Page 618 That in the midst of all was two Furlongs, wherein the Generals, Masters of the Horse, and the Nobility of Persia, had their several Tents allotted them, and in the midst of them were plac'd the Altars of the Gods, and of Alexander and Philip.
The Tents were made of green Booths of Trees, cover'd with Arras, and all sorts of Tapestry Hangings; Persia plentifully affording every thing for Pleasure and Delight.
The Rounds were at that convenient distance one from another, as that the Guests found nothing of trouble or uneasiness, but every thing that was prepar'd was near at hand. All being thus gracefully manag'd, with the general applause of the common Soldiers, thereby expressing how great Peucestes was in their Favour and Esteem, he was suspected by Eumenes, conceiving that Peucestes did this to ingratiate himself with the Army, and thereby to gain the Sovereign Command; he therefore forg'd a Letter, by which he rais'd up the Spirits of the Soldiers, and made them more Courageous, and brought down the haughty Spirit and Pride of Peucestes; but advanc'd his own Reputation with the Army, with the hopes of good Success for the future. The Contents of the Letter were these: That Olympias with Alexander's Son (having kill'd Cassander) had fully recover'd the Kingdom of Macedon, and that Polysperchon with the main Power of the King's Army and his Elephants, had put over into Asia against Antigonus, and was then in Capadocia. This Letter was writ in Syriack Characters, in the Name of Orontes, Governor of Armenia, an intimate Friend of Peucestes. These Letters going for current, because of the continual Correspondence between him and the Lord-Lieutenants; Eumenes order'd them to be carry'd about, and shew'd to the Captains and most of the Soldiers. Hereupon, the whole Army chang'd their Mind, and all Eyes were upon Eumenes as the chief Favourite, and therefore resolv'd to depend upon him, as he whose Interest in the Kings would be able to advance whom he pleas'd, and to punish whom he thought fit.
When the Feasting was ended, Eumenes the more to terrify them that were regardless of his Orders, and that affected the Sovereign Command, call'd in Question in due form of Law, Sibertius the Governor of Aracosia, Peucestes his special Friend. For Peucestes sending away some Horse into Aracosia, had secretly commanded Sibertius to intercept the Carriages coming from thence. Whereupon, Eumenes brought him into that eminent Danger, that unless he had privately withdrawn himself he had been knock'd on the Head by the Soldiers. By this piece of Policy, having terrify'd others, and advanc'd his own Honour and Reputation, he put on a new Face again; and so gain'd upon Peucestes with smooth Words and large Promises, that he became both kind and courteous to him, and chearful and ready to afford Aid and Assistance to the Kings. Desiring likewise to be assur'd of the rest of the Governors and Captains by some Pledges, which might engage them not to forsake him, he pretended to want Money, and desir'd them to contribute every one according to his Ability to the Kings.
Hereupon, receiving Four hundred Talents from among so many of the Captains and Generals as he thought fit, those whom he before suspected of Treachery or Desertion, became most Faithful Attendants and Guards to his Person, and stuck close to him in all Encounters.
While he thus prudently manag'd Affairs, and was providing for the Future, News was brought by some who came out of Media, that Antigonus was marching with his Army into Persia: Whereupon he mov'd forward, with a design to meet and engage the Enemy.
The second Day of their march he sacrific'd to the Gods, and plentifully feasted the Army, wishing them to continue Firm and Faithful to him: But minding to comply with the humour of his Guests, who lov'd to drink freely, he fell into a Distemper, which caus'd him to lye by it, and so hinder'd his March for some Days.
In the mean time the Army was greatly dejected, to consider, that the most Expert and Bravest Commander of all the Generals, should be now Sick at the very time (as they thought) they were even ready to fight the Enemy.
But his Distemper abating, and after a little time having recover'd himself, he pursu'd his March, Peucestes and Antigenes leading the Van; and he himself in a Litter follow'd after with the Elephants, to prevent disturbance by the Croud, and the Inconveniency by the straightness of the Places they were to pass.
And now the two Armies were within a days march one of another, when the Scouts on both sides brought an account of their approach, and what numbers they were, and ways they took. Whereupon, each Party prepar'd for Battel: But at length they parted without fighting; for there was a River and a deep Trench between the two Armies. Both indeed were drawn forth in Battalia, but by reason of the Badness of the Ground they could not come to fight: Wherefore, drawing off one from another three Furlongs space, they
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Bible Study The King James Bible (kjv), World English Bible (web) and Bible in Basic English (bbe) are all examples of public domain books. The King James Bible (kjv) online uses the content from these books and open source software to enhance Bible study capabilities. The site includes the verse of the day, search tools, christian literature and links to related content. It demonstrates the use of open source to create a valuable service.