godhead's pride； He comes to Dirce and Ismenus's side。〃
But ere long his expectations had re…entered the royal track； and he began once more to have about him the body and form of empire。 The Thebans received back； as his gift； their ancient constitution。 The Athenians had deserted him。 They displaced Diphilus； who was that year the priest of the two Tutelar Deities； and restored the archons； as of old； to mark the year； and on hearing that Demetrius was not so weak as they had expected； they sent into Macedonia to beg the protection of Pyrrhus。 Demetrius； in anger； marched to Athens； and laid close siege to the city。 In this distress； they sent out to him Crates the philosopher； a person of authority and reputation； who succeeded so far； that what with his entreaties and the solid reasons which he offered； Demetrius was persuaded to raise the siege； and； collecting all his ships； he embarked a force of eleven thousand men with cavalry； and sailed away to Asia； to Caria and Lydia； to take those provinces from Lysimachus。 Arriving at Miletus； he was met there by Eurydice； the sister of Phila； who brought along with her Ptolemais； one of her daughters by King Ptolemy； who had before been affianced to Demetrius； and with whom he now consummated his marriage。 Immedi