eumenes-第1章
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EUMENES
Reigned 197…160？ B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
DURIS reports that Eumenes； the Cardian； was the son of a poor
wagoner in the Thracian Chersonesus； yet liberally educated； both as a
scholar and a soldier； and that while he was but young； Philip；
passing through Cardia； diverted himself with a sight of the wrestling
matches and other exercises of the youth of that place； among whom
Eumenes performing with success； and showing signs of intelligence and
bravery； Philip was so pleased with him as to take him into his
service。 But they seem to speak more probably who tell us that
Philip advanced Eumenes for the friendship he bore to his father；
whose guest he had sometime been。 After the death of Philip； he
continued in the service of Alexander； with the title of his principal
secretary； but in as great favour as the most intimate of his
familiars； being esteemed as wise and faithful as any person about
him； so that he went with troops under his immediate command as
general in the expedition against India； and succeeded to the post
of Perdiccas； when Perdiccas was advanced to that of Hephaestion； then
newly deceased。 And therefore； after the death of Alexander； when
Neoptolemus； who had been captain of his life…guard； said that he
had followed Alexander with shield and spear； but Eumenes only with
pen and paper； the Macedonians laughed at him； as knowing very well
that； besides other marks of favour； the king had done him the
honour to make him a kind of kinsman to himself by marriage。 For
Alexander's first mistress in Asia； by whom he had his son Hercules；
was Barsine the daughter of Artabazus； and in the distribution of
the Persian ladies amongst his captains； Alexander gave Apame； one
of his sisters； to Ptolemy； and another； also called Barsine； to
Eumenes。
Notwithstanding； he frequently incurred Alexander's displeasure； and
put himself into some danger； through Hephaestion。 The quarters that
had been taken up for Eumenes； Hephaestion assigned to Euius； the
flute…player。 Upon which； in great anger； Eumenes and Mentor came to
Alexander and loudly complained； saying that the way to be regarded
was to throw away their arms and turn flute…players or tragedians；
so much so that Alexander took their part and chid Hephaestion； but
soon after changed his mind again； and was angry with Eumenes； and
accounted the freedom he had taken to be rather an affront to the king
than a reflection upon Hephaestion。 Afterwards； when Nearchus； with
a fleet； was to be sent to the Southern Sea； Alexander borrowed
money of his friends； his own treasury being exhausted； and would have
had three hundred talents of Eumenes； but he sent a hundred only；
pretending that it was not without great difficulty he had raised so
much from his stewards。 Alexander neither complained nor took the
money； but gave private orders to set Eumenes's tent on fire；
designing to take him in a manifest lie； when his money was carried
out。 But before that could be done the tent was consumed； and
Alexander repented of his orders； all his papers being burnt； the gold
and silver； however； which was melted down in the fire； being
afterwards collected； was found to be more than one thousand
talents； yet Alexander took none of it； and only wrote to the
several governors and generals to send new copies of the papers that
were burnt； and ordered them to be delivered to Eumenes。
Another difference happened between him and Hephaestion concerning a
gift； and a great deal of ill language passed between them； yet
Eumenes still continued in favour。 But Hephaestion dying soon after；
the king； in his grief； presuming all those that differed with
Hephaestion in his lifetime were now rejoicing at his death； showed
much harshness and severity in his behaviour with them； especially
towards Eumenes； whom he often upbraided with his quarrels and ill
language to Hephaestion。 But he； being a wise and dexterous
courtier； made advantage of what had done him prejudice； and struck in
with the king's passion for glorifying his friend's memory； suggesting
various plans to do him honour； and contributing largely and readily
towards erecting his monument。
After Alexander's death； when the quarrel broke out between the
troops of the phalanx and the officers； his companions； Eumenes；
though in his judgment he inclined to the latter； yet in his
professions stood neuter； as if he thought it unbecoming him； who
was a stranger； to interpose in the private quarrels of the
Macedonians。 When the rest of Alexander's friends left Babylon； he
stayed behind； and did much to pacify the foot…soldiers； and to
dispose them towards an accommodation。 And when the officers had
agreed among themselves； and； recovering from the first disorder
proceeded to share out the several commands and provinces； they made
Eumenes governor of Cappadocia and Paphlagonia； and all the coast upon
the Pontic Sea as far as Trebizond； which at that time was not subject
to the Macedonians； for Ariarathes kept it as king； but Leonnatus
and Antigonus； with a large army； were to put him in possession of it。
Antigonus； already filled with hopes of his own； and despising all
men； took no notice of Perdiccas's letter； but Leonnatus with his army
came down into Phrygia to the service of Eumenes。 But being visited by
Hecataeus； the tyrant of the Cardians； and requested rather to relieve
Antipater and the Macedonians that were besieged in Lamia； he resolved
upon that expedition； inviting Eumenes to a share in it； and
endeavouring to reconcile him to Hecataeus。 For there was an
hereditary feud between them； arising out of political differences；
and Eumenes had more than once been known to denounce Hecataeus as a
tyrant； and to exhort Alexander to restore the Cardians their liberty。
Therefore at this time； also； he declined the expedition proposed；
pretending that he feared lest Antipater； who already hated him；
should for that reason； and to gratify Hecataeus； kill him。
Leonnatus so far believed as to impart to Eumenes his whole design；
which； as he had pretended and given out； was to aid Antipater； but in
truth was to seize the kingdom of Macedon； and he showed him letters
from Cleopatra； in which； it appeared； she invited him to Pella；
with promises to marry him。 But Eumenes； whether fearing Antipater； or
looking upon Leonnatus as a rash； headstrong； and unsafe man； stole
away from him by night； taking with him all his men； namely； three
hundred horse； and two hundred of his own servants armed； and all
his gold； to the value of five thousand talents of silver； and fled to
Perdiccas； discovered to him Leonnatus's design； and thus gained great
interest with him； and was made of the council。 Soon after； Perdiccas；
with a great army； which he led himself； conducted Eumenes into
Cappadocia； and； having taken Ariarathes prisoner； and subdued the
whole country； declared him governor of it。 He accordingly proceeded
to dispose of the chief cities among his own friends； and made
captains of garrisons； judges； receivers； and other officers； of
such as he thought fit himself； Perdiccas not at all interposing。
Eumenes； however； still continued to attend upon Perdiccas； both out
of respect to him； and a desire not to be absent from the royal
family。
But Perdiccas； believing he was able enough to attain his own
further objects without assistance； and that the country he left
behind him might stand in need of an active and faithful governor；
when he came into Cilicia dismissed Eumenes； under colour of sending
him to his command； but in truth to secure Armenia； which was on its
frontier； and was unsettled through the practices of Neoptolemus。 Him；
a proud and vain man； Eumenes exerted himself to gain by personal
attentions； but to balance the Macedonian foot； whom he found insolent
and self…willed； he contrived to raise an army of horse； excusing from
tax and contribution all those of the country that were able to
serve on horseback； and buying up a number of horses； which he
distributed among suc
