Page 622 the Priviledge of burying the Dead, he rais'd a Doubt who was Victorious, saying, That he who had Power to bury his Dead, was ever to be esteem'd Conqueror of the Field.
In this Battel, there were kill'd on Antigonus his side Three thousand and Seven hundred Foot, and Fifty four Horse, and above Four thousand wounded. On Eumenes his Party were slain Five hundred and Forty Foot, but very few Horse, and above Nine hundred hurt.
Antigonus, after the Battel was over, perceiving that the Spirits of his Soldiers were very low, resolv'd with all the hast he could, to remove far off from the Enemies Camp, and that his Forces might march the more readily, he sent away the wounded Men and heavy Baggage to a Town near at hand. Then having bury'd the Dead, about Break of Day, (detaining with him the Herald that was sent to him by the Enemy to beg the Bodies of the Dead,) even at that very Hour he commanded his Soldiers to dine. At Night he discharg'd the Herald, and gave Leave to come and bury the Dead the next day. He himself presently at the first Watch of the night mov'd with his whole Army, and by continu'd and long Marches, got a long way off from the Enemy to a Country untouch'd, where he had plenty of Provision for the refreshing of his Army: For he march'd as far as to Gamarga in Media, a Country under the Command of Pitho, abounding in all Things for the maintaining of the greatest Armies. Eumenes having Intelligence by his Scouts that Antigonus was gone, would not follow after him, both because his Army was in want of Provision, and in other ill Circumstances, as likewise for that he had a great desire to inter his Dead in the most solemn manner he possibly could.
Upon which occasion, here sell out a strange Accident at this time, very unusual and dissonant from the Laws of the Grecians: For there was one Ceteus, who commanded them that came out of India, and fought with great Resolution, but di'd in this Battel: He left two Wives behind him, who follow'd him all along during the Campagne: One he had but lately marry'd, the other had been his Wife for some years before; and both lov'd their Husband exceedingly. It had been an ancient Custom in India, for Men and Women to marry themselves with their own mutual Liking, without consulting the Advice of their Parents. And in regard that in those former times young People would rashly marry one another, and often repent afterwards, as being deceiv'd in their Choice; many Wives were corrupted, and through their inordinate Lusts fell in Love with other Men; and because they could not with their Credit and Reputation leave them they first chose, they would often poison their Husbands; to the more ready effecting of which, the Country did not a little contribute, by bearing many and divers sorts of Poisonous Plants, some of which never so little bruis'd either in Meat or Drink, do certainly kill the Party. This wicked Art growing still more and more to Perfection, and many being destroy'd by this Means, and though several were punish'd for these Pieces of Villany, yet other would not be reclaim'd, nor restrain'd from the like Practices; another Law therefore was made, That Wives should be burnt together with their dead Husbands, except they were with Child, or had born Children; and that she who would not observe the Common Law of the Land, should remain a Widow, and, as one convicted of that Impiety, should be excluded from all sacred Rites, and all other Benefit and Privilege of the Laws. This being thus establish'd, hence-forward this Wickedness of the Wives was chang'd into a contrary Practice. For being that every Wife, to avoid that insufferable Disgrace, was voluntarily to Die, they became not only careful to preserve the Health, and provide for the Well-being of their Husbands, as that which was likewise their own Preservation; but the Wives strove one with another, as who should gain the highest pitch of Honour and Reputation. An Example of which sell out at this time. For although by the Law one only was to be burnt with the Husband, yet at the Funeral of Cetius, both strove which should die, as for some Honourable Reward of their Virtue: Whereupon the Matter was brought before the Generals for their Decision. The Younger declar'd, That the other was with Child, and therefore her Death could not satisfy the Law: The Elder pleaded, That it was a greater Piece of Justice, that she who was before the other in Years, should be preferr'd before her in Honour: For in all other Cases, the constant Rule is to yield more Honour and Respect to the Elder, than to the Younger. The Captains being inform'd by the Midwives, that the Elder was with Child, preferr'd the Younger before the other: Upon which, she lost her Cause, went out weeping and wailing, renting her Vail in pieces, and tearing her Hair, as if some sad and dreadful News had been told her: The other rejoicing in the Victory, made forthwith to the Funeral Pile crown'd by the Women of her House with Attires call'd Mitres, and by her Kindred brought forth
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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.