Page 626 Macedonian Phalanx was drawn up, he cry'd out with a loud Voice thus, Oh ye Villains! Ye fight against your Fathers, who ventur'd their Lives, and perform'd all those Noble Acts with Philip and Alexander, whom you shall shortly experience to be Men worthy those Kings and those former Conquests! The Youngest of the Argyraspiaes at that time were at least Threescore years of Age; but most of the rest were Seventy, and some older; all of them for Strength and Skill in their Weapons unconquerable: For continual Practice of their Arms had made them Expert and Daring.
Proclamation being made, as we have before said, there were many harsh Words and discontented Speeches cast out in Amigonus his Army. That they should be forc'd to fight against their own Countrymen, and with those that were so much older than themselves. In Eumenes his Army on the other hand, they were continually crying out while the Army was drawing up, to be led out against the Enemy: Eumenes seeing the Alacrity of the Soldiers, lift up the Ensign of Battel, upon which forthwith the Trumpets sounded a Charge, and the whole Army set up a shout for the Onset. The Elephants in the first place fought one with another; then the Horse Charg'd on both sides. The Field was very Large, Sandy, and Waste, so that so much Dust was rais'd by the Trampling of the Horses, as that a Man could not see what was done, though but at a small distance from him: Which Antigonus observing, sent forthwith away some Median Horse, and a Body of Tarentines, to set upon the Baggage of the Enemy.
For he hop'd by reason of the Dust that was rais'd (as the thing in truth prov'd) that they would not be discern'd, and that if he got possession of the Carriages, he should easily bring the whole Army into his power. Hereupon, those that were sent forth secretly slipping by the Enemies Wing, set upon the Pages, Scullion Boys, and others that were with the Baggage, and about five Furlongs distant from the Place of Battel.
There they found a Multitude of Useless and Unserviceable Rabble, and a very small Guard in the Place, so that they were presently put to flight, and the rest all fell into the Enemies hands. In the mean time, Antigonus charging the Enemy with a strong Body of Horse, so terrify'd Peucestes, Governor of Persia, that he with his Horse got out of the Dust, and drew Fifteen hundred more after him. But Eumenes, though he was left but with a very few in the out Skirts of the Wing where he was, yet counted it base to flag or fly; judging it more honourable to be Faithful to his word, in the Quarrel of the Kings, and to die in an honest and just Cause with Resolution, made a fierce Charge upon Antigonus; so that now there was a sharp Dispute between the Horse; where the Eumeneans excell'd the other in Heat and Resolution, but the Antigontans them in Num. and Multitude; and many fell on both sides. At which time, the Elephants fighting one with another, the Leader on Eumenes his side, engaging with one of the Stoutest of the other, was there slain. Hereupon, Eumenes perceiving his Horse to be worsted on every hand, withdrew with the rest of the Horse out of the Fight, and pass'd over to the other Wing, and join'd himself to those with Philip, whom he had order'd to make a leisurely Retreat. And thus ended the Engagement between the Horse.
But as to the Foot, the Argyraspides (or Silver Shields) in a full Body flew with that Violence upon the Enemy, that some they kill'd upon the spot, and they rest they put to flight: For they were not to be withstood; who though they engag'd with the Enemy's main Battel, yet they signaliz'd both their Valour and Dexterity to that degree, that they kill'd above Five thousand without the loss of one Man, and put the whole Foot to flight, though they were far more in number than themselves.
When Eumenes understood, that all the Carriages were taken; and that Peucestes was not far off with the Horse, he endeavour'd to get all to rally in a Body together again, and to try their Fortune in a second Engagement with Antigonus: For he concluded, if he prevail'd he should not only recover his own Carriages, but likewise possess himself of the Enemy's: But Peucestes would not hear of fighting any more, but got further off, so that Eumenes was forc'd to yield the Day.
Then Antigonus dividing his Horse into two Bodies, he himself with one sought how to intrap Eumenes, observing which way he made; the other he delivered to Pitho, with Orders to fall upon the Argyraspides, who then were forsaken by their Horse; who forthwith setting upon them, as he was commanded, the Macedonians drew up in form of a Square, and got safe to the River, exclaiming against Peucestes, as the Cause of the routing of the Horse.
When Eumenes came up to them in the Evening, they consulted together what was then fittest to be done. The Governors of the Provinces were for returning with all speed into the Higher Provinces; but Eumenes was for staying where they were and fighting, and in regard the Enemies main Battel was broken and cut off, and that they were
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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.