a smaller history of greece-第42章
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scattered herdsmen to be the masters of Greece and the lords of Asia； and that； whilst he had abandoned to them the richest and most valuable fruits of his conquest； he had reserved nothing but the diadem for himself； as the mark of his superior labours and more imminent perils。 He then secluded himself for two whole days； during which his Macedonian guard was exchanged for a Persian one； whilst nobles of the same nation were appointed to the most confidential posts about his person。 Overcome by these marks of alienation on the part of their sovereign； the Macedonians now supplicated with tears to be restored to favour。 A solemn reconciliation was effected； and 10；000 veterans were dismissed to their homes under the conduct of Craterus。 That general was also appointed to the government of Macedonia in place of Antipater； who was ordered to repair to Asia with fresh reinforcements。
Soon after these occurrences Alexander proceeded to Ecbatana； where during the autumn he solemnised the festival of Dionysus with extraordinary splendour。 But his enjoyment was suddenly converted into bitterness by the death of his friend Hephaestion； who was carried off by a fever。 This event threw Alexander into a deep melancholy； from which he never entirely recovered。 The memory of Hephaestion was honoured by extravagant marks of public mourning； and his body was conveyed to Babylon； to be there interred with the utmost magnificence。
Alexander entered Babylon in the spring of 324； notwithstanding the warnings of the priests of Belus； who predicted some serious evil to him if he entered the city at that time。 Babylon was now to witness the consummation of his triumphs and of his life。 Ambassadors from all parts of Greece； from Libya； Italy； and probably from still more distant regions； were waiting to salute him； and to do homage to him as the conqueror of Asia； the fleet under Nearchus had arrived after its long and enterprising voyage； whilst for the reception of this navy； which seemed to turn the inland capital of his empire into a port； a magnificent harbour was in process of construction。 The mind of Alexander was still occupied with plans of conquest and ambition； his next design was the subjugation of Arabia； which； however； was to be only the stepping…stone to the conquest of the whole known world。 He despatched three expeditions to survey the coast of Arabia； ordered a fleet to be built to explore the Caspian sea； and engaged himself in surveying the course of the Euphrates； and in devising improvements of its navigation。 The period for commencing the Arabian campaign had already arrived； solemn sacrifices were offered up for its success； and grand banquets were given previous to departure。 At these carousals Alexander drank deep； and at the termination of the one given by his favourite； Medius； he was seized with unequivocal symptoms of fever。 For some days； however； he neglected the disorder； and continued to occupy himself with the necessary preparations for the march。 But in eleven days the malady had gained a fatal strength； and terminated his life on the 28th of June； B。C。 323； at the early age of 32。 Whilst he lay speechless on his deathbed his favourite troops were admitted to see him； but he could offer them no other token of recognition than by stretching out his hand。
Few of the great characters of history have been so differently judged as Alexander。 Of the magnitude of his exploits； indeed； and of the justice with which； according to the usual sentiments of mankind； they confer upon him the title of 〃Great；〃 there can be but one opinion。 His military renown； however； consists more in the seemingly extravagant boldness of his enterprises than in the real power of the foes whom he overcame。 The resistance he met with was not greater than that which a European army experiences in the present day from one composed of Asiatics； and the empire of the East was decided by the two battles of Issus and Arbela。 His chief difficulties were the geographical difficulties of distance； climate； and the nature of the ground traversed。 But this is no proof that he was incompetent to meet a foe more worthy of his military skill； and his proceedings in Greece before his departure show the reverse。 His motive； it must be allowed； seem rather to have sprung from the love of personal glory and the excitement of conquest； than from any wish to benefit his subjects。 Yet on the whole his achievements； though they undoubtedly occasioned great partial misery； must be regarded as beneficial to the human race。 By his conquests the two continents were put into closer communication with one another； and both； but particularly Asia； were the gainers。 The language； the arts； and the literature of Greece were introduced into the East； and after the death of Alexander； Greek kingdoms were formed in the western parts of Asia； which continued to exist for many generations。
CHAPTER XXI。
FROM THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT TO THE CONQUEST OF GREECE BY THE ROMANS； B。C。 323…146。
