8 PYRRHUS.

and Demetrius taking advantage of the first occasion, was beforehand with the young king, and slew him, and pro- claimed himself king of Macedon. There had been for- merly no very good understanding between him and Pyr- rhus ; for besides the inroads he made into Thessaly, the innate disease of princes, ambition of greater empire, had rendered them formidable and suspected neighbors to each other, especially since Deidamia's death ; and both having seized Macedon, they came into conflict for the same object, and the difference between them had the stronger motives. Demetrius having first attacked the ^Etolians and subdued them, left Pantauchus there with a considerable army, and marched direct against Pyrrhus, and Pj-rrhus, as he thought, against him ; but by mistake of the ways they passed by one another, and Demetrius falling into Epirus wasted the country, and Pyrrhus, meeting with Pantauchus, prepared for an engagement. The soldiers fell to, and there was a sharp and terrible conflict, especially where the generals were. Pantauchus, in courage, dexterity, and strength of body, being con- fessedly the best of all Demetrius's captains, and having both resolution and high spirit, challenged Pyrrhus to fight hand to hand ; on the other side Pyrrhus, professing not to yield to any king in valor and glory, and esteem- ing the fame of Achilles more truly to belong to him for his courage than for his blood, advanced against Pantau- chus through the front of the army. First they used their lances, then came to a close fight, and managed their swords both with art and force ; Pyrrhus receiving one wound, but returning two for it, one in the thigh, the other near the neck, repulsed and overthrew Pantauchus, but did not kill him outright, as he was rescued by his friends. But the Epirots exulting in the victory of their king, and admiring his courage, forced through and cut in pieces the phalanx of the Macedonians, and pursuing