Perdiccas in his pride did ill intreat
Python of haughty mind, and courage great.
Who could not brook fo great indignity,
But of his wrongs his friends doth certifie;
The fouldiers 'gainft Perdiccas they incenfe,
Who vow to make this captain recompence,
And in a rage they rush into his tent,
Knock out his brains: to Ptolemy then went
And offer him his honours, and his place,
With ftile of the Protector, him to grace."
Next day into the camp came Ptolemy,
And is receiv'd of all moft joyfully.
Their proffers he refus'd with modefty,
Yields them to Python for his courtefie.
With what he held he was now more content,
Then by more trouble to grow eminent.
Now comes there news of a great victory
That Eumenes got of the other three.
Had it but in Perdiccas life ariv'd,
With greater joy it would have been receiv'd.
Thus Ptolemy rich Egypt did retain,
And Python turn'd to Afia again.
Whilft Perdiccas encamp'd" in Affrica,
Antigonus did enter Afia,
d Instead of this and the six preceding lines, the first edition has,
Pithon, next Perdicas, a Captaine high,
Being entreated by him scornfully,
Some of the Souldiers enters Perdica's tent,
f Confers them Pithon on, for's courtefie; hthus ftaid.
And fain would Eumenes draw to their fide,
But he alone most faithfull did abide:
The other all had Kingdomes in their eye,
But he was true to's mafters family,
Nor could Craterus, whom he much did love.
From his fidelity once make him move:
Two Battles fought, and had of both the best,'
And brave Craterus flew among the reft:
For this fad ftrife he poures out his complaints, [166] And his beloved foe full fore laments.
I should but fnip a story into bits'
And his great Acts and glory much eclipse,
To fhew the dangers Eumenes befel,"
His ftratagems wherein he did excel:
His Policies, how he did extricate
Himfelf from out of Lab'rinths intricate: "
He that at large would fatiffie his mind,
In Plutarchs Lives his hiftory may find.
For all that should be faid, let this fuffice,
He was both valiant, faithfull, patient, wise.
Python now chofe Protector of the state,
His rule Queen Euridice begins to hate,
Sees Arrideus muft not King it long,
If once young Alexander grow more strong,
j Two battells now he fought, and had the best,
I verfe.
m And much eclipfe his glory to rehearse
The difficulties Eumenes befell,
n The next two lines are not in the first edition.
But that her husband ferve for fupplement,
To warm his feat, was never her intent.
She knew her birth-right gave her Macedon,
Grand-child to him who once fat on that throne.
Who was Perdiccas, Philips eldest ? brother,
She daughter to his fon, who had no other."
Pythons commands,' as oft fhe countermands;
What he appoints, fhe purposely withstands.
He wearied out at laft would needs be gone,
Refign'd his place, and fo let all alone:
In's room' the fouldiers chofe Antipater,
Who vext the Queen more then the other far."
From Macedon to Afia he came,
That he might fettle matters in the fame.
He plac'd, difplac'd, control'd rul'd as he lift,
And this no man durft queftion or refift;
For all the nobles of King" Alexander
Their bonnets vail'd to him as chief Commander.
When to his pleasure all things they had done,
The King and Queen he takes to Macedon,"
Two fons of Alexander, and the reft,
All to be order'd there as he thought beft.
The Army to Antigonus doth leave,
And Goverment of Afia to him gave.
And thus Antipater the ground-work layes,
On which Antigonus his height doth raise,
Who in few years, the rest so overtops,
For univerfal Monarchy he hopes.
With Eumenes he diverfe Battels fought,
And by his flights to circumvent him fought:
But vain it was to ufe his policy,
'Gainst him that all deceits could fean and try.
In this Epitome too long to tell
How finely* Eumenes did here excell,
And by the self fame Traps the other laid,
He to his coft was righteously repaid."
But while thefe Chieftains doe in Afia fight,
To Greece and Macedon lets turn our fight.
When great Antipater the world must leave,
His place to Polifperchon did bequeath,*
Fearing his fon Caffander was unstaid,
Too rafh to bear that charge, if on him laid.
w Acknowledged for chief, this old Commander:
After a while, to Macedon he makes;
The King, and Queen, along with him he takes.
The next two lines are not in the first edition.
2 Now great Antipater, the world doth leave
To Polifperchon, then his place he gave,
Antigonus hearing of his decease
On most part of Affyria doth feize.
And Ptolemy next to incroach begins,
All Syria and Phenicia he wins,
Then Polifperchon 'gins to act in's place,
Recalls Olimpias the Court to grace.
Antipater had banish'd her from thence
Into Epire for her great turbulence;
This new Protector's of another mind,
Thinks by her Majefty much help to find.
Caffander like his Father could not fee,
This Polifperchons great ability,
Slights his Commands, his actions he difclaims,
And to be chief' himself now bends his aims;
Such as his Father had advanc'd to place,
Or by his favours any way had grac‘d
Are now at the devotion of the Son,
Preft to accomplish what he would have done;
Befides he was the young Queens favourite,
On whom (t'was thought) fhe fet her chief delight:
Unto these helps at home he feeks out more,
Goes to Antigonus and doth implore,
By all the Bonds 'twixt him and's Father past,
And for that great gift which he gave him last.
By thefe and all to grant him some supply,
To take down Polifperchon grown so high;
For this Antigonus did need no fpurs,
Hoping to gain yet more by these new stirs,
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