The vast empire of Alexander the Great was divided； at his death； among his generals； but； before relating their history； it is necessary to take a brief retrospective glance at the affairs of Greece。 Three years after Alexander had quitted Europe the Spartans made a vigorous effort to throw off the Macedonian yoke。 They were joined by most of the Peloponnesian states； but though they met with some success at first； they were finally defeated with great slaughter by Antipater near Megalopolis。 Agis fell in the battle； and the chains of Greece were riveted more firmly than ever。 This victory； and the successes of Alexander in the East； encouraged the Macedonian party in Athens to take active measures against Demosthenes； and AEschines revived an old charge against him which had lain dormant for several years。 Soon after the battle of Chaeronea； Ctesiphon had proposed that Demosthenes should be presented with a golden crown in the theatre during the great Dionysiac festival； on account of the services he had conferred upon his country。 For proposing this decree AEschines indicted Ctesiphon； but though the latter was the nominal defendant； it was Demosthenes who was really put upon his trial。 The case was decided in 330 B。C。； and has been immortalised by the memorable and still extant speeches of AEschines 'Against Ctesiphon' and of Demosthenes 'On the Crown。' AEschines； who did not obtain a fifth part of the votes； and consequently became himself liable to a penalty； was so chagrined at his defeat that he retired to Rhodes。
In B。C。 325 Harpalus arrived in Athens。 He had been left by Alexander at Ecbatana in charge of the royal treasures； and appears also to have held the important satrapy of Babylon。 During the absence of Alexander in India he gave himself up to the most extravagant luxury and profusion； squandering the treasures intrusted to him； at the same time that he alienated the people subject to his rule by his lustful excesses and extortions。 He had probably thought that Alexander would never return from the remote regions of the East into which he had penetrated； but when he at length learnt that the king was on his march back to Susa； and had visited with unsparing rigour those of his officers who had been guilty of any excesses during his absence； he at once saw that his only resource was in flight。 Collecting together all the treasures which he could； and assembling a body of 6000 mercenaries； he hastened to the coast of Asia； and from thence crossed over to Attica； At first the Athenians refused to receive him； but bribes administered to some of the principal orators induced them to alter their determination。 Such a step was tantamount to an act of hostility against Macedonia itself； and accordingly Antipater called upon the Athenians to deliver up Harpalus； and to bring to trial those who had accepted his bribes。 The Athenians did not venture to disobey these demands。 Harpalus was put into confinement； but succeeded in making his escape from prison。 Demosthenes was among the orators who were brought to trial for corruption。 He was declared to be guilty； and was condemned to pay a fine of 50 talents。 Not being able to raise that sum； he was thrown into prison； but he contrived to make his escape； and went into exile。 There are； however； good grounds for doubting his guilt； and it is more probable that he fell a victim to the implacable hatred of the Macedonian party。 Upon quitting Athens Demosthenes resided chiefly at AEgina or Troezen； in sight of his native land； and whenever he looked towards her shores it was observed that he shed tears。
When the news of Alexander's death reached Athens； the anti… Macedonian party； which； since the exile of Demosthenes； was led by Hyperides； carried all before it。 The people in a decree declared their determination to support the liberty of Greece。 Envoys were despatched to all the Grecian states to announce the determination of Athens； and to exhort them to struggle with her for their independence。 This call was responded to in the Peloponnesus only by the smaller states； whilst Sparta； Arcadia； and Achaia kept aloof。 In northern Greece the confederacy was joined by most of the states except the Boaotians； and Leosthenes was appointed commander…in…chief of the allied forces。
The allied army assembled in the neighbourhood of Thermopylae。 Antipater now advanced from the north； and offered battle in the vale of the Spercheus； but being deserted by his Thessalian cavalry； who went over to his opponents during the heat of the engagement； he was obliged to retreat and threw himself into Lamia； a strong fortress on the Malian gulf。 Leosthenes； desirous to finish the war at a blow； pressed the siege with the utmost vigour； but his assaults were repulsed； and he was compelled to resort to the slower method of a blockade。 From this town the contest between Antipater and the allied Greeks has been called the Lamian War。
The novelty of a victory over the Macedonian arms was received with boundless exultation at Athens； and this feeling was raised to a still higher pitch by the arrival of an embassy from Antipater to sue for peace。 But the Athenians were so elated with their good fortune； that they would listen to no terms but the unconditional surrender of Antipater。 Meantime Demosthenes； though still an exile； exerted himself in various parts of the Peloponnesus in counteracting the envoys of Antipater； and in endeavouring to gain adherents to the cause of Athens and the allies。 The Athenians in return invited Demosthenes back to his native country； and a ship was sent to convey him to Piraeus； where he was received with extraordinary honours。
Meanwhile Leonnatus； governor of the Hellespontine Phrygia； had appeared on the theatre of war with an army of 20；000 foot and 2500 horse。 Leosthenes had been slain at Lamia in a sally of the besieged； and Antiphilus； on whom the command of the allied army devolved； hastened to offer battle to Leonnatus before he could arrive at Lamia。 The hostile armies met in one of the plains of Thessaly； where Leonnatus was killed and his troops defeated。 Antipater； as soon as the blockade of Lamia was raised； had pursued Antiphilus； and on the day after the b
