Greece -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Rome -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
L. Seleukus, when he heard what had happened, said that it was his own
good fortune, not that of Demetrius, which had saved Demetrius's life,
and had given himself an opportunity of displaying his clemency and
goodness as well as his other virtues. He at once sent for his servants
and bade them construct a royal tent, and make every preparation for the
reception of Demetrius in a magnificent fashion. There was one
Apollonides at the court of Seleukus, who had been an intimate friend of
Demetrius, and Seleukus at once sent him to Demetrius, to bid him be of
good cheer, and not fear to meet his friend and relative Seleukus. When
the King's pleasure became known, a few at first, but afterwards the
greater part of his followers, eagerly flocked to pay their court to
Demetrius, who they imagined would become the second man in the kingdom.
This ill-judged zeal of theirs turned the compassion of Seleukus into
jealousy, and enabled mischief-makers to defeat his kindly intentions by
warning him that as soon as Demetrius was seen in his camp all his
troops would rise in mutiny against him. Apollonides had just reached
Demetrius in high spirits, and others were arriving with wonderful
stories about the goodness of Seleukus. Demetrius himself was just
recovering his spirits after his disaster, was beginning to think that
he had been wrong in his reluctance to surrender himself, and was full
of hope for the future, when Pausanias appeared with about a thousand
horse and foot-soldiers. He suddenly surrounded Demetrius with these
troops, separated him from his friends, and, instead of bringing him
into the presence of Seleukus, conducted him to the Syrian Chersonese,
where, though strongly guarded, he was supplied by Seleukus with
suitable lodging and entertainment, and allowed to take the air and hunt
in the royal park which adjoined his dwelling. He was permitted to
associate with any of the companions of his exile whom he wished to see,
and many polite messages were sent to him from Seleukus to the effect
that as soon as Antiochus and Stratonike arrived, they would come to
some amicable arrangement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